Ananda Marga
P. R. Sarkar/Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
Ananda Marga is an international spiritual and social service organization. It was founded in India in 1955. Since 1970 the organization has developed a global social service network, with branches in more than 120 countries around the world. These include progressive schools, children's homes, medical clinics, food and clothing distribution and disaster relief services (see AMURT/EL).
As
a spiritual mission, the organization offers classes in yoga, meditation
and spiritual philosophy - encouraging each and every person to take practical
steps to achieve their fullest potential - physically, mentally and spiritually.
Ananda Marga works towards a progressive, new social order that values personal growth and is based on a spirit of cooperation, universalism and ecological harmony of human life in the universe. Such a society would be universalistic, based on ideals of the common heritage of all beings. It would include the adoption of a common social and individual goal: that society should encourage the highest achievement of individuals - ultimately self-realization, and the wisest utilization of all our physical, mental and spiritual resources that all people together might participate in and enjoy the universe (see PROUT).
P. R. Sarkar (Shrii Shrii Anandamurti)
Shrii P. R. Sarkar also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti is the founder of Ananda Marga. From his early childhood in Bihar, India, where he was born in 1921, P.R. Sarkar has been attracting others by his deep love for humanity and guiding them along the path of self-realization. Adjusting the ancient science of Tantra Yoga to meet the needs of this age, he developed a scientific and rational philosophy and a system of practical disciplines for physical, mental and spiritual development. Recognizing him as a spiritually realized Master, his followers called him "Shrii Shrii Anandamurti" (which means "He who attracts others as the embodiment of bliss") or simply "Baba" (father, beloved).
He has authored an astounding range of subjects including advanced meditation and spiritual development, advanced psychology, social justice, future possibilities for human civilization, philology, yogic medicine, economics, and even stories for children.
AMURT/AMURTEL
AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) is a nonprofit, charitable organization formally established in 1970, and incorporated in the USA in 1985. AMURT is one of the few non-governmental relief and voluntary organizations of Third World origin. AMURT's objectives are to aid the poor and underprivileged of the world through disaster relief, redevelopment programs and community service. In pursuit of these goals AMURT has maintained a long-established working relationship with the Red Cross as well as other numerous disaster relief and development organizations in the USA and abroad. AMURT has also been formally recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization by the United Nations through their Department of Public Information.
AMURTEL was formed in 1975 as a sister organization to respond specifically to the problems faced by women and children in their struggle to develop. AMURTEL is managed by women and initiates programs that raise the standard of health and education of women and their children. The programs also permit women to gain greater self-determination and economic independence.
Neo-Humanism
"What is Neo-Humanism?
Neo-Humanism is newly explain humanism. "Humanism" and "humanity"
have been very popular words for the last century, and only human beings
have come within the scope of humanism and humanity. But this explanation
is not sufficient - it cannot quench the thirst of the developing human
society. Why should the love and affection of developed human minds be
restricted to human beings only? Why should it not include all living
beings, including plant life? This is the new explanation of humanism
- Neo-Humanism - for within Neo-Humanism the entire animate world is included."
- P. R. Sarkar
Simple ideas are often the most powerful. This is certainly the case with Neo-Humanism. Rooted in the ancient yogic perception that all existence is bound together, that we are all interconnected, Neo-Humanism transcends a limited and deeply wounded humanism with a holistic reconceptualisation of what it is to be human.
Neo-Humanism is a process of becoming consciously, self consciously, human. Essentially it is a term both general and specific, covering as it does all the "holisms" that have sprung up in humanities, sciences and social movements in recent decades, while more specifically being a set of principles for living based on the ethic of universal love.
Neo-Humanism offers a strong critique of nationalism, sexism, species-ism, capitalism and racism. As an ethical system its emphasis is on an integrated worldview that urges us to embrace all experience of the phenomenal world reverentially. As a way of knowing it breaks the bounds of humanism, to include the rights and liberties of the entire phenomenal world.
PROUT
The development of our society depends upon a few healthy changes. Economically, we must learn how to equitably allocate and utilize the vast resources of our rich world for the good of all. Politically we need to start working towards a just system of government which is able to meet the basic needs of each and every person. The realization of these ideals depends upon a strong socio-economic theory that can be easily and peacefully implemented, a theory that focuses not only on the well-being of humanity, but on the whole of creation. In 1959 P. R. Sarkar first described a socio-economic theory which he called Progressive Utilization Theory (known by its acronym PROUT). The time is right for the introduction of PROUT, a new socio-economic idea which has the potential to alleviate humanity's growing concerns and fulfill our increasing demands.
Also it is possible to show that PROUT has similarities with the existing dominant socio-economic philosophies of capitalism and Marxism, a deep understanding of Sarkar's ideas shows that PROUT stands alone in the world today, for PROUT is based on a spiritual rather than materialistic conception of the universe and of humanity. The idea that all animate and inanimate objects are part of one Supreme Consciousness and are to be treated as part of an integrated whole is the base of PROUT. Just as capitalism and Marxism emerged in an era when physicists and philosophers held a materialistic and mechanistic outlook, PROUT is emerging at a time when humanity is beginning to accept a holistic and spiritual view of the universe.
The
basic idea of a Proutistic society is to provide a good standard of living
to all people and to see that economic power is not concentrated in the
hands of a few. PROUT envisions the leaders of our society as moral, trustworthy
beings who constantly have the all around welfare of the earth and its
inhabitants in mind, as opposed to the leaders of today whose loyalties
lie with the self-serving elitist class and the almighty dollar. But perhaps
most of all, PROUT encourages the elimination of all types of exploitation
and suffering, and the flourishing of a spiritually-minded world community.
|
Ananda
Marga
|