OUR PHILOSOPHICAL TREATISE

official source: Tattva Kaomudii Part 2

cross-references: also published in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 4

this version: is the printed Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 4, 1st 
	edition, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). I.e., 
	this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition.

      The recognised book on Ananda Ma'rga Philosophy is A'nanda Su'tram. Usually a philosophical treatise has four main sections -- (1) ontology, (2) metaphysics, (3) ethics, (4) epistemology. But in A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy two more sections have been added, in addition to the four mentioned above. They are (1) psychology and (2) spiritual cult. In Western philosophy there is no mention of spiritual cult, because Western philosophers had no opportunity to learn such cult. The main reason is that in the theology prevalent in the west there is no concrete spiritual cult.

	According to the general belief, psychology is a part of general science, and should therefore not be included as a part of philosophy. Thus psychology has been accepted as a branch of science in the West. But in A'nanda Ma'rga, psychology has been included as a part of philosophy. Moreover, according to A'nanda Ma'rga the scope of psychology is wider than what is usually accepted by psychologists.

	Ontology: A'nanda Ma'rga believes in monotheism. In common parlance iishvara, Bhaga'van and Brahma are accepted as synonymous. But according to A'nanda Ma'rga, they are not synonymous. They represent the different aspects of Parama Purus'a. Brahma is the philosophical term, and Bhagava'n and Iishvara are the attributional expressions of Brahma. Regarding Brahma it has been said, "A'nandam' Brahma", i.e. A'nanda and Brahma are identical. In A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy, a subtle line of demarcation between sukha (happiness) and ananda (bliss) has been drawn. Sukha denotes a congenial mental state whereas A'nanda is a metempirical state of bliss which overflows the mind -- a state which should be called neither congenial nor uncongenial. The state of bliss is always above the scope of mind because it is limitless. the experience of bliss transcends the scope of mind and is concerned with the Macrocosm. Brahma is the name given to the ultimate quality of happiness.

	Two aspects of Brahma -- Sagu'na and Nirgu'na -- have been mentioned. "Shivashaktya'tmakam' Brahma", i.e. Brahma is the composite of Shiva and Shakti. the derivative meaning of Purus'a is one who lies covert in the unit being -- one who is devoid of any action. Where there is no expression, that aspect of Brahma is called Nirgun'a Brahma and where there is expression, it is called Sagu'na Brahma.

	Nirgun'a and Sagun'a are two aspects of one and the same Brahma. They are not two different Brahmas. It should be clearly mentioned that A'nanda Ma'rga is absolute monism - it is not dualism. A question may arise. How can A'nanda Ma'rga be called monism when it declares that Shiva and Shakti are separate entities. The answer is that in A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy, Shiva or Cognitive Force is both the material and the efficient cause. Shakti or Operative Force is only the efficient cause. Shakti is merely subservient to Shiva; Shakti has no existence separate from Shiva. So we can safely conclude that A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy is based on monism.

	The Supreme Entity, playing the role of the controller of the quinquelemental universe is called Purus'ottama. he controls all created beings and entities by virtue of His centripetal and centrifugal forces. In the Cosmic cycle, the inanimate objects are called sam'stha', the living being ham'sa. Each and every ham'sa and sam'stha' is moving around Purus'ottama on its respective axis. The closer the microcosm feels to Parama Purus'a, the less the radius between Parama Purus'a and the microcosm will be. In addition to Nirgun'a, Sagun'a and Purus'a, a new concept of Ta'raka Brahma has been added to A'nanda Ma'rga ideology. The philosophical interpretation of Ta'raka Brahma is found only in Tantra -- nowhere else. Ta'raka Brahma is a link between Sagun'a and Nirgun'a Brahma. Ta'raka Brahma is more a devotional concept than a philosophical one.

	Metaphysics: A'nanda Ma'rga metaphysics is really unique and revolutionary. Metaphysics as explained in the West is not supported by modern physics. Modern science, while attempting to trace the prime cause of creation, has been upgraded to idealism above materialism. But facts of metaphysics as presented by modern philosophers are supported by materialism or extreme idealism. Both views are equally one-sided and unscientific.

	As the first cause of creation, A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy conceives of the Gun'a - Yantraka, the triangle of forces. We have already discussed that Brahma is the composite of Shiva and Shakti. Shakti means the sentient, mutative and static forces. The expression resulting from the triangle of forces is the cause of a great bondage on Consciousness. In the first phase of movement of the Cosmic cycle the Macrocosmic Mind emerges. Due to the increasing static pressure on Cosmic Citta, the five fundamental factors gradually emerge -- ether, air, luminous, liquid and solid. Thus out of the Cosmic mind arises matter. This aspect of the Cosmic cycle is called Saincara. Due to the further static pressure on the solid factor, there ensues an internal physical clash within the material structure which gives rise to unit mind and life. As sequence to the origin of life and mind, the living beings arose -- the birds and animals, plants and trees -- and in the final stage of evolution the humans came with a developed mind and complex body.

	Thus A'nanda Ma'rga can legitimately claim to have solved many riddles of metaphysics. It has clearly stated that matter originates from Macrocosmic mind and the microcosm evolves from matter.

	Spiritual Cult: Thus far all philosophers have remained completely unaware of spiritual cult. Although new ideas in the domain of philosophy have been added, philosophy has failed to establish its link with the dusty earth. And a philosophy which has no relation with the dusty earth nor with the children of the soil, has no practical value. philosophy is meant for the benefit of the human race.

	A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy is unique in this respect. A'nanda Ma'rga stands to implement its ideology. In order to establish a coordination between philosophy and practical life, A'nanda Ma'rga has evolved a spiritual cult on the basis of Tantra.

	Epistemology: According to A'nanda Ma'rga, epistemology has two branches -- para' and apara'. Para' jina'na means knowing the Supreme reality beyond the scope of time, space and person. Apara' jina'na means the knowledge within the scope of time, space and person -- which is ever changing. The means to attain para' jina'na, or absolute knowledge, is through the application of pinnacled intellect (agrya'buddhi), and the means to attain apara' jina'na, or relative knowledge, is the pinnacled intellect plus circular approach.

	Psychology: We have discussed earlier that psychology and manovijina'na are not the same thing. Manovijina'na deals with the origin and development of mind -- its actions and reactions, its influences, its consummation, etc. This novel addition of A'nanda Ma'rga regarding the origin of mind is that the unit mind has evolved out of matter through clash and cohesion. mind is the composite of citta, aham and mahat -- its different functional chambers. It has four mental states -- ja'grat (wakeful), svapna (dream), sus'upti (sleep) and turiya (transcendental). From a practical point of view, the mind is divided into conscious, subconscious and unconscious portions.

	Mind has five layers (kos'as) of existence -- ka'mamaya, manomaya, atima'nas, vijina'namaya and hiran'maya. The expression of mind, whether crude or subtle, depends upon the different kos'as. The association of mind with external objects is established through tanma'tras or inferences. Tanma'tras are of five kinds: sound, touch, form, taste and smell. The tanma'tras are actually the expressions of material objects. The tanma'tras in the form of vibrations come in contact with the mind through the five sensory organs. The mind establishes its link with external objects through the inferences.

	Ethics: A'nanda Ma'rga ethics is rudimental and universalistic. There are five kinds of yama and five kinds of niyama whose very purpose is to regulate the external and internal behaviour of human beings according to the highest principles. In Western philosophy observance of ethical principles is considered the primary goal of life, but A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy considers that ethical observance is the primary step towards the higher life. Niiti or principle is not the goal of human life, rather it is a starting point of life's journey.

Tattva Kaomudii Part 2