YATAMA'NA -- 1

official source: Ma'nasa'dhya'tmika Sa'dhana'r Staravinya's [Stages of Psycho-
	Spiritual Sa'dhana']

cross-references: also published in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 6

this version: is the printed Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 6, 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.

	It is said that the path of human progress is chiefly divided into four stages: yatama'na, vya'tireka, ekendriya and vashiika'ra. These stages are applicable to three strata of human life: the material, psychic and spiritual (abstract or metaphysical) worlds.

	Yatama'na is derived from the Sam'skrit root verb yata+suffix sha'nac and means "one who is endeavouring" (the effort is still continuing). In a previous Dharma Maha Cakra (a spiritual congregation) I spoke at length about yatama'na. Now is yatama'na only a mental effort, or only a physical effort, or does it emanate from a realm higher than the mind? When people perform actions consciously, these actions must have the sanction of the mind. But even if an action is sanctioned by the mind, it does not necessarily mean that it has also been sanctioned by the self. Moreover, if mind performs an action according to the guidelines of a noble philosophy, even then it does not necessarily mean that the psychic sanction is supported by the self (A'tman).

	There are many philosophies which tend to crudify the human mind, and make people violent and inconsiderate. They make people believe that they are God's favorite children, whereas the rest of humanity is cursed. Although these views have philosophical sanction, they do not enjoy the sanction of the A'tman.

	There is only one case when Parama Parus'a sanctions mental thought. What is that? It is when the human mind is dedicated to the welfare of the entire humanity without any discrimination, when the sole intention is to promote universal well-being. When the human mind, motivated by such sentiments, engages itself in action through the body--only that action can be treated as real yatama'na.  Other endeavours should not be defined as such.

	Sometimes it also happens that the body acts without the prior approval of the mind: a person frightened by a robber, for example. People don't always act voluntarily, but sometimes out of fear, just like the slaves in olden days. A slave would labour hard at the command of his master. Such actions are purely limited to the physical sphere. They are actions no doubt, but do not enjoy the support of mind, and naturally don't have the support of A'tman or Parama Purus'a. Such deeds do not bring any welfare to the slave, and thus cannot be categorized as yatama'na. So according to true spirituality human beings should not be reduced to slavery.

	One may say that slavery has been totally abolished from today's world. It may be true in theory, but a handful of people who deserve no better name than "intellectual satans" have been enslaving people by propagating defective philosophies. In a way, those exploited people are no better than slaves, for they have lost their intellect. Even when one tries to enlighten them with logical arguments, they refuse to listen. Are they any better than slaves? Intellectually they are certainly slaves, and hence in the material world also they are slaves. Thus, any action on their part will not be included in the category of yatama'na because it will never lead to well-being. The first stage of human progress--yatama'na--is not promoted by their activities.

	What should be done to bring about progress in the yatama'na stage? One should learn the proper philosophy from a competent person. In order to judge what is proper philosophy and what is psuedo-philosophy one should see how far the philosophy goes in treating the entire humanity as a singular entity and promoting its unity. Only that philosophy which inculcates universal sentiments is acceptable to human beings for it alone reflects the spirit of yatama'na. Other philosophies will spoil the human treasures resulting in humans, even though endowed with eyes, feet, hands, etc., degenerating to the level of animality, or even below that. Regarding the animals, they quarrel among themselves or with others to procure food. But these crude human beings, even though they don't need to procure food for their survival, misuse their authority to destroy or subjugate innocent humans. People of today must understand this basic fact and remain vigilant against the detrimental actions of the intellectual satans and blood-sucking exploiters.

The people of today must move ahead while fighting against the two enemies: the blood-suckers who are exploiting in the economic sphere, and the intellectual satans who not only exploit human beings but bring them down to the level of animality. I request the present human race to continue their endless fight on these two fronts. They should remember that on both fronts they are fighting against enemies who, being guided by dogma, have no logic in their method of exploitation. They fully realize that they are exploiting people in the socio-economic, socio-intellectual, and spiritual spheres. Once their conscience is aroused against dogma their exploitation will automatically cease. The gigantic demons of exploitation will vanish in a flash.

19 November 1980, Calcutta
Ma'nasa'dhya'tmika Sa'dhana'r Staravinya's [Stages of Psycho-Spiritual 
Sa'dhana']