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Ananda Marga is more than a world wide spiritual group, teaching scientific
practices of self-development freely to all. It is more than a social service
organisation helping the needy and neglected of all nations to achieve freedom
from want.
Ananda Marga is a dynamic blend of inner discovery and social activism. As an
organization, it is unique m the history of the world. It has emerged as a global
force at a time in human history when there is the greatest need for a holistic
approach to the world's problems--economic crisis, psychic alienation, disunity
and strife.
The solution begins with a change in the individual--physically, mentally and
spiritually, through scientific practices that develop all one's potentialities.
Gradually as we perfect ourselves, we more ase our ability to deal effectively
with the changes of life and solve the problems of society. And as our minds
expand, we transcend the artificial bar riers and superficial prejudices of rave,
creed and nation which divide us: we unite together and work actively to
liberate all humanity from economic and psychic exploitation, and build a
healthy and harmonious human society. Ananda Marga is a universal movement of
people dedicated to its goal of "Self-realization for self, and welfare for all
humanity."
Ananda Marga is a universal movement of people dedicated to its goal of "Self-
realization for self, and welfare for all humanity."
Morality is the essential foundation for spiritual practices, for without truly
benevolent behavior and mental harmony, self realization is impossible. Today
there is a growing need for ethical standards in social life, and a deepening
desire for moral leadership.
6. What is Neo-Humanism?
Neo-Humanism is the underlying philosophy of Ananda Marga. It is based on the
inner realisation, through meditation, of the oneness of all of creation. Neo-
Humanism teaches that this universe is for all, not for human beings only, and
thus it is a new exrepretation of traditional humanism: the recognition that human
beings, as the most thoughtful and intelligent beings in this universe, must
accept the great responsibility of taking care of the entire creation. Neo-
Humanism has become a global movement to unite all human beings into one world
family, and to provide a-congenial environment on earth for the welfare of every
creature not only humans, but also animals and plants. Neo-Humanism has become a
global movement to unite all human beings into one world family, and to provide a
congenial environment on earth for the welfare of every creature--not only humans,
but also amimals and plants. It is a movement of spiritual ecology and social
justice, to liberate all people from the narrow, dogmatic consciousness which
perpetuates imequality and exploitation, and sets race against race, nation
against nation, creed against creed, and humans against nature. In the age of
rampamt materialism, the Neo-Humanistic awareness of the spiritual oneness
underlying this material world, will protect humanity from the onslaughts of
materialism and provide a soothing balm in every sphere of life. Neo-Humanism is
not merely a holistic ideology--it is the expression of love for all beings of
this universe.
In 1955, while still leading a normal family life as a railway official, P.R.
Sarkar formed the organization Ananda Marga, and began training missionary monks
and nuns to spread his teachings of "self-realization and service to humanity" all
over India and later throughout the world. Reflecting the broadness of his
universal vision, Ananda Marga has become a multifaceted organization with
different branches dedicated to the uplfiment of humanity through education,
relief, welfare, the arts, ecology, intellectual renaissance, women's
emamcipation, and humanistic economy Ananda Marga is now a huge world wide
socio-spiritual movement with branches m every corner of India, and almost every
country on earth. With 1400 centers on the subcontinent of India with
headquarters m Calcutta, and over 1500 centers in about 200 countries, Ananda
Marga has become a powerful force for global social change.
Ananda Marga's ERAWS Department (Education, Relief and Welfare Section) has
established many permanent relief projects as well throughout the globe: schools,
children's homes, medival camps, free kitchens, prison and drug rehabilitation
programs, "halfway houses" for troubled youth, ecology projects and women's
emancipation programs. And Ananda Marga's totally new approach to learning, Neo-
Humanistic education, is rapidly spreading throughout the world in over 2000
Ananda Marga kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, high schools and degree
colleges. Unlike other systems of education which impart only physical exercises
and academic subjects, Neo-Humanistic education provides for all-round development
of the child's: body, senses, emotions, intellect, imagination and intuition.
The entire curriculum is especially designed to impart character-building
values--to instil in the children moral courage, integrity, self-confidence,
self-reliance, and a spirit of service, to encourage the students to become active
and responsible members of society.
9. If Ananda Marga is doing so much good, how did it become controversial? The
uncompromising moral stand of P.R. Sarkar and the members of Ananda Marga against
corruption and exploitation, and their demand for social justice, brought about
the opposition of cortain vested interests and the Communist Part of India, and
resulted in the persecution of Ananda Marga and P.R. Sarkar's arrest m 1971 after
false charges. During his steven-year incarceration he survived a poisoning
attempt by jail officials, and fasted for five and a half years m protest. Despite
efforts by the International Commission of Jurists, the International League for
Human Rights and Anmesty International, P.R. Sarkar was held without bail. After
Indira Gandni's "Emergency (martial law) came to an end, the Indian High Court
honourable acquitted Sarkar and freed hundreds of his followers. The umjust
persecution of the Ananda Marga movement
has only intensified the determination of its members to establish a just and
human soviets on earth.