Spiritual and Social Philosophy
The philosophy of Ananda Marga is a synthetic outlook, recognizing the one limitless 'Supreme Consciousness', both transcendental and manifested in all. It covers both the spiritual and the social combining the two in a unique synthesis of universal vision. To this end Ananda Marga suggests a practical, rational, and systematic way of life for the balanced development of all human potentialities: physical, psychic and spiritual. This system incorporate practices that range from hygiene and diet, yoga postures, to a scientific technique of meditation based on moral rules and directed to the inner fulfillment. It recognizes that a balance is needed between the spiritual and mundane aspects of existence, and that neither one should be neglected at the expense of the other. Hence, the goal of Ananda Marga is "self-realization and the welfare of all".
As described by Thomas Lombardo:
...Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar developed a Spiritual or Neo-Humanism, bringing in spiritual, economic, social scientific, ecological, and moral themes to create a long term view of human progress; progress is the evolution of consciousness and movement directed toward the well-being of everyone. Basing his philosophy on love and respect for all things and the central human ideals of freedom, equality, and justice, Sarkar proposed that the physical, mental, and spiritial realms of humanity all need to be addressed in a vision of the future...The scholar and Jesuit priest Giovanni Capelletto Devadatta highlighted similarities between some of the teachings expressed in Christian writings and those expressed in the philosophy of Ananda Marga:
...We should remember that his message (of P. R. Sarkar) is never contrary and even different from the teachings of Christ. "Whoever is not against me is with me," said Jesus and St. Paul commented: "Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; (1 Thes 5:19-21) ...The perfection of God's law is love towards all his creatures. "Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning" (John 1:6). "..it is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margii to endeavour to bring all to the path of bliss... (Shrii Shrii Anandamurti's Supreme Command)...Read more about this topic: Ananda Marga
Famous quotes containing the words spiritual, social and/or philosophy:
“Whenever we encounter the Infinite in man, however imperfectly understood, we treat it with respect. Whether in the synagogue, the mosque, the pagoda, or the wigwam, there is a hideous aspect which we execrate and a sublime aspect which we venerate. So great a subject for spiritual contemplation, such measureless dreaming—the echo of God on the human wall!”
—Victor Hugo (1802–1885)
“Both gossip and joking are intrinsically valuable activities. Both are essentially social activities that strengthen interpersonal bonds—we do not tell jokes and gossip to ourselves. As popular activities that evade social restrictions, they often refer to topics that are inaccessible to serious public discussion. Gossip and joking often appear together: when we gossip we usually tell jokes and when we are joking we often gossip as well.”
—Aaron Ben-Ze’Ev, Israeli philosopher. “The Vindication of Gossip,” Good Gossip, University Press of Kansas (1994)
“If mass communications blend together harmoniously, and often unnoticeably, art, politics, religion, and philosophy with commercials, they bring these realms of culture to their common denominator—the commodity form. The music of the soul is also the music of salesmanship. Exchange value, not truth value, counts.”
—Herbert Marcuse (1898–1979)