Visiting the Ananda Marga school in Hyderabad - India, Ac. Priyatoshananda Avt. conceded to be interviewed on the subject of service. Such a relevant subject today was developed by Acaryaji with very clear answers to editor's questions:
Editor: What is the best service?
Acaryaji: According to Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, founder of Ananda Marga, the best service is the service done directly to God. How? Through meditation in the special form that is called "dhyanam" or we can say contemplation. At the same time when service to humanity is done with the ideation that humanity is the creation of God, such service has the same value as direct service to God.
Editor: Is there any special way to serve God through "Dhyanam"?
Acaryaji: In Tantra it is said"Dhyana mulam Guru murti" that means that through Dhyana the spiritual aspirant comes in close psycho-spiritual proximity to Guru - the spiritual preceptor. As such in Tantra the distinction between God and Guru is practically not existent. "Bhramaeva Gurueka na para" - Oly Bhrama is the Guru, nobody else.
Editor: So we can say that service as a subjective and an objective side. What about the objective side, how serve humanity?
Acaryaji: One has to serve according to the need. First come the physical needs that include the minimum requirement for life - food, clothing, shelter, medicine and education. Once this basic level is satisfied the following need is at the psychic level. Proper guidance based on neo-humanistic values and neo-humanistic education becomes the way to serve humanity at large. In the end spiritual teaching and sharing in order to realize the Self is the best and ultimate form of service to humanity.
Editor: Can you explain the reason for this last conclusion?
Acaryaji: Because it corresponds to the goal of life as human beings. Just eating and being marry cannot be considered a worth goal for human beings.
Editor: Coming to yourself personally, what has been your best day of service?
Acaryaji: On that special day I was in Coinbatore - Tamil Nadu in South India. One engineer whose name is Vidhyadharan was ready to commit suicide because of disharmony with his wife.
Talking to him I suggested that family life is based on harmony. The psychology behind an harmonious relationship is that of coordinated cooperation, not subordinated cooperation. This type of psychology has to be developed by coming into close contact with the Almighty that means psycho-spiritual parallelism. Such proximity enlarge our sphere of consciousness and generate respect for others as well.
This suggestion ultimately helped that man and he learned meditation. Already the first time he sat for meditation, he felt self-confidence and promised not to suicide. he also promised to respect his wife. Later on the wife also learned meditation and the couple restarted their life on an harmonious base.
Editor: Do they have children?
Acaryaji: They have only one daughter that was born before that incident. Unfortunately when I went to Africa for missionary work, I lost their contact. Now that I am back in India it would be nice to have again news from them.
Ac. Priyatoshananda Avt. is now Federation Secretary for Delhi Sector - India. he helps people by educating students, youths, intellectuals, farmers and laborers to develop their sense of responsibility towards society. he can be reached through Email: avt.priyatoshanand at gmail.com
