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Introducing Ananda Marga in Canada, and background information –
The global spiritual and social service mission of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha – AMPS reached Canada in the late 1960’s through its representatives and practitioners from abroad. Eventually, one of the AMPS monk leaders was posted to the country as a Regional Secretary by the Founder, President and Purodha Pramukha and one of his first tasks was to establish a legal entity so the global mission would have a legal footing in the country.
The corporation Ananda Marga Canada was established 18 May, 1973 as a Federal Corporation with its orginal name Ananda Marga Yoga Corporation. Since that time additional governing documents were created and amended, including changes of the name of the entity.
You will find in this location the following primary information in submenus –
Ananda Marga Canada is the legal embodiment of two Regions of the global AMPS mission –
- Ottawa Region (all of the Canadian Provinces and territories east of the Ontario/Manitoba border
- Vancouver Region (all of the Canadian Provinces and territories west of the Ontario/Manitoba border
Ottawa and Vancouver Regions are two of the nine regions of the New York Sector of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha AMPS. New York Sector is one of nine sectors globally. Geographically it covers North America, Central America, the Caribbean Islands and the Hawaiian Islands. AMPS New York Sector has its legal embodiment currently in the legal entity of Ananda Marga, Inc., the parent not-for-profit, religious, private voluntary organization incorporated in Colorado, USA on 21 March 1974.
AMPS –
Created in 1955 in West Bengal, India, Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha has grown to have a presence in more than a hundred countries worldwide, thanks to the missionary zeal and service-mindedness of its Founder Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, Prabat Ranjan Sarkar, and thousands of carefully trained and certified, Sannyasi (ascetic monks), householder volunteers and religious ministers. Over the many decades, the AMPS mission brought the science of spiritual-based Yoga, Meditation (Sadhana) and Wellness practices to tens of thousands of individuals.
AMPS Structure –
The AMPS organizational structure has developed over the decades. It is and always has been organized in the the form of a pyrimidical spiritual hierarchy, with a pinnacled authority at the top and a substantial community of practitioners within local units at base. In between are the levels that include the district (Bhukti), diocese, region and sector. AMPS has many departments and sections serving the world through the arts, disaster relief services, cooperative development, education and schools, homes for the sick or physically challenged, dispensaries, medical units, post-disaster development, the needs and opportunities of women, youth services, socio-economic activities, leadership training, camps, seminars and conferences, etc. The structure of the mission provides for core structural leadership at the local level and above levels.
Local Democratic Leadership within the pyramid –
The local-level leadership shows up profoundly and democratically through leaders that are elected by the local AM practitioners. These leaders (Bhukti Pradhana) fulfill important guidance and key services not only to the AM community but also to the community at-large. The Bhukti Pradhana around the world, representing each of the local AM practitioner communities, are (or will be) those making the largest leadership group in the mission of AMPS globally. Each BP will be supported by a Bhukti Committee, composed of additional leaders responsible for various functions and services for the local district – who activate more volunteers to further the AMPS mission on the ground.
In other words, AMPS has a hierarchical structure from top to bottom, but its pyramidical base is comprised of many volunteers, practitioners, and democratically locally-determined leaders.
The Corporate Role –
The AMPS legal corporate registered entities, such as Ananda Marga Canada, exist as a corporate vessel so that the overall AMPS spiritual and social service mission can function well and appropriately, following and respecting the laws of the land. Those who serve on the AMPS corporate boards of directors are often seasoned as AM leaders and practitioners who serve by their exemplary conduct, who hold the important corporate fiduciary board director/officer duties additionally, not primarily simply ensuring that the organization complies with the rules, laws and systems of the jurisdiction – allowing the AMPS mission to function in its unique way with its internal guiding social scriptures, conventions and leadership systems.
Advising and Working Needs and Opportunities –
In the AMPS structure, above the local level, the Sannyasi (monk) religious minister leaders hold the positions that head the districts (parallel to the Bhukti), dioceses, regions, sectors and at the center (in India). Some householder ministers/volunteers hold these head secretary positions, often on a temporary acting basis. These head secretaries can invite qualifed householder practitioners to assist them in their work, either in an advisory or in a work capacity, or sometimes both. All of the Sannyasi monks are posted by AMPS Central and their assignment terms can vary in length. Those householder advisors or working board helpers are instrumental in carrying forward the work of and knowledge of the respective portfolio consistently over time as the Sannyasin terms end and a new monk leader is assigned. These advisory and working roles with these heads/secretaries are crucial to the long term and dynamic functioning of the AMPS mission.