DISCOURSES & TALKS BY MEHER BABA

 

GOD - REALIZATION

 

 

3 May, 1924

 

Baba was in a cheerful mood and explained more to them about God-realization and a Perfect Master's circle of disciples:

 

If you were to experience even for a moment an infinitesimal part of that Knowledge, you would derive infinite bliss. You would then experience only bliss from every external thing. Every particle would tell you its story in Knowledge. This whole world, which now seems full of misery, would shine forth as heaven!

 

The Spiritual Master molds only one chargeman like himself and bestows to him everything he has. He makes him his sole heir, entrusting him with everything. The chargeman distributes this inherited spiritual treasure among his circle — a very select few, numbering twelve. This treasure and power is divided among the twelve by the chargeman according to their capability before the fixed time [of their own Realization]. The experience at Realization is the same for all; yet the power given before Realization depends on one's rank in the circle and also upon one's forbearance and endurance before Realization. This means that when the Perfect Master leaves the body, the chargeman turns into a distributor. It is also possible that the Master retains his physical body, though he is "dead" inside. In some cases, the physical body of the Perfect Master becomes useless before his inner death.

 

Distribution means to hand over the inner duties of the chargeman to the circle members, whereby the chargeman becomes free. He becomes free to enjoy the infinite bliss, which up till then he could not enjoy due to his involvement in the duty of realizing his circle members. The state of the circle members is different from the chargeman's in this respect: they can enjoy the divine bliss whenever they like and also direct their attention to the discharging of the duties entrusted to them by the chargeman. But, after experiencing the highest state of nirvikalp [the Realization of "I Am God"] for some days, or only a few hours, the chargeman is brought down to the lower planes whereby, instead of remaining drowned in divine bliss, he can fulfill his duty toward his circle. While performing this duty, he has to pass through great mental strain and severe storms and crises.

 

Lord Meher On-line page 514

Lord Meher Vol.2 p.634

 

 

27 March, 1927

 

Later, at Meherabad, Baba told the mandali:

 

There is no easier way for attaining God-realization than satsang — the contact with or company of saints and Masters. As for my circle members, have no fear of failure or worry about Realization. The clock is wound and the alarm is set. When the time comes, the clock will ring automatically, whether it is near me or far away. But why keep at a distance? Keep company with Truth. When the time comes, the Light will appear in the blink of an eye. Wait and watch. Just wait patiently, like the story of the true aspirant who waited for twelve years at the bidding of his Master.

 

 

Lord Meher On-line page 793

Lord Meher Vol.3 p.921

 

 

 

30 May, 1927

 

Until God-realization, this life and world of existence is like a game of cards.

 

When you play cards you feel pleased or disappointed depending on winning or losing the game. You become so excited and absorbed in playing that you forget everything else. But once you stop and again get busy in the ordinary affairs of life, you forget about the game of cards and all its pleasures, disappointments, concerns, and anxieties.

It is also similar in the case of the Realized Ones. To them the very life and existence of the world is a mere game of cards. Worldly success and failure, happiness and misery are no more lasting or significant than the emotions you experience during a game of cards.

 

Lord Meher On-line page 817-8

Lord Meher Vol.3 p.942

 

 

10 August, 1927

 

On 10 August, Baba gave this analogy about God-realization:

 

Suppose the ocean equals God. But in the beginning, the ocean did not know that it was a mighty ocean. This desire to know itself is the wind which created a bubble. The bubble is an atom, and the water in the bubble is the soul. After gradual advancement, the bubble becomes a wave, which represents the human form. Now the wind gives the human form a small boat, meaning lifetimes, and the sea air is sanskaras.

 

The state of the man in the boat is that his hands are tied and hence he cannot take an active part in moving the boat (his life). He only breathes in and out; in other words, he creates sanskaras, which moves his boat. If he breathes in a good way and creates good sanskaras, the wind blows in such a way that his boat is led to a Boatman (the Sadguru). The Boatman has dived into the ocean and now again swims to the surface of the water. He grasps the helm of those boats which come to him.

 

The Boatman unties the man's hands and actually drowns him in the ocean. The moment the man is drowned, he realizes that "I myself am the ocean." Now instead of remaining in the ocean, he surfaces and takes command of the boat — over which previously he had no control, but which now comes under his control — and he begins to move it wherever he wishes.

 

In this Realized state, the soul has no further need of the boat, for his aim and object has been fulfilled. But in order to guide other ill-fated men in boats who have not yet drowned in the ocean, this Experienced Swimmer, grasping his boat from under the water, steers and drives his vessel in such a way that all other boatmen, whose wrists are still tied and who are thus still inexperienced, may be drawn and attracted towards him.

 

And in this way, he can set them free.

 

 

Lord Meher On-line page 835

Lord Meher Vol.3 p.957

 

 

 

14 September, 1927

 

Baba explained about the circle and its preparation:

 

The members of the circle of a Sadguru are God-realized at once, without having to [consciously] pass through the planes and incur the risks of faltering midway, for the Sadguru takes them through these inner planes in the dark. Those persons in the circle, who have duties and are to come down, should first of all be wiped clean of all their sanskaras; otherwise there is the risk of their becoming unconscious of the world and entering the majzoob state after Realization.

 

One of the mandali asked Baba why he was delaying the preparation of the circle and not giving them Realization immediately. He explained:

 

The time will come. But that time depends on the person's sanskaras being entirely burned up, and that is a gradual process. Although a Sadguru is a furnace and can burn up all the sanskaras in a breath, he does not do so for obvious reasons, and they are very sound reasons, too.

 

Lord Meher On-line page 844

 

 

 

5th September, 1929

 

Later that day, Pleader came and questioned Baba about God-realization. The Master explained:

 

Before Realization, the veil must be torn away and the mind must die. It is due to this veil that every individual mind functions in the gross and subtle bodies. Removing the veil would separate the gross from the subtle; when that occurs, in the subtle state you would be able to see internal things with as much clarity as you see gross objects. While doing all physical activities such as eating, drinking, sitting, standing — while your body is functioning — there is simultaneous progress into the subtle world, like killing two birds with one stone.

 

 

But the veil must be ripped off. Though this veil is thin, at the same time it is very strong. It cannot be slit easily, but it can be rent in an instant by a Perfect Master. If it is torn, the consciousness of the soul at once enters the first plane. It is like a parrot which escapes from its cage; it flies straight into the air without looking at its surroundings.

 

 

But progress comes to a halt at the first plane if the rent in the veil is made through one's own efforts or with the help of an imperfect guru [yogi or saint]. Seekers advance on their own, but it is ultimately useless, as they inevitably become entrapped. If a Perfect Master is there to help, he would not tear the veil unless the aspirant is fully ready; then the Master would take him straight to the goal.

 

 

Only a Sadguru can free one from the cage of illusion, but three conditions are required — longing, patience, and rock-like faith. Nothing is gained without longing. This is all that is needed, but the aspirant should remain restless continuously. For instance, if a man is stung by a scorpion, he constantly thinks of how to overcome the burning, throbbing pain. He forgets about eating drinking and worldly pursuits. He forgets everything and has only one thought: how to make the pain subside!

 

 

In the same way, there should be continual longing to be one with God. There should be no other thought except this: "I must be one with God today — immediately, this moment!" The mind and heart must be devoid of any other thought. Even though many years of suffering may pass, patience should never be forsaken. At first the longing is intense, but gradually it lessens and cools down. This should not be the case; patience must not be lost. It must be persistent. In the beginning there is great enthusiasm and a person is convinced he will soon gain Realization. But with the passing of time, his enthusiasm wanes.

 

 

A person may be purposely snared by the Master and then thrown out! I, too, do such things. But a wise man silently puts up with everything that comes from a Master. One who is unwise becomes impatient and starts grumbling. But Masters always coax the aspirant along and gradually give him a push on the Path. We always behave like this; it is our nature.

 

 

Traversing the Path is like a pulling-pushing tug-of-war. But a wise man does not act in this way. A clever bird who is caught in a trap does not flap its wings to free itself. It remains quiet and unflustered, waiting for an opportunity to escape. An inexperienced bird flutters and squirms, becoming flustered and injuring itself more.