DISCOURSES & TALKS BY MEHER BABA

 

COUPLETS  FROM  GHAZALS

 

 

 

29th January, 1923

 

Sometimes Ghani would deliberately quote Persian or Urdu couplets from ghazals, in the hope that Baba would offer some comment or explanation. On the night of 29 January, finding the Master in a communicative mood, Ghani recited this couplet:

 

Love originates in the heart of the Beloved.

Unless the lamp burns, how can the moth become mad after it?

 

Baba "took the bait" and explained it to Ghani:

 

It is assumed that there is a lover and a Beloved, and the connecting link between them is love. Although God is universal love, let us, for the sake of argument, concede that God at first begins to love or attract a talib [aspirant] by means of sufferings. The aspirant, not understanding the true significance of such an overture from Him, begins to protest and resist. This results in easing the situation for the time being, and again a pull is exerted toward the one to be attracted. But the instant sufficient love is kindled in the heart of the aspirant, which expresses itself in the desire for seeing God, the Beloved becomes indifferent. In this way, the game of attraction and repulsion continues for an undefinable period, but ultimately ends in Union with God. This is exactly what Hafiz explains when he says:

"One tip of a strand of hair is in my hand, the other in the hand of the Friend.

Our tug-of-war has been going on for years."

 

Whatever degree of love you have for me, in the same proportion, at times, you will hate me also. This hatred or repulsion is the resistance offered by you when I am trying to attract you toward me by my internal love. In the course of time, you will begin to respond to my love with equal intensity. Then the force of my love will relax and, at that time, I shall become indifferent.

 

A Master has love for all members of his circle. This treasure of divine love, which has come to me through Babajan and Maharaj, will be shared at its proper time with the members of my circle and others, in accordance with their connection, services and sufferings. The esoteric fact which I want you to remember is that the Beloved is more keen and eager to realize the lover than the lover's anxiety and longing for such union.

 

Lord Meher On-line page 378

Lord Meher Vol.2 p.471-2