DISCOURSES & TALKS BY MEHER BABA

 

STAYING CLOSE TO A PERFECT MASTER

 

 

 

12 May, 1925

 

One day some of the mandali felt discouraged and began reflecting on their years with the Master. They concluded that they had gained nothing spiritual by being with him. On 12 May 1925, during the course of a conversation with the same men, Baba gave this unexpected discourse:

 

You eat food to maintain your body and with the body you do different acts. The food in the stomach turns into fluid from which blood is made. You know this, but you have no idea or experience as to how it happens.

Similarly, those connected with me are gaining spiritual advancement, but don't see or have any idea about it. You, who are with me here, are completely unaware of the advancement, but it is definitely there. The closer a person is to a Perfect Master, the better it is for him; whether he is a member of the Master's circle or not.

 

 

Lord Meher On-line page 584

Lord Meher Vol.2 p.715

 

 

7 February, 1927

 

Baba made some casual remarks, from a spiritual standpoint it appeared that if the staff were paid, it would "nullify" the benefit Baba intended to bestow.

 

After two hours, Baba again called the mandali and stated:

 

 

The previous discussion has opened my eyes. You asked how the world is to know that I am a Sadguru or a great spiritual authority, and how you are to convince people of this. Hearing this I now find that neither am I a Dev nor a Sadguru, which up to now I have been claiming to be. I was doing it only with the view to make people believe in me. I am an ordinary man! Those who have been harboring hopes of spiritual advancement, or expecting benediction, have now nothing of the sort to gain from me. When I myself have not experienced God, how could I make others have His darshan?

 

So those of you who want to stay with me should stay on your own accord with the conviction and clear understanding that you will gain nothing from my hands. I hereby withdraw all the written agreements, oral promises, and sacred oaths I have taken from you and make you free of all restraint imposed on you by me.

 

Still if any of you wish to be with me, it should be with the knowledge that I am not God but merely a friend; and in that case, you should not have the slightest expectation of any spiritual or material benefit from me. You will get only food and clothing and nothing else. But if you chose to stay with me, strict obedience to my orders will still be required, in spite of what I have said.

 

What I want to impress upon you is that all this — everything in the world — is absolutely nothing. It is only a dream, an illusion. I have known and experienced this much, and there is nothing [more to understand]. So I will only keep a few suitable people around me and keep them away from kam and kanchan [lust and greed].

 

All of the mandali expressed their desire to continue their stay with Baba. To celebrate their decision, a game of cricket was played, and Baba afterward served milk tea.

 

 

Lord Meher On-line page 773

Lord Meher V3 p.906