DISCOURSES & TALKS BY MEHER BABA

GOD EXISTS IS NOT HYPOCRISY

29th November, 1926

Baba stopped the singing and gave a long discourse:

To believe in God and say that God exists is not hypocrisy, but to say "I am God" without the Realization is absolute hypocrisy. All faith is based on intellect, and there can be no faith without intellectual conviction. Things beyond the intellect cannot be understood by or through the intellect, which is finite and limited.

Before trying to grasp the Beyond, or trying to get an intellectual idea of it, one must first acknowledge that the state of the Beyond is, that it does absolutely exist. That is, so to speak, the data of the theorem; the first step before one can approach the Infinite and Boundless. For example, we do not know Who or where God is, or whether He really exists or not. However, to understand or to have an idea of God and His works, as explained in religious books and by the wise, we must first take it for granted and believe that He is, that such a Superior Being as God does exist. With that beginning and trust in Him, start in search of Him.

The people of the world, the masses, do not really believe in the existence of God. They merely fear God as some unknown, mighty Being, Who rewards the good and worthy and punishes the wicked. And it is this punishment of hell created by God that they fear more than God Himself; for if they really believed in Him — in His existence — and were afraid of Him, their behavior would be quite different from what it is today — dishonest, selfish, deceitful and wicked. If they really felt afraid of God, they would be ever alert not to do anything that would displease Him, or that He would not like. If they really trusted in God and believed in His existence, they would at once begin looking for Him and would never rest until they found Him. For when love for Him comes, fear of Him vanishes. And when that love reaches its zenith, the lover finds that he himself is the Beloved.

No progress on this Path is possible if a person is an atheist and does not believe in the existence of God.

LM O/N p 751