Silent Teachings of Meher Baba
De Simple Silence.
Contents |
[modifier] Initial Subtle Realization
Just before one is about to start on the Path and enter the first stage or plane, the following three experiences, which are the standard of the initial subtle realization, are experienced:
1. A faintly audible but unimaginably rich musical sound is heard.
2. An almost suppressed yet indescribably sweet scent is smelt.
3. Unsteady but clear flashes of extremely dazzling lights are seen.
These experiences of hearing, smelling and seeing have nothing to do with the gross organs of the human body. One may be completely void of physical olfaction and totally blind and deaf, yet when one is about to start on the inner life, one is bound to hear, smell and see. Yet this is not the experience of the subtle in full consciousness, as the hearing is faint, smelling is half-suppressed and the seeing is in flashes, owing to the non-development of the organs of sense. The subtle organs become developed when one actually starts on the Journey.
[modifier] Action And Inaction
Inaction is in many ways preferable to unintelligent action, for it has at least the merit of not creating further karmic complications. Even good and righteous action sows the seeds of new complexities, which thicken the jungle that past actions and experiences have grown in the mind. All life is an effort to attain freedom from self-created entanglements, a desperate, ceaseless, though usually unconscious struggle to undo what had unwittingly been committed in the past, to discard the accumulated burden of our yesterdays, to get clear of the debris piled up by our temporal achievements and failures. The ultimate goal of life is to achieve unhampered freedom, to mature into that intrinsic richness of being that knows no limitations.
The progression from unwise action to enlightened action — from entangling experiences to redeeming experiences — is often through inaction. This transitory stage is characteristic of that moment in life when unintelligent action has stopped because of critical doubt, and intelligent action has not yet begun for want of adequate momentum. This passivity may be called creative inaction, which plays a useful part in man's spiritual progress. It should not be confused with the ordinary type of inaction, which is born of inertia or parented by fear of life.
[modifier] Selfless Service
Selfless service is unaffected by results. It is like the rays of the sun that serve the world by shining alike on all creation: on the grass in the field, on the birds in the air, on the beasts in the forest, on all mankind; on saint and sinner, rich and poor, strong and weak — wholly impervious to their attitude or reaction.
It is of vital importance, however, that service, though utterly selfless, be guided by spiritual understanding; for even selfless service unintelligently handled often creates complications and chaos. To be a pure blessing to humanity, the most selfless act of service must be born of absolute understanding of life and governed by faultless wisdom.
Selfless service consists in rendering service to others with no thought of gain, reward, or result; it is free from the thought of placing others under obligation. In serving a fellow human being in the spirit of spontaneous, selfless love, one does not put him under obligation. On the contrary, the one helped confers upon the helper the blessing of an opportunity to serve his own true self.
There is complete disregard of one's own convenience or welfare in selfless service; it is characterized by absolute subjugation of one's own happiness — by unalloyed joy in sacrificing everything for the well-being of others. In selfless service the comfort of others is one's convenience, their health one's healing, their happiness one's delight. Giving one's life for others, one gains glorious life for oneself. Sheltering others in one's heart makes one inhabit theirs. An act of helpfulness, a word of comfort, the spontaneous warmth of selfless love, give to others what they greatly need. Their thoughts of gratitude and goodwill, the heightened surge of their spirit, and the increased flow of God-love released by the selfless act bring to the giver infinitely more than he can ever give.
Service performed after realization of the divine law of the universe is a spontaneous expression of spiritual understanding; it is rooted in full comprehension of the true nature of the self. Though it is followed by important results in the objective world, it is in no way affected or complicated by craving for such results. The sun shines because it is its nature to do so, not out of any ambition to achieve something by it; the God-realized person lives a life of spontaneous self-offering, prompted by the heart of the divine Reality with which he knows himself to be one, not out of longing to achieve anything for himself. The God-conscious do not seek enrichment through attainments, for having realized the Infinite, they are already established in the divine sufficiency of the universe.
Selfless service reaches its acme in the God-realized Master. The Perfect Master serves the whole universe out of the finality of his infinite consciousness; those who serve the Master or submit to his guidance share in his universal work. Their service has the advantage of the Master's wisdom and insight. Willing participation in the work of the Master not only enhances the value of the disciple's service, but also creates most favorable opportunities for spiritual enlightenment. In importance, service originating in the instructions of the Master is second only to the service rendered by the Master himself. Selfless service is a road that leads to God.
[modifier] How Can We Help Avoid The War ?
Question: Will world conditions take a better turn?
Baba: Yes, it has to.
Question: Will there be an understanding between the East and the West?
Baba: Yes, it is inevitable. Soon there will be a worldwide spiritual revolution, and all will have to unite.
Question: Will it be a new religion or a union of all religions into one?
Baba: Yes, all will be one. It will just be a movement of eternal love, and so it will be a religion of love.
Question: Same as Christ's?
Baba: This change will soon happen in this generation and will last very long. It will be very soon when the spiritual revolution will take place.
Question: Will it express itself through war?
Baba: It might or might not. But it will express itself just after an economic war all the world over. I am trying to avert the war [fighting and bloodshed].
Question: How can we help avoid the war? How can we be useful?
Baba: By thinking that there will be no war. My millions of agents are working towards that. Your love messages can reach anyone, anywhere; because in all of them there is the one Infinite God. I will help you spiritually.
Compiled and Edited by Naosherwan Anzar
Copyright © 2001 Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust
