Monday, July 04, 2016

Remembering Meher Baba


Meher Baba often stressed the importance of remembering him on a daily basis. What follows are some passages from Lord Meher that remind us how to do that. This is the first and it only requires four seconds of each day: one second four times a day:
The easiest and surest way is to do as I tell you. It will be somewhat of a task at first, as when you start to run you feel it too much (sore muscles); but when you are in training, you feel it "sahaj" (meaning, naturally). At first, you will have to do it deliberately, then it will become natural. There are four quarters of the day; there are four divisions in man's physical state: childhood, youth, maturity, old age. There are four quarters that Kabir calls the signposts. The first thing in the morning when you get up, before doing anything, think of Baba for one second. Baba is then worn by your soul: early in the morning dress your soul with Baba. At 12 noon, for one second do the same; do it again about five o'clock; when you retire do it also. I have never asked anyone to do this, not even the mandali. If you do it, I will be always with you, and you will feel my company all the time. Do it for four seconds every day, then you will be in the world, yet Baba will be with you all the time. This is the beginning of sahaj dnyan.
 In this second passage, he emphasises the number fourteen (as part of the "second" solution):
But Baba has three solutions to free you forever from your bindings. It is impossible, first of all, to become the very dust under my feet in this body. The second solution is to be in the world with family, home, business, et cetera, but take Baba's name fourteen times daily: not more, not less than fourteen times. Then you will come to me. Even fourteen times is difficult. If you cannot do this, then do this much. When about to breathe your last, repeat my name, and come to me. This too is hard to do unless you start repeating it or loving me from now on, every second of your life. If you do not do it, you will not be able to remember me in your last moments. Even if this is not possible, there is a last recourse which might help you. It is to do selfless service for others, as I am everywhere, in all and in everything. Service for the sake of service is selfless service. If you do this, under all circumstances and regardless of what happens, it will bring you to me.
Yet again, he asks us to remember him for five minutes at the start and end of each day:
Before going to sleep say, "Baba, I entrust all that I did to you, thoughts, spoken words, good and bad deeds." When you wake up say, "Baba, I now begin entrusting all to you." This much will be more than sufficient for me. Say it only twice a day for five minutes. Do that and make me responsible wholeheartedly for all that you think, speak and do, but wholeheartedly. Then you are free. Nothing can bind you. But you must do it honestly. I am the Ocean. I can accept both fragrant flowers and coconuts, and also filth. So throw everything in the Ocean with all your heart. This is a great thing and is to be done wholeheartedly; otherwise, it goes in a pool of water, making it filthy because of your own dirt.