Meher Baba's Silence

The following has been generated by NotebookLM from source material located at lordmeher.org.

Meher Baba's decision to maintain silence was a profound and sustained aspect of his spiritual work, lasting for 44 years from 1925 until his passing in 1969. He often spoke of its deep spiritual significance and its connection to his universal mission.

The Commencement and Purpose of Silence

Meher Baba formally declared his intention to observe silence on 4 June 1925, stating, "I will observe silence for one year. I will not speak to anyone. But all should hold fast to my feet. Those who stick with me until the end will be greatly benefited and highly rewarded". This initial declaration was postponed briefly due to an incident on 13 June 1925, when Gulmai, while cleaning the Post Office building at Meherabad, fell and sprained her ankle; Baba declared he was postponing his silence until she was well enough to walk.

He later announced on Friday, 26 June 1925, that his silence would commence on 10 July 1925. Notices were printed and mailed, and a sign was erected at the entrance to Meherabad to intimate this decision. On the evening of 9 July 1925, the day before his silence began, Baba conveyed his final instructions to the women's quarters, telling them, "Now listen to my last words, because from tomorrow I will keep silence for one year. ... When my work is done, I shall speak". He also spoke his last words to the mandali, reminding them of their duties and the dangers of snakes, stating, "I have my own reasons for keeping silence. I must do it". A snake incident that evening provided a final opportunity for the women mandali to hear his voice: "How fortunate you are that you have heard my voice so many times today! This incident with the snake took place to allow you to hear me speak for the final time".

Meher Baba's silence, which began on 10 July 1925, was not merely a vow or penance. He explained its purpose was "to lessen the difficulties and bear the burden of my circle members, who are to be God-realized and who otherwise would have had to undergo certain physical afflictions". He also linked it to "excessive spiritual work that will result when Babajan drops her body in the near future". He frequently stated that his silence was connected to a future manifestation and a "Word" that would revolutionize the world.

Methods of Silent Communication

Throughout his 44 years of silence, Meher Baba employed various methods to communicate:

• Writing: Initially, from 10 July 1925, he communicated by writing instructions, wishes, and discourses swiftly and emphatically. He even began writing a book, mostly in English, after his silence began. He also composed poems on his slate about the difficulty of not speaking.
• Chalk and Slate/Paper and Pencil: In the early days, a young boy named Bal would accompany him with a pencil and paper or chalk and slate for communication.
• Hand Gestures and Alphabet Board: By 1927, Baba ceased writing and began conveying his thoughts through hand gestures or by pointing to English alphabet letters in a newspaper. He later used a dedicated alphabet board for this purpose. He continued to give messages to thousands this way.
• Cessation of Gestures: By 1 December 1954, he had stopped using his forefinger for gestures to convey thoughts, marking "the last link of conversation" with the mandali through physical signs.
• Interpreters: As his gestures became more minimal, his close mandali, such as Eruch, would interpret his signs.

Reception of His Silence by Others

Meher Baba's silence was met with varied reactions:

• Mandali's Perception: Many mandali initially doubted he could maintain silence due to his "outgoing and voluble" nature but were "greatly impressed" by his perfect control. They found his not speaking "considerably more disconcerting" than his usual goading or censure. Later, it became "painful for the mandali to witness Baba's continued silence".
• Public and Media: His silence was often described as "imposing, impressing and inspiring". People noted that his eyes spoke volumes, expressing much without words. Media attention sometimes misrepresented facts, leading to misunderstandings. Some followers were disappointed when he postponed breaking his silence, and he even lost some followers due to this. Opponents, like Colonel Irani, used his silence as an excuse for false propaganda.
• Inward Experience: Despite his outward silence and seclusion, his presence was often felt more intensely by his lovers, as their attention became focused on him. He often stated that his silence did not impede his work, but rather increased its intensity.

Incidents Related to Maintaining Silence (1925-1969)

Throughout the 44 years, numerous incidents highlighted the nature and impact of his silence:

• Early Tests and Strictness (1925-1927):

  • In 1925, Baba instructed Gustadji, a naturally loquacious person, to observe silence for his work; Gustadji maintained it until his death in 1957. He later gave similar instructions to Daulatmai and Bala Tambat.
  • He explained that the silence of his devotees was for their own benefit, while his own was "to drown the world in the Ocean of his silence".
  • In a meeting, when asked why he was quiet, he gave curt replies like "My choice".

• Seclusions and Working (1928-1930):

  • He entered seclusion in a Table Cabin in 1928, fasting on one meal a day. He assured the women mandali, who had begun keeping silence out of worry, that he was not displeased and that they should resume speaking.
  • In January 1930, he entered a strict seclusion inside a cage, fasting partially. He compared this confinement to Jesus's 40-day stay on a mountain, explaining it was for work in "non-physical realms" and was "apparent, not real". Paradoxically, more visitors came during this strict seclusion.
  • In May 1930, he planned a strict six-month seclusion with nine people fasting on milk, where he would give up the alphabet board and all darshan. He expressed "grave doubts" about two participants, who indeed left the next day. A rumor spread that he would miraculously emerge from a sealed cave, drawing crowds.

• Interactions with Gandhi and World Tours (1931-1933):

  • During his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi on the Rajputana in 1931, Gandhi expressed his astonishment at Baba's seven years of silence and eagerness to hear him speak.
  • Baba clarified to Gandhi that references to him "speaking" were always through his alphabet board, not his tongue.
  • He explained that he kept silence to "make the world know me after breaking my silence".
  • On a trip to the US in 1932, he was heralded as potentially breaking his silence in Hollywood, with plans for radio broadcasts. However, he postponed it, stating "conditions are not yet ripe". This led to disappointment among some followers.
  • He assured a reporter in 1932 that he was "one hundred percent" confident he would speak when the time came, despite his long silence.

• Intensification of Work and Health (1936-1941):

  • In 1936, he wrote to Westerners that his long silence served a "great purpose" and taught them "the lesson to suffer".
  • His intense inner spiritual work often affected and strained his physical body.
  • In 1937, he stated his silence was not a vow and he might speak in the 13th year, as he liked the number 13.
  • From 1938, he dictated discourses for the Meher Baba Journal, often using "ghostwriters" to draft them based on his points.
  • He stopped signing his name for his passport due to his "own reasons".
  • He started an intense four-week fast in 1941, which "considerably weakened his health".
  • He announced a stricter six-month seclusion from 1 August 1941, during which he would not be seen or even hear a human voice in the last three months. He declared, "From February 1942 onward, I will start speaking to myself and afterwards to the public. Be ready to hear me speak".

• "Universal Work" and "New Life" (1942-1949):

  • He stated his greatness lay "in suffering for the universe" rather than performing miracles.
  • At a momentous meeting in October 1941, it was decided he would speak any day between 15 February 1942 and 15 February 1943, unannounced. He explained his silence would coincide with "the breaking of the long-awaited silence of God," and "The Word that will move the heart of all... will carry infinite power behind it".
  • His 49th birthday in 1943 was celebrated in six cities, with representatives delivering his message, "The Task for Spiritual Workers".
  • He broke a brief fast in March 1943, stating, "Hereafter, no more seclusion. I will come out publicly for darshan as often as required".
  • He revealed his final instructions for his biography in verse to Bhau Kalchuri on 24 January 1969, seven days before dropping his body. This was his last order. He told Bhau that he liked his writing and to disregard criticism.
  • On 24 January 1969, he uttered the words "Yad rakh" (remember) to Bhau. Bhau clarified that this was not the breaking of Baba's silence or the "Word-of-Words," but a demonstration that his vocal cords were still functional, refuting any idea that he was physically unable to speak. The true breaking of his silence would be his universal manifestation.
  • In 1945, he indicated that his "spiritual death" would occur in November 1945, and his suffering during a "conference of the Five" almost threatened his physical existence.
  • In 1947, he stated the world was approaching a "great upheaval" before he broke his silence, leading to "great suffering" but also a "profound change of heart".
  • The 22nd anniversary of his silence on 10 July 1947, was observed by followers worldwide with a 24-hour fast.
  • In 1948, he dictated that his devotees should abstain from taking part in political activities or discussion.
  • His "Great Seclusion" began on 1 July 1949, where all his mandali and followers were to keep silence for the entire month. On 10 July 1949, he broke his fast that began with the seclusion.
  • On 1 August 1949, he ended his seclusion, appearing radiant and healthy, as if returning from a holiday. This marked the end of his "Old Life" and the beginning of his "New Life" of renunciation and helplessness from 16 October 1949. During the New Life, his name was not to be disclosed, and begging was to be done cheerfully. He also instructed that if asked why he was silent, companions should say, "It is his personal and individual desire".

• Continuing Seclusion and Universal Work (1950s-1960s):

  • He stated in 1952, "If my silence cannot speak, of what avail would be speeches made by the tongue?".
  • On 7 October 1954, he announced he would give up his alphabet board and finger signs, and that his speaking was "very near". He declared an end to mass darshans, meetings, and correspondence. His last public appearance was in Pandharpur on 6 November 1954.
  • From 1 December 1954, the "last link of conversation" via finger gestures ceased, intensifying the "seriousness" around him.
  • He confirmed in 1958 he would break his silence in "sixteen months".
  • He also famously stated, "I am really the only one who is not in seclusion. It is the rest of humanity that is in seclusion. I have come to make it emerge into eternal freedom!".
  • On 10 July 1960, his 35th anniversary of silence was observed with Baba fasting and lovers observing silence. He stated then, "I shall not break my seclusion until I break my silence".
  • He repeatedly indicated that his silence would break due to a "universal crisis" and that "the moment is not far away".
  • In 1962, he emphasized, "When I break my silence it will be heard infinitely more clearly than the loudest of speech uttered by anyone".
  • He explained his suffering was immense because his inner work intensified, particularly from 1963 onward, when he compared the nine months leading to his speaking to a "gestation period" for the "birth" of a new dispensation of Truth.
  • On 10 July 1966, his 41st anniversary of silence, he gave the message: "God’s first Word was ‘Who am I?’ God’s last word is ‘I am God.’ And the Word that I, the God-Man, will utter soon will be the sound of my Infinite Silence".
  • He stated in 1967, "I bind myself with silence that, when I break it, mankind will realize what real freedom is". During this period, he would work with Kaikobad daily for three hours in silence, with Kaikobad repeating God's names and Baba bowing to his feet. This rigorous work left him exhausted and soaked with perspiration.
  • His seclusion was prolonged several times in 1968, indicating the "fate of the universe hangs on his seclusion". His birthday in 1968 was celebrated with great anticipation of an "unprecedented" event after his seclusion.

Final Days and Last Instructions (1969):

• As his health deteriorated, Baba experienced painful spasms when moving his fingers to communicate.
• On 24 January 1969, seven days before he dropped his body, Meher Baba gave Bhau Kalchuri the "very important work" of writing his biography in verse, instructing him to include the lives of the five Perfect Masters and his father's life. This was the last order Meher Baba ever imparted.
• In this same poignant moment, Baba uttered two words, "Yad rakh" (remember), to Bhau. Bhau later clarified that this was not the true "breaking of Baba's silence" or the "Word-of-Words," but rather a demonstration that his vocal cords were still capable of speech, dispelling any notion that his silence was due to physical inability. His real speaking would be a "universal manifestation".

Meher Baba's silence was a dynamic, active process that intensified his connection with the world, leading him to engage in tireless inner and outer work, preparing for a future spiritual awakening of humanity.

Rome and Home

Baba taunted the man, replying, “Yes, you cannot follow because you are in Rome, and I know because I am at Home! This is the difference between you and me. You are in Rome and I am at Home!”

The priest then left, quite puzzled by his encounter with Baba. What Baba meant by “Home” was that he was one with God, and “Rome” was the church – rites, rituals, orthodoxy. God abided in Baba, and Baba abided in God. But to the priest God was in Rome – the church in Rome.

Above is an excerpt from a story from Lord Meher that I received in my inbox today and quite like. The punchline of course is the following:

 You are in Rome and I am at Home

This quote carries more weight for me because I attended a Catholic school and was nominally a Catholic until about age 15 when the penny dropped so to speak. While I'm not in Rome anymore, I'm still far from home or "walking far from home" as the Iron and Wine song lyrics go. What follows is the full story and a wonderful photo of Baba taken in 1936 when he was 42 years old. He looks magnificent. The photo immediately follows the story. 

(March 1937) Baba was in Nasik. Malcolm Schloss had met a Catholic priest at a religious conference in Nasik and he urged the priest to meet Baba, but he declined. When he told Baba, he also seemed uninterested. However, due to Malcolm’s persuasion a meeting was arranged. The following conversation between the priest and Meher Baba then ensued:

When they met, Baba commented to him, “All the Mullajis (Muslim priests) are good; the Pope is good; the Pandits (Hindu scholars) are good. But only the Sankaracharya (1) (head of orthodox Hinduism) can speak for hours on end!”

The priest had recently returned from participating in the religious conference, and hearing Baba’s words, proudly refuted, “It was not the Sankaracharya, but I who spoke during the whole conference. The Sankaracharya could not argue convincingly at all. He could not say a word to me and I rebuked him severely.”

“Yes,” replied Baba, “these Mullajis, and the Sankaracharya, all need to be warned. They deserve lecturing and need to be taken to task.”

“You just said they are good and now you say they need to be lectured,” the priest said. “I don’t follow what you mean.”

Explaining, Baba spelled out, “The Sankaracharya and high priests have big heads – they are intellectuals – but they have small hearts. You, however, have a good heart.”

Baba added, “There are many to teach in the world, but very few to learn.”

“What do you mean?” asked the priest.

“They all teach but none of them wants to learn – and those who teach do not know the Truth themselves!”

Baba then recounted a striking incident concerning Baily: “A chap named Baily was my school friend and he just could not believe how a boy like me who used to play marbles with him, could as a man attain such a high state while he was still in the same state where he was. The difference between him and me was so phenomenal that he wanted to see some miracles as proof in order to gain conviction about me. One day, when Baily was writing something in my thatched hut in Poona, all of a sudden the inkwell began dancing up and down! He was flabbergasted. After a little while, the pen jumped from his hand and also started to dance. He started shouting, ‘Baba! Baba!’ and wept continuously for some days. From that day on, he was convinced of my powers and had faith in me.

“I told him, ‘You are a fool. If this small phenomena could convince you of spirituality, why don’t you go and follow Muhammad Chhel, who was a well-known tantric magician?’

“All miracles are child’s play, whereas spirituality is far above them. Miracles in themselves have no spiritual value or significance. But they are necessary and, at times, performed by the Master as a means to convince people of Truth and spirituality. Jesus performed miracles not for his own gain, but to make people recognize the Truth and to create faith in them. Yet, when he was crucified, he who could raise the dead, did not stop it!”

Changing the subject, the priest asked, “Why do you keep silence? Why don’t you speak?”

“I always speak!” Baba smilingly replied, “I continually speak through you, through all the high priests and through everyone.”

Not following what Baba meant, the priest asked, “Then why do you use the alphabet board?”

“I talk through you and all, and I answer questions through this board.”

The priest looked more perplexed and asked, “How? I don’t understand.”

Baba taunted the man, replying, “Yes, you cannot follow because you are in Rome, and I know because I am at Home! This is the difference between you and me. You are in Rome and I am at Home!”

The priest then left, quite puzzled by his encounter with Baba. What Baba meant by “Home” was that he was one with God, and “Rome” was the church – rites, rituals, orthodoxy. God abided in Baba, and Baba abided in God. But to the priest God was in Rome – the church in Rome.

(1) Footnote: In Hinduism the Sankaracharya is similar in status to the Pope in Roman Catholicism.

Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 6, pp. 2129 – 2130. Link.

Mu’inuddin Chishti

The following appeared in my inbox today from the Meher Baba Centre in Bombay and quoted from Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 7, pp. 2391 – 2393:

(Feb.1939) On one occasion, referring to the purpose of his visits to different shrines, tombs or dargahs of saints and Perfect Masters, Baba stated:

By my living presence, I clean the tangled atmosphere of the shrines of the dead saints, Sadgurus and Qutubs. This complicated atmosphere is of the thought world. Thought force is really very strong and powerful. Chaitanya did not go to places of pilgrimage for the sake of pilgrimage, but for cleansing their atmosphere which were full of the sanskaras of thoughts of worldly people. Chaitanya was a Hindu Perfect Master, during the time of Shankara. He originated the ecstatic song or evocation, “Hare Krishna, Hare Ram!”

For my work, a pilgrim on the third plane is more helpful than the place of a dead Master of the seventh plane; but a well-known dead saint or Master may have a strong influence due to the multitudes going to his tomb. That is why I thin down the effect of this complicated thought atmosphere by visiting such places.

Meher Baba went to the shrine of Mu’inuddin Chishti several times. Chishti is responsible for more converts to Islam in India that any other man. He converted over two hundred thousand people during his time in India; no one else ever did such, even the Mughal warlords during their invasions. On a later occasion, Meher Baba revealed that the Sufi Master Mu’inuddin Khwaja Saheb Chishti was the Qutub-e-Irshad of his time.

I asked Bard to explain the term Qutub-e-Irshad (link):

The term "Qutub-e-Irshad" is a composite phrase consisting of three words:

• Qutub: This word in Arabic can have multiple meanings depending on the context. In Sufi terminology, it often refers to a "pole star" or a spiritual guide who serves as a central figure within a specific lineage or order. It implies the individual holds high spiritual authority and wisdom.

• e-: This is a Persian connecting particle, meaning "of" or "belonging to."

• Irshad: This word in Arabic signifies "guidance" or "instruction."

Therefore, when combined, "Qutub-e-Irshad" translates roughly to "Pole Star of Guidance" or "Master of Instruction." It refers to a highly respected spiritual leader within a Sufi tradition who offers guidance and instruction on the path of spiritual enlightenment.

Meher Baba explained that at any given time on Earth there are five Qutubs or Perfect Masters overseeing the affairs of the world. One of these five in charge and is referred to as the Qutub-e-Irshad. Of the five Qutubs in Meher Baba's early life, Sai Baba was the Qutub-e-Irshad:

Was this ascetic a Hindu or a Muslim? People of every religion and caste in India would seek him out. This holy man belonged to no caste or religion or "ism." He himself was the true fakir, the Emperor of Emperors. Why would people journey hundreds of miles to see him? Because his eyes shone brilliantly with a magnetism that drew them towards him. The light in his eyes attracted thousands to his feet.

Hidden in this extraordinary fakir was the Qutub-e-Irshad of the age — the head of the spiritual hierarchy and the leading Perfect Master of his time. He who held the key to all worlds and universes in his very hands appeared as a ragged beggar in a nondescript village in India. In his hands the conflicting forces of the world's turmoil and the throes of the universes were kept balanced! It may be difficult for a worldly-minded materialist to believe this, but it is a spiritual fact. Source.

Bard had this to say about Mu’inuddin Chishti (link):

Mu'inuddin Chishti: A Revered Figure in Sufi Islam

Mu'inuddin Chishti, also known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz ("comforter of the poor"), was a revered Sufi preacher, scholar, and mystic who played a significant role in spreading and shaping the Chishti Order of Sunni Islam in the Indian subcontinent. Here's a summary of his life and contributions:

Life and Lineage:

Born in Sistan, Persia (present-day Iran) in 1141 CE.

Descended from both Prophet Muhammad and Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Received spiritual guidance from renowned Sufi masters in his youth.

Embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca, spending time in Baghdad and Delhi before settling in Ajmer, India, in 1206 CE.

Contributions:

Established the Chishti Order in India: He is considered the founder of the Chishti Order in the Indian subcontinent, known for its emphasis on love, devotion, and inclusivity.

Promoted interfaith dialogue: He cultivated relationships with people of different faiths, fostering peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.

Emphasized service to humanity: His teachings stressed compassion, generosity, and service to the poor and marginalized.

Attracted diverse followers: His charismatic personality and message resonated with people from all walks of life, regardless of caste, creed, or social status.

Left a lasting legacy: His tomb in Ajmer became a major pilgrimage site, attracting devotees from all over the world.

Significance:

Mu'inuddin Chishti's contributions are considered pivotal in the spread of Islam in India, particularly Sufism, which offered a more mystical and inward-looking approach to faith.

His teachings and personal example resonated with diverse communities, contributing to social harmony and interfaith dialogue in the region.

He continues to be revered as a spiritual guide and source of inspiration, not just for Muslims but for people of all faiths and backgrounds.

Further Exploration:

If you're interested in learning more about Mu'inuddin Chishti, here are some resources:

• Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu%27in_al-Din_Chishti

• Ajmer Sharif Dargah website: https://ajmerdargahsharif.com/

• Books and articles on Sufism and the Chishti Order

I hope this overview provides a helpful starting point for understanding Mu'inuddin Chishti's life and significance.

This news article from January 29th 2019 provides additional information.

God versus Godhood

How much better it would be if God were conceived of less as a person and more as an experience. Boys pass into to manhood, girls pass into womanhood and some humans pass into Godhood. All humans have the capacity to experience Godhood but very few do. The more God is objectified, the more humans project human qualities on to this notion that they have of God. God becomes a sort of super-person who is all powerfull, all knowledgeable, all merciful etc. The attempt is made to contain God within the bounds of human intellect and understanding.

The so-called Perfect Masters, also called Sadgurus or Qutubs, have experienced Godhood or God-consciousness and returned to worldly consciousness for “universal duty”. Others, called Majzoobs, have also experienced Godhood but remain oblivious to the world, their bodies are here but they have no awareness of their physical surroundings. The majority of those who attain Godhood drop their body within three days, as they have no further use for it. Meher Baba has told us that there are always 56 God-realised souls on Earth at any one time. It is only on Earth that these God-realised souls can be found and on none of the other approximately 18,000 worlds supporting human life.

The first human to attain Godhood is known as the Avatar or Ancient One. This human was a male and His “universal duty” is never-ending. Unlike the Sadgurus who return to consciousness of the physical world only once, the Avatar returns periodically (every 700 or 1400 years) and always in a male body. Zoroaster, Krishna, Ram, Buddha and Christ are some of the forms He has taken. His most recent incarnation was in the form of Meher Baba (1894-1969).

Meher Baba’s life has been recorded in great detail and Bhau Kalchuri’s epic biography, Lord Meher, remains the most authoritative account of His life. Unlike previous Avatars, Meher Baba did not establish a new religion because He said that there were enough of them already. To quote His Universal Message (source):

I have come not to teach but to awaken. Understand therefore that I lay down no precepts. Throughout eternity I have laid down principles and precepts, but mankind has ignored them. Man’s inability to live God’s words makes the Avatar’s teaching a mockery. Instead of practicing the compassion He taught, man has waged crusades in His name. Instead of living the humility, purity and truth of His words, man has given way to hatred, greed and violence. Because man has been deaf to the principles and precepts laid down by God in the past, in this present Avataric Form I observe Silence. You have asked for and been given enough words — it is now time to live them. To get nearer and nearer to God you have to get further and further away from “I”, “my”, “me” and “mine”. You have not to renounce anything but your own self. It is as simple as that, though found to be almost impossible. It is possible for you to renounce your limited self by my Grace. I have come to release that Grace. I repeat, I lay down no precepts. When I release the tide of Truth which I have come to give, men’s daily lives will be the living precept. The words I have not spoken will come to life in them.

It can be noted that the Avatar Himself uses the term God but He makes it clear, via His other utterances, that God is not an external entity but an inner state to be attained. To find God is to experience Godhood: Oneness without Division. Meher Baba emphasised the importance of the Perfect Masters and Avatar as well as alluding to the formless state of God (Godhood) in the following quote:

On May 27th, (1926) Meher Baba discoursed on the Personal and Impersonal sides of God:

The foremost and highest object in life is personally serving a Sadguru and complete surrenderance to him. The second is constant meditation on the divine name. The third is selfless service, and the fourth is the offering of worship (prayer). Serving a Sadguru is like taking a course for a Master’s degree; meditating on the divine name is like studying for a Bachelor’s degree; performing selfless service is like obtaining a high school diploma, and offering prayers is like learning the alphabet. Once one attains the Bachelor’s degree, it does not take much time to attain the Master’s degree.

Were someone to ask me who is greater Personal or Impersonal God, Tukaram or Bhagwan, Zarathustra or Ahuramazda, Jesus or God the Father, I would definitely answer that Tukaram, Zarathustra and Jesus are greater. In fact, they are the Greatest of the Great because by being a Sadguru or the Avatar they render infinite service to the universe and suffer infinitely by taking upon themselves the burden of the world’s infinite amount of sanskaras. Undoubtedly, a conscious divine person such as Tukaram or Zarathustra, compared to the unconscious Bhagwan or Ahuramazda (formless God), is definitely greater!

Zarathustra was actually God in human form – an Avatar. In order to work in creation, he had to come down as man among illiterate, fanatical and hot-tempered humanity. Had Zarathustra told them to worship him, they would have denounced, harassed and murdered him. They would have thought him an enormous egotist and absolutely crazy. So he taught them to pray to formless God. But in reality, by worshiping formless God, they were worshiping him; and consequently they gained the impression that Ahuramazda was greater than Zarathustra, which was wrong.

Lord Meher, Original ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 3, 803.

The Four Pillars of Meherabad

Vishnu came into Meher Baba’s contact as a teenage boy in 1918, and from the days of Manzil-e-Meem in 1922, he was always with Baba. His almost forty years of service, love and obedience to the God-Man were as close to perfect as perfect can be described. His mother, Kakubai, had died in Meherabad, and now Vishnu had laid aside his body at the Beloved’s side. Vishnu was incomparable in forbearance, and Baba was always pleased with him. Even under the most trying circumstances, he would never utter a word of complaint, and he put up with every hardship. Vishnu was called “One of the four pillars of Meherabad,” along with Adi, Pendu and Padri. Among the men, he was sorely missed.

The above is a quote from this source. In reading “Lord Meher” it’s sometimes difficult to clearly distinguish between the different mandali. I’m prompted in this post to explore the life of this pillar of Meherabad, using Meher Baba’s Life and Travels as my source of information. Vishnu Deorukhar was also known as “Bazaar-Master,” because he did the marketing for many years at Meherabad, Meherazad and other headquarters. Figure 1 shows a photo of him. The text following is taken from the just quoted source and is reproduced in full because it’s difficult to read on the actual site. I took a screenshot of the text and then used Google Keep to grab the text from the image. It did a good job and I only needed to make a few minor corrections.

Vishnu
Born : 21st June 1903
Died : 13th May 1962

When the disciple is ready, it is said, the Master appears. Vishnu Deorukhat, later known as “Vishnu Master,” must have completed his preparations in previous births, since he met Baba when just a boy of fifteen, and remained His permanently. The year was 1919, and the place was Poona. Vishnu lived with his mother just across the street from Merwan’s toddy shop located in the Kasba Peth district, a neighborhood near the river inhabited by poor fishermen. In these days, Baba would perform arti in a small room adjacent to the shop that He had established as a temple, and after prayers He gave gave prasad to all-comers. Baba was drawing many of His earliest disciples to Himself at this time.

One day while Baba was distributing prasad, a boy came forward, holding out his hands. Before he could leave, Baba asked him, “Where is your father!” Young Vishnu told Baba that his father had died and that he lived with his mother. Baba told the lad, “From now on I am your father” With these words Baba sealed the connection, which proved to be lifelong. Soon after this Vishnu’s mother, who was cooking Baba His lunch each day, complained that her son was associating with a bad group of boys and going to movies. Immediately Baba set off to the neighborhood theater, caught the boy, and slapped him several times. Shocked, Vishnu protested that he had bought the ticket with his own money. “But did you ask me if you could go to the movies? Baka scolded him. “Didn’t I tell you that I would be your father!”

From that time on, Vishnu knew that he could not do anything without Baba’s permission. Four years later, in early 1923 Vishnu was called to join Baba as one of His mandali at the Marsil-e-Meem in Bombay; and a year after that he came to live with Baba at Meherabad. During this period Baba designated Vishnu as bazaar-wali responsible for shopping and keeping the accounts. And this duty stuck throughout the years, whether Baba was on tour, in Meherabad, in Meherazad, in Guruprasad, or other places.

Vishnu accompanied Baba on His first trip to Persia in 1929 and during His sensational, high-profile visit to the West in 1932. On other tours during this phase of Baba’s intensive world travel, He assigned Vishnu the duty of sending Him a daily telegram reporting on the routine activities and health of the mandali back in the ashram. If Vishnu happened to miss a day, Baba would demand, “What happened! Why hasn’t Vishnu sent the telegram! And Baba would have His own telegram sent out asking the reason for the lapse.

From the mid-1920s until he passed anang, Vishnu was closely associated with Meherabad. Indeed, he was one of the “Four Pillars of Meherabad,” along with Padri, Pendu, and Adi Senior. Baba give them this title in the great meetings in August 1949 in which He announced the New Life. During those meetings Vishnu came forward as one of the “yes-walis” and set out with Baba as one of His twenty companions on October 16.

After the New Life Vishnu continued in his role as one of Baba’s resident mandali. He was one of Baba’s fellow-travelers when He met with His second automobile accident in Satara in December 1956. When Eruch regained consciousness and staggered out of the car with broken ribs in the accidents immediate aftermath, he asked Vishnu, who was the least hurt, what had happened. But it seems that Vishru had experienced a vision of Baba in His universal body, surrounded by effulgent light. Stunned by what he had witnessed, Vishnu could only speak to Eruch about the radiance of Baba’s face, who had appeared to him like Krishnu triumphant on the battlefield of Kurukshetra! Perhaps Baba had granted him some glimpse of the inner dimensions of His Avataric working on that momentous occasion.

Though Vishnu did not often stay at Meherabad, when Baba shifted residence to Guruprasad in Poona in the summer months, Vishnu accompanied Him there. And so it came to pass, one afternoon in 1962 shortly after the usual Sunday darshan gathering had dispersed, that Vishnu passed away after a heart attack. Informed by Goher of what had happened, Baba came from His room and sat by His old disciple, who had worn out his life in his Beloved’s service, for a full hour. “Never before have I sat near the body of any of My mandali as I am doing today by Vishnu,” Baba commented.”He is most fortunate. Vishnu is now merged in Me.”

A “smallish man of regal bearing” as Mani afterwards described him, Vishnu kept a low profile among Baba’s mandali, but was one of the stalwarts in His work. His body now tests in the men’s graveyard in Lower Meherabad next to the grave of his fellow disciple and longtime friend Nilu.

The author of Meher Baba’s Life and Travels makes the odd statement on the site that Meher Baba claimed the Vishnu was Napoleon Bonaparte in a previous life. However, a reading of Lord Meher (page 2209 online edition) makes it clear that this is not the case. What Baba actually said was:

Meanwhile, at Laksar, the men mandali had to change trains with Chatti Baba, who refused to board it. The train was about to leave when Vishnu thought of this trick: He told the mast, “We are trying to take you back to your native place, but we can’t, if you won’t board the train.” The ruse worked and Chatti Baba happily climbed on board. When Baba heard of it, he laughed, and joked, “Vishnu is short and does all the work of marketing and travel arrangements. But now I see that not only does he look like Napoleon and labor like Napoleon — even his brain works like Napoleon’s!”

The Ancient of Days

Figure 1: The Ancient of Days
by William Blake (1794)

In my mid-twenties I had a quite large poster of Blake's "The Ancient of Days" that adorned the walls of the various abodes in which I lived during those years. To quote Wikipedia:

Ancient of Days is a name for God in the Book of Daniel. The title "Ancient of Days" has been used as a source of inspiration in art and music, denoting the creator's aspects of eternity combined with perfection. William Blake's watercolour and relief etching entitled The Ancient of Days is one such example. This term appears three times in the Book of Daniel (7:9, 13, 22), and is used in the sense of God being eternal.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Daniel 7:9

In this sense, "The Ancient of Days" is more akin to what Meher Baba termed "The Beyond the Beyond State of God" in his book "God Speaks". However, Christians nowadays clearly associate the phrase with Jesus. In the well-known song "Ancient of Days" by CityAlight this is clearly the case, although Jesus is not mentioned explicitly:

Ancient of Days

CityAlight

Though the nations rage, kingdoms rise and fall

There is still one King reigning over all

So I will not fear for this truth remains

That my God is, the Ancient of Days

None above Him, none before Him

All of time in His hands

For His throne it shall remain and ever stand

All the power, all the glory

I will trust in His name

For my God is, the Ancient of Days

Though the dread of night overwhelms my soul

He is here with me, I am not alone

O His love is sure, and He knows my name

For my God is, the Ancient of Days

None above Him, none before Him

All of time in His hands

For His throne it shall remain and ever stand

All the power, all the glory

I will trust in His name

For my God is, the Ancient of Days

Though I may not see what the future brings

I will watch and wait for the Saviour King

Then my joy complete, standing face to face

In the presence of the Ancient of Days

None above Him, none before Him

All of time in His hands

For His throne it shall remain and ever stand

All the power, all the glory

I will trust in His name

For my God is, the Ancient of Days

For my God is, the Ancient of Days

Source: Musixmatch

Van Morrison also has a song titled "Ancient of Days" from his album "A Sense of Wonder", released way back in 1985. The lyrics are quite different:

Ancient of Days

Van Morrison 

Saw you shining in the sun this morning 

Saw you shining in the moon at night 

Saw you shining in the sun this morning 

Saw vou shining in the moon at night 

Ancient of days, ancient of days, ancient of day a a a ays 

Saw you standing by the winding river 

Saw you standing by the shining stream 

Saw you standing by the winding river 

Saw you standing bv the shining stream 

Ancient of days, ancient of days, ancient of day a a a ays 

Felt you stirring in my heart this morning 

Felt you moving in my heart at night 

Felt you stirring in my heart this morning 

Felt you moving in my heart at night 

Ancient of days, ancient of days, ancient of day a a a ays 

Saw you shining in the sun this morning 

Saw you shining in the starry night 

Saw you shining in the sun this morning 

Saw you shining in the starry night 

Ancient of days, ancient of days, ancient of day a a a ays   

 Meher Baba often referred to himself as "The Ancient One":

"I was Ram, I was Krishna. I was this One, I was that One, and now I am Meher Baba. In this form of flesh and blood I am that same Ancient One who alone is eternally worshiped and ignored, ever remembered and forgotten."

Lord Meher Online Edition 

"I belong to no religion. Every religion belongs to me. My own personal religion is of my being the Ancient Infinite One, and the religion I teach to all is of love for God. This love can be practiced by anyone, high, low, rich, poor; and everyone of every caste and creed can love God. The one God who resides equally in us all is approachable to everyone through love. So I give my blessings that at least some of you will love God as He is to be loved."

Lord Meher Online Edition

"I am the Ancient One. I came as Ram in the world. I was Krishna and Muhammad. And I was the Christ who was crucified."

Lord Meher Online Edition 

"People say that I am the Avatar, but when it is impossible for rishis and munis to understand me, how can they know me? Only the Perfect Masters know me. I am that Ancient One — Zoroaster, Ram, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad. But how will you know that I am the Adi Purush [Supreme Power]? Rare are those who have the fortune to know me. So do one thing. Leave the thought of understanding me altogether. Love me, obey me; that is all. "

Lord Meher Online Edition 

"I am the Ancient One, the one residing in every heart. Undoubtedly, I am the Ancient One. So if you love others, make others happy, serve them even at discomfort to yourself, you would be loving me, the Beloved residing in every individual heart."

Lord Meher Online Edition 

The Van Morrison song would be impossible for me to sing but the CityAlight song is relatively easy to play. Here is the Ultimate Guitar link to the chords. Baba also referred to himself as the Avatar but this term has become somewhat debased by its association with an icon or figure representing a particular person in video games, internet forums, etc. and also the James Cameron movie "Avatar". Therefore the term "The Ancient One" is preferable to both "Avatar" and "God", both of which terms carry a lot of baggage.

That's not to say that "The Ancient One" doesn't have any baggage. It does. For instance, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

The Ancient One was the Sorcerer Supreme as well as the leader of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. For centuries, the Ancient One protected Earth from mystical threats, and dedicated herself to helping others in need by educating them in the magical arts to give them new hope.

Baba on Masts

I found this explanation, taken from Lord Meher, about how masts see the world to be very poignant:

Although Baidul would work wholeheartedly and very hard in the mast work, his mind would at times trouble him. He could not accept Mohammed as a saint or wali, thinking him to be mad for playing with dirt or digging with his fingers in dirt. Once in Ranchi it began raining heavily. Baidul tried to dissuade Mohammed from playing in the dirt (or “deesh” as he called it), and to come in out of the rain to protect his health. Baidul was rather harsh with him and Mohammed started crying. Baba happened to come by when Baidul was threatening Mohammed and forcefully pulling him out of the mud and rain. It was this incident that caused Baba to give a long explanation about the condition of these masts and the undesirability of using any force on them.

"You have no idea how these masts feel in this changed environment. All the care we bestow – the food and clothing we give – is no obligation to them at all, for they do not need it; rather they resent it. In allowing us an opportunity to serve, they are, on the contrary, obliging us. Otherwise, it is a binding to those accustomed to live freely and happily according to their own peculiar whims and methods. To distract them from a particular thing in which they are interested is a torture to them, for they find relief even in staying in their squalor and playing with dirt and filth.

A mast such as Karim Baba gulping five and six coins at a time and passing them out in his stools, and again gulping them down is an example of this. It is his method. If you try to stop it, even with the best of motives to keep him clean and out of the dirt, and he gets enraged, you could be doomed for life, because the wrath of masts and saints is very dangerous.

Mohammed’s trait of finding and looking at his “deesh” is a sort of relief to him to be thus occupied. You think that he is playing with dirt and is exposed to the elements. With the best of motives of safeguarding his health, you try to bring him in. When he resists, you forcibly try to pull him out and break his link to what he has seen in that particular object, through the higher consciousness of the spiritual plane on which he is. And what happens? The moment he finds you trying to dissuade him, he feels disturbed and is indecisive whether to be there or here, meaning where his consciousness has taken him on the higher planes through the thing he is looking at, or where he is called on by you to go, leaving his deesh on this earthly plane.

This is no joke. It is a regular torture to Mohammed to reconcile the two different and conflicting states of the higher and lower planes of consciousness. If, in the torments of this torture or excitement, he were to abuse or curse anyone for thus disturbing him in the enjoyment of his ecstasy, the cursed one would be doomed for this life. It is simply because of me that he cannot do this and you are saved from his wrath. That is why I have been asking you constantly to be very tolerant and lenient with the masts and never to disturb them if they are persistent, even when you have the best of motives such as to protect them from the elements, uncleanliness, et cetera, which is also one of your duties.

The best way to handle them is the way of love and mild persuasion. If these do not succeed, nothing else will. Compulsion or force would be worse, even if they cannot hurt you for my sake. It reacts on them and causes them to suffer, which I do not want. For I know what a torture it is to them, and how they suffer.

It is a torture both ways. First of all, the masts suffer from being deprived of their own environment and their freedom in the places where they used to live. To be thus kept confined, even with all the other liberties we give them, and best care we take of them is to suffer. Secondly, the masts suffer whenever disturbed and pulled out of their ecstatic enjoyment. It is because they feel happy in my presence that they stay. They see me and know me as none of you do. That is why they are quiet. Otherwise, they would be impossible to manage.

If efforts made with love are effective with worldly people, they would be all the more effective and essential in dealing with these saintly beings who are lost in the love of God. You love to enjoy one phase of some of their peculiar traits when they are quiet and pleasing. You should equally enjoy the other phase of their insistence in the experience of the bliss they find in certain things which your eyes cannot penetrate, nor your mind understand."

Lord Meher, American ed., Bhau Kalchuri Vol. 7, pp. 2583 – 2585.

There's not much that I can add to that. It makes you realise how little we really understand about what is going on. We are totally mesmerised by the world and experience it as the only reality. The masts become mesmerised as well and the reality they experience is very different to ours. They are still trapped in illusion but with far fewer veils of ignorance separating them from the ultimate reality. Yet the "well adjusted", those who are fully absorbed in the earthly drama, have no understanding of these masts who are seemingly insane or mentally handicapped. Even Baidul, one of Baba's mandali, failed to understand them.

Of course, with any mention of masts, one cannot forget Dr. William Donkin, or Don as Baba called him, who accompanied Baba on many of his journeys to find masts and who wrote "The Wayfarers" that chronicles these journeys.

Dr. William Donkin

Born : 14 November, 1911 - England

Died : 9th August, 1969 - India

To quote from Meher Baba's Life and Travels:

These Men of God, who are themselves the "Great Heroes" of the Spiritual Path, have at times spontaneously given expression to their recognition of Baba as He Is: they are able to see and know from personal inner knowledge The Real Being that is Baba. As Dr. Donkin points out in "The Wayfarers” from which these examples are taken, "In reading these brief paragraphs one should remember that, when on tour in search of MASTS, Baba is almost always incognito, and that when a MAST bears witness to Baba's spiritual greatness, he often does so without having any external means of knowing who Baba is; those (who do know Baba externally) have reputations as MASTS or saints quite independent of their contact or relationship to Baba, and this, I believe, adds greatly to the value of what they say.”

Bob Mossman has written a biography of Don titled "Slave of Love" and in this YouTube video he talks about the inspiration behind the idea of writing of the book as well as the process of of its creation. Unfortunately, it only seems to be available as a paperback and not in electronic form.

The White Horse

 In my last post to this blog, I wrote:

Still there is something eerie about the broken thong. In two recent dreams I had been barefoot and then suddenly, this morning and in "real life", I was barefoot again by force of circumstances. The incident serves to blur the divide between "dream life" and "real life". For some reason, the two have overlapped and it would seem that my psyche is trying to tell me something. Is it to go barefoot and heal myself and others? Am I being too literal?

That division between "dream life" and "real life" continues to blur. Last night, I dreamt that I was guiding a white horse into the lift/elevator of a tall building. I succeeded in getting the horse in without difficulty and the horse and I ascended in the lift. There were a couple of other people present but they remained anonymous. That's all I can recall.

The next afternoon, I was describing the dream to my grand-daughter as we were driving to the bank. There in front of us was a small brown horse that a man was attempting to guide across the road. I stopped the car and allowed the man and the horse to cross. Synchronicity like this tells us that there's something in the air.

After the bank, my grand-daughter and I spent some time in Starbucks. When we returned home, I took the dog for a walk but I slipped as I began to descend the front steps of our house. The maid had recently washed the steps and they were still slippery. I fell backwards heavily and bounced down the five or so steps. Though I was initially shocked, I recovered quickly and sustained no apparent injuries.

I was sufficiently recovered to not only go for a walk with the dog but afterwards my grand-daughter and I also went for a longer half-hour walk. During the course of our walk, we passed a woman on a motorcycle with a baby and young child seated in front of her. She had come down a side street and was about to pull out into heavy traffic. None had helmets. I remarked to my grand-daughter that in Australia, she would have been quickly surrounded by half-a-dozen police cars. I had no sooner said this than we noticed a police car parked directly in front of us. The synchronicity was thus still at work. The car's number plate was B 128209 VII.

Meher Baba is sometimes called the White Horse Avatar described as follows:

"Kalki is the next Avatar of Vishnu. He is yet to appear and when he does He will appear, riding his white horse and wielding a shiny sword, at the end of the Kaliyuga, the dark age through which we are passing. This is considered to be the age of suffering, darkness and doom. His task will be to end the evil and restore the Dharma. Thus will begin a new cycle, again will start the Satyayuga or the age of truth and righteousness.”

The night before I had started reading Bhau Kalchuri's "Lord Meher" again. I had read about the lives of Hazrat Babajan, Narayan Maharaj and Sai Baba. Looking the transiting aspects to my natal chart, I notice that transiting Chiron was in 9°15' Aries at 7am this morning and it is 9°17' as of 7pm when I'm creating this post. I'd written previously about the influence of Chiron in a post to my astrology blog. It's interesting to note that the mythological Chiron was a centaur, half man and half horse. 

In my natal chart, Mars is in 9°16' of Aries and Venus is in 9°10' Aries, with a consequent midpoint of 9°13'. Transiting Chiron would have been on precisely this point when I had the white horse dream. Transiting Uranus is in 9°13' Taurus. Figure 1 shows the chart as presented on my astrological blog, showing transits as of April 2nd 2021:

Figure 1

So I'm not sure what's going on but something is, so all I can do is to monitor the situation. Chiron of course is the Wounded Healer and so I'll continue experimenting with healing, especially while this planetary body remains so prominent in my chart.

Going Against the Tide

Many years ago, I remember coming across some Meher Baba books in the Adyar Bookstore in Sydney. They were categorised, appropriately enough, under "Mavericks". The term "maverick" being defined as:

I hadn't realised the etymology of the word until I looked up this definition. I actually took a photo of the books on the bookshelf in Adyar but can't locate it at the moment. Anyway, it was appropriate for Baba who, as the Avatar, was the original maverick who broke away from the herd of humanity to realise his divinity. A maverick will never follow the herd and Meher Baba has made many assertions that would not sit well with modern day assumptions.

One contemporary assumption is that the Earth is an insignificant planet circling one star out of billions in the Milky Way galaxy and that galaxy is itself only one of billions of other galaxies. Apart from its being our home planet, there's nothing special about Earth. Baba begs to disagree and states that:

... there are other planets besides Earth where living beings exist. Still, I emphatically say that God can only be realised on this earth. God is everywhere, but he manifests as the Avatar only on this earth. Perfect Masters are also found only on the earth and nowhere else. On one planet people have enlarged their intellects so much so that they can survive for hundreds of years. But the people there are 99 percent atheists. On all of these evolved planets, the mind predominates and the heart is totally undeveloped. On some planets, people are totally devoid of heart; there is not even one percent place for [feeling love]. Except for the Earth, on all other evolved worlds intellect alone prevails. Therefore, God cannot be realised on those planets. These souls must take birth on this Earth to realise God. Lord Meher Online Edition Page 4597

In the passage below, Baba restates this:

Only on the planet earth do human beings come to reincarnate and begin the involutionary path to God-realisation. The earth is at the centre of the millions of universes, to which all souls must migrate to begin the Inward Journey. In Infinity, you cannot have a point as centre otherwise, it is not Infinity. And yet on the chart we have made the earth the centre of infinite space. Why? Because though there are many inhabited worlds in infinite space, human beings of those planets have to migrate eventually to the earth. In some worlds, the people are very intelligent, much more so than on earth; yet, they must come to this earth-speck for the sake of the "heart," the involutionary journey. Lord Meher Online Edition Page 4859 

In another passage, there is mention made of "millions and millions of universes" which accords with modern scientific speculation about the so-called "multiverse". Baba explained:

... that there exist in the physical cosmos 18,000 planets with human life forms, and millions of planets with evolutionary life forms, along with millions and millions of universes which are in a state of cosmic evolution. But he clarified that earth was the only planet where the process of involution occurred — that only on earth do human beings experience the planes of spiritual consciousness. And he further explained that not only were the five Perfect Masters on earth, but also the entire 7,000 member spiritual hierarchy of saints and advanced souls. Lord Meher Online Edition Page 505 

In Baba's view, the Earth is very special and not just any old rock floating in space. This is not to say that it is in any way permanent. Baba points out that:

The sun that gives you light at present will burst after many crores [tens of millions] of years, but another sun will take its place. The earth is getting cooler and will eventually turn into a moon; but another planet, just like the present earth, will take its place. What has been in the past will be in the future. The processes of evolution and involution will go on forever. Ignorance and creation go hand in hand. Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1010 

Baba clearly stated that the Avatar always takes a male body when incarnating and this struck me as rather sexist the first time I became aware of it. Baba says:

Now, we again come to the Beyond-God, Who is both the Father and Mother in one. During cycles of cycles of time, after ages, when God descends as the Avatar on this material plane, he always takes a male form. He is never born as a woman. Avatars are the Sons of the Father in the Beyond state. All the past Avataric periods witnessed the presence of the Avatar as the healthy, bright, intellectual Son of the God-Beyond. This means in my previous advents I always remained the Beloved Son of my Father. Lord Meher Online Edition Page 4282

It is important to note that Baba is not saying that a woman cannot become God-realised. After all, Babajan who first made him aware of his divinity was a Perfect Master or Qutub. The notion is not entertained that, in the interests of promoting equality of the sexes, the Avatar ought to split incarnations 50:50 in terms taking male and female bodies.

"Will the Avatar ever be a woman?" the person queried. 

"Never!" Baba emphasised. "Never has there been a female Avatar, nor will there ever be one. The Avatar has always been a male and will always be in a male form." Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1620 

Interestingly, Baba also had the following to say about where the Avatar incarnates:

One person asked, "Will the West ever produce an Avatar?" 

Baba revealed, "The Avatar has always been and will always be born in Asia. This is because of the peculiar situation there in the evolution of the universe and in the existence of the gross plane which necessitates the manifestation of the Avatar only on that particular continent." Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1619

In these days of gender diversity, gay marriage and the widespread acceptance in Western societies of a homosexual lifestyle, it is interesting to speculate on what Baba would have thought. Baba advocated that sexual relationships should be practised only within marriage between a man and a woman. He strongly recommended that no physical means of birth control be used, only "mental control". The sexual licence of today was so far beyond his ideals that he seems to have had little to say about it. However, here is a quote from Lord Meher:

The work I wish to do for the world [involves] the minimizing of lust and especially to destroy that lust of homosexuals which is now prevalent to an alarming extent all over the world ... the homosexual is in male form but is working out or spending his female sanskaras, whereas he is meant to be spending his male sanskaras ... a lesbian is working out or spending her male sanskaras, whereas she is meant to be spending her female sanskaras. 

Source: LM/6-7/2213 + footnote with LM referrring to LORD MEHER, 20 vols., 1st ed., by Bhau Kalchuri (MANifestation, Inc. 1986-2001), copyright by AMBPPCT (The current online revised edition may have different wording for some sayings.)

Elsewhere he says:

One day in Cannes, Baba disclosed, "For my work I need a healthy, handsome, intelligent and innocent boy. These qualities are essential for the work I wish to do for the world involving the minimizing of lust, especially of homosexuals, which is now prevalent to an alarming extent all over the world. If the boy is not innocent, he would at once misunderstand my intention, which would hinder instead of help my work." On another occasion, when Kitty questioned Baba about his work with the boys, he remarked, "I am working with the youth of the future." Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1863

 Of course, while Baba did not approve of a homosexual lifestyle, he was accepting of everybody as the following quote illustrates:

Two young homosexuals, one a well-known painter and the other a dancer, were also in the queue. Both were good friends of Delia who had persuaded them to come. As they approached Baba they began to have misgivings, wondering if Baba was going to censure them. They considered leaving but decided to stay. As they apprehensively came before him, Baba looked at them, threw up his hands and gestured, "Chums!" They were so relieved, they nearly leapt forward and hugged Baba! Lord Meher Online Edition Page 3977

Such acceptance is characteristic of the Avatar in all ages, whether it be Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Siddharta Gautama, Krishna, Ram or Zoroaster. However, they would have been unanimous in their condemnation of the current sexual permissiveness and would not have softened their stance to align more with current societal norms. Some members of the LGBTQ community might be confused however, about Baba's stance because of his choice of flag (see Figure 1) which is similar to the LGBTQ flag. The latter has only six colours but they are in the same order, with only the final sky blue colour missing. Additionally, the LGBTQ flag is most commonly displayed with the red at the top. This is indeed a case of two flags being at sixes and sevens to each other.

Figure 1: Meher Baba's flag