Meher Baba and the Significance of the Number Seven

Based on the provided sources, Meher Baba frequently referenced the number 7 to explain the structure of the universe, the evolution of consciousness, the anatomy of the human form, and the timing of the Avatar’s advent. Additionally, he often utilized the number 7 in his spiritual work, rituals, and instructions to disciples.

Here is a report on Meher Baba's references to the number 7.

1. Cosmology and the Structure of the Universe

Meher Baba described the number 7 as significant to the fundamental structure of creation, originating from the initial clash between Energy (Pran) and Matter (Akash).

• Origins: In the beginning, the clash between Matter and Energy divided Energy’s powers into seven forces.
• Structure: There are seven worlds, seven skies, seven suns, seven moons, seven planes, and seven heavens,.
• Shadows of God: The gross universe is described as the seventh shadow of the original Light of God. The "Original Sound" (Om Point) manifests as seven sounds; the music of the subtle plane is a shadow of this Original Sound.
• The Seven-Fold Veil: The spiritual path involves removing the "sevenfold veil" of illusion. Entering the path involves a "seven-in-one achievement," which includes unfastening the first knot, the disappearance of the first fold, and wiping out the first of the seven deep, dark colors.

2. Evolution and Involution of Consciousness

The number 7 is central to Meher Baba’s explanation of how consciousness develops from the most finite state to the infinite state.

• Evolutionary Leaps: To achieve full consciousness in human form, the soul must pass through seven major leaps of evolution: stone, metal, vegetable, worm, fish, bird, and animal,,.
• Twists and Shakes: In the process of evolution, there are seven twists of sanskaras. After every seventh stage or form, there is a twist. The soul goes through 84 lakhs (8.4 million) of shakes (births and deaths) during this process,,.
• The Seven Planes (Involution): After attaining human form, the soul eventually enters the process of involution, ascending through seven planes of consciousness,,. The seventh plane is the final goal where the soul realizes its identity as God,,.
• Involutionary Stages: There are seven stages of "descent" (winding of sanskaras) and seven stages of "ascent" (unwinding/involution),.

3. The Human Form

Meher Baba explained that the human body reflects the structure of the universe, specifically regarding the number 7.

• Openings in the Head: There are seven openings in the human head: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and one mouth.
• Parts of the Body: The body consists of seven parts: two arms, two legs, two openings (front and back), and the trunk.
• Correspondence to Planes: The seven parts of the physical body (front) correspond to the seven planes, while parts on the back of the body correspond to the seven heavens.

4. The Avataric Cycle and Spiritual Hierarchy

• 700-Year Cycle: Meher Baba stated that the Avatar (the Ancient One) returns to earth every 700 years,. At the end of a cycle, he returns to bestow his "Ancient State".
• 7th Plane Beings: While there are always five Perfect Masters (Sadgurus/Qutubs), the sources note there are generally three beings on the seventh plane in India (two Majzoobs and one Jivanmukta),.
• Seven Realities: Meher Baba gave a specific teaching titled "The Seven Realities," which are: Real Existence, Real Love, Real Sacrifice, Real Renunciation, Real Knowledge, Real Control, and Real Surrender,,.

5. Symbolism and Rituals in Baba’s Work

Meher Baba frequently employed the number 7 in his external work, instructions to mandali, and symbolic gestures.

• The Seven-Colored Flag: In 1924, Baba designed a flag with seven colors to represent the seven planes of consciousness and the sanskaras. He specified that red should be at the bottom (representing the grossest impressions) and sky blue at the top,,.
• Masts and the Poor: Baba often worked with groups of seven poor people (washing their feet and giving money),, or seven masts (God-intoxicated souls),.
• Repetition of Names: Baba often instructed disciples to repeat a name of God or a specific prayer seven times,,,.
• Fasting and Seclusion: He frequently set periods of fasting or seclusion for seven days,.
• Other Symbolic Uses:
  • Baba utilized a seven-metal spade for the ground-breaking of his center.
  • He planted seven mango saplings.
  • He referenced seven types of masts (plus a rare eighth type).
  • During a drive in 1956, he stood at four compass points and worked, wearing a garland of seven sea shells representing the seven stages of man.

6. Numerological Significance

According to an astrological analysis in the sources, Meher Baba's birth date (25-2-1894) reduces to the number 7 (2+5=7). In numerology, the number 7 is described as symbolizing "unifying Good and Evil," the power of spirit over matter, and is governed by the planet Neptune.

Across the Bridge

Figure 1: source

I was listening to Van Morrison's Across The Bridge Where Angels Dwell and was reminded of the widespread, popular images of of the scene where children are on or crossing a bridge while an angel is hovering over them". The image shown in Figure 1 is less common in that it's a photograph rather than a painting. 

The lyrics to the song go:

Across the bridge where angels dwell

Across the bridge where angels

Across the bridge where angels dwell 

 

Children play 

 

Beyond the place where time is still

Beyond the place where time is

Beyond the place where time is still 

 

Night is day 

 

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

Close your eyes and dream

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

Close your eyes and dream 

 

Along the path where heaven lies

Along the path where heaven

Along the path where heaven lies 

 

All is clear 

 

Ahead where home awaits the heart

Ahead where home is waiting

Ahead where home awaits the heart 

 

Peace is near 

 

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

Close your eyes and dream

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

Close your eyes and dream 

 

Across the bridge where angels dwell

Across the bridge where angels

Across the bridge where angels dwell 

 

Children play

Figure 2 shows another image of the scene.

Figure 2: source

I've also been playing the song on guitar and getting it sound reasonable enough. Below are the chords to accompany the lyrics.

[Verse 1]

G                         C

Across the bridge where angels dwell

G                         C

Across the bridge where angels

G                         C                    G

Across the bridge where angels dwell children play

  

[Verse 2]

G                        C

Beyond the place where time is still

G                        C

Beyond the place where time is

G                        C                      G

Beyond the place where time is still, night is day

 

[Chorus]

C           D        G         C

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

C           D        G

Close your eyes and dream

C           D        G         C

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

C           D        G

Close your eyes and dream

  

[Verse 3]

G                      C

Along the path where heaven lies

G                      C

Along the path where heaven

G                      C                  G

Along the path where heaven lies all is clear

 

[Verse 4]

G                   C

Ahead where home awaits the heart

G                     C

Ahead where home is waiting

G                   C                        G

Ahead where home awaits the heart, peace is near

  

[Chorus]

C           D        G         C

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

C           D        G

Close your eyes and dream

C           D        G         C

Close your eyes in fields of wonder

C           D        G

Close your eyes and dream

  

[Verse 5]

G                         C

Across the bridge where angels dwell

G                         C

Across the bridge where angels

G                         C                    G

Across the bridge where angels dwell children play 

Figure 3 shows a sculpture of the scene:

Figure 3: source

I discovered today that Jim Reeves has a song titled Across the Bridge with lyrics as follows:

I have lived a life of sin in this world I'm living in

I have done forbidden things I shouldn't do

I asked a beggar along the way if he could tell me where to stay

Where I could find real happiness and love that's true

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow

Across the bridge there's no more pain

The sun will shine across the river

And you'll never be unhappy again

Follow the footsteps of the King 'til you hear the voices ring

They'll be singing out the glory of the land

The river Jordan will be near, the sound of trumpet you will hear

And you'll behold the most precious place ever known to man

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow

Across the bridge there's no more pain

The sun will shine across the river

And you'll never be unhappy again

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow (Across the bridge there's no more sorrow)

Across the bridge there's no more pain (Across the bridge there's no more pain)

The sun will shine across the river

And you'll never be unhappy again...

Jim Reeves was one of the singers whose songs Meher Baba enjoyed listening to. Here are chords to the song. Although I've yet to try playing it on guitar, it doesn't look too difficult.

[Verse 1]

C

I have lived a life of sin

 

In this world I'm living in

       G7                                C

I have done forbidden things I shouldn't do

 C

I ask a beggar along the way

 

If he could tell me where to stay

              G7                                  C

Where I could find real happiness and love that's true

  

[Refrain]

C

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow

                                  G7

Across the bridge there's no more pain

             C     C7         F

The sun will shine across the river

           C        G7      C

And you'll never be unhappy again

 

[Instrumental]

C      G7      C 

 

[Verse 2]

 C

Follow the footsteps of the King

 

Till you hear the voices ring

           G7                           C

They'll be singing out the glory of the Land

 C

The river Jordan will be near

 

The sound of trumpet you will hear

           G7

And you'll behold the most precious place

              C

Ever known to man

  

[Refrain]

 C

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow

                                  G7

Across the bridge there's no more pain

             C     C7         F

The sun will shine across the river

           C        G7      C

And you'll never be unhappy again

  

[Final]

 C

Across the bridge there's no more sorrow

                                  G7

Across the bridge there's no more pain

             C     C7         F

The sun will shine across the river

           C        G7      C

And you'll never be unhappy again 

 

There is a wealth of symbolism associated with bridges:

The bridge is inherently symbolic of communication and union, whether it be between heaven and earth or two distinct realms. For this reason it can be seen as the connection between God and Man. It may be the passage to reality, or merely a symbol for travel and crossing.  Source.

Bridge, as a noun, translates to jembatan in Indonesia while bridge, as a verb, translates to menjembatani. Just as there is the question "why did the chicken cross the road?" with an accompanying answer of "to get to the other side", likewise it could be asked "why was the bridge built?" and the answer might come back "to get to the other side" (of the river, gorge or whatever). In other words a bridge can be quite mundane and yet sometimes quite beautiful. Figure 4 shows a pedestrian (in both senses of the word), simple and (to my mind at least) beautiful bridge.

Figure 4

Of course, both Van Morrison and Jim Reeves are singing about non-physical bridges linking two different planes of consciousness or areas of experience. There are seven planes of consciousness beyond the gross consciousness of the physical realm and, to enter each one and cross the bridge so to speak, the help of a higher consciousness is required. As the seventh plane is the level of God-consciousness, only a Perfect Master or God-realised being can help someone to cross that final bridge and enter the seventh, and ultimate, heaven.

Baba further explained the significance of the number seven:

 

The evolution of creation has seven stages. There are seven planes and seven types of desires. All these sevens should be eradicated once and for all.

However, the number seven is significant. There are seven types of sanskaras, seven types of colors, seven types of flights of imagination and seven types of sounds. The reason all these have seven variations is that in the beginning of creation – with the start of the original whim in the Beyond, Beyond state of God – there was a clash between Matter (Akash) and Energy (Pran), and Energy’s powers were divided into seven forces.

The original sound coming out of the Creation, or Om Point, also turns into seven sounds. This higher music of the mental and subtle planes is indescribably sweet. Even if you listened to it for twenty-four hours without a break, you would not tire of it. It is enrapturing; one absolutely drowns in its melody. But remember that in the mental and subtle sphere, the sweetness of this music’s sounds are only shadows of the Original Sound.

In the gross world, the shadow of this melody is again divided into seven parts; only expert singers can express these tones and octaves. Sound is created by contact between two things. When you speak, your voice passes through seven veils; but you do not notice this because the sound comes so quickly. Your physique, a by-product of your sanskaras, determines whether your voice is sweet or harsh.

Everything is made up of seven: seven sub-divisions of the first subtle plane (the astral), seven stages of evolution, seven planes and seven heavens in involution. 

Source.

The Numbers of Creation

There are numerous references in Lord Meher to the fact that there are 56 God-realised souls on Earth at any one time.

Lord Meher Online Edition Page 683:

While Baba was discoursing on the 29th, someone asked, "Why are there 56 Realized souls in the world in every age?"

The number 56 denotes perfection. This number appears to be perfect to those who manage these spiritual workings, as one Supreme Being alone cannot manage the whole affair single-handedly. He requires assistance, and the number of assistants is fixed at 56.

For instance, a toddyshop-keeper needs several helpers — one to prepare the toddy, another to serve it, another to collect payment, et cetera. But if there is no shop, what is the use of helpers? In the same way, when there is no universe — as is the case for the majzoobs, who are realized but have no consciousness of the world and its affairs — for them, there is no work.

To return to the question: The universe must be maintained, and to carry out the affairs of the universe in an orderly manner 56 God-realized persons are required. The number is fixed at 56 because a number less than that cannot do all the work and the different duties. Suppose a man has lost one of his eyes. Although he can still see with the other eye, he sees with difficulty. Therefore, two eyes are given to each human being to enable him to see perfectly.

In just the same way, two ears, one nose, two hands, and two feet are provided. In short, everything in nature goes on according to rules and regulations and principles laid down by the "Experienced" or Realized Sages, and nothing is haphazard.

All these explanations are beyond comprehension by your intellect. Such understanding is virtually useless, unless one has the real Experience of Realization. However much you may exert your brains, in the end it is all like the caterwauling and barking of cats and dogs, until such time as you experience the wind of Reality.

The Knowledge and Experience of a Sadguru cannot be grasped through the intellect because it is altogether beyond the intellect. As Hafiz says:

This Knowledge is never grasped by the intellect's noose; Untie the noose and you will obtain it.

Lord Meher Online Edition Page 2350

Figure 1 shows a chart with explanation following.

Figure 1 

Now, after the human form reincarnates 84 lakhs of times, how does the soul enter the subtle world?

From the gross to God state, there are seven stages of winding and seven stages of unwinding. Up to the stone form, there is no winding nor twist. Neither are there species up to the stone form. Thereafter, 14 lakhs of species in each of the six forms up to human evolution, equals 84 lakhs of species. These seven twists, where each form changes to another higher one, are for making the seven main species thicker and thicker.

There are always and eternally 84 lakhs of souls who experience subtle experiences. Among them, there are seven who are the chiefs and can experience the mental world in the same subtle body. These seven have duty. The 84 lakhs of subtle experiencers are existing even today. The figure is always constant. There are an equal number who experience the mental world. But in each new unwinding, one of the seven chiefs with duty becomes less, meaning he gets no normal consciousness nor duty. How many out of the seven chiefs get duty in the subtle? Seven. In the mental, six have duty; in the God-state, five.

On the gross plane: 84 lakhs of reincarnations, although there are millions of human beings in the world.

On the subtle plane: 84 lakhs of souls who experience the subtle world.

Out of these 84 lakhs of those experiencing the subtle world there are seven chiefs who have duty. When these seven cross over to the mental plane, only six have duty and one remains dormant. When these seven cross over from the mental to the God-state, five have duty and two remain dormant. In the God-realized state, out of 56 there are five heads and two majzoobs. The majzoob state is attained on the seventh plane.

The first human form that one gets after the last animal form of monkey is not a complete human form. It has no differentiation in sex. The first human form is that of a bahirupi [neuter]. That is to say, the first human form is neither male nor female. Then what happens? The same form develops a different form with a male sex organ. If you reverse this organ, it is transformed into a female sex organ. This is mere phenomena, but it is all the exchanging of sanskaras.

How does this happen? It is just like a slight flicker, a flash or spark of light. When a railroad engine changes tracks, its light flickers. It is the same here. The first human form has both the male and female sexes latent in it. Therefore, the first human form is that of a bahirupi. Only when the bahirupi takes another form, either male or female, are the organs visible. This causes the process of reincarnation to begin.

That is also why among the five Perfect Masters there are four males and one female.

This is most interesting because Baba explains that there are continuously 8.4 millions souls experiencing the subtle plane and the same number experiencing the mental plane. Meanwhile, there are billions of humans on Earth and other planets experiencing the physical plane. I've long entertained the notion that each soul can be conceived of as a prime number, unique and indivisible, with the Avatar as 1 and the Godhead as 0. The next God-realised person, made so by the Avatar, would be 2 and so on. This is just my imagining and has nothing to do with Baba.

Getting back to Baba, here is what he had to say about the number 7:

There are seven worlds [planets in evolution], seven skies, seven suns, seven moons, seven planes and seven heavens [in involution]. Why this figure seven? And sanskaras too are of seven colors. Why? Because in the very beginning, when Energy (Pran) clashed with Matter (Akash), it created seven divisions.

Each individual human being is a universe unto himself. In the head there are seven openings: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and one mouth. In the body there are seven parts: two arms, two legs, two openings (front and back), and one trunk.

But all this explaining of the universe and creation relates to the hair and has nothing to do with the head. So first try to get hold of the head, because out of it comes everything.

Baba drew a figure of a man's head with hair and added:

The barber's work is to shave the head. And who is the barber in this case? Mahapralaya! For when it occurs, all the hairs (universes) on God's head are shaved off.

It is said that the universes pour out of the Godhead; they are like God's hair. Your head may symbolize God and your hair the universes.