Other telephones are connected to it and the desired connection is given immediately upon dialing. In the same way, the Qutub is humanity's central main station; and if one remembers him sincerely and wholeheartedly, from however long a distance, one's cry is heard and the connection is made. There is no question of distance here. The Qutub is the center, the focal point equidistant from one and all in creation. And he, as this center, serves the purpose not only for this world or universe, but for the three worlds — heaven, earth, and the lower regions!1
But how is it possible that all prayers are heard at one and the same time? How is it that the prayers and calls of millions of persons bring immediate connection with the Qutub? The answer is simple. What is a Qutub? The ruler of infinite and unlimited powers! To him there is no question of one or twenty-one, a thousand, or a hundred thousand, or millions and billions. Everyone is equal in his eyes. But your call should be from the innermost depths of your heart. It will then reach his ears irrespective of distance or "traffic on the line."
All prayers and sounds are a mere show if they do not originate from the heart. If not, then such prayers, however loud and however long, are quite meaningless. But compared to this, offering hired prayers through Brahmins, dasturs, maulvis, and priests is much worse. It is nothing short of sheer hypocrisy.
Someone questioned Baba, "If it is done with a feeling of devotion, is it bad for a person who has no time to pray himself to have it done through a medium?"
In reply, Baba stated:
This is total foolishness and completely absurd. It is an excuse and a useless pretext. It does not hold water. It is an insult to one's common sense. Can prayer, worship or entreaties to God ever be hired? It is beyond one's imagination. While still being lured by maya, it is like throwing the burden of one's actions on the shoulders of others and paying them money to take one to God. It is a pretense for keeping oneself immersed in mayavic pleasures.
A person says, "I have no time to pray." Why not? Because he is unwilling to spare time for it. It is a meaningless excuse to cover up their preoccupation with the world and lack of time due to their desire to remain involved in mayavic pursuits.
Footnotes
- 1.By "three worlds," Baba was most likely referring to the gross, mental and subtle worlds, which he explained more fully in later years.