But the grip of illusion is unrelenting, and illusion attempts to judge the Truth according to its own mayavic standards.
Nerlekar was not prepared to obey Meher Baba's orders, and Baba gestured to the mandali, "I am offering him God on a platter! But it is not in his fate to accept it."
To Nerlekar he spelled out, "Now, since you do not wish to act as I have asked, do this instead: From here, start on foot for the Himalayas, singing the praises of God as you walk. Beg for your food and eat only what you get by begging. Do not accept money from anyone, and do not touch any woman. Contact sadhus and saints along the way. Can you do this?"
Relieved, Nerlekar happily accepted. This was something which conformed to his traditional idea of "spirituality." Baba instructed him to return after two years, and he left.1 He felt pleased, and he marched forward to gain God-realization — at least so he thought. Nerlekar did as he was ordered and came back to Baba after about eight months. He felt proud, thinking he had done severe penance for the attainment of God. He dramatically recounted tales of his sacrifices. Baba expressed his happiness and instructed him to resume his business activities in Poona, and Nerlekar went home.
A few months later, Baba set out on his New Life. Nearly three years passed. When Baba returned to Meherabad he heard the regrettable news about Nerlekar. It seems he had fallen prey to everything Baba had first ordered him to do — he was now eating meat, imbibing liquor and was promiscuous with a woman of ill-repute — indulging in all of these desires with an untroubled heart.
Age learned why Baba had first ordered Nerlekar to fulfill his desires. His sanskaras were like that, and to wipe them out, Baba had given him the order. Had Nerlekar followed it willingly, Baba would have prevented him from falling so deep into the pit and would have destroyed the sanskaras by some other means. Perhaps Baba would even have directed him not to indulge in such things, if Nerlekar had only said yes.
The world would call Baba's order "immoral" and label it "unspiritual." "Could rollicking with wine, women and song ever earn God-realization?" the worldly-minded would ask.
Nerlekar's "illusion-bound self" prohibited him from enjoying these worldly pleasures according to the God-Man's wish, and ruined him by compelling him to indulge in them subsequently according to its own false wish.
Footnotes
- 1.Nerlekar saw Baba again at Meherazad on 1 st January 1949, at which time Baba permitted him to finish some pending matters and begin his pilgrimage on 7 February.