In reality, there is no difference. What you are, I am; what I am, you are. But while sitting on this chair, I am eternally free, and I am also bound in you all. Therefore, I say I am eternally free and eternally bound — eternally in bliss, eternally in agony. We are talking lightly on a serious subject.
Touching upon hypocrisy , Baba said:
There should not be even a trace of hypocrisy. Posing is the only sin that God can never forgive. However vile or low a scoundrel may be, if he mixes with others as a scoundrel and admits it openly, he can be forgiven. If he acts and behaves as he really is, there is no posing.
There are seven such hypocrites in the world, three or four of whom the mandali know.1 They said that Baba had blessed them and they were my successors. Each of them had a large following. They are now no longer posing. Rich, influential people used to go to them to pay their respects. They garlanded them, took them for rides in their car and generally revered them. I put a stop to it and forgave them. Now they no longer pretend.
The purpose in my telling you this is that if you love me there is no reason why you should hide your love from others. But if you do not love me, then do not pretend and say to others that you love me. If you feel I am the Avatar, say so to others boldly, but if you do not then don't pose.
How do you know that I am the Ancient One? You will say, "Baba, you say so and we believe you." I say on my authority that I am the Avatar, but how do you know that I am that? You all just shouted Avatar Meher Baba ki jai! There is no doubt about it that I am that. But how do you know?
No one could answer satisfactorily, but many said their faith in Baba revealed to them that he was the Avatar. In response, Baba stated:
Even if your faith is wrong, I wish you to say what you feel about me. Remain steadfast in your faith. Hold on fast to your sincere and honest convictions. Whatever you feel in your heart, openly declare it. Do not pose. That is the most important point. In God Speaks I have explained every point.
Footnotes
- 1.Although Baba did not mention the hypocritical persons by name, one of them may have been Manek Mehta, who posed as a spiritual leader and had a following in Bombay. Baba tolerated his antics for several years. Mehta claimed to be a mediator between Baba and his lovers in Bombay, but when Mehta did not join Baba during the New Life, as he had been instructed, Baba broke his association with him. Manek Mehta gradually lost his following and became desolate. After some years, he sought Baba's forgiveness at a darshan in Bombay during the 1950s. Because he had sincerely repented, Baba forgave him.