"Not as the Ocean of Love," Eruch said.
"A fraction of your love," said Prem Khilnani.
"Not even a fraction!" answered Ramjoo.
"And do you believe that I am the Ocean of Love?"
"Something more than belief, Baba," Ramjoo replied.
"Rarely is one given that love," Baba stated.
Baba looked back at Irwin and asked, "Why shouldn't I give it to him or her? Why should it be you?"
Irwin said, "Baba, I would like you to give it to whoever you want to, but I would like to experience it, too."
Baba said, "Why should I give the Ocean to anyone? It is there. Everyone is destined to experience it one day. When I see it is worth giving, I give — the Experience, not the Ocean."
Baba had just finished distributing chocolates and the empty plastic jar was lying in his lap. He picked up the jar and, as he waved his hand around it, he used the following metaphor to explain:
I am the Infinite, Almighty Ocean of Love, and you are within the confines of this jar — in ignorance — which is in my Ocean. But the jar has a lid on it. So even though you are in the Ocean of Love itself, you cannot experience it because of the lid that separates you and keeps the Ocean from you. All you have to do is remove the lid, and then the Ocean that I am will pour in, and you will immediately experience my Infinite Love and know me as I really am.
In my inalienable Oneness of Love, you cannot expect me to do two things — open and pour. Likewise it is left to you to open your heart and receive love from me.
Irwin was thinking: "If I could have removed the lid, I would have done so. But how can one remove the lid from inside? It takes someone who is free on the outside to remove the lid." He then realized that was precisely why he had come to Baba. Baba was free and could free all.
Baba continued: "And again, why should I give you or a particular individual the Ocean of Love, which certainly I am, and not to others or to the whole of creation? It is a gift, and it ever remains the gift of grace!"
Someone said, "I will try to ..."
"Don't try," Baba interrupted. The more you try, the less are the chances to receive love. It is said that those who want love should, in the midst of life, become deaf, dumb and blind! This will gradually free you from the wants you would like fulfilled and also from those which you dislike. In the end, you have to free yourself even from the want of "I want love," or "I want to become one with the Beloved." Of course, such a want frees you from all other wants, but even this singular want belittles the glory of love and it becomes a burden to the Beloved. If this is not possible then you should, at the least, desire to become like dust at the feet of the Beloved. For this you have to obey me implicitly.