Tear away the curtain of set ceremonies and rituals and you will find that I am the Worshiped, the Worship and the Worshiper.
To clothe simple worship with garments of ceremony and rituals is to expose me to the cold winds of ignorance.
To love faithfully the God-Man is to worship God truly.
To find me here in Mehersthan, search the depth of your heart.
Mehersthan is built for me with love, but I may only be found here by my lover who brings me here in his heart.
As the heart is, so is the house; as the eye is, so is the Image within the house.
The heart of man has always been the ancient temple for the worship of the Ancient One.
Nothing can house the Ancient One that does not house love.
When the messages were received in Kovvur, there was much discussion as to what exactly Baba meant in regards to observing rituals in the newly built center. One person who took the view that Vedic rites should be allowed was P. Ramalingeshwara Rao, an attorney in Kovvur. His letter to Adi on 19 January 1963, and Eruch's subsequent reply are reproduced in full. They contain important guidelines about these type of questions for future generations to reflect upon:
My dear brother Adi,
Pranams [salutations] to the Lotus Feet of Beloved.
For the unveiling of Mehersthan, Beloved has favored eight messages to be inscribed in Mehersthan as well as in the hearts of all Meher lovers.
Our Andhra Meher Center met recently at Kovvur. The very first message which had to be translated into Telugu was interpreted in one way, while I am under a different view. As this is one of the primary messages, it is my earnest prayer to Beloved Avatar that it should be clarified, as we who are near Mehersthan should ourselves know the correct view what Avatar meant for us. This letter is a faithful question by a beloved of Baba to his sweet Beloved, as it should be clarified to one and all.
Baba said: "Tear away the curtain of set ceremonies and rituals and you will find that I am the Worshiped, the Worship and the Worshiper."
It is mostly the chief opinion of most of our lovers that rituals should be totally avoided, and that Baba means it so. I am totally unable to agree with the above friends of mine. I, for myself, do not feel that it is the wish and intention of the Avatar.