Ramakrishna Paramhansa [Sadguru of Calcutta] said that without having realized God, one cannot give up rituals altogether, and he too worshiped for a long time.
Of course, this is an Avataric time when the Avatar floods the entire universe. It is easy to break open the curtain with the grace of the Avatar. I agree Mehersthan is built with Baba's love; one who visits Mehersthan and loves Baba deeply gets his grace and strength to tear off the curtain. When one feels he is one with the Divine, the curtain is removed. But that is not the first state to all commonly.
The Eternal Religion, the religion of rishis, advocated all forms of worship. Rishis of old, in spite of their will power, in order to set an example to others, followed austerities. Baba [as Krishna] in the Bhagavad Gita stated that even he is unattached when he performs karma to set an example to the universe lest there is destruction.
Shloka [from the Gita]: " Yad yad Acharathi srestahs ... " [Whatever action a great man performs karma ... (common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, the whole world pursues).]
Baba fully knows a worldly man cannot be guileless. Hypocrisy is prevalent. Worldly men profess to love God; but it is not easy, as Baba stresses often, to love him.
If we are to advocate that Baba wanted rituals to be destroyed, as some of us most easily concur in the present times — if Baba does not mean it — is it not another crime for us?
Adi will forgive me and my anxiety in penning a long letter. It is not that the Avatar does not know, as he knows everything, and it is he who made me write and it is he who must lovingly respond and open our intuitive eyes.
As this relates to Mehersthan, I ventured to address my brother Adi so that he will be pleased to read over to Baba this soul's agony to its "Oversoul" and clarify these points, opening my intuitive eye, as the Avatar is in our midst in flesh and blood to dawn the correct vision and grace with his loving message to all:
(1) Whether rituals are to be totally avoided?
(2) Whether in the ensuing opening of Mehersthan Baba does not concur with me that Vedic rites be sung in praise of the Highest in the installation ceremony, as was done in the past during the incarnation of Shri Rama when he installed Sri Ramalingeshwara at Rameshwaram?