With the removal of the gross and subtle bodies [the fibers and the shell], the mind [the kernel] is left. Finally, with the annihilation of the mind, God [the water] is found.
Removing every coconut fiber is like obliterating or removing the individual qualities of maya one by one. But even after removing all the fibers, eliminating the whole body and the gross sanskaras, maya remains in the form of the subtle body [the shell] and the mental body [the kernel].
Even after smashing the shell [effacing the subtle body], the kernel remains [the mind continues to experience creation]. By removing the kernel, only the water — God-realization — remains.
To attain God-realization, successive elimination of the three coverings — gross, subtle, and mental bodies — is necessary, which means total annihilation of all three types of sanskaras. This successive termination takes place gradually in the ordinary course of involution, over not just centuries, but generations and ages.
Only the Sadguru has the power to make a person God-realized all at once, within the twinkling of an eye. Only he can smash the whole coconut at one stroke and annihilate maya and the mind. So the offering of a coconut signifies the absolute surrender of body and soul by the one who offers. Let all who offer these realize this significance and surrender themselves heart and soul to their saint or Sadguru.
Continuing, Baba repeated what he had said earlier about sahavas with a Master:
According to the sages, there are three different roads to Realization. The first road, which is the shortest, quickest, and the easiest, is through the contact of a Sadguru, which means keeping the company, or sahavas, of such a Master, obeying him, and serving him. This may be compared to a special express train which carries you straight to your destination.
The second road, which is to be undertaken in the absence of a Sadguru or Spiritual Guide and which is easier than the alternatives, is to take any name of God with all love and wholeheartedness and to do jana seva [service to humanity] selflessly to the best of one's ability. This can be compared to a journey by passenger train which halts at almost every station.
The third road, which, like the second, is to be undertaken in the absence of a Sadguru or a Spiritual Guide but which is much longer and harder, is to observe strictly all the rules and regulations of the shariat [laws of religion]. It means performing all the rites and ceremonies of one's religion, wholeheartedly and sincerely rather than mechanically.