Shariat can also be compared to the knowledge of a city, such as Bombay, from a map; the various activities and troubles one undergoes in reaching Bombay — procuring the money for the railway fare, reaching the station, and then traveling in the train — can be taken as tariqat. Then when one nears Bombay and sees the city from a distance, this is marefat; the arrival in the city itself is haqiqat.
To give one more example, let us take the seeing of a cow in a picture as equal to shariat. The trouble and hardships in earning money to purchase an actual cow and the purchase itself is tariqat. Then milking the cow is marefat, and actually drinking the milk is haqiqat.
The religion of those in the contact of a Sadguru or Avatar is to obey him. This is the highest type of religion. I have been telling you daily that the time is near, so be cautious and prepared. I can guide five persons, fifty, or half the world to the Path if it pleases me; but all this depends on one's preparation.
I am the worshiper, I am the worship, and I am the One worthy of adoration. I am the fire, I am the spark, and I am the smoke — I am everything! I repeat this every night. I pray to myself and bow down to myself. Why? For worldly people, so that God may make them worthy of emancipation. And who is God? I, myself!
The usual Thursday visitors came on 8 December 1927, including the Satha family, Sayyed Saheb, Ramjoo, and Babu Cyclewalla. Gulmai's daughter, Piroja, was married the following day to Sohrab Irani, and the bride and bridegroom came at night for Baba's darshan.
On 9 December, Baba discoursed on the Sadguru:
Without the sanskaras being totally eliminated there is no spiritual liberation. To dispose of sanskaras one has to create "reverse" sanskaras, which are opposite in nature. Opposite impressions reverse the sanskaric makeup of the mind. To remove stains, soap or lime is necessary. But the mind never dies of itself.
For example, suppose your hand is to be broken. It is difficult and almost impossible for you to twist your own hand enough to break it. But if a sturdy fellow comes along and twists it, your hand fractures in a second. That sturdy chap is the Sadguru who is required to deal with the mind and all its mischief.