"Why should misery perpetually exist...?"
Meher Mount
Your Friday photo is in honor of the 70th Anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba’s visit to Southern California and His return to India on August 17, 1956...
This photo of Meher Baba was taken in Hollywood, California, during His three-day stay in Southern California, from July 31 to August 2, 1956, including a day at Meher Mount.
Meher Baba left Satara, India, on July 16,1956, to give His "Sahavas" or company to His dear ones in Europe, the United States and Australia.
During the course of the 30-day tour there were many interesting and intelligent questions put to Meher Baba, recalled Eruch Jessawala, Meher Baba’s close disciple who traveled with Him.
“Q: Why should misery perpetually exist on earth in spite of God’s Infinite Love and Mercy?
A: The source of Eternal Bliss is the Self [God] in all and the cause of perpetual misery is the selfishness of all. As long as satisfaction is derived through selfish pursuits, misery will always exist.
Only because of the Infinite Love and Mercy of God can man learn to realize, through the lessons of misery on earth, that inherent in him is the source of Infinite Bliss and that all suffering is his labor of love to unveil his own Infinite Self.”
Excerpted from “Round the Globe with Baba in Thirty Days” by Eruch Jessawala:
The great love of some of His followers in Europe, U.S.A. and Australia compelled Baba, the Lord of Love, to pay heed to their silent and profound yearning to have Him physically in their midst, even though it be for a very short while.
Hundreds of hearts that glowed with the warmth of love for God burst into so many flames as they contacted Baba.
Many others who approached Baba indifferently felt some spark of love descending into their benumbed hearts enlivening them as they contacted Baba.
Into whatever country He stopped to give His "Sahavas," there was a spontaneous outburst of love near and around Baba.
Day after day, for one full month, the same scene repeated itself.
Of course, with every flight that carried Baba over different continents and oceans, every time it was a different day from the other under the new settings of different lovers of different nationalities and of different countries. Baba, the Ancient One, remained the same one eternal Divine Beloved, to be loved and served by thousands.
Baba carried with Him an atmosphere so surcharged with love that just a loving glance towards His lover would suffice to fill the heart of His loved one with all that he could long for.
Whether one approached Baba with love or with curiosity, for genuine search after Truth or for news, each one felt satisfied and delighted to have come in contact with Baba.
The lover of God felt the tremendous impact of Baba's love; the philosopher accepted Baba's wisdom and was filled with admiration; the scientist, the psychologist, the doctor or the professor could not help loving Baba once he found himself in His august presence. All realized their limitations when faced by the Unlimited One and all felt the force of love that radiated from the Infinite Ocean of Love.
During the course of the whole tour there were many interesting and intelligent questions put to Baba [such as]:
Q. Why should misery perpetually exist on earth in spite of God's Infinite Love and Mercy?
A. The source of Eternal Bliss is the Self in all and the cause of perpetual misery is the selfishness of all. As long as satisfaction is derived through selfish pursuits, misery will always exist.
Only because of the Infinite Love and Mercy of God can man learn to realize, through the lessons of misery on earth, that inherent in him is the source of Infinite Bliss and that all suffering is his labor of love to unveil his own Infinite Self.
Sources
Eruch Jessawala, “Round the Globe with Baba in Thirty Days,” The Awakener, Fall 1956, Vol 4, No 1, pp. 1-7, ©1956 Circle Productions, Inc.
Photograph: Avatar Meher Baba in Hollywood, 1956. Meher Nazar Publications, Ahilyanagar, India. Used with permission.
