Meher Baba on War
By Sam Ervin
War and conflict are on most everyone’s minds during these difficult times, myself included.
That’s why I was prompted to seek out Meher Baba on War, a 24-page booklet compiled from Avatar Meher Baba’s words.
“…war is a constant occurrence in the affairs of men, and since men must fight, it is well that we should at least know why we fight,” Australian poet Francis Brabazon wrote in the introduction.
I read through this book several times looking for appropriate excerpts. In the end, it felt that the booklet merited reading in its entirety.
You can read Meher Baba on War online provided by the Avatar Meher Baba Trust (AMBPPCT). It was compiled Meher Baba’s messages by K.K. Ramakrishnan, secretary of the Avatar Meher Baba Poona Centre, India, and published in 1963.
AVATAR MEHER BABA in August 1941 at Upper Meherabad, India, just months before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December. The United States then declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. a few days later. (Photo: (c)Meher Nazar Publications. Used with permission.)
Meher Baba stated, “The basic causes of the social turmoil that often precipitates into war, may be found in the individual, the social whole, the functioning of maya [illusion] and in the very intent of God’s will.”
During Avatar Meher Baba’s own life He witnessed two world wars and many smaller ones. These events played a large part in the ending of nearly every land-based empire that existed at that time.
"Inasmuch as these are essentially one in the final analysis, this means no more than that war is part of the divine pattern," He said.
In Meher Baba on War, Meher Baba gives the world a profound explanation of war and its spiritual significance.
He succinctly lays out the causes of war, the various ways the limited mind tries to comprehend it, and our responsibilities in understanding and dealing with war.
He also viewed all earthly happenings from a Divine and universal point of view which is seen in the depth and breadth of these messages. In them we may find some guidance toward a more accurate and universal understanding of difficult events and experiences.
The current violence and wars are creating great suffering in multiple places on earth and are causing much of humanity emotional and mental distress. Anger, fear, selfishness, divisiveness, and feelings of helplessness are intense.
May Beloved Baba’s words provide guidance and illuminate our responses and interactions in these challenging times.
If you find yourself needing to retreat to a sacred space to connect with the Divine, to find a few moments away from the day-to-day of the world, or to feel God in nature, Meher Mount is open for you .