(Aug. 04, 1929) While staying in Harvan, Baba explained to the mandali about freedom from desires:
As long as a person is not free from desires, he is not ready for emancipation. Desires, both good and bad, are binding. Good desires bind a person with golden chains, and bad with iron ones. Why do you feel restless? Because you have a thousand thoughts of wife, children and the world. One should be free of wishes and desires, but they are there. What creates them? What desires these desires, and what thinks these thoughts? The mind.
As long as desires persist, there is no freedom. One who is completely desireless becomes King of kings. But a person has no idea how to become desireless. Freedom from desires is real life. One has to go beyond desires to enjoy freedom. This freedom can never be imagined; it is beyond the mind. The mind creates desires and as long as the mind continues and does not die, a person cannot extricate himself and enjoy freedom.
The soul is like a bird. When all desires vanish, the bird’s eyes open. It sees God and becomes one with Him. I am that God whom the bird sees when its eyes open. But desires blind the bird and it cannot see me, though I am standing right in front of it.
Continuing, Baba answered different questions asked by the men:
Bliss is something quite distinct from happiness and misery. Happiness and misery are gained through experiences of the mind. Bliss is something totally different; after the death of the mind, what the soul gains through God is bliss. Happiness and misery are due to the mind, while bliss exists on account of the soul. Bliss cannot be described. It cannot be grasped. It is to be experienced.
“But why is there always suffering and not happiness?” one of the mandali asked.
You simpleton, I am trying to tell you that there is nothing like suffering! It is the mind that creates pain and misery. In reality, neither happiness nor misery exists. Only bliss is real, which the soul enjoys after emancipation. So to attain emancipation, first destroy the mind. First free yourself and then enjoy bliss. Become one – merge with the bliss!
What is the meaning of God-Realization? It means to become one with God. By thinking and imagining, one can never become one with God. Union is possible only after the death of thoughts and imagination – the mind must die.
How does a person know that he has realized God? It is automatic. You are a human being. Do you ever think to yourself, “Am I a human being?” You do not ask yourself this because you are a human being. In the same way, once a man realizes God, he spontaneously knows that he is God. He has the full experience of it by personal experience.
Being in the mood, Baba continued answering questions:
The difference between God and man is more than between heaven and earth. Man is bound by cravings and desires. You eat and drink, and whatever you do binds you. I eat and drink, but I am quite free. Animals also eat and drink, but so do men. Is there no difference between you and animals? There is a vast difference. Similarly there is a difference between you and me. You are humans; I am God.
A man has full faith in me today and sticks to me. But if tomorrow his thoughts change and he goes against my wishes and orders, becomes a turncoat, slanders and forsakes all faith in me, still I will be as I am. The change has taken place in him, not in me. I am always changeless; I am ever equable.
For instance, look into a mirror; it will reflect you as you are. If you are serious, you will look serious in the mirror; if you are smiling, you will be seen smiling. If you contort your features, you will be seen with your face contorted. If you laugh, you will be seen laughing. The difference will be in you, not in the mirror. There is no change in the mirror; the change is in your facial expressions. The mirror is changeless, immovable and always steady. I too am like the mirror. The change you observe is in you – not in me. I am always so constant and still that it cannot be imagined.
We have discussed enough. Now listen carefully. You never do as I say. Try to listen attentively this time. Today is the 4th of August (1929) and my work will start from today. So do not bother me with your difficulties of cooking, sleeping, or any other problems. You manage everything yourselves!
Lord Meher, Bhau Kalchuri, Original Publication, Vol. 4, pp. 1190 – 1191.