ON SUNDAY, January 11th, 1959, a Christian, who wished to “lead a perfect life of love and service in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ,” expressed a keen desire for Meher Baba’s guidance. The man’s request for an interview was granted. When he arrived at the appointed time, Baba was amidst a gathering. This seemed to disturb the man, and he appeared embarrassed and hesitant. Baba asked, “Why are you worried? Is it because of the crowd you see around you when you hoped for an exclusive interview? But that is exactly what you are having, for there is no one besides me. So do not hesitate to speak your mind.”
Baba then asked, “What is it that you want?”
The Christian replied, “I want to behold a vision of Jesus Christ, and to follow his life of love and service. I am worried because I am unable to do it.”
When Baba asked if his belief in Jesus Christ was genuine, the Christian replied in the affirmative. Baba then stated:
Were you to really have that belief in him, would there be any need for you to worry about how you should carry out the teachings of Christ? Search your heart for the answer.
You long for a vision of Christ. It would no doubt help you to some extent to lead a life of love and service, but would it be enough by itself to help you attain the perfect life you yearn for? You are imperfect. You want to be perfect so as to lead a perfect life. But all aspirants would want what you want. And who would not want a vision of Christ? Only you do not know that within yourself you already have what you want. Then why is it that you do not get what you want? If you look deep within yourself with complete honesty, you will find that you do not really want what you think and say you want.
You own so many things, and you feel you want to get rid of them and be free. If you really want to get rid of them, you can do so in an instant, for who binds you? It is your own self not really wanting to do so! If you want to be free, free you are; but you do not really want to be free, and therefore you continue to feel yourself bound. You want to lead a perfect life of love and service. When you really have that want, you will not need to worry how to lead the life – you will live it.
Jesus wanted all his followers to want what they really ought to have wanted from the innermost core of their hearts, but none, including the twelve apostles, could really want the real want. It is very difficult, so very difficult, but not impossible. Very rarely, one among a million can establish the real want. Only a man of God (Mard-e-Khuda) can dare want what one ought to want. What you must long for is the real want, and this real want alone must be your perennial want. Once this is established, a time comes when you are freed even from this singular want and attain the Freedom that is not bound by any form of freedom.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 16, pp. 5518 – 5519.