THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE FINAL DECLARATION 291believe me to be the Avatar; but belief, however deep, does not amount to absolute conviction."Here, someone interjected, 'There is no question of conviction for those of us who have accepted youonce and for all, because our acceptance is absolute'. Baba continued:"It is all for the best if that acceptance remains unshaken under all circumstances. The world in generalaccepts the existence of God, without caring overmuch about the reasons for doing so. It is a fact, also, thatthere are a few in the world who do see God as he is to be seen, and fewer still who know God as he reallyis to be known."I have already warned you of the dark cloud I clearly see hovering over me. I have been referring to it inone way or another for many years. In fact, only the shape of things changes every time I come, and that iswhy I say the same things again and again in different ways. At the time of Jesus, I uttered many warnings,yet none could grasp in advance the necessity of my crucifixion."The dark cloud is very, very near to bursting and I have to take the whole force of it upon myself. Youcan have no idea of what that will mean for me - it will be like hell itself bursting upon me on earth. Beresolved to hold fast to my 'daaman' even when this cloud bursts; you will thereby share in my work."Look at the weapons of destruction science has evolved. Nation accuses nation of preparations for war,and world catastrophe might come without warning at any moment. World events reflect the results of myinner working. At the time of Noah's Flood, hell was let loose in the world. Scientists and statesmen nowdeclare that if total war comes, the whole world may perish. They are just echoing me - but the wholeworld cannot perish because I have to come again after 700 years."To fulfill all that is ordained, I work; and this work releases the tremendous force that stamps my advent.The impact of this force on groping humanity is an awakening in general, and the realization of the Self inparticular."But how difficult it is to overcome all hindrances and complete the work in hand when there aredistractions to be reckoned with! Just as I am now quite unable to do so many physical things unaided, inspite of an otherwise healthy body, I may, at the time of the impending crisis, become even mentallyhelpless, without being mentally deranged in the least. You may then not be able to continue to hold on tomy