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

298 THE GOD-MANhave them. Discourses and messages are good, but are mere words. What I want is your love andobedience, one hundred per cent. I want one who does his best. In the time of Jesus I said the same thing;leave all and follow me. And the same in the time of Krishna and Zoroaster. I do not mean you to leave allyour responsibilities but that my will becomes yours. My will should be your pleasure. God is infinitehonesty. To love God you must be honest.''In the spiritual path there is no room for compromise', said Baba. 'Raise your hands who cannot obeyme.' None raised a hand. 'Now raise your hands, all who will try to obey me!' Everyone raised his hand.He said:"If you love me one hundred per cent you will be able to hold on to me. Obey me at all costs-especiallyuntil 10 July. You will never see me again in the flesh - all will come to pass in quick succession as I havesaid, any time after the 10th."Baha mentioned that a Gujerati newspaper accustomed to printing articles against him, published anastrological prediction that a great Parsi saint would manifest this year. 'But', added Baba, 'I am not a saint.I am the Ancient One; and I tell you, the time has come. When I drop my body, I shall remain in all wholove me. I can never die. Love me, obey me, and you will find me. Henceforth no one must give me a giftin cash or in kind. Only your love will be accepted. I want only your love. We will now have a littlechange. The raising of hands has made me very happy:"There are four general headings of obedience: (1) patriotic obedience, that of a soldier ready to laydown his life and die for his country; (2) paid obedience, that of a servant; (3) the obedience of a slave, thecompulsory obedience of one who has no choice of his own; (4) the willing obedience of love. There arefour kinds of obedience in love: (a) literal, word-for-word obedience; (b) discriminatory, or the obedienceof common sense; (c) complete obedience without pleasure; (d) complete obedience with pleasure. Thereis a fifth obedience which is very rare, absolute obedience, in which light becomes dark and dark becomeslight because the Master says so. It is impossible to obey me one hundred per cent unless you have onehundred per cent love for me and accept me one hundred per cent as God incarnate. So it is for you whohave raised your hands to do my will."