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

302 THE GOD-MANMy lovers may be likened to one who is fond of lions and admires them so much that he keeps a lion inhis own home. But being afraid of the lion he puts him in a cage. The lion is always encaged; even whilehe feeds the lion, he feeds the pet animal from a distance and from outside the cage. Baba is treated likethe lion by the lovers. There is love; there is admiration; there is an intense desire to see Baba comfortableand happy; and Baba is also frequently fed by love of the lovers. But all this is done, keeping Babasegregated from one's own self. What is wanted of the lovers is that they should open the 'cage' and,through intense love, throw themselves inside the cage to become food for the lion of love. The lovershould permit himself to be totally consumed through his own love for the Beloved.In spite of all explanations and reading of books, words remain mere words. They do not take one anyfurther than intellectual satisfaction. Only love for God works the miracle, because love is beyond mindand reason. Where then is the necessity to read? I authoritatively say: I am the Ancient One. I have beensaying this to all the world. If you love me with all your heart, you shall be made free eternally.The affairs of the universe continue to go on without being burdensome to me in the least.But the discourses and explanations on the subject of the affairs of the universe are a headache to me. Theaffairs of the universe continue without my paying special attention to them. They continue to work asnaturally as one's breathing, to which one does not have to pay special attention. But when there isexertion, or when one is pressed to give a discourse on breathing, one becomes conscious of the act ofbreathing.In the same way, when it comes to giving explanations, I feel like one who climbs a hill and becomesbreathless. Giving you discourses and explanations is burdensome to me; and as discussions, discoursesand explanations are also included in the affairs of the universe, the whole affair becomes more of aburden to me than ever. Playing marbles, gilli-danda, cricket and flying kites are also included in theaffairs of the universe; but these unburden the burden. It is like coming down a hill: it is more of arelaxation than exertion. Jokes and humour are also the things which give me relaxation.But whether I am burdened or relaxed makes no difference; for as I really am, I am beyond all this.I will tell you tomorrow something about my work and the workers. The selected workers should bethose who do real work. I want to lay stress on workers and work. Work should be done as work;otherwise it would be no work at all. I cannot tolerate egoism and hypocrisy. He