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

Part I, Chapter 10THE UNIVERSAL MESSAGE1958-1962A few of the mandali were kept at Meherazad, though Eruch was sent to Meherabad, where there was agathering on 9-10 July. Something like 200, mostly men, were called. Among the few women were theMaharanee of Baroda and the Dowager Rani of Kurudwad. At midnight on the 9th, Baba's dhuni was lit,and, immediately after, the rains came, breaking the long dry spell that had threatened famine inAhmednagar district; the day was very wet. When Baba entered the meeting hall at 8 0' clock two of themandali were allowed to garland him, but he immediately took off the garlands, placing them on a table byhis side. The sky was heavy and the hall was dark. Baba sat 'talking' and joking. There was singing and hisarti was performed, but only up to 9 o'clock; during the singing he put on his garlands again. Then thePrayer of Repentance was said in English followed by translations. The Universal Message was read outin English with the usual translations.Meher Baba's Universal MessageI have come not to teach but to awaken. Understand therefore that I lay down no precepts. Throughouteternity I have laid down principles and precepts, but mankind has ignored them. Man's inability to liveGod's words makes the Avatar's teaching a mockery. Instead of practising the compassion he taught, manhas waged crusades in his name. Instead of living the humility, purity and truth of his words, man hasgiven way to hatred, greed and violence.Because man has been deaf to the principles and precepts laid down by God in the past, in this presentavataric form I observe Silence. You have asked for and been given enough words-it is now time to livethem. To get nearer and nearer to God you have to get further and further away from'I', 'My', and 'Mine'.You have not to renounce