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

434 THE GOD-MANsometimes violently. His rule is to observe no rule. From the standpoint of the spiritual order nothing else ispossible, because the primordial creative element is ever new; the spirit does not act according to anyapparent plan, but spontaneously. Thus his actions may be described as 'whim', that is to say impulsive,seeming to be caprice but never chance.In the changes of plans and broken promises, Baba is partly testing his disciples and followers, makingpositive demands upon their faithfulness, so that these actions, so impossible to understand, are elements inhis technique of training. To create uncertainty, to jog people out of easy expectation and habit, and toprepare them for anything, are certainly important in relation to the task of remaking the human soul in theterms of a new understanding of life. But there is much more than technique, however, for the technicaltraining is a by-product. These broken promises and the confusions they cause are part of his method of'working'. The initiative they call for on the part of everyone touched by them is itself of value, and heachieves a terrific effect with the energies that are released. He eats up the faith of his disciples, tests andexhausts it. That some find themselves leaving him, even denouncing him, is inherent in the method. Onlyhis final manifestation will justify him. Indeed, this misleading of people imposes a great burden upon him,and the question that can rightly be asked is, Will he discharge that responsibility? How many of his nearestreally understand what he is doing by his silence, seclusions, and his extraordinary methods? He isa mystery to all. Indeed it is possible to say that the confusion he stirs up belongs to Baba's play, which is notonly in games and stone throwing, but in the treatment of his followers and all who look to him. He allowsthem to think what pleases them, makes promises - or allows them to be made in his name - and disappointsthose who are led to expect something or other at some time or other; so that they are made to feel let down,even deceived. In 1958 he made all his followers all over the world repeat a hundred or even a thousandtimes a day for forty days 'that all our beloved Baba has said will all come to pass this year'. And it did notcome to pass. Two years later, 1960, was to be a year of immense significance, but the year passed, and, sofar as anyone can tell, nothing happened. Thus Baba seems to abuse the faith of his disciples, whileexhorting them continually to hold on to his daaman, 1 and warning them in the strongest terms that they willleave him.Most of his followers take this buffeting and seeming betrayal very1 That is to say the hem of his garment; i.e., to have faith.