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

THE METHOD 437in the ordinary way but gives severe rebuke. When we abuse another we create sanskaras for ourselves, andthe abuse falls upon our own heads. When Upasni Maharaj abused Baba, he was attracting to himself - forthe purpose of dissolving them - Baba's sanskaras. When, therefore, Baba rebukes a disciple it is for the sakeof protecting him, if he is in danger, or of attracting to himself the sanskaras that are affecting the disciple, sofreeing him from them. 1 To be abused by a Master is a blessing. Milarepa records that his Master said thatthe anger of a Master is a thing apart, intended to excite repentance and to contribute towards the spiritualdevelopment of the one against whom it is directed. As Rumi says:I boil thee not because thou art hateful to me; nay 'tis that thou mayest get savourAnd become nutriment and mingle with the vital spirit.It should be noted that in quarrels among his mandali or, indeed, among any of his followers, Baba maynot immediately attempt to restore harmony but allow discord to develop, even to provoke it. He quietly says,'There will always be disagreement, one has to give in. You must try hard.' With Baba, turning the othercheek means being ready to accept the slap, even the worst that can be offered, then to overcome thenegative feelings that interfere with acting freely.(5)It is part of Baba's method of working to be in contact with crowds of people. When he visits cities healmost invariably walks (now he drives) in the most crowded streets and goes to cinemas and other placeswhere people congregate. In India there are large gatherings where he gives darshan to many thousands at atime. I have described a number of such darshan programmes, which sometimes include the presenting ofprasad, or gift, consisting of a sweetmeat, or fruit, or a flower, or even the petal of a rose. The gift has novalue in itself, but forms a link of intimacy.Baba has said that the highest spiritual benefits can be imparted by a Master only when he is in bodilypresence on earth, thus there is meaning in the desire to see him and to be near him. A special grace of theGod-Man is to be the source of blessing in his physical presence throughout the world.1 This he does as Perfect Master, not as God-Man, for the latter takes on himself not the sanskaras ofindividuals but the sins of the whole world.