DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

THE PLACE OF OCCULTISM IN SPIRITUAL LIFE: III 107the Path when they find themselves hung up anywhere betwixt theplanes. For example, when an aspirant gets hung up somewherebetween the 3rd and 4th planes, a Master usually brings him downto the 3rd plane prior to pushing him up to the 4th plane. Suchcoming clown from their high station is also often necessary in theinterest of those who are still in the wilderness of the world andhave not even entered the Path. The Master may sometimes decideto get some spiritual work done through an advanced aspirant andmay require him to postpone his efforts for individual advancementfor the sake of others. Such coming down eventually turns out tobe a spiritual preparation for traversing the next stage of the Pathsmoothly and quickly; but even so, the aspirant finds it difficult torenounce the advantages of his attainment for the purpose ofhelping others. Coming down is particularly difficult for a personintensely experiencing a state of enchantment. In Sufism, thisenchantment is known as Hairat. In this state the aspirant finds itextremely difficult to keep away from different kinds ofenchantment. But sometimes, it is necessary that he should resistgetting lost in enchantment and come down for the sake of othersin the world. The Master has his own way of dealing with anadvanced aspirant and he can bring him round to any unpalatablemove.This is very well illustrated in the story of a famous Valinamed Ganjay Shakkar (Baba Fariduddin). Much before he couldget illumination this Vali could not close his eyes, which wereStory of GanjayShakkaralways open, dazed and glassy; and he could noteat as he was in Hairat and completelyenchanted in that state. His Master, the Khwajaof Ajmer, wanted him to keep away from this state of enchantmentand come down,