DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

52 DISCOURSESeach in its own way is very alluring and serves as a trap for theContribution of theaspirant. The Master either takes the aspirantMasterpast these planes or through them withoutunnecessary delay. The aspirant has to walkhis own way, but the contribution of the Master consists inconfirming and consolidating the previously acquired intuitionsand perceptions of the aspirant, and in precipitating hisconsciousness into the next stage which, though unavoidable, is byits nature impossible for him to anticipate.The Master uses Maya to take the disciple out of Maya, andas he is himself beyond good and evil he may often require thingswhich are unacceptable and even shocking to the ordinary goodUnquestioning faithof disciplessense of his disciples. The best thing for thedisciple to do is to follow the instructions ofthe Master with implicit faith, withoutbringing them to the bar of his limited capacity of judgment. Thefollowing famous instances illustrate this point.There is the Koranic story of Abraham being called upon tosacrifice his beloved son Ismael to the Lord. When Abraham, firmin his resolve and faith, was about to slaughter his son andAbraham's knife was already pointing at his throat, Ismael wasmiraculously saved by being replaced by a goat.Shams-e-Tabriz ordered Maulana Rumi, his disciple, tofetch wine for him from a pub, which he unflinchingly compliedwith in order to please and win the grace of his Master. At the timeMaulana commanded a large following of Muslim divines onaccount of his reputation as a great theologian of the Islamic world,and wine is religiously prohibited (Haram) to the Muslims. Henceit was a crucial test for Maulana to carry a jar of wine on hisshoulders through the