1 The Alphabet Board A Collection of Sayings of AVATAR MEHER BABA Compiled by Chris Maier This collection © 2014 by Chris Maier. See pp. 2-4 for further copyright information. 1 2 Preface Words can clarify or confuse; they’ve always had this dual identity, but in this “Information Age” words have proliferated to such an extent that mankind seems in danger of drowning in a sea of verbiage. Inasmuch as we depend on words, we need those which give meaning to our lives; we need, ideally, words defined by God! And—thank God!—we have them. For although He kept silent for forty-four years, Avatar Meher Baba spoke to us through His alphabet Board, His flying fingers giving the true meaning of everything from Art to Zero—all the while pointing us away from words, towards His silence and the unnamable mystery of His Love. Note: When “you” is referred to in a quote from Meher Baba, it is sometimes a general and at other times a specific “you,” but if the gist of the message seemed generally applicable, it is quoted without indicating who was being addressed. Omissions are noted by ellipsis points (…), paragraph breaks are omitted, editor’s interpolations are enclosed in brackets, and spellings and capitalization are rendered as in the source text: thus, for instance, Baba is sometimes “me” and sometimes “Me,” God is “he” or “He,” and so on. SOURCES The words of Meher Baba are copyright by the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust (AMBPPCT), Kings Road, Ahmednagar, M.S. 414001, India. See below for further copyight information. Unless otherwise indicated, the copyright belongs to the Trust. Each quote is followed by a notation of the source text, volume number (where relevant) and page number. Thus Aw/VI/1/5 means The Awakener Magazine, volume 6, number 1, page 5; GS/1 means God Speaks, page 1; and so forth. The texts cited are abbreviated as follows: A = AVATAR: The Life Story of Avatar Meher Baba (1947) by Jean Adriel (John F. Kennedy University Press, 1971) AOGCL = AS ONLY GOD CAN LOVE, by Darwin Shaw (Sheriar Foundation, 2003) Aw = THE AWAKENER Magazine, ed. Filis Frederick; copyright by Universal Spiritual League in America, Inc. 2 3 B = BEAMS from Meher Baba on the Spiritual Panorama, by Meher Baba (Peter Pauper Press, 1958). Copyright by Sufism Reoriented. Be = THE BELOVED: THE LIFE AND WORK OF MEHER BABA, by Naosherwan Anzar (Sheriar Press, 1974). D = DISCOURSES, 7th rev. ed., by Meher Baba (Sheriar Press, 1987) DH = DARSHAN HOURS (1971), edited by Eruch Jessawala and Rick Chapman (Beguine Library, 1973), copyright by AMBPPCT DL = THE DANCE OF LOVE: My Life with Meher Baba, by Margaret Craske (Sheriar Press, 1980) DTBH = DETERMINED TO BE HIS: Stories Shared by Eruch in Mandali Hall, ed. Steve Klein (Meher Nazar Books, 1987) EN = THE EVERYTHING AND THE NOTHING, by Meher Baba (Meher House Publications, 1963) FL = 82 FAMILY LETTERS to the Western Family of Lovers and Followers of Meher Baba, by Mani S. Irani (Sheriar Press, 1976) GG = GIFT OF GOD, by Arnavaz Dadachanji (Beloved Books, 1996) GGM = GLIMPSES OF THE GOD-MAN, MEHER BABA, by Bal Natu, 6 vols. (Sheriar Press, 1977-1994) Gl = THE GLOW INTERNATIONAL magazine, ed. Naosherwan Anzar; copyright by Beloved Archives GM = THE GOD-MAN (1964), by C. B. Purdom (Sheriar Press, 1971) GS = GOD SPEAKS, by Meher Baba (Sufism Reoriented, 1955), copyright by Sufism Reoriented GUWG = GROWING UP WITH GOD, by Sheela Kalchuri Fenster with David Fenster (Meher Nazar Publications, 2008); copyright by David and Sheela Fenster ISH = IT SO HAPPENED, stories told by Eruch Jessawala, compiled by Bill Le Page (R. J. Mistry for Meher House Publications, for Meher Baba Foundation, Australia, 1978) ITS = IS THAT SO? stories told by Eruch Jessawala, compiled by Bill Le Page (Meher Nazar Books, 1985) JtLH = JUST TO LOVE HIM, by Adi K. Irani (Sheriar Press, 1985) LAP = LOVE ALONE PREVAILS, 2nd ed., by Kitty Davy (Sheriar Foundation, 2001) LB = LIFE AT ITS BEST, by Meher Baba (Peter Pauper Press, 1957); copyright by Sufism Reoriented LH = LISTEN, HUMANITY, by Meher Baba, ed. D. E. Stevens (Dodd, Mead, 1957) LJ = LIFE IS A JEST, by Meher Baba (Avatar Meher Baba Jabalpur Centre, 1969) LM = LORD MEHER, 20 vols., 1st ed., by Bhau Kalchuri (MANifestation, Inc., 1986-2001), copyright by AMBPPCT (The current online revised edition may have different wording for some sayings.) MB = MEHER BABA, BY HIS EASTERN AND WESTERN DISCIPLES (Publication Committee, Meher Baba Universal Spiritual Centre, 1939) 3 4 MC = THE MASTERY OF CONSCIOUSNESS, by Allan Y. Cohen (Harper & Row, 1977), copyright by Ira G. Dietrick (Sufism Reoriented) M-M = MEHERA-MEHER, 3 vols., by David Fenster (Meher Nazar Publications, 2003); copyright by David Fenster NE = THE NOTHING AND THE EVERYTHING, by Bhau Kalchuri (MANifestation, Inc., 1981) OL = THE OCEAN OF LOVE: MY LIFE WITH MEHER BABA, by Delia DeLeon (Sheriar Press, 1991), copyright by Meher Baba Association, London PL = THE PATH OF LOVE (1976), by Meher Baba (Awakener Press, 1986) PM = THE PERFECT MASTER (1937), by C. B. Purdom (Sheriar Press, 1976) RD = RAMJOO’S DIARIES, 1922–1929, by Ramjoo Abdullah (Sufism Reoriented, 1979), copyright by Sufism Reoriented SS = SILENT SPLENDOUR, by Kavi Yogi Maharshi Shuddhananda Bharati (Shuddhananda Library, 1963) ST = SILENT TEACHINGS OF MEHER BABA, ed. Naosherwan Anzar (Beloved Archives, 2001) SW = THE SILENT WORD, by Francis Brabazon (R. J. Mistry for Meher House Publications, 1978) TAO = THE ANCIENT ONE, by Eruch Jessawala, ed. Naosherwan Anzar (Beloved Books, 1985) TIW = THREE INCREDIBLE WEEKS WITH MEHER BABA, by Malcolm Schloss and Charles Purdom (Sheriar Press, 1979) TK = THE TURNING OF THE KEY: MEHER BABA IN AUSTRALIA, by Bill Le Page (Sheriar Press, 1993) TMBJ = TREASURES FROM THE MEHER BABA JOURNAL, 1938-1942, ed. Jayne Barry Haynes (Sheriar Press, 1980) WHTO = WHEN HE TAKES OVER, compiled by Bal Natu (Meher Nazar Books, 1988) WWS = WHILE THE WORLD SLEPT: Stories from Bhau Kalchuri's Life with Avatar Meher Baba, by Bhau Kalchuri (MANifestation, Inc., 1984) 4 5 Contents Abandoned, Abortion, Acceptance, Accident (Baba’s), Acting/Actor, Action, Action & Inaction, Action (Baba’s), Addiction, Add-ons, Adoration (of oneself), Advancement (spiritual), Advent, Adventures, Adversity, Advice (Baba’s), Aggression, Agnosticism, Aim, Alcohol, Alone, Alphabet Board, America, Ancient One, Angel, Angels (& Fairies), Angels (& Man), Anger, Anger (Baba’s), Animals, Annihilation, Annoyance, Antagonism, Antidote, Ants, Apocalypse, Appreciation (of Baba), Argument, Arms Race, Art, Arti, Asceticism, Ashram, Asking, Aspects, Aspiration, Assassination, Astral World, Astrology, Atheism, Atom Age, Attachment, Attitude, Avatar, Avataric Periods, Avatars (traits of), Awake, Awakener, Awaking, Awareness Baba, Baba (coming to), Baba-lover, Babies, Backbiting, Bad, Balance, Barbarism, Barber, Bargain, Battle, Beauty, Becoming, Beggars, Begin the Beguine, Beginning and End, Belief, Belongings (Baba’s), Beloved, Benefit, Beyond, Bhakti Yoga, Binding/Bondage, Birth, Birth and Death, Birth Control, Birthday (Baba’s), Births and Deaths, Blame, Blank, Blasphemy, Blessing, Blindness, Bliss, Blue Bus, Body/Bodies, Body (and Mind), Body (and Soul), Body (Baba’s), Body (God’s), Books, Books (Baba), Boy (search for the perfect), Boys (Prem Ashram), Bravery, Breath, Britain (and India), Brotherhood, Bureaucrats, Business Call, Call (Baba’s), Cancer, Caste, Cause (Baba’s), Cause and Effect, Celibacy, Centre (Baba), Ceremony, Change, Chanji, Chaos, Character, Cheek, Cheer, Child, Childhood/Children, Children (God’s), Children (teaching of), Choice, Christ, Churches, Circle (Baba’s), Circumstances, Cleanliness, Climate (Baba’s favorite), Coat (Baba’s), Commandments, Communications (modern), Companionship (Baba’s), Compromise, Concentration, Confession, Conscience, Consciousness, Consciousness (Baba’s), Consciousness (development/evolution of, gross, loss of, mature, seven states of, Super), Contact, Contribution, Control, Control (through love), Conveniences, Conviction, Cooking, Cosmos, Creation, Creation-Preservation-Destruction, Creativity, Creed, Criticism, Crucifixion (Christ’s/Baba’s), Cruelty (Baba’s), Crying Daaman, Dadachanji (Nariman and Arnavaz), Dance, Darshan, Darshan (Last), Death, Death (after), Death (Baba’s), Deceit, Dedication, Deeds, Defect, Degrees, Denial, Dependence, Depression, Depression (the Great), Desire, Desperation, Destiny, Destruction, Detachment, Detective Story, Devil, Devotee (Divine), Diet, Diet (Baba’s), Difficulty, Dignity, Disappointment, Disaster, Disciples (hardships of), Discipleship, Discomfort, Discontent, Discretion (and emotion), Discussion, Disharmony, Dishes, Disturbance, Divinity, Divisions, Doctor, Dogs, Doing, Drama, Dream, Dreams (Baba), Drugs, Duality, Dust, Duty Earning, Earth, East and West, East-West Gathering, Economy, Education, Effacement, Effort, Ego, Ego (3 types of), Ego (elimination of), Embrace, Embryo, Emotion, Emperor, Emptiness (and Nakedness), End, Enemy, Energy, Environment, Equality, Equilibrium, Equipoise, Error, Eruch, Escape, Eternity, Evil (and Good), Evolution, Excellence, 5 6 Excitement, Execution, Existence, Expectation, Experience, Experience (inner), Experience (of opposites), Explanation, Exploration, Expression (God’s) Failure, Faith, Fall, Fame, Family (Baba’s), Farmer, Fasting, Fate, Father, Fathom, Fear, Feces (Baba’s), Feeding (Baba’s), Feelings, Feelings (Baba’s), Feet, Fidelity, Fighting, Film World, Finding, Finite, Flag (Baba’s), Focus, Followers (of Baba), Food, Food (Baba’s), Food (Fast), Forgetfulness, Forgive and Forget, Form, Form (Baba’s), Freedom, Friend, Fury, Future Game, Game (Baba’s), Gandhi, Ghosts, Gift, Give, Giving, Giving in, Glorification (Baba’s), Gnosis, Goal, God, God (Being), God (and Illusion), God (proof of), God (and religion), God (seeking), Godhood, God-Man, God realization, God Speaks, Golden Rule, Good and Bad, Gossip, Grace, Grace (how to deserve), Greatness, Greatness (Baba’s), Greed, Grievances (Baba’s), Groups (Baba), Growth, Guide, Gulmai, Guru, Guru (false), Gustadji Habit, Habit (Baba’s), Hafiz, Hair, Hallucination, Happening, Happiness, Happiness (Baba’s), Harassment, Harm, Hate, Hatred, Having, Head and Heart, Headache, Headache (Baba’s), Healing, Health, Hearing (Baba’s), Heart, Heart and Mind, Heaven and Hell, Help, Help (Baba’s), Heroes, Hip (Baba’s), History, Hoax, Hold, Holding, Holy Places, Homosexuality, Honesty, Honesty (Baba’s), Hope, House, House (Baba’s), Humanity, Humanity (Baba’s), Humiliation, Humiliation (Baba’s), Humility, Humor (Baba’s), Hybrid, Hypocrisy I, I and You, Ideology, Ignorance, Ignorance (removal of), Illusion, Imagination, Impressions, Improvement, Inaction, Income, Independence, India, Indifference, Individuality, Intoxicants, Introduction, Infinite, Inner Journey, Inner Life, Insult, Integration, Intellect, Introduction, Intuition, Invisible, Involution, IS Jail, Jealousy, Jesus, Job (Baba’s), Judas, Judgment, Justice Karma, Keynote, Killing, Kindness, King George and Queen Elizabeth, Knowledge and Ignorance, Knowledge (Baba’s) Language, Language (Baba’s), Last Words (Baba’s), Law, Law (God’s), Leadership, Learning, Leprosy, Level, Liberation, Life, Life (after death), Life (Divine), Life (Old and New), Life (spiritual), Life (types of), Light, Likes and Dislikes, Likes (Baba’s), Limitation, Lion of Love, Living, Longing, Loss, Lost and Found, Lottery, Love, Love (Baba’s/Divine), Love (for God/Baba), Love (game of), Love (and Mind), Love (Mother), Love (and obedience), Love (Pure), Love (spheres of), Lover, Lover (types of), Lust, Luxury Madness, Man, Mandali, Manifestation (Baba’s), Manonash, Many, Marriage, Master (Perfect), Masters (true and false), Master’s Prayer, Masts, Mast Work (Baba’s), Materialism, Matter (and Spirit), Maya, Meaning, Meat, Meditation, Meditation (forms 6 7 of), Meditation (modes of general), Meditation (nature and conditions), Meditation (personal), Meditation (types of), Meetings (Baba), Meher Spiritual Center, Mehera, Meherabad/Meherazad, Memory, Men-of-God, Mercy (Baba’s), Merging (with Baba), Message (Baba’s), Messiah (false), Method, Method (Baba’s), Microcosm, Milk, Mind, Mind (Baba’s), Mind (and body), Mind (control of), Mind (and heart), Mind (Master), Mine (Baba’s), Miracles, Miracles (Baba’s), Mirror, Misdeeds, Misery, Misfortune, Miss, Missing Link, Mission, Mission (Baba’s), Mistake, Modesty, Money, Mood (Baba’s), Moods, Moon, Motive, Music, Must, Mystery, Mysticism, Mystics (Christian) Name (Baba’s), Natural, Nature, Nature (Baba’s), Nature (human), Neck (Baba’s), Need(s), Negligence, Nehru, New Life, Nirvana, Nod, Normal, Nothing, Now Obedience, Obedience (stages of), Obedience (types of), Object, Ocean, Occultism, Occupation, OM, Omen, Omnipresence-Omniscience-Omnipotence, Oneness, Opposites, Opposition, Orders (Baba’s) Pain (Baba’s), Painter, Paradox, Past-Present-Future, Path (the Spiritual), Path (stages of the), Patience (Baba’s), Peace, Peace (of mind), People (types of), Perfect Masters, Perfection, Perfection (signs of), Period (Avataric), Pets, Philosophy, Philosophy (Baba’s), Photographs (of Baba), Piety, Places (spiritual), Plan (God’s), Plane, Planets, Play, Playmate, Pleasing (God), Pleasure, Plight, Poems, Poets (Baba’s favorite), Poise, Politics, Poor, Possession(s), Poverty, Power (Master’s), Practicality, Prasad, Prayer, Prayers (Baba’s), Precepts, Presence (God’s), Present, Presumption, Price, Priests, Prison, Problems, Producer, Progress (spiritual), Projection, Promise, Promises (Baba’s), Proselytizing, Psychology, Public Opinion, Pull, Punctuality, Punishment, Purification, Purpose, Purpose, Pursuit Quest, Questions, Qutub Reading, Reality, Realization, Reason, Rehearsal, Reincarnation, Relationship, Relaxation (Baba’s), Religion, Religion (Baba’s), Remedy, Remembrance, Renunciation, Renunciation (internal and external), Renunciation (temporary or permanent), Resignation, Resolution, Responsibility, Rest (Baba’s), Results, Retrogress, Return, Return (Baba’s), Revelation, Revolution, Riots (religious), Rise, Ritual, Role, Role (Baba’s), Romance, Room, Rules Sacrifice, Sadguru, Sadhana (spiritual), Sadness, Sahavas, Saint, Saint Francis, Saint Teresa, Saints and Sinners, Saints (real and imitation), Salvation, Samadhi, Sanskaras, Sanskrit, Satisfaction, School, Science, Scripture, Sculptor, Seclusion (Baba’s), Seclusion Hill, Secret, Seed, Seeing, Seek, Seeker, Seeking, Self, Self-forgetfulness, Self-help, Self- interest, Self-knowledge, Self-love, Self-Realization, Selfishness, Selflessness, Separateness, Separation, Serious, Sermon on the Mount, Service, Seven, Self, Sex, Sex (male and female forms), Shadow, Shakespeare, Shepherd, Shock, Shortcomings, Shrines, Sight, Signature (Baba’s), Silence, Silence (Baba’s), Silence (breaking of Baba’s), Silence Day, Sin, Situations, Slander, Slave (Baba’s), Slavery, Sleep, Sleep 7 8 (Baba’s), Snakes, Solitude, Solution, Son (of God), Song (Baba’s), Sorrow, Souls, Sound, Sow, Space and Time, Speaking (Baba’s), Specialty (Baba’s), Spectator, Speculation, Spirit, Spirituality, Spontaneity, Sport (Leela), Sportsmanship, Stages, Stars, Stay with God, Sticking (to Baba), Stone, Stranger, Strangers, Strength, Struggle, Study, Submission, Suffering, Suffering (Baba’s), Sufi, Sufism, Suicide, Sun, Surrender, Swimming, Sword (Baba’s) Talk, Teacher, Teaching (Baba’s), Tears, Temple, Temptation, Thanks-giving, Theme Song (God’s), Theory, Theosophy, Thief, Things, Thinking (of Baba), Third Eye, Thought Reading, Thoughts, Throne (God’s), Tiger, Time, Tomb (Baba’s), Toys, Transcendence, Treasure, Trust, Truth, Try Unchanged, Understanding, Unity, Union, Universe, Unlearning, Untouchable, Upheaval (world) Value, Values, Vegetarianism, Veil, Verb, Victory, Violence and Non-violence, Voice, Voice (Baba’s) Wait, Want, Want (Baba’s), War, Washerman, Watched, Watches, Watch-words, Way, Ways (Baba’s), Weakness, Wealth, West, Whim, Wholeness, Wig, Will, Will (God’s), Wine, Wish (Baba’s), Within/Without, Witness, Woman, Words, Word(s) (Baba’s), Work, Work (Baba’s), Work (Baba’s, phases of), Work (for Baba), World(s), World War II, Worldliness, Worry, Worry (Baba’s), Worship, Worth, Worthy, Writing Yoga, You, Youth Zero 8 9 A Abandoned (service of the) By serving the abandoned you are really serving Jesus Christ because He was also abandoned by all, even by His own apostles. The emblem of abandonment is the Cross. Hence, to serve the abandoned is to serve the Christ—and I am He, undoubtedly. (TAO/169) Abortion Within married life one can learn to control animal passion. It is bound to be a gradual process; and in the cases of failure in practicing control, the couple must allow nature to take its own course rather than interfere with it through artificial means. They must cheerfully welcome the consequences and be prepared to shoulder the responsibility of bringing up children. (D/108) Acceptance [L]earn to accept things as they come, quietly, without worrying, and much of the anxiety that is unnecessary will disappear, and things will look easier than at first. (Aw/XXI/1/67) Accident (Baba’s) The personal disaster, for some years foretold by Me, has at last happened while crossing the American continent, causing Me...much mental and physical suffering. It was necessary that it should happen in America. God willed it so... (LAP/400) My accident is no “accident,” and it all comes to one thing: What I wanted has happened, and what I want will happen. (FL/29) The accident has been a blessing for the universe and a curse for Baba. (FL/12) I got my physical bones broken so as to break the backbone of the material aspect of the machine age while keeping intact its spiritual aspect. (TAO/173) I have now tasted the injury as it had never before been tasted. (Aw/XIV/2/2) Acting/Actor If the world is a stage, God is the only producer and you can never be anything but a trivial actor if you are not in unison with Him. (Aw/VI/1/5) The actor has to realize that real and living beauty is made manifest only by discovering and releasing the spiritual potential within himself...Without vision your art will be shallow; do not therefore hesitate to glean that vision from the Great Ones. This will give you a living inspiration, bringing fulfillment in your life. (Aw/VI/1/5) There are many actors who, either through nervousness or dryness, feel that they cannot express their parts, and this feeling of the mind checks expression. While acting, think that you are one of the greatest actors of the world and try to express yourself thoroughly. I will help you spiritually. Just think you are the greatest actor. Where is the harm in 9 10 thinking that? If it is not for “pride,” but for bringing the best out of you that you do it, then there is nothing wrong. (Aw/XV/3+4/3) Action Each person has become what he is through his own accumulated actions. (D/331) Whatever you do, you are obliged to do according to divine law. (LM/2/678) The actions of past lives determine the conditions and circumstances of the present life, and the actions of the present life have their share in determining the conditions and circumstances of future lives. (D/327) [M]an’s cognizance is life in man, and man’s life is made cognizant through the actions of man. Actions are generated by the impressions of man, and vice-versa. These impressions are picked up and imprinted on the mind of man by action. Impressions and action are thus interdependent because impressions are fed by actions and actions are motivated by impressions. (GS/82) Action is the expression and therefore an accentuation of the mental and emotional impressions by which it is impelled...Action is...the most powerful agency through which discrimination is exercised in the course of choosing and adjusting many claims upon consciousness. (Aw/XX/2/2) [G]ood actions in this life necessitate acquiring a happier state in the next formation; and similarly a bad action in the present life brings about a bad result in the same way. There is that tie, which has not been dispensed away with in any case! (RD/79) All action except that which is intelligently designed to attain God-realization creates a binding for consciousness. (D/76) Our bondage is due to actions. Good action is a binding and bad action is a binding. One has to go beyond actions, then there is no binding...How can you be free of actions? Again we fall back on love. Love is the remedy. (GM/319) In whatever you undertake, throw your whole heart and mind sincerely into it. Don’t do anything half-heartedly, nor leave anything half done, nor have a mind wavering between two things. Take up one thing and finish it. (SW/357) In everything you do, put your mind to it, and then forget it...but do not be attached to it. (Aw/X/2/39) If you dance for Me, you do as much good as one who meditates on Me. Some like work, some like play, but when you do it for Me, then it is the same. This is Vedanta and Christian philosophy in a nutshell. So very easy, yet so difficult. Try to forget yourself and do all for Baba. Let it be Baba all the time! (LAP/166) 10