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Meher Baba

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Meher Baba is said to of been the divine avatar of our age and this is typical of the cult phenomena in India which has had its fair share of gurus, swamis and avatars. India has a proclivity for such mysterious and mystical individuals who display characteristics of grandeur on a spiritual plane. My question is what is the standard or conditions of verification for anyone to claim enlightenment since this is a subjective experience? Also to simply have a so called spiritual experience does not necessitate or qualify someone to be an elitist. So through the process of falsification there may be some ways to detect inconsistencies or contradictions to the values which they espouse and this is the  approach I use when considering the truth claims of other groups and individuals.

One thing I think that should be considered when a person or spiritual leader/guide is making extraordinary remarks about themselves is to consider the mental health of an individual. Just because someone is highly intelligent, educated and charismatic does not equate to sanity. I once had to take a psychological test called the Minnesota  Multiphasic Personality Inventory and there were questions that they asked to see if I had any kind of deviant religious ideations or behavior in thinking that I was someone of spiritual significance. I saw this phenomena first hand when I was in Jerusalem as there are people there that believe they are someone of spiritual importance like King David or perhaps Elijah. This condition is refereed to as the Jerusalem syndrome and they actually have what they call an Elijah ward for those kind of individuals who are mentally unstable.

Also I used to work in a mental health ward while attending college and there were people in these facilities that had many different issues and some of them were seeing and hearing things which others could not and yet based on some peoples criteria this kind of activity could be considered desirable instead of abnormal. Which calls to question Merwan Sheriar Irani’s experience of hearing voices and visions along with banging his head against the wall which could be a possible demonstration of a psychological disorder or psychosis. I say all this in giving the cult leader the benefit of the doubt to his motivation and yet there are perhaps others who know full well what they are doing and are deliberately conscious of their ability to manipulate and control others in a brainwashing attempt to allure people into believing their transcendency of greatness.

Another matter to consider is the mysterious ability for some people to be self deceived and when reinforced by other conditions such as a boost of persona from other deluded individuals such as the Spiritual Masters or through the support of his disciples/ mandali then this only helps to reinforce such behavior. Moreover just because someone is sincere does not mean that they can’t be sincerely wrong.

This reminds of the biblical passage about the deceitfulness of the heart in Jeremiah 17:9

 

9 The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

 

Again some of these illusionary or imaginary thoughts may be a result of obtaining coaching from his spiritual mentor Upasni Maharaj who said that Meher Baba was the sadguru of the age and that the world/humanity at large will be benefited. However even though he has done some humanitarian and philanthropic works there have been others which have equally made their contribution to society as well, such as Mother Teresa, without assuming a divine title.

Anyway regarding this whole philosophy of believing that Merwan Sheriar Irani is a unique manifestation of god or a divine avatar is contrary to the oneness of god  because if everyone is god whether actualized, realized, aware of it or not then by nature there should be no need for an individual distinction. Also if this pantheistic view of god as being the universe and is everywhere then how can God be brought down spatially in an incarnated state?

Additionally the cosmology of Meher Baba supports the idea that evolution takes place  by transitioning from inorganic material to organic substances culminating with human existence which also has various developmental stages through the means of reincarnation and what is termed involution. This progression is a conscious decision or whim/pursuit of the object to achieve god consciousness which I find nonsensical given that rocks and metals are mindless entities. We know first hand at least from a naturalistic or biological viewpoint that inorganic materials do not manufacture organic substances because of the law of biogenesis and yet to equate this to a spiritual reality is just beyond belief.

Other claims he makes is that at any given time there are 56 individuals who are considered “god realized” souls and yet how does he know all of this especially since he couldn’t even verify in his “omniscience” who the successors were after the demise of the 5 spiritual masters of his time who were Sai Baba of Shirdi, Upasni Maharaj, Hazrat Babaian, Hazrat Tajuddin Baba and Narayan Maharaj? He goes on to say that there is human life on other planets and if he doesn’t even know who are the replacements of these Perfect Masters on this planet then how is he able to obtain this extraterrestrial knowledge?

Furthermore his position that an avatar appears every 700-1400 years has been overextended by a couple hundred years among some of these personages  whom he identifies as Zoroaster, Rama, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad.

In addition to this if some of the teachings of these spiritual leaders never found any ultimate sense of universal acceptance during their lifetimes or subsequently then what evidence is there that Meher Baba will do any better?

Also if there are 5 Perfect Masters in every era and part of their role is to bring down an avatar then why don’t they succeed but every 700-1400 years?

How can the supposed avatars that I mentioned above bring enlightenment to mankind and yet adhere to deviant teachings amongst themselves? For instance Jesus or Muhammad never taught about the “Oneness” of God from a pantheistic viewpoint. Additionally Muhammad was never “self realized” as he refuted anything that resembled god except for allah. Also Buddha or classical buddhism doesn’t even have a god concept as it is atheistic. Thus these movements are incompatible and irreconcilable in that they can’t be ultimately merged or united as a whole under a common banner of religion as their paths are divergent in going off in different directions and therefore to try to unite them through some overarching principles is an oversimplification of religious identity which further shows that all these supposed avatars could not of possessed omniscience as they taught contradictory matters between themselves.  For anyone who has done any serious research on comparative religions knows that the essential differences far outweigh the similarities of these movements. Anyway the common element is that mankind is predominantly religious in having an awareness or an innate sense of transcendence but to push this matter to the conclusion that it is the same god idea is to conjecture a biased intuition without any objective reasoning or support in overlooking the diversity of beliefs. To try to universally synthesize all movements is impossible due to some of the positions which are held by these groups such as Satanism and Christianity who are completely antithetical on their positions. In conclusion I don’t see how these individuals could have brought people into a god consciousness through such contrary teachings and positions. Not only that but Meher Baba himself failed his mission to join all religions under a common creed of love in breaking down religious boundaries and also destroying American materialism.

Regarding the silence of Meher Baba it is controversial on how he refrained from using speech as a vehicle of communication and yet he was never silent or mute  through his hand gestures, alphabet board and books. Therefore the absence of speech did not hinder him from speaking. He was somebody who had something to say  and his voice was figuratively heard.

Concerning Meher Baba’s integrity; he was not always truthful as he failed to keep his promise on serval occasions to end his silence. He made such high claims that if he broke his silence that his word would be spoken into every heart and that his universal love will be felt, known and received. It would somehow set people free from their bondages if he could just simply open his mouth and speak the words.

If Meher Baba had this ability to speak but didn’t then I question his moral credibility to have love and fatherly compassion for others and thus his silence was an act of cruelty and hatred if he kept others from universally benefiting which would have been far greater  then any limited physical comfort he brought to those whom he temporarily  served. Maybe this is because he knew that if he did speak that he would be committed to fulfilling these things which he knew he couldn’t do anyway.

If he really loved others then why was there a preoccupation with the identity of himself as wanting others to remember him as god just before his death? Couldn’t he of used his last bit of energy and breath to just speak a word as a final act of good will towards bringing about the glorious revivification of mankind? Also there is a belief that one of his disciples claimed that he spoke prior to his death and if that is the case then where is the evidence of its global impact?

Furthermore for him to claim to be the “all powerful” Perfect Master who could make like himself any number of souls then why didn’t he accomplish this especially since his work is hardly noticeable today from a universal standpoint as only having a limited amount of followers?

Also he never really did any miracles because according to his own definition a miracle worker would be a perfect man making others perfect which he never could or did do. Meher Baba was just all talk as he goes on to state that through him a new humanity would emerge and bring about an unprecedented release of divine love in the world but where is the evidence of this?

In summary I hope you have been “awakened” to the reality that  Meher Baba is not who he and others claimed him to be. He has demonstrated through his own shortcomings that he is not omniscient or  omnipotent. He may have assumed the title as being the “highest of the high” but in reality he was only a legend in his own mind. Lastly he was anything but perfect which is an over appraisal and invention regarding his humanity. Conclusively there has always been individuals who claim to have a divine message or origin and Jesus brings this to our attention by stating

 

Mt:24-23-25

23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

 

This leads me into my next point in that I am wondering why some people get caught up in this religious illusion of New Age thought regarding god consciousness except that maybe it satisfies their egotism of selfish idolatry as god. From a biblical perspective this was the downfall of mankind as Eve was deceived into sin by partaking of the forbidden fruit so that her eyes would be opened in becoming like god.

So based on the fraudulent claims of Meher Baba I am persuaded to believe that this sect is more dangerous then the drugs that he tried to dissuade others from taking as he has enticed or tempted mankind to come under the influence of his mind altering drug of cult phenomena.

In conclusion there have been some limited benefits to this group as seen through some of its humanitarian efforts but the real danger of this sect outweighs the benefit as it mixes or confuses helping our neighbors in practical ways to supporting a philosophical diversion with deviant spiritual realities which are either false or conveniently unprovable. Its one thing for our bodies to temporarily and materially benefit but quite another for our  souls to be abused so as to eternally perish.

Anyway I apologize if I seem to harsh in my appraisal of this man and the movement. Please forgive me if I have somehow transgressed the line through my appeal by getting you to see things differently. Nevertheless I hope that this post has caused you to rethink your position and possibly consider other spiritual avenues.

In closing I know of only one who changes hearts and minds and I am a living example of a life that has been transformed through the power of Jesus Christ. Not only have I been affected but there are countless others who also have their own story and testimony which verifies this reality of the Lord’s ongoing ministry which was to set the captives free and liberate those who are in bondage by bringing them new life.

 

Luke 4:18-19

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

jesusandjews.com/wordpress/my-personal-testimony-with-jesus/

www.cbn.com/700club/features/Amazing/

 

Finally we have a loving and compassionate Father who spoke a universal message that broke the cycle of “limitations” and “attachments” as demonstrated through the person and work of Christ.

 

John 3:16

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

Mt 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

 

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Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.9, pgs.5829-5830, Charles C. Haynes

Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.7, pgs.1012-1013, Meher Baba