Symbols of the world's religions

               

THE GREATEST LOVE OF THE LOVERS OF GOD

Phyllis Silverman Ott-Toltz and Barbara Bamberger Scott

 
Mehera told Phyllis in her gentle voice, "This is the famous Hindu saint, Mira (Mirabai). She loved God so very much that she went through the streets singing and dancing for him. She loved him as Lord Krishna though the time of Krishna was long gone hundreds of years before. She was married to a king who was jealous and ashamed of her. So he prepared a poisoned drink for her — that's what she's holding in the picture."

(In her mind's eye now Phyllis recalls the cup, like the simple chalice in which Christians may share the sacramental Last Supper). "And Mira drank the whole bowl of poisoned milk, and lived. Lord Krishna loved her, you see, and protected her so that no harm could befall her. Mira's songs are still sung here in India."

Mehera said that no love for a man can approach the greatest love of the lovers of God. It was believed by Phyllis immediately. Humanitarian ideals had been the basis of her searching for people to love, and who would love her. This was the liberation from all that jazz.

Wow, to be inspired to the greatest love, love for God. And implied is that God in the form of the divine men, Buddha, Krishna, Christ, and now Meher Baba is the greatest opportunity to bring that love to life in one's being. Because Mirabai had no fear of being killed by men for expressing publicly this love, Phyllis experienced her own emancipation.

The irony of it! Phyllis had expected to meet in Mehera what the world calls a good woman, like the Christian wife, bowed to the will of the male. Instead, Mehera held out the inspiration of a Mirabai, a queen of India, who was not intimidated even by her husband, the king.

The effect of Mehera's message helped Phyllis understand and accept her own role as a female and appreciate other women.

 

LOVE BADE ME WELCOME, p. 74
2006 © Phyllis Silverman Ott-Toltz

               

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