Symbols of the world's religions

               

EVERYTHING EXCEPT GOD IS PETTY

Meher Baba

 
I am in all, in big and petty things. Petty and lofty, all are nothing, so why give importance to the lofty? I take as much enjoyment in looking after the mad, being with the mandali, ordering my agents, looking after the universal great work, as in bringing eggs for Hedi and mail for you all. So never try to escape, because you cannot escape petty things — because everything except God is petty.

What you can do is become detached. Use petty things, but know they are petty. Use, but do not be attached. For example: false teeth are used for eating, they are attached in your mouth; you know they are false, and you can take them out, attached and detached, but you make use of them.

The dirty body, which I call the walking latrine, is made use of for realizing the Soul. Can you escape it? You cannot escape its perspiration, so what you do is to wash away the perspiration. But if all day you go on brooding, "Why do I perspire?" "I must not perspire," it is of no use. You cannot escape, but you can become detached. So even petty things must be used — but know they are petty. Never say, "I don't want this or that." This, too, is binding and makes you nervous.

 

HOW A MASTER WORKS, pp. 515-516, Ivy O. Duce
1975 © Sufism Reoriented, Inc.

               

 Renunciation | Anthology | Main Page Norway | AvatarMeherBaba USA | HeartMind | Search