[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK - Baba's letters to Delia DeLeon and to her sister Minta: Tenth Letter

[Tavern-Talk]

HEART TALK - Baba's letters to Delia DeLeon and to her sister Minta: 
Tenth Letter

============================

Letter to Delia's sister Minta 1940

Dearest Shalimar,

Your last letter "ticked Me off" for tampering or balancing My Eternal 
Suffering with Eternal Bliss, whilst humanity has to suffer without 
joy or Infinite Bliss and happiness, implying was it fair?

Darling Shalimar - I want you to be always outspoken and free with your 
Beloved. I know you love, but imperfectly as yet, hence your lack of 
understanding. The Avatar has to suffer eternally for the world, but 
added to this is the often unnecessary suffering caused by his dearest 
and chosen ones just because they do not understand Him or His ways.

This gift of understanding is more precious than any other attribute of 
Love - be it expressed in service or sacrifice. Love can be blind, 
selfish, greedy, ignorant, but love with understanding can be none of 
these things. It is the Divine fruit of Pure Love, the rare fruit or 
flower of the Universe. It has been called "The Sweetest Flower in all 
the world!" Age cannot wither it. It grows more lovely as it casts off 
its outer garment, disclosing its unseen beauty within. 

What a wonderful opportunity to learn this "Love and Understanding" is 
given to those whom the Beloved - Himself the epitome of "Perfect 
Understanding" - calls to live near Him and what a tragedy for those 
who refuse. If they had any understanding of what they had "passed 
over" their suffering would indeed be unbearable. No physical 
suffering, no suffering of the present war could compare with it. Had 
they had understanding they never would have refused. How complicated 
is Life!

You criticize; you take lightly what should be taken seriously. You 
long at times to please Me, but you don't know how to and you refuse 
to be taught. You will sacrifice home, child, money, and freedom to 
understand and learn the art of the theatre, the genius of the poet or 
painter in pursuit of happiness. You spare no pains to try to 
understand what interests you, but when I, your Beloved, say "Learn of 
Me" and "Perfect Understanding, the fruit of Pure Love", you are not 
prepared to sacrifice anything for its possession. What sort of love 
is this, I ask? Love cannot force. To serve, please and love Me is a 
very different thing from what, let us say, Hitler asks of his 
followers. They obey - if not they are shot or imprisoned. My 
followers obey Me voluntarily - a far more difficult ideal.

Learn eventually you will, but in a school where suffering may not be 
combined with the presence of eternal bliss and happiness as it would 
if you had come to Me as I asked. There is so much in you which I need 
for My work. Such capacity to understand, had you the desire to learn 
and the grit, determination, and courage to strive for the goal. Who 
better than you were able to realize My changing moods, My present 
need, My unspoken wish; but you grew tired and wanted change! Like a 
child, you wanted the fairy palace, the fine jewel, without the climb 
and toil for its attainment. 

No, darling Shalimar, don't be miserable because this time I have 
"ticked you off". Write again soon and tell Me all your plans and what 
you would like to do. You have chosen the longer of two Paths toward 
the happiness you sincerely desire, but it is a path and I will lead 
you along it to the end. So you have nothing to fear, nothing to worry 
about. Mine you always were and Mine you will always remain whether 
there or here.

All My love to dearest Shalimar and a kiss to Pat.
M.S. Irani (signed)

===================================

Jai Beloved Baba!
Archives Team
Avatar Meher Baba P.P.C. Trust

Other Heart Talk letters can be selected at:
http://www.ambppct.org/archives/collections/written_materials/correspondence/heart_talk.htm

To learn more about the Avatar Meher Baba Trust Archives go to:
http://www.ambppct.org/archives

Heart Talk, Letter 250, 21 August 2008
Copyright 2008 Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust