DON'T WORRY

 
To be told by Meher Baba not to worry may seem a commonplace and simple thing. Those unaccustomed to His ways or newly meeting Him might wonder why He bothers to mention the obvious, for we all have our worries. Especially it might come as a shock to those who desire to hear from Him learned metaphysical or philosophical discussions. Meher Baba's concern is to awaken the love within us so that we may become real human beings. His appeal is to the heart. Directly and simply He gets down to the very roots of our being. Invariably He says: "Don't worry; I will help you. Just love Me."

These words, like the words of Jesus(1), are deep and significant; for they are a clarion call to us, to rouse ourselves, to awaken from our smug little outlook on life to yearn for a richer, fuller, deeper way of living.

If we want to understand Meher Baba's ways, we have only to pause and think a little to realize that the fundamental cause of most of the trouble that is shaking the foundations of our world today is worry, and its inevitable sister, fear. Everywhere we see entire nations and peoples in the grip of this worrying business. The life of the individual makes up the life and character of the nation, and each in turn reacts on other peoples and nations. We worry because we lack health, possessions, money or lands. We poison our lives at the source and that affects our adjustments to each other.

Then comes intolerance, greed and persecution. We have not got the right kind of faith — the faith that helps us recognize the rights and needs of all men to live peacefully in brotherhood and to know that we are all part of the whole. If we had this faith, we would know, as Hafiz says: "The object of all religion is alike — all men seek their Beloved. O, all the world is love's dwelling; why talk of a mosque or a church?"

Why do we worry so much? With many people it is because they feel an eternal dissatisfaction. They want things different; something eludes them always. Small wonder that in their desperate desire to be free from worry they follow false gods, thinking they will be led to Utopia. They are deceived by words and grandiose promises, and are "let down" invariably for they fail to realize that the remedy lies within themselves.

It is only a Perfect One like Meher Baba that can give them the right answer to all that troubles them and the world today. He has Himself attained freedom and can help others to this freedom. If we turn to Him, He will help us and in Him we can find hope and strength. The very fact of His telling us "Don't worry; be happy" helps us and gives us power, for it loosens up within us the causes of our worries.

To love Him and to obey Him is the next step — it is so much easier with Him behind us. For it is a spiritual solution, and no amount of physical or mental striving can solve our problems. Meher Baba does help us to change our attitude to life; and it is not a negative attitude that Baba asks us to cultivate, but a positive, joyful acceptance of experiences in their right focus.

Not to be caught up in the passing phases of illusion (Maya) — "to be in the world but not of it" — does not mean a shrinking from life. We have our parts to play. And to withdraw from life to practice austerities, to sit in a cave to meditate, does not necessarily mean spiritual advancement. It would not be right for the majority. Meher Baba seems to prefer us to be active and dynamic, though He wants us to accept whatever experience is necessary for our spiritual progress and development.

Meher Baba helps us in so many ways not to worry or fear and to develop this right attitude towards life. It sounds so simple yet most of us find it so difficult. "Don't worry" says Baba to someone, and usually if that person is receptive he soon begins to realize what a worrier he is, even though it may have been in the depths of his subconscious self; and the measure of the new inrush of life that fills him is the measure of Baba's help.

It is a subtle and pernicious foe that we have to fight; but if we follow Baba's advice we soon find that troubles and fears begin to vanish, because the things that were important to us before do not matter any more. Why should we worry when we can turn to Him and love Him and serve Him?

We must try to know and understand ourselves truly; for Meher Baba says:

"Everything is within you: the secret of Life...God."

We are part of all; it is the veils of illusion that prevent our seeing clearly. We have gradually to shed these veils; to lose our ego, to die to the lower self; and we will awaken like a dreamer from sleep.

Sometimes Baba, in order to help us, brings our faults up to the boiling point. The person who worries, worries more than ever. A climax comes, an emotional upheaval takes place within the person. Then if they have the courage to face up to themselves, and to realize the fault lies within themselves, in a flash the whole thing clears up and they are free from that particular worry. If they lack courage or have not enough love or faith to trust Baba, then they perhaps turn against Him or blame Him for their own weaknesses.

Meher Baba is always there, waiting; ready to guide and teach us; whatever our weaknesses or worries, we can go to Him. And with patient love He will help us again and again.

Meher Baba's telling us not to worry has an added significance at the moment, for we are living in thrilling and trying times. The approaching spiritual age calls for our recognition of the verity of the brotherhood of man. All our resources and powers of endurance will be taxed in the struggle. Out of chaos, order comes. Meher Baba stands like a beacon, beckoning us on. He shows us by His example the heights we can reach; with perfect poise and equilibrium He walks the earth. His Love is our inspiration, and if there are dark days and all goes from us, we need not worry or despair.

Might He not be saying, as Francis Thompson says in The Hound of Heaven:

All which I took from thee,
I did but take
But just that thou mightest seek it in My arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies is lost, I have stored up for thee at home.
Rise, clasp My hands and come.

(1) My peace I give unto you not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." St. John, Chapter 14, Verse 27.