The Travail of the New World Order
From the Discourses of Meher Baba
The
world-storm which has been gathering momentum is now having its
greatest outburst,* and in reaching its climax it will work universal
disaster. In the struggle for material well-being, all grievances have
assumed fantastic proportions, and the diverse differences of human
interest have been so accentuated that they have precipitated
distinctive conflict. Humanity has failed to solve its individual and
social problems, and the evidence for this failure is very clear. The
incapacity of men to deal with their problems constructively and
creatively reveals a tragic deficiency in the right understanding of the
basic nature of man and the true purpose of life.
The world is witnessing an acute conflict between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness. On
the one hand there are selfish persons who seek their happiness blindly
through lust for power, unbridled greed and unrelieved hatred. Ignorant of the real purpose of life, they have sunk down to the lowest level of culture. They bury their higher selves in the wreckage of crumbling forms which linger on from the dead past. Bound by material interests and limited conceptions, they are forgetful of their divine destiny. They have lost their way, and their hearts are torn by the ravages of hate and rancour. On
the other hand there are persons who unveil their inherent higher
selves through the endurance of pain and deprivation and through noble
acts of bravery and self-sacrifice. The present war is teaching man to be brave, to be able to suffer, to understand and to sacrifice.
The disease of selfishness in mankind will need a cure which is not only universal in its application but drastic in nature. Selfishness is so deep-rooted that it can be eradicated only if it is attacked from all sides. Real peace and happiness will dawn spontaneously when there is a purging of selfishness. The peace and happiness which come from self-giving love are permanent. Even
the worst sinners can become great saints if they have the courage and
sincerity to invite a drastic and complete change of heart.
The
present chaos and destruction will engulf the whole world, but this
will be followed by a very long period in which there shall be no war. The
passing sufferings and miseries of our times will be worth enduring for
the sake of the long period of happiness which is to follow. What will the present chaos lead to? How will it all end? It can only end in one way. Mankind will be sick of it all. Man will be sick of wanting and sick of fighting out of hatred. Greed and hatred will reach such intensity that everyone will become weary of them. The way out of the dead-lock will be found through selflessness. The
only alternative which can bring a solution will be to stop hating and
to love, to stop wanting and to give, to stop dominating and to serve.
Great suffering awakens great understanding. Supreme
suffering fulfills its purpose and yields its true significance when it
awakens exhausted humanity and stirs within it a genuine longing for
real understanding. Unprecedented suffering leads to unprecedented spiritual growth. It contributes to the construction of life on the unshakable foundation of the Truth. It is now high time that universal suffering should hasten humanity to the turning point in its spiritual history. It
is now high time that the very agonies of our times should become a
medium for bringing a real understanding of human relationship. It is now high time for humanity to face squarely the true causes of the catastrophe that has overtaken it. It is now high time to seek a new experience of Reality. To know that life is real and eternal is to inherit unfading bliss. It is time that men have this realization by being unified with their own Self.
Through
unification with the higher Self, man perceives the Infinite Self in
all selves. He becomes free by outgrowing and discarding the limitations
of the ego-life. The individual soul has to realize with full consciousness its identity with the Universal Soul. Man
shall reorient life in the light of this ancient Truth, and they will
readjust their attitude towards their neighbors in everyday life. To perceive the spiritual value of oneness is to promote real unity and cooperation. Brotherhood then becomes a spontaneous outcome of true perception. The new life which is based upon spiritual understanding is an affirmation of the Truth. It is not something which belongs to utopia, but is completely practical. Now
that humanity is thrown into the fire of bloody conflicts, through
immense anguish it is experiencing the utter instability and futility of
the life which is based upon purely material conceptions. The hour is near when men in their eager longing for real happiness will seek its true source.
The
time is also ripe when men will ardently seek to contact the embodiment
of Truth in the form of a God-Man, through whom they can be inspired
and lifted into spiritual understanding. They will accept the guidance which comes from divine authority. Only the outpouring of divine love can bring about spiritual awakening. In
this critical time of universal suffering, men are becoming ready to
turn towards their Higher Self and to fulfill the will of God. Divine
love will perform the supreme miracle of bringing God into the hearts
of men and of getting them established in lasting and true happiness. It will satisfy the greatest need and longing of mankind. Divine
love will make people selfless and helpful in their mutual relations,
and it will bring about the final solution of all problems. The new brotherhood on earth shall be a fulfilled fact and nations will be united in the fraternity of Love and Truth.
My existence is for this Love and this Truth. To suffering humanity I say:
“Have hope. I have come to help you in surrendering yourselves to the cause of God and in accepting His grace of Love and Truth. I have come to help you in winning the one victory of all victories—to win yourself.”
*Originally written and published in 1941-1942.
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