A spiritual classic, in print since the 1940s, Meher Baba's Discourses throw the light of true knowledge on many of life's most perplexing problems. Inspiring and practical, the Discourses provide an ever-fresh framework of spiritual perspective on the challenges of everyday life. As Meher Baba stated, "Words that proceed from the Source of Truth have real meaning." The Discourses bear eloquent testimony to that fact and will remain an incomparable companion for those seeking spiritual direction.
Meher Baba was an Indian spiritual master who said he was the Avatar, God in human form.
From 10 July 1925 to the end of his life, Meher Baba maintained silence, communicating by means of an alphabet board or by unique hand gestures. With his mandali (circle of disciples), he spent long periods in seclusion, during which time he often fasted. He also traveled widely, held public gatherings and engaged in works of charity with lepers, the poor and the mentally ill.
In 1931, Meher Baba made the first of many visits to the West, where he attracted followers. Throughout most of the 1940s, Meher Baba worked with a category of spiritual aspirants called masts, who he said are entranced or spellbound by internal spiritual experiences. Starting in 1949, along with selected mandali, he traveled incognito about India in an enigmatic and still largely unexplained period he called the "New Life".
Meher Baba gave numerous teachings on the cause and purpose of life, including teaching reincarnation and that the phenomenal world is an illusion. He taught that the Universe is imagination, that God is what really exists, and that each soul is really God passing through imagination to realize individually His own divinity. In addition he gave practical advice for the aspirant who wishes to attain Self-realization and thereby escape the wheel of births and deaths. He also taught about the concept of Perfect Masters, the Avatar, and those on the various stages of the spiritual path that he called involution. His teachings are most importantly recorded in his principal books Discourses and God Speaks.
One of the great, overlooked spiritual books of the twentieth century. It is a eastern work, but concepts like Sanskaras, Karma, and Maya are all explained, so that western readers should have no difficulty understanding what is being talked about. The sections on reincarnation are the best I've ever read. There is an objectivity to this work that makes it stand out when compared to so many contemporary spiritual works. For example at the end of the book there is section called 'The Conditions of Happiness,' where Meher Baba lays out exactly what a man needs to achieve to be happy. Highly recommended.
Meher Baba covers in great detail the many spiritual topics I've always been curious about - Maya, Avatars, degrees of Realization / Awakening, paranormal phenomena, the Astral, the subtle worlds, reincarnation, karma, levels of samadhi etc.
So many nuanced thoughts and questions I have had as an obsessive seeker were addressed.
Experienced savikalpa samadhi shortly after reading a passage about the birth of Creation in his other book God Speaks - I also have an Avatar and followed her instruction diligently that week.
This book reinforced my knowledge about life, it's origin and it's goals. This book is a compilation on Avatar Meher Baba's discourses on different subjects, such as: Love, meditation, guru-disciple relationship, Maya, violence and almost every important subject in life. This is a book that's easy to read, written in simple language, but still explains some very complex ideas or prepares you for a more serious approach.
I can't wait to read "God speaks", which is a book with a lot more depth and complexity.
I have heard many say that Discourses is difficult to read, but I found it most enjoyable. This is not an account of his life, but a direct teaching from Baba. While I agree that stories about the life of Meher Baba are incredible and inspiring, true transformation and an ability to emulate a life such as His come from awakening to the Divine Love that he incarnated to share. I mean what better than to have the teachings directly from the master Himself? This is a must-read for any lover of Baba in my opinion.