Interpretations of various Aspects of the New Life
by Bhau Kalchuri
 What is the New Life? When the search for God begins, we leave our old life behind and seek a new life. But the search for God is not an easy matter. Therefore, each time the Avatar comes, He reveals to searching humanity what it is seeking – the New Life. He determines how this New Life is to be lived according to the needs of mankind at that time. The New Life that He establishes each time is the easiest way to follow Him, to live for Him and to love Him.
True and honest service to God entails the wholehearted discharging of one’s responsibilities in the world…
Our responsibility toward God is to lead honest lives and to love God wholeheartedly, even in the midst of worldly affairs. One who attends to this higher responsibility can handle the responsibilities the world imposes without becoming entangled in the meshes of illusory life. The following story of a seeker of God, who became a lover of Beloved Avatar Meher Baba, provides a particularly illuminating example of the spirit in which one’s worldly responsibilities ought to be discharged.
In the summer of 1953, Baba was residing in Dehra Dun. One afternoon, when He was conversing with the mandali in the bungalow where He was staying, there was a sudden shower of rain. Baba turned to Aloba and told him to go and find out whether anyone in the street outside the bungalow had been drenched in the downpour.
Aloba obeyed, and he found a young man standing in the rain, out in the open and shelterless, at some distance from the house. When Aloba returned and informed Baba of this young man, Baba said, “He may catch a cold. Call him and give him dry clothes to change into.”
Aloba called the young man and brought him into the bathroom, where Dr Nilu gave him a set of dry clothes. While he was dressing, Baba called for Aloba and told him to ask the young man how it was that he had been caught in the rain without shelter.
Aloba relayed this question, and the young man told him, “I am on the way to Rishikesh.” (The city of Rishikesh, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas near Dehra Dun, is famous for its ashrams.) “When you found me. I was waiting for the rain to stop so that I could continue on my journey.”
Obviously the young guest knew nothing about Baba and had no idea who was staying at this bungalow.
When Aloba told Baba about this, Baba sent him back with another question: “What is your purpose in going to Rishikesh?”
“I have renounced the world,” the young man answered. “I am traveling to Rishikesh in order to join an ashram there.”
When Baba heard this, he told Aloba, “Call him here.”
At this time Baba was still using the alphabet board. His personality was glorious, and when the young man entered the room, although he had no idea who Baba was, he was immediately attracted to Him.
Spelling out His question on the board, Baba asked, “Why do you want to join an ashram?”
“I want God-realization” the young man answered.
“Did you ever hear of anyone getting God-realization at an ashram?” Baba inquired.
“No,” the young man said. “I’ve never heard of this happening, but people do join ashrams for that purpose.”
“So you really want want God-realization?”
“Absolutely. I want God-realization and nothing else.”
(To be continued)
—— “Meher Baba’s New Life”, Bhau Kalchuri, p689