Q. What’s the solution of this world-wide misery ? Will it be solved through martyrdom ?
Baba: Yes, through martyrdom by many. But that is a question of collective effort. What about you personally ?
Q. I am not concerned about myself personally.
Baba: But the personal question does come in, even with a desire to serve others selflessly, as you do, because your individual efforts for the good of others have a collective effect. For example, a leper amongst a crowd of healthy people would spoil the whole atmosphere with the infection of disease. So also another, scented profusely, and emitting delicious odours from his person, would spread fragrance around him. That is, personal means collective, and collective means personal. So in order to be able to help others, you yourself must first have it [knowledge and power]. You can then better transmit this happiness to others.
–Silent Teachings of Meher Baba, compiled and edited by Naosherwan Anzar, p140