Work undertaken with honest intent and with love is Meher Baba’s work, and he who does this for the love of God is always his.
But the greatest work one can do for Baba is to live the life of love, humility, sincerity and selfless service in which there is not the least trace of hypocrisy. Baba’s love is for all; and, for each of Baba’s lovers to efficiently help others to know this, his own life must be a shining example so that his love may become the instrument to spread Baba’s love and the truth of Reality. Such a life and such a love are vital; they carry the weight of highest responsibility, for behind every thought, word and deed is the all-pervading force of Truth.
Those who do my work must themselves practice what they preach. Take the case of Bapiraju. He is good at heart and eager to be of service to me. He goes from place to place, preaching about my greatness. “Leave the world, it is all illusion, think only of Baba!” and so on and so forth. The large crowds listen to him and shout “Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!” At that moment, suppose a telegram comes that in a bus accident, his whole family has perished. As soon as he gets the telegram, Bapiraju, who just a moment before was advising the crowd to leave the world, et cetera, himself gets fumbled up. Those who see him like that, what do they think? When you yourself lack the force behind your words, what is the use of showing your face to the crowds? It is better not to say anything if you cannot practice what you preach.
If Bapiraju remains unaffected by the news, people will be impressed and think that what he said about all this being illusion is really illusion to him, and thus they will begin loving Baba. Suppose he were even to show happiness at the news, telling people that his illusion is now lessened, then people would believe that he was doing Baba’s work with a sincere heart and complete honesty.
–Date and place: May 1955; Meherabad
Lord Meher (First Ed), p4732
www.lordmeher.org (Revised 2014), p3793