for you to know that I shall, for the time being, take my stand as an ordinary devotee; that is, as one whose devotion and longing for Union with GOD are weakened and corrupted again and again by evil thoughts, evil feelings, evil words and evil deeds.

"I know that only GOD exists and in the same way I also know that good and evil are merely aspects or manifestations of GOD himself. For the ordinary man, and even the ordinary devotee, this knowledge of the true nature of good and evil is only the fruit of faith and reason. It is therefore theoretical, and not real knowledge, and so it does not free him from the law of karma . . . the law that is based on GOD's Will, that law that pervades throughout eternity.

"The Dnyani, however, because he knows the Truth by actual experience, is utterly free from all his bindings, and he therefore knows that, as a Dnyani, he is exempt from the law of karma; and since he knows the true nature of good and evil, he also knows that no one is to be blamed for anything he thinks or feels or says or does. And he knows, too, that sequels to good and evil, such as heaven or hell, dying and being born again and again, are the results of GOD's Will functioning through Cosmic Law, but also that they exist only because ignorance makes them exist.

"Thus the Dnyani, who may often intercede with GOD for his devotees and for humanity at large, never repents to GOD and never asks forgiveness for anything concerning himself. By a special dispensation of GOD, also, the very highest type of devotee whose whole being is permanently focussed on the Divine Beloved, is as completely exempt from the law of karma as the Dnyani. Unlike the Dnyani, however, such a devotee is utterly ignorant of this exemption. But the ordinary devotee, no matter how sincere in his devotion, remains bound by the law of karma, and so his best course is to apply this law to his own spiritual advantage by the constant practice of virtue and the constant abstention from evil. And when he fails in virtue, or falls into sin, he must throw himself on the boundless mercy of GOD and ask His forgiveness.

"The repentance and prayer for forgiveness will now be uttered for me, for you and for all who are connected with me."

When the reading of the statement was finished, BABA added, jestingly, "Maybe, some of you or many of you or all of you have no bindings, or desires and attachment. But as today, I am in this