Point 4: "There are some bindings that ultimately bind one more and some bindings that lead to Freedom."

However, Baba did not allow us to forget that "thorn." It was in connection with his Birthday celebration. He said, "Not one of these things must happen:

1.  “It must not rain on the 17th or 18th of February."

2.  "I must not fall ill on the 17th or 18th."

3.  "No one of my dearest ones to pass on before the end of March. If none of these things happen then we can face the thorn, ‘The Big Thorn' and after facing the Thorn, the atmosphere will become wonderfully spiritual."

There followed a long discourse on detachment in action. (See Baba's Discourses, Meher Journal.) I will quote a few paragraphs: "The personal ego is an illusion. Only the unlimited Self—that is the goal. One moment you feel happy, then the other moment you feel miserable. The active life did not give you infinite Bliss. You try to escape from the thing that would give you Infinite Bliss. It is both easy and very difficult because you yourself have become the veil that lies before your eyes. The veil is on yourself. You yourself bind yourself. The Self is not something to be given because it is already there within. It simply needs to be uncovered." A question was asked, "What can we do to uncover it?" Baba replied, “You cannot do anything. I will do it. But you can help me by doing what I say, not by creating difficulties and hindering."

February 9th, 1937. The following incident led up to Baba's giving us a beautiful talk on "Love." I will quote from it:

"What does not come spontaneously never comes. How many of you refused, how many of you hesitated, when I offered you the mangos? Honestly, there are many ways of testing love and faith. Love always seeks the will, the happiness, pleasure and commands of the Beloved, always. Love never thinks of itself. That is love, — that is God. God gives eternally. Love too gives. Love never expects.

"I had first intended to give you all the rotten mangos, but I knew that not one of you would willingly have taken them. And yet you all talk of dying for God. When you say you do love me, love me."

"Did I ever tell you the story of Ramdas and Kalyan.* If he tells you to get up, you must. If he calls you, you must go. In real love, not ordinary love,

*See Baba's Discourses.