Talk at Meher Ashram, Nasik, April 23, 1937

To appreciate freedom one has to experience being caged. The fish lives in water, dies in water and is merged in water, so it has not the experience of being in water. When it is taken out of water, then it longs for water. When it is put back in water, it experiences water. It is the same thing with us.

Now concerning the seven stages of 'merging'. It is this that is always the cause of self-delusion. Many who merge, even in the first state, think they have attained to the highest. So a few words this evening to explain what 'merging' in God really is.

The pilgrim on the path has to experience seven states of advancement before he comes one with God. Just as there are seven states of descending, so there are seven states of ascending. The evolutionary states are seven, from a stone to human form. Then, from man to God-realization, seven down and seven up. Seven states, seven planes. The planes are the seven stations. Nasik station is a place. When you get down in Nasik City and move about in the city, that is a state.

Now, when the pilgrim arrives at the first plane, he merges in that plane before experiencing the state. This merging is termed by Sufis Fana, which means 'minor annihilation' of the ego. The pilgrim is lost to his limited individuality and experiences bliss. But it is not Fana-Fila. This term means the final seventh annihilation. Many pilgrims merging in this plane think that they are "God-realized", and so they cannot advance further.

If the pilgrim is not self-deluded and advances, he arrives at the second plane. He merges into the second plane. This merging is termed Fana-Batali, the annihilation of the false. The pilgrim is now merged in bliss and infinite light. Some think that here they have gained the goal, and they stop here. They get stranded here.

If the pilgrim is not self-deluded and advances further, he goes into the third plane and merges in the third plane. This Fana is called Fana-e-Zahari — the annihilation of the false. There the pilgrim for days loses consciousness of the body and of the whole world, but is experiencing power, infinite power. But he has no consciousness with which to express that power. He merges for months. He is in a divine coma. It is called Videha Samadhi. Not an ordinary coma, but divine, because the consciousness of expressing it is absent.

When the pilgrim advances still further, he goes into the fourth plane. He merges into the fourth plane and this plane has a peculiar state. Almighty powers can be experienced and also expressed. The pilgrim is conscious of infinite powers. He now knows everything. What someone in America is thinking or doing, this he now comes to know. He knows all. But if he falls prey to it, he goes on expressing the powers so much that he can never advance further.

If the pilgrim passes on and comes to the fifth plane and merges into the fifth plane, his annihilation is called Fana-e-Jabarut — the annihilation of all desires. Now the pilgrim does not think at all. And yet all thoughts come from him. He sees, but not with the physical eyes. Mind speaks with mind. There is no worry, no doubt. Now he is safe, and yet many, many a pilgrim in this fifth state is self-deluded. He thinks "I am God". He says: "I am God." Then he cannot advance further.

If he still goes on advancing, he comes into the sixth plane. Now he merges in divine qualities. This Fana is termed Fana-e-Mahabuli — the annihilation of self in the Beloved. Now the pilgrim sees God just as you see everything . . . permanently, without a second's break, and yet he is not one with God.

When the pilgrim comes into the seventh plane, this Fana is termed Fana-Filah, the annihilation of self in God. Now the pilgrim becomes one with God, the Infinite.

Remember all the preceding six Fanas, planes, states, are all illusion. Only Fana-Filah is real. Many, many who think they are realized are never so. Is this clear?