Volume 21 Number 1 Page 1

When someone from a group of His lovers seated before Him asked Baba's clarification on a spiritual point that puzzled him, Baba said:

"When love draws you to me, don't ask for anything. When you are in my presence, be a silent recipient. Ask and you lose. Love has no questions and hence expects no answers. Love itself is the answer to all questions. The more you love me, the less you question. Love is eager to respond to the slightest wish of the Beloved, and there is no scope for why and wherefore while obeying the Master. When in my sahavas (company) be attentive and receptive to what I may say, but do not question. Pampering of the intellect brings forth innumerable questions. All these questions can he answered but that is not spiritually indispensable. Mere intellectual explanations will not take you out of the muddle of your mind but will puzzle you all the more. Try to grasp what I have already said. To demand anything from the Beloved is an insult to Love. Love only gives and goes on giving till the will of the Beloved alone manifests through the lover."

Among Bal's notes I came across this delightful passage: some from among the gathering expressed their thought that they have been seeing Baba all the time in a pink coat at 'darshan' time, and that they desired to see Him wear some other colors. Baba smiled and said, "If I started changing the colour of my clothes to suit the taste of all my lovers, can you imagine what a variety of colours would be introduced for my wear?! I am the slave of your love, but not of your whims."

Just as beauty finds the need to express itself in the form of art and other outlets, it is inevitable that love should seek expression in some tangible gesture. It is therefore natural that when the Lovers come for Beloved Baba's 'darshan' they bring garlands, sweets, fruits and other offerings. What Baba had to say on this was:

"Why do you bring these baskets of fruit and tins of sweets? Better that you come with empty hands, but not of course with empty hearts! As you sit in my presence, there is a possibility that your thoughts are diverted towards your offerings - you are here but your mind may be running after the garlands and baskets. So I give the signal 'Garland Baba, and let us be free of it'. Besides, I do not taste the many things you so lovingly bring as your offering. You know of my simple diet. So I have to distribute these sweets and fruits to the mandali and others." With a twinkle in His eyes, Baba added. "And when they have done full justice to the things, I get the stomach ache!" But then He also says, "I am the Ocean of Love, so whatever you do with love pleases me". At the last such darshan we noticed that although Baba accepted the garlands, He usually touched the offerings in blessing and returned them to the giver as His prasad.

Love Has No Questions