THE ENTIRE THEME OF CREATION

 
Baba spoke of a calm and quiet Ocean, saying that the Ocean was God, who was in a sound sleep. One day the Ocean was stirred by a whiff of wind and awoke from sleep, saying, "Who am I?" No sooner had it asked the question than an unlimited number of drops were flung on the shore far from the Ocean. These drops, separated from the Ocean, became individual souls, and each soul in turn asked the question, "Who am I?" and that is how evolution started.

Each drop first took the form of gaseous matter, then evolved to various forms of stone, metal, plant, and animal until it reached the human form. Evolution then ended and reincarnation began. Baba told us that the drop soul has to take form eight million, four hundred thousand times, and as it travels through all these experiences, it comes nearer and nearer the Ocean.

Eventually it begins its final journey, which Baba called involution, across the seven planes of consciousness that will reunite it with the Ocean. When it comes to the sixth plane, it stands face to face with God, the Ocean, but here is a deep, deep chasm that is extremely difficult and painful to cross. When the soul succeeds in crossing this chasm, it reaches the seventh plane and merges back into the Ocean, becoming one with it, and realizes, "I am the Ocean that is God."

As Baba concluded this discourse, I was amazed by the enormity of His revelation. I knew about reincarnation even though it was not a part of the Zoroastrian religion, but Baba had just laid the entire theme of creation before us and it was absolutely awe-inspiring.