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God Speaks
God Speaks is Meher Baba's most complete statement of the process of Creation and its purpose. This recent reprinting maintains the contents of the 1973 revised edition while presenting the material in a new style. A contemporary format makes the work attractive and easier to read for today's audiences. God Speaks incorporates all of life into a spiritual saga. The only protagonist is God, and his story encompasses all individual biographies. It is God himself who becomes the three basic processes for the growth and transformation of evolution, reincarnation and involution (the spiritual path of return to Himself). The first phase of God's journey is evolution. It is initiated from a totally unconscious God as if an infinite Ocean were in a state likened to deep sleep. This unconscious God speaks the First Word "Who am I?". This question disrupts the limitless, undivided, absolute vacuum, and its reverberations create individualized souls, compared to drops or bubbles within the Ocean. By speaking the First Word, God establishes the process of Creation, in which he assumes evolving forms to gain increasing consciousness. Individuality is the vehicle of this quest. Evolution marks a series of temporary answers to "Who am I?" The soul traverses a multitude of forms, beginning with simples gases and proceeding slowly through inanimate stone and mineral forms. These early evolutionary stages obviously have only the most rudimentary consciousness and cannot provide a satisfactory answer to God's original question. The original query thus provides a continuing momentum for the drop soul to develop new forms each with greater consciousness, including the many plant and animal beings. Every evolutionary kingdom reveals new dimensions of consciousness and experience. Each also offers opportunities to gain different kinds of awareness. For example, when the soul identifies itself with varied species of fish, it experiences the world as a creature living in waterconversely, as a bird, it enriches its consciousness by flying through air. When the drop soul finally evolves to human form, consciousness is fully developed, but an individual is still not aware of the potential of his or her consciousness. So the original "Who am I?" imperative persists and inaugurates the second reincarnation. Since consciousness is fully developed, there is no longer a need for evolving new forms. The individual's experience, gathered in early stages of evolution, is now humanized and expressed in countless lifetimes. The impulses gained in sub-human forms can play themselves out in the broader context of intelligence, emotions, choices, diverse setting and interactions with people. But obviously no single lifetime can bear the burden of "humanizing" the entire evolutionary inheritance randomly or simultaneously. There must be a method for re-experiencing the pre-human legacy in manageable segments. The soul thus experiences alternately a series of opposites, organized according to themes. Accordingly, in different lives, the soul becomes male and female, rich and poor, vigorous and weak, beautiful and ugly. Through exploring the potential of these many opposites, one eventually exhausts all possible human identities and, therefore, has fully learned the entire range of human experience. Here begins the third involution, the process by which the soul returns to the full awareness of the Divine Force, which created him. As Meher Baba puts it, "When the consciousness of the soul is ripe for disentanglement from the gross world (the everyday world of matter and forms(, it enters the spiritual path and turns inward." Like evolution, involution has certain states and stages, consisting of "planes" and "realms." But individuality continues along this spiritual path. In fact, the book quotes the Sufi saying "There are as many ways to God as there are souls...." Each new plane denotes a state of being that differs from the states that proceeded it. The first three planes are within the subtle world or domain of energy, "pran." There follows the fourth plane, the threshold of the mental world, where misuse of great power for personal desire can lead to disintegration of consciousness. The fifth and sixth planes represent true sainthood, which is understood to be increasing intimacy with God as the Beloved. On the sixth plane, the mind itself becomes the inner eye that sees God everywhere and in everything. "The loving of God and the longing for His union," says Meher Baba "is fully demonstrated in the sixth plane of consciousness." The seventh plane marks true and lasting freedom. Impressions go. Duality goes. The drops burst and again become the Ocean. God answers his question of "Who am I?" with "I am God." The Infinite has returned to the original starting point. He now knows, however, with full consciousness and full awareness that he was, is and always will be infinite. And he realizes that the entire journey has been an illusory dream, the purpose of which is the full awakening of his soul. Yet the saga is not necessarily over. Meher Baba indicates that even among God-realized souls responsibilities within Creation may differ. Most play no further active part in Creation. But a rare few make the journey back to human consciousness. Of these, five become Perfect Masters, blending divine consciousness with awareness of all beings in evolution, reincarnation and involution. These five administer the affairs of the universe. And they use their "infinite knowledge, power and bliss for the progressive emancipation of all in the field of illusion." Meher Baba differentiates these Perfect Masters, who are always on earth, from the Avatar, who is the "that highest status of God, where God directly becomes man and lives on earth as God-man." He further comments that the "Avatar is always One and the same, the eternal, indivisible, infinite One who manifests Himself in the form of man as the Avatar, as the Messiah, as the Prophet, as the Buddha, as the Ancient Onethe Highest of the High." A little over a year before the first publication of God Speaks, Meher Baba officially declared himself to be that Avatara claim that amplifies the meaning of the title. To the one who accepts Meher Baba's position, God's plan is revealed vividly through these pages.
365 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
38 people are currently reading
955 people want to read
About the author
Meher Baba
156Ìýbooks78ÌýfollowersMeher Baba was an Indian spiritual master who said he was the Avatar, God in human form.
From 10 July 1925 to the end of his life, Meher Baba maintained silence, communicating by means of an alphabet board or by unique hand gestures. With his mandali (circle of disciples), he spent long periods in seclusion, during which time he often fasted. He also traveled widely, held public gatherings and engaged in works of charity with lepers, the poor and the mentally ill.
In 1931, Meher Baba made the first of many visits to the West, where he attracted followers. Throughout most of the 1940s, Meher Baba worked with a category of spiritual aspirants called masts, who he said are entranced or spellbound by internal spiritual experiences. Starting in 1949, along with selected mandali, he traveled incognito about India in an enigmatic and still largely unexplained period he called the "New Life".
Meher Baba gave numerous teachings on the cause and purpose of life, including teaching reincarnation and that the phenomenal world is an illusion. He taught that the Universe is imagination, that God is what really exists, and that each soul is really God passing through imagination to realize individually His own divinity. In addition he gave practical advice for the aspirant who wishes to attain Self-realization and thereby escape the wheel of births and deaths. He also taught about the concept of Perfect Masters, the Avatar, and those on the various stages of the spiritual path that he called involution. His teachings are most importantly recorded in his principal books Discourses and God Speaks.
From 10 July 1925 to the end of his life, Meher Baba maintained silence, communicating by means of an alphabet board or by unique hand gestures. With his mandali (circle of disciples), he spent long periods in seclusion, during which time he often fasted. He also traveled widely, held public gatherings and engaged in works of charity with lepers, the poor and the mentally ill.
In 1931, Meher Baba made the first of many visits to the West, where he attracted followers. Throughout most of the 1940s, Meher Baba worked with a category of spiritual aspirants called masts, who he said are entranced or spellbound by internal spiritual experiences. Starting in 1949, along with selected mandali, he traveled incognito about India in an enigmatic and still largely unexplained period he called the "New Life".
Meher Baba gave numerous teachings on the cause and purpose of life, including teaching reincarnation and that the phenomenal world is an illusion. He taught that the Universe is imagination, that God is what really exists, and that each soul is really God passing through imagination to realize individually His own divinity. In addition he gave practical advice for the aspirant who wishes to attain Self-realization and thereby escape the wheel of births and deaths. He also taught about the concept of Perfect Masters, the Avatar, and those on the various stages of the spiritual path that he called involution. His teachings are most importantly recorded in his principal books Discourses and God Speaks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 31, 2009
My daughter called this book "epic." That's a good way to start to intimate what kind of work this is: a clear look at "the big picture." Meher Baba's "God Speaks" is the description of the journey of the soul throughout all the realms of the cosmos, told as simply and directly as such can be done. This is the book that inspires the idea of Pete Townshend's song from "Tommy," the "Amazing Journey."
Avatar Meher Baba describes God as a limitless, shoreless ocean and each soul as a "drop soul" of that ocean. Each soul passes through the experiences of all beings: emerging in the gaseous state, and proceeding through the mineral; plant; fish; insect reptile and bird; animal; and human states. This is evolution guided by the soul's growth according to the patterns of experience (impressions, _sanskaras_) that the soul acquires. Evolution is driven by consciousness. At the human level we have the opportunity to engage in spiritual evolution, which Meher Baba calls "involution."
In human involution one enters on the spiritual path of seven planes. The first subtle planes are the basic practices of spirituality. The fourth plane is a transitional point between planes three and five in that at this level soul's acquire psychic and magical abilities which one must renounce in order to advance. Plane five and six are the mental planes. Plane five is the plane of the mind; plane six is the heart's mental dimension. The struggle of the soul in plane 5 is to conquer lust; in plane six, to conquer greed, in plane seven, to subdue anger. Saints dwell in the fifth, sixth, and seventh planes. Beyond that is the total return, the re-emerging into Godhood with its infinite power, knowledge, and bliss. This is the ultimate goal of life: to reenter the one Oversoul and re-unite with God. In this vision, heaven and hell are not places, but states of being.
Put more simply, the path is love. God created according to His own "whim," the whim to know Himself. This "whim" is an act of God seeking to love Himself and to be known by humankind loving God.
This is not a lonely journey as many spiritual masters -- and especially the Avatar -- are available for contact, support, and guidance, including power to give a spiritual push to the aspirant.
Although all together the book consists of 313 pages, it's just the first 153 pages that include Meher Baba's text. The supplements including notes from Baba's teachings and footnotes explaining many of the concepts in terms of Sufism, especially the poetry of 14th-century Sufi master Hafiz.
As indicated on page 30, in many ways Meher Baba's text explicates Jelaluddin Rumi's famous poem titled "The Ascending Soul:"
I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as a plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet, once more, I shall die as man to soar
With angels blessed; but even from angelhood
I must pass on; all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind e'er conceived.
Oh, :et me not exist! For Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, 'To Him we shall return!'
"God Speaks" also offers 11 charts diagramming the details of the journey and correlating terminologies from Christian mysticism with Hindu Vedanta and Sufism, the three registers in which the book is set.
Avatar Meher Baba describes God as a limitless, shoreless ocean and each soul as a "drop soul" of that ocean. Each soul passes through the experiences of all beings: emerging in the gaseous state, and proceeding through the mineral; plant; fish; insect reptile and bird; animal; and human states. This is evolution guided by the soul's growth according to the patterns of experience (impressions, _sanskaras_) that the soul acquires. Evolution is driven by consciousness. At the human level we have the opportunity to engage in spiritual evolution, which Meher Baba calls "involution."
In human involution one enters on the spiritual path of seven planes. The first subtle planes are the basic practices of spirituality. The fourth plane is a transitional point between planes three and five in that at this level soul's acquire psychic and magical abilities which one must renounce in order to advance. Plane five and six are the mental planes. Plane five is the plane of the mind; plane six is the heart's mental dimension. The struggle of the soul in plane 5 is to conquer lust; in plane six, to conquer greed, in plane seven, to subdue anger. Saints dwell in the fifth, sixth, and seventh planes. Beyond that is the total return, the re-emerging into Godhood with its infinite power, knowledge, and bliss. This is the ultimate goal of life: to reenter the one Oversoul and re-unite with God. In this vision, heaven and hell are not places, but states of being.
Put more simply, the path is love. God created according to His own "whim," the whim to know Himself. This "whim" is an act of God seeking to love Himself and to be known by humankind loving God.
This is not a lonely journey as many spiritual masters -- and especially the Avatar -- are available for contact, support, and guidance, including power to give a spiritual push to the aspirant.
Although all together the book consists of 313 pages, it's just the first 153 pages that include Meher Baba's text. The supplements including notes from Baba's teachings and footnotes explaining many of the concepts in terms of Sufism, especially the poetry of 14th-century Sufi master Hafiz.
As indicated on page 30, in many ways Meher Baba's text explicates Jelaluddin Rumi's famous poem titled "The Ascending Soul:"
I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as a plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet, once more, I shall die as man to soar
With angels blessed; but even from angelhood
I must pass on; all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind e'er conceived.
Oh, :et me not exist! For Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, 'To Him we shall return!'
"God Speaks" also offers 11 charts diagramming the details of the journey and correlating terminologies from Christian mysticism with Hindu Vedanta and Sufism, the three registers in which the book is set.
December 2, 2014
Unlike any book ever. Never before has a spiritual book like this been written, and especially significant that it was written in English. Every other highly spiritual text of a similar magnitude was written hundreds of years ago and in another language.
For anyone who feel that there are too many gaps in the explanation of how life and death happen and what God's relationship to everything and everyone is all about, then read this book. It's like the perfect spiritual book and the perfect science book.
It's also, what we in the writing business call, a "magic system" for the eternal nature of the soul. The explanations in God Speaks are hard to fathom but at the same time, internally consistent. There are few gaps that require vast leaps of faith or just the liberal doses of "well, don't pay attention to that part because we can't explain it�"
No, pay attention to this and maybe it will seep in.
I understand that this book was written with a particular rhythm in mind and even though the beginning seems redundant, it's completely intentional. Supposedly it's best to read aloud.
For anyone who feel that there are too many gaps in the explanation of how life and death happen and what God's relationship to everything and everyone is all about, then read this book. It's like the perfect spiritual book and the perfect science book.
It's also, what we in the writing business call, a "magic system" for the eternal nature of the soul. The explanations in God Speaks are hard to fathom but at the same time, internally consistent. There are few gaps that require vast leaps of faith or just the liberal doses of "well, don't pay attention to that part because we can't explain it�"
No, pay attention to this and maybe it will seep in.
I understand that this book was written with a particular rhythm in mind and even though the beginning seems redundant, it's completely intentional. Supposedly it's best to read aloud.
January 22, 2015
Bible-Geeta-Kuran-Upanishad and many more. If you can understand the meaning of love you don't need to read any of them.The God speaks is really fabulous to read.As the divine avatar of the century Meher baba is telling us things which is totally unthinkable by human.The science is trying to prove the existence of God. They have big bang theory, they have galaxies and trying to prove everything we have written in our ancient histories and BookS claimed by religion.
But gOD SPEAKS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS TALK.it is a book about creation and thoughts for world making.How universe works and how The man called God controls the power to negotiate with us.
One day when the world find out what meher baba says and wrote is just a fact..It's not a truth which can be moulded anyway for benefits..It's a fact..
That day will be called Breaking silence...When GOD SPEAKS !
But gOD SPEAKS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS TALK.it is a book about creation and thoughts for world making.How universe works and how The man called God controls the power to negotiate with us.
One day when the world find out what meher baba says and wrote is just a fact..It's not a truth which can be moulded anyway for benefits..It's a fact..
That day will be called Breaking silence...When GOD SPEAKS !
March 5, 2008
God's words - no comments!
November 16, 2018
How anyone could rate this book anything but 5 star is beyond me. It is the most intellectually satisfying book I have ever read. If you are like me, and always wondered how it all began and how it all works and what the purpose of it all is, this book will satisfy you. Whatever you think about who Meher Baba is or what his status is, he is, indisputably the greatest writer ever to write on the subject of consciousness. No one has ever even come close. He reveals things about consciousness that have never been revealed before, including the hierarchy of advance beings. The conclusion of the entire treatise is only four short paragraphs that say (to paraphrase) that even though everything that he has stated in this complicated explanation is 100% true but it was written only to satisfy the intellectual convulsions of the mind of man. That the goal of life is not to understand the truth, because it cannot ever be understood, but rather to experience it and live it. By the way, there is not a word of philosophy in this book, it is written from experience.
September 15, 2021
One must read this book to open our minds and clarify the spiritual concepts.
Actually this book completely scientifically explained. I found this book of Real Truth.
Reading this book was really mystery revealing feeling in Heart.
So so so Wonderful.
Thank you Meher Baba for such a wonderful book.
Actually this book completely scientifically explained. I found this book of Real Truth.
Reading this book was really mystery revealing feeling in Heart.
So so so Wonderful.
Thank you Meher Baba for such a wonderful book.
December 18, 2007
I have learned a little more about how God Speaks and how it has nothing to do with book and how many you read, nor is our purpose on earth to become trapped in the mind. I learned that I am not my body, I am not my Mind. And that God is love and Meher Baba is God.
June 19, 2020
One of the most important books ever written, explaining subjects as God, evolution, involution and purpose of life in such detail and with such clarity.
Essential reading for anyone that is on the path to God-realization.
Essential reading for anyone that is on the path to God-realization.
July 6, 2020
A hidden gem. Meher baba completed all that which was left by other teachers. His knowledge is complete. He explains everything more clearly, precisely and with love. He was definitely best teacher of era.
January 30, 2010
This book is like a precious jewel. It is undoubtedly the most difficult and the most rewarding book I have yet read, and for that matter, ever expect to read. Perfect.
April 21, 2016
The most amazing book I have ever read
May 26, 2020
Real believer!
April 23, 2021
Amazing. This book is beyond the world
July 1, 2017
"God Speaks" is arguably one of the most provocative and comprehensive books written on creation and one's purpose in life. This is a very difficult and challenging book that can not be understood in a purely intellectual way. The author fully understands this and states "God cannot be explained, cannot be theorized, nor can He be discussed and understood. God can only be lived". Meher Baba's theme of creation can be simply summed up as "God's" desire to know Himself. The author terms "The Beyond the Beyond State of God" as the infinite, unconscious, tranquil state of pure essence. At this point there is a driving force or "First Urge" for "God" to know Himself which starts the seven steps of evolution and devolution eventually leading to God-Consciousness. The author outlines the seven steps of evolution whereby the soul associates and dissociates Itself from the following forms: stones and metals, vegetables, worms, fish, birds, animals and lastly, man. In other words, the soul identifies itself with these successive forms whereupon full consciousness is achieved in the form of man; however, despite achieving full consciousness man is still unaware of his original state. At this stage, man enters the stage of reincarnation whereby all opposite impressions of the gross world dissolve and the soul begins its journey through involution to the final stage of God-Consciousness. Thus, it can be said, that the limited soul (man) becomes conscious of its oneness with itself as the "Overself" or, as an analogy, the wave (the little soul or man) becomes aware that it really is one with the ocean. I would highly recommend this book
November 17, 2016
O abordare interesanta a lumii intr-o viziune care combina sufismul cu vedantismul. Meher Baba numea aceasta viziune ca sufism reorientat. O viziune integrala asupra lumii din cele mai vechi timpuri si pana in prezent. Pe alocuri, am gasit franturi de logica, insa literatura spirituala nu este doar despre rational, nu doar despre ceea ce intelegem. Una peste alta e o lectura placuta, chiar daca pe alocuri greoaie.
March 1, 2019
A must read for the people who want to understand the spirituality and different planes of existence. In the book, Mehar Baba talks about the reason of existence, the journey of a soul, and appearance of Avatars on earth. Sometimes it is difficult to grasp everything which is presented in the book and on some places it is repetitive as well. But all in all, it is a very good read for someone who is inclined towards spirituality and mysticism.
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February 14, 2024I was surprised to find that I already knew most of what's in here, from the "zeitgeist," if you can call it that. Also I was deeply disturbed to find that my understanding of time was completely wrong.
January 10, 2011
GREAT GIFT TO HUMANITY.
February 17, 2011
The book that sticks with me most of all.
Read
July 24, 2011only GOd can write this
December 16, 2014
Well, I can't say anything 'cept thankyou God, Jai Baba, WU Wei namaste
June 4, 2020
I'll think about this book when I would go through this more than once. I hope I'll think.
May 13, 2021
"When the state of Fana, the limitation dissappears, the Absolute remains and becomes Hu Hu (He He)
October 31, 2024
The pursuit of spiritual understanding finds a compelling voice in this exploration of timeless wisdom. Drawing upon ancient traditions, this work provides a framework for navigating life's complexities. Seeking to illuminate the universal search for meaning, the author bridges cultural and philosophical divides. This book serves as a compass, guiding the modern seeker toward a deeper connection with the divine. Through accessible language and profound insights, the author invites us to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery.
November 7, 2022
I have a huge respect for Meher Baba, and I'm sure this is a wonderful and very unique book, but I must admit it's beyond my abilities to fully comprehend it at this point of my journey.
Maybe my English is not good enough to understand it fully, or I'm not far enough on my spiritual path, but it could also be that this book was written in an overly complicated way. I should revisit it in a year or two and reread it because I'm sure I can hugely benefit from such great wisdom.
Maybe my English is not good enough to understand it fully, or I'm not far enough on my spiritual path, but it could also be that this book was written in an overly complicated way. I should revisit it in a year or two and reread it because I'm sure I can hugely benefit from such great wisdom.
June 4, 2017
The only take away for this book is that it does not seem to be written to be simply read. It is very thick and yet at the same time very engaging. I started this book over three times and each time I gained a deeper understanding of the text. I will have to do the same with the entire book now!
June 25, 2018
u should neither believe this not dis-believe this!
June 30, 2018
The concept of the evolution of consciousness was truly mind expanding. The book was full of little gems but it wasn't very easy to read.
August 9, 2019
An interesting read
October 19, 2024
The rating is for the hardback edition. There is no paperback edition. The Kindle edition has not come out yet.
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