Planets and Stars

PLANETS AND STARS

Meher Baba

Ramjoo Abdulla: What are the stars?

Baba: Stars, like planets, are spheres. But many of the planets are inhabited by human beings. They resemble the Earth in culture, science, and in every way materially... but from the spiritual point of view, our Earth is the most advanced, for the Perfect Masters are born on this planet.

These other planets seem far off from one another, but in reality they are close. After Realisation, a man finds them issuing from himself in the millions, like tiny bubbles. He finds himself to be the source of everything, the maker of all.

Although the Gross spheres of the universes are different, the spiritual planes from beginning to end are one.

23 April 1924,
Meherabad,
LM2 p619

There are countless universes. Every star, though appearing to be a mere sparkling dot, is not a single world, but a mighty sun with a solar system of evolving planets like our own.

Meher Baba,
17 May 1927,
Rahuri,
LM3 p937

As previously explained, there are an infinite number of worlds which have cooled down. And for each such world to cool down takes cycles and cycles -- imagine how long! But when a man attains Realisation, and ascends to the seventh plane, he feels as if only a second has passed. That is, no time has actually passed during the numberless changes of forms, and deaths and births of 84 lakhs -- eight million, four hundred thousand times. Now I know that according to you, it accounts for billions of years, and there is no limit to accounting. But my experience is that nothing has happened, and there is no time spent.

There are seven worlds, seven skies, seven suns, seven moons, seven planes and seven heavens. Why this figure seven? And sanskaras too are of seven colors. Why? Because in the very beginning when Pran clashed with Akash, it created seven divisions. The explosive friction between Pran and Akash created seven dazzling colors.

Each individual human being is a universe unto himself. In the head there are seven openings: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and one mouth. In the body there are seven parts: two arms, two legs, two openings (front and back), and one trunk.

But all this explaining of the universe and creation relates to the hair, and has nothing to do with the head. So first try to get hold of the head, because out of it comes everything. (Baba drew a man's head and hair.) The barber's work is to shave the head. And who is the barber in this case? Mahapralaya. For when it occurs, all the hairs -- universes -- on God's head are shaved off. It is said that the universes pour out of the Godhead. They are like God's hair. Your head may symbolise God, and your hair the universes.

Meher Baba,
23 December 1927,
Meherabad,
LM3 p997-998

The sun that gives you light at present will burst after many crores (tens of millions) of years. But another sun will take its place. The earth is getting cooler, and will eventually turn into a moon. But another planet, just like the present earth, will take its place. What has been in the past will be in the future. The processes of evolution and involution will go on forever. Ignorance and creation go hand in hand.

Meher Baba,
15 February 1929,
Meherabad,
LM3 p1140

What is there in the universe? Billions and billions of nebulae. Every nebula contains millions of worlds, and ours is the Earth.

What is there in the whole universe? It is gas in its 276 Subtle states. Before gas turns into the first manifestation of the Gross, it evolves through 276 Subtle stages. None of the scientists knows about these 276 Subtle forms of gas before its first manifestation in the Gross. Subtle gas very gradually turns into Gross form such as hydrogen, oxygen, etc. In the nebulae, in all heavenly bodies and in the planets there is evolution. All of evolution begins from the nebulae. The 276 Subtle stages begin from the beginning of the nebulae, which are at the source of Subtle energy (Pran) and Subtle space (Akash).

Meher Baba,
23 May 1934,
Meherabad,
LM5 p1872-1873

We have said that each wave-bubble is a world in itself, and that there are numberless worlds. But for the purpose of illustration, we shall divide them into seven ranges: E, F, G, H, I, J, and K. In each of these ranges there are a number of worlds.

Of these numberless Gross worlds, seven, each of which we have distinguished with a number, are nearer to the Creator, point D, than all the others. The three worlds A, B, C in the central range, are to be regarded as only one world - the seventh, because they are so connected with one another as to form one world with two branches. This diagram shows the details at a glance:

Now let us see what drop-bubbles (forms) each of the seven wave-bubbles (worlds) contains.

World number 1 contains stones.

World number 2 contains stones and wind.

World number 3 contains stones, wind and metals.

World number 4 contains stones, wind, metals and water.

World number 5 contains stones, wind, metals, water and vegetables.

World number 6 contains stones, wind, metals, water, vegetables and animals.

World number 7 contains stones, wind, metals, water, vegetables, animals and human beings.

It is only the seventh world (A, B, C) that has human beings besides other forms. Of the three parts of this world A, B, C, our Earth is A. And the peculiarity of the seventh world is that only in its A part, that is, on our Earth, a human being can realise God, owing to several reasons, the chief of which are:

1. Our Earth is nearest to the Creator-point.

2. Our Earth, and our Earth alone, is directly connected with Mental and Subtle worlds.

3. It is only on our Earth that it is possible for human beings to possess intellect and love -- head and heart -- in equal proportions.

The inhabitants of the C part of the seventh world are extremely intelligent -- far more intelligent than the human beings of our Earth; so much so that they are capable of expressing their thoughts without Gross means.

The inhabitants of the B part are also more intelligent than the people of our world, but not so intelligent as those of C.

But though A -- our Earth -- is inferior from the standpoint of intellect to both B and C, it is certainly superior to them from the standpoint of love and high emotions. Whereas the inhabitants of C have 100% intellect and 0% love, and those of B have 75% intelligence and 25% love, the people of our Earth have, on an average, intelligence and love in equal proportions. When one, subduing intellect, gets 100% love, one realises God.

When the atma leaves its highest form in C, it takes the highest form in B; and after giving it up in B, it incarnates in the highest form on our Earth. Therefore evolution, strictly speaking, ends on our Earth, but the atma has to go on reincarnating in the human form till it knows itself, i.e., till God is realised.

Now, just as there is evolution of drop-bubbles, so also there is evolution and reaction of wave-bubbles. The Moon, which gives us light at night, was once an earth, just like our Earth; and there are a number of such cooled-down earths. Millions of years ago the condition of our Earth was quite different from its present condition, and millions of years hence it will be just like the Moon.

About the time our Earth turns into a moon, it will slip aside from its present position, just as the preceding one did; and its place will be filled by the B part of the seventh world. C will take the place of B, and the world number six will take the place of C, and so on.

Needless to say that with the evolution of wave-bubbles (worlds), the evolution of drop-bubbles goes on simultaneously. In the world number six, at present there are no human beings, but when it will take the place of C, souls, after giving up the highest animal form, will incarnate in the human form with extraordinary intellect. Similarly, when B will take the place of our Earth, its inhabitants will be filled with more love and imbued with higher emotions than they have at present.

from notes dictated by Meher Baba, before 1933,
Si p21-23

What a vast illusion! Millions of worlds, tiny and huge ones. There are no Perfect Masters in the other worlds.

(Of) four of these worlds (that) are inhabited, one of them is like this Earth, but with different types of forms - little forms.

Only this world, Earth, has Masters and Realised souls.

These worlds are very near, yet very far. When you understand the principle, it will be clear how near everything is, and yet how far away. The other worlds are connected with this world -- not actually, but they are.

Meher Baba,
1937? Aw 16:2 p52

Q. The astronomical phenomena, the eclipse of the Moon or the Sun, visibly stir the Hindu world into great religious activity. Why is such an occurrence as an eclipse deemed opportune for a fresh flux of religious fervor, particularly in the matter of perfecting some mantras?

Baba: The eclipse is purely an astronomical phenomenon and needs no explanation. There is, however, a germ of spiritual truth behind the grotesquely colorful imagery of gods and demons, their squabbles and jealousies for the nectar of immortality, all ingeniously concocted by the priest class to flabbergast the superstitious masses, and incidentally, to fleece them.

The spiritual aspect of the question is this: The whole universe, known and unknown, has come out of a point in the microcosm which may be called the Creation Point. Simultaneously with this emanation, two processes come into play -- the evolution and the production. The differences between the two processes are rather significant, and must be clearly understood. The process of production is dependent on the process of evolution in sequence of causation, but not in sequence of time. Evolution depends on the Creation Point for cause, but production is dependent on evolution. Evolution connotes spiritual progress, and production signifies material growth and change, organic or inorganic.

It is a scientifically acknowledged fact that the stellar regions, planets and stars do exert an influence on the life and activity of this planet, the Earth. And since this Earth of ours has the highest evolved organic life, and the human happens to be the nearest to the spiritual plane, the phenomenon of eclipse does indirectly affect the world spiritually.

The Rishis of old knew all too well the astronomical basis and the spiritual influence of such a heavenly occurrence. Looking at the average mentality of the masses of their time, the Rishis could do no better than issue cut-and-dried instructions as to prayers, penance and austerities, investing the whole affair with a religious importance, rather than give a rational and spiritual elucidation. In course of time the religious do's and don'ts of the wise Rishis were very cleverly woven round by self-seeking priests, with a picturesque and awe-inspiring legend of the gods, demons, nectar, the Moon in travail, and its subsequent moksha (freedom), for purposes all too patent to thinking minds. Such legendary superstitions persist and flourish with ignorance and illiteracy, but now people are outgrowing such childish beliefs. There is, however, no denying the fact that a few prayers and ordeals undergone with keen concentration, concurrently with the eclipse of the Sun or Moon, do result in great spiritual benefit to the individual concerned.

before February 1939,
QM p71-73
also MJ 1:4 p76-77 and T p191-192

God has ordained certain laws for the universe. They are followed by the Sun, Moon and stars, and everything that breathes.

before August 1949,
from notes dictated
by Meher Baba, ST p57-60

In the cosmogony of this universe, this Earth of ours has a special significance, being much nearer to the spiritual sphere. There are other worlds where much mental development is marked. But spiritual progress really begins on this Earth.

before August 1949,
from notes dictated
by Meher Baba, ST p116

God is infinite reality, whereas cosmos is infinite illusion. But both are not infinite in the same sense. God is one infinite, and illusion is infinite in numbers. God is infinite unity, and illusion infinite duality. Always God is. All along illusion is not. Illusion or no illusion, God remains beginningless and endless, while illusion has a beginning in illusion and it also ends in illusion. The infinite illusion includes an infinite number of suns, stars, moons, planets and worlds. The whole of the creation goes on evolving ad infinitum in illusion.

Meher Baba, 26 May 1958,
Myrtle Beach, PL p3
Another version: GM p326

God is infinite, and his shadow is also infinite. The shadow of God is the infinite space that accommodates the infinite Gross sphere, which, with its occurrences of millions of universes, within and without the range of man's knowledge, is the creation that issued from the point of finiteness in the infinite existence that is God.

In these millions of universes are many systems with planets, some in gaseous states, some in states of solidification, some which are stone and metal, some which also have vegetation, some which also have developed life forms such as worms, some also fish, some also birds, some also animals, and a few also have human beings.

Thus it is that throughout the myriads of universes, there are planets on which the seven kingdoms of evolution are manifested, and the evolution of consciousness and forms is completed. But only on the planet Earth do human beings reincarnate and begin the involutionary Path to Self-realisation. Earth is the centre of this infinite Gross sphere of millions of universes, inasmuch as it is the point to which all human-conscious souls must migrate in order to begin the involutionary Path.

Meher Baba, c.1960,
India, EN p22

In what is called space, numberless universes are continuously created, sustained and destroyed. This procession of creation continues so long as God goes on imagining. And when God's imagination is suspended, as it is at moments in eternity when God withdraws himself into his sound sleep state (just as a man's imagination ceases when he is in deep sleep), the creation is withdrawn and dissolved - Mahapralaya.

Creation, preservation and dissolution are based on ignorance. In fact there is no such thing as creation, so preservation and dissolution never actually occur. The very cosmos has no foundation save that of ignorance. Ignorance believes: the cosmos is a reality; birth, death, old age, wealth, honor are real. Knowledge knows: the cosmos is a dream; God alone is real.

Meher Baba, c.1960,
India, EN p87

Astronomers speak of time in terms of billions, trillions and aeons of years. Even these figures are not adequate for their mathematical calculations, and they may be required to coin new terms. If I were to try and explain in astronomical terms the beginning and end of time, it would never depict the beginning and end of time in eternity. There is always an 'ago' and there is always an 'after' to every point in time. The yesterdays of the past and the tomorrows of the future hinge on a point in time which is the now of the present moment in eternity.

In a flight of imagination, imagining the beginning and the end of the now of the present moment in eternity, one can at the most either add or subtract a measure of time. But this would be nothing more than an adding or erasing of zeros. No amount of swing, even of aeons of cycles in the sweep of time, can give an iota of concept of any beginning or end of the now in eternity.

Meher Baba, c.1960,
India, EN p90

... There are infinitely vast fields in space which contain millions of universes with innumerable suns. There are 18,000 worlds in creation with human habitation...

Scientists will someday have to come to agreement among themselves that there are innumerable expanding and contracting, evolving and dissolving universes. Just as according to varying conditions, a shadow is sometimes bigger and sometimes smaller, so it is with the galaxies. How can the mind imagine the limitlessness of creation? It cannot. Why not? It is because we try to understand with the mind that which is beyond the mind. Mind and energy are absolutely nothing. Hence all these universes which the scientists find so astounding are also nothing.

Meher Baba,
c.1963? India,
Aw 9:4 p20,
also HM p394-395

There are 18,000 worlds in creation which are inhabited, some by human beings with 100% intelligence, others with lesser and varying degrees of it. But the value of our Earth, where mind and heart balance, is inestimable. For it is here and here alone that one can go through the process of involution and experience the Subtle and Mental spheres, here alone that God-realisation can be attained.

Thus it is that souls (jivatmas) from other inhabited worlds finally take birth on this earth for their emancipation, more so during the Avataric advent when the highest spiritual benefit is gained, and most so when the Avataric manifestation is greatest. Hence the present influx of population on earth is but the natural outcome of the rush of migration from other worlds, and the ones migrating from the worlds of highest intelligence are responsible for carrying science to the peak it has reached today.

All this has been recurring since timeless ages in a neverending tide and ebb. Even this Earth expends itself in time, and another earth takes its place. Science will soon come to know a little of what I have said.

from notes dictated by Meher Baba, 1963?
India, Mu p529

Ivy Duce had visited Meher Baba in India, and on her way back to America she went to see an astrologer in Delhi. The astrologer had a copy of the Bhrigu Samhita and the Arun Samhita, and read an ancient chart for Mrs. Duce's daughter Charmian. The chart covered Charmian's life in detail, with one statement for each year up into her eighties.

Ivy Duce wrote about the reading in a letter to Baba's sister Mani.

Baba dictated the following to be included in Mani's reply to Ivy Duce:

"Baba says that you and Charmy, who have the rare good fortune of being among his close fold and deeply connected with him, are safe in his care, and should not let any astrological pattern affect you or rattle or worry you.

"For although he does not radically change the course of individual karma (of those connected with him), he does alleviate and modify it greatly when he thinks fit, and often hastens the working out of some karma whereby it is unwound in a much shorter time and gotten rid of.

"Whereas we think of time in the measure of years, he knows and sees to the untangling of the karmic maze of many lifetimes.

"You should therefore give no countenance to mantras and astrological indications which might apply to the general man who has not the good fortune of coming into the orbit of a Perfect Master's grace, and the much rarer opportunity of being within the circle of the Avatar.

"He does not mind your being interested in astrology as an interesting subject, but does not want you in the least to be swayed by or involved in it, for your own good.

"Baba says that when he breaks his silence, you will understand everything - all your questions will be answered in that understanding which embraces everything."

late 1962 or early 1963,
HM p371-372

Index - Book One