Discourses (Meher Baba)
Discourses, 7th edition, 1987
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| Author | Meher Baba |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
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Discourses () is a book by Meher Baba that has had seven editions since 1939 and is still in print. Next to God Speaks it is considered the second most important of Meher Baba's books by his followers.
The book covers many subjects, both practical and highly esoteric. Some chapters go into the human search for the Truth and God, spiritual advancement, aspirants, various states of God-realized beings, the Avatar and discipleship. Other chapters deal methodically with several aspects of spiritual advancement and the spiritual path, such as the formation and removal of sanskaras (mental impressions), various aspects of meditation, transcending good and evil, and clarify Meher Baba's views on such topics as occultism, reincarnation and maya. Several chapters are discourses on individual subjects such as selfishness, violence, sex, love, happiness and spiritual work. Due to the nature of the Discourses, some topics occur repeatedly in various contexts. Yet the book maintains a methodical flow and structure rather than being a random collection of individual discourses.
According to Meher Baba, sanskaras are impressions gathered in the subconscious which determine and condition one’s desires and actions. The formation and accumulation of sanskaras occurs as much during experiences of one's present life, as during past human lives, as well as during the whole period of organic evolution. Sanskaras gathered before human experience are referred to as natural ones, as opposed to those gathered during human experience, which are referred to as non-natural. They are also termed "gross" if they refer to objects of the gross (material) world, obtained by the medium of the gross body, "subtle" if they refer to experiences of the subtle world (such as in dreams), obtained by the medium of the subtle body, and "mental" if they refer to the mental world (ideas, imagination, etc.), obtained directly by the mind. However, sanskaras do not possess gross substance or shape, nor are they composed of subtle energy, but are to be understood in psychological terms only.
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