' Three stages '...

"I am the eternal Beloved, drawing the infinite number of lovers to Myself in infinite ways. So they have experiences of innumerable types; they have to pass through endless stages. However, for the sake of intellectual understanding, these can be broadly divided into the following three stages:

"The first is the stone stage. One feels unconsciously drawn toward God or the God-Man. Here, the initiative is entirely with me. One feels attracted to me as a particle of iron to the magnet.

"The second is the worm stage. Herein the mind constantly wriggles like a worm. The person worships me, yet sometimes disbelieves me. He adores me; he distrust me! Doubts and devotion go together. The pull of love, however, prevails in the end. In this phase, various types of impressions are executed.

"The third is the dog stage. The dog has absolute faith in the master. He just moves with his master here, there, anywhere. In a sense, he has no will of his own. He only knows to follow the master without ifs and buts. Once a lover arrives at this stage, he is blessed."



Meher Baba
in Bal Natu
Glimpses Of The God-Man
Myrtle Beach, SC: Sheriar Press, 1977, Vol. 1, p. 304