Baba on Intuition

The following is a pretty nearly exhuastive sampling of quotations by Meher Baba on what he means by intuition.

Abbreviated sources include:
Di = Discourses 7th ed., Meher Baba
LM = Lord Meher, Bhau Kalchuri


“The heart, which in its own way feels the unity of life, wants to fulfill itself through a life of love, sacrifice, and service. It is keen about giving instead of taking. It derives its driving power from the inmost spiritual urge, expressing itself through the immediate intuitions of the inner life.” (Di 95)

“In this new setting of the mental sphere, the soul enjoys continuous inspiration, deep insight, and unfailing intuition; and it is in direct contact with spiritual Reality.” (Di 138)

“The contribution of the Master consists in confirming and consolidating the previously acquired intuitions and perceptions of the aspirant, and in precipitating his consciousness into the next stage-which, though unavoidable, is by its nature impossible for the aspirant to anticipate.” (Di 154)

“The sadhana of knowledge finds its expression through the exercise of detachment born of true understanding, the different forms of meditation, and the constant use of discrimination and intuition . . . The sadhana of knowledge, or dnyan, remains incomplete unless the aspirant exercises constant discrimination and unveils his highest intuitions. Realization of God comes to the aspirant who uses discrimination as well as his intuitions about true and lasting values. Infinite knowledge is latent in everyone, but it has to be unveiled.” (Di 260-61)

“Everyday life must be guided by discrimination and inspired by the highest intuitions. Karma-yoga, or the yoga of action, consists in acting according to the best intuitions of the heart without fear or hesitation.” (Di 262)

“Developed intuition is consolidated and compressed understanding, distilled through a multitude of diverse experiences gathered in previous lives. Different souls start with different degrees of intuitive wisdom as their initial capital for the experiments and adventures of their earthly careers. This intuition may seem to have been the product of past experiences, thus adding to the equipment of the psyche; but it is more truly an unfoldment of what was already latent in the individualized soul. From this deeper point of view, the experiences of earthly life–as well as the reflective and consolidating processes they are subjected to in life after death–are merely instrumental in gradually releasing to the surface the intuitive wisdom already latent in the soul from the very beginning of creation.” (Di 312)

“Spiritual evolution consists in guiding life in the light of the highest values perceived through intuition . . .” (Di 315)

“The obstacles as well as the facilities created by the past are now within the reach of consciousness and therefore are capable of being intelligently and carefully handled.
Inarticulate intuition is supplemented by rationalized data. Therefore action has less possibility of error and becomes more potent in producing desirable results.” (Di 317)

“True faith is grounded in the deeper experiences of the spirit and the unerring deliverances of purified intuition. It is not to be regarded as the antithesis of critical reason but as the unfailing guide of critical reason. When critical reason is implemented by a deep and living faith based on pure intuition, its functioning becomes creative, fruitful, and significant instead of barren, ineffective, and meaningless. On the other hand, many forms of naive credulity cannot be broken through except by the fearless and free working of critical reason. However, it remains true that critical reason can touch and inform only those kinds of faith that are not based upon pure intuition. True faith grounded in pure intuition always remains an imperative that cannot be ultimately reduced to the conclusions of rational intellect. It is not derived from the limited intellect but is more fundamental and primary, with the result that it cannot be silenced by any intellectual acrobatics. This does not mean, however, that faith need at any stage be blind, in the sense that it is not allowed to be examined by critical intellect. True faith is a form of sight and not of blindness. It need not be afraid of the free functioning of critical reason.” (Di 366-67)

“An unwavering faith grounded in pure intuition can come only to a mind that is free from the pressure of diverse wants.” (Di 367)

“The rigidity of the psyche prevents the intuition of truth . . . In order to intuit the truth, consciousness has to be liberated from its ingrained and resistant inclinations. Intuition has been buried under the piecemeal lesson of the assailing experiences of the false. Learning is impressed from without, while intuition dawns from within. Learning thwarts intuition. Therefore, the teaching of the mind by external impacts has to be counteracted by inner awakening. Then and only then can intuition, in its transcendent understanding, truly judge without yielding to the stupor of uncritical impressionability.” (Sparks of the Truth, 67)

"When you feel something as intuition and have no doubt about it, then know it is real. Passing doubtful thoughts and temporary emotional feelings should not be given importance. But when you feel it touches your heart, follow it. When it is from the mind, it is not intuition. Intuition means that which comes from the heart. In the divine path, first there is intuition, then inspiration, then illumination, and finally Realization. If it touches your heart, follow it. And God willing, from today you will know that if it is intuition it is right.” (LM 3812)

“The intellectual perspective is workable, and even indispensable, for planned action. But in the absence of the deeper wisdom of the heart or the clearer intuition of the spirit, such intellectual perspective gives only relative truth, which bears upon itself the stamp of uncertainty.” (LM 3975)