Baba says, “Tell Baba with an open heart: Baba, don’t worry, I will definitely pass with honors and show everyone.“

It is a great achievement to come into the rosary of victory, that is the rosary of 108. But even out of those, there are only 8 who pass with honors, says Baba. The others experience some punishment, numberwise, according to their effort. In other words, they pass but not with honors.

So, what does it mean to pass with honors? Are we talking about a particular exam, that final exam perhaps, that I need to pass before I leave the body.

To pass with honor is to pass with dignity, with royalty. And while the saying is that the final moments lead to the final destination, there are a lot of moments that lead up to that final moment. In other words, in order to pass with honor on that final exam in that final moment, I have to pass with honor on all the little and big exams along the way. These exams come daily in various forms – people, situations, circumstances etc. How well I do on these exams determines how well I will do on that final exam. For example, if a person insults me, I can insult them back- most of us may no longer choose this option. But a majority of us while remaining silent, hold onto the insult in our hearts. I may not say anything then or even in the future, but I hold onto hurt, feel vengeful, bitter etc. In other words, I passed through the situation but not with honor. It is not honorable for a child of God to feel the way those who don’t know God or believe in God, do. If I were to reflect back on my own journey, on how I was and how far God has brought me, if I were to apply the knowledge I’ve been taught, if I were to use the power to discern that I have inherited, I’d see situations differently. I’d see a brother or sister in pain, who’s forgotten who and Whose they are and struggling. I’d feel love and compassion toward them. I’d accept them with my whole heart and reject Ravan instead who takes souls hostage and robs them of their sense of identity, and belonging. To guard the peace in my own heart and share that with my brother, to show them love and tolerance- that is to pass with honor. That is purity, royalty.

Similarly, if I find myself in an unforeseen situation, maybe a financial crisis, one response is to wring my hands, beat my head and say things like: “this is just my karma, I am most unfortunate, nothing good ever happens in my life” etc. Most of us probably no longer do this but a majority of us still do worry, and stress ourselves out. We feel immense pressure to ‘figure it out’, to ‘come up with a plan’. The truth is, we don’t know what to do or have a plan and that makes us feel like failures. So, we worry some more! We call others to ask for their opinion which of course assumes that others have it all figured out themselves! We end up confused and tired, no further than we were before. In other words, we stumble like orphans despite being children of God. He says, “Give me your burdens and become light” but I insist on carrying them myself. “Well, I can’t see Him… what if He’s busy…what if He can’t hear me… what if this isn’t important enough for Him…what if I’m not important enough for Him…”. God says, “Where there is faith, there’s victory.” To have the faith that I am the child of God Himself, that I am the most important thing to Him, that He is responsible for me and is here to help me, to make Him my One Strength and One Support is to pass with honor. If another person were to walk up to me, they shouldn’t be able to tell I have something going on in my life- I am light, content, enjoying my life despite everything going on. This is royalty, this is the intoxication that comes from being a child of God; I operate from a place of victory, don’t wait for it to arrive.

Every day, we are faced with any number of situations – relationships not working, a child that’s off course, financial woes, an insensitive spouse or boss…but no matter what is going on, I have the choice to feel and act like an orphan or remain in the honor of being a child of God, knowing that He’s in charge. This faith comes when I have made Him the center of my world and take His guidance at every step of my life. Living life on my own terms and then running to God when in trouble doesn’t work; I have to be the child. There has to be love which brings faith and obedience. Meera, for example, faced numerous hardships- lost her parents at a young age, was married into a home where she was disliked, attempts were made to kill her, to ruin her reputation, she was shunned…but Meera never complained or lose her peace. She felt mercy for all and remained focused on the Beloved. She didn’t ask God to take care of her, to get her out of situations or talk sense to her enemies like we often do, she simply stayed immersed in His love and He took care of her, because that’s the relationship of love. Same with Brahma Baba- His was one Shiv Baba and none other.

I cannot pass with honor without the Father, but more importantly, neither would I want to. My only job, my obligation to myself in this life, is to become the true child of the Father like Brahma Baba. I can only be the true child if I first consider myself a soul and then remember Him, the Supreme Soul, with a lot of love. “Talk to Baba with an open heart“, He teaches. “”Baba You perform such great wonders. You are making our lives so wonderful.” You should totally hold on to such a Baba very firmly. A lot of love is required. Why isn’t there that love? Because souls are covered in rust. Unless you have the pilgrimage of remembrance, your rust cannot be removed and you can’t become that lovely.“

The call of the time is therefore Manmanabhav! Then, He promises, I will become a Mahavir (a great warrior) and acquire self-sovereignty, become the master of my world. Maya will no longer have any power to dishonor me, and the earth will not have the power to shake. That is passing with honor.