The Unfolding Human Form According to Meher Baba

Meher Baba described the evolution of forms (shapes) from the atom form to the human form in an unusual way. He described the series of forms that we see in evolution as an unfolding of the human form, which was latent from the beginning. For Baba, evolution of forms is actually the story of the human form being unpacked. This does not appear to be an analogy by Baba, but an actual case of ‘as above, so below.’ The increase of consciousness is reflected in the changing forms. Sources where Baba describes this unfolding of the human form can be found in Lord Meher, 1986 print edition, p. 976, and Intelligence Notebooks, p. 208.

Before describing this unfolding, let me preface this by making a couple of points. First is that the word “evolution” literally comes from Latin meaning ‘unfolding’ or ‘the unrolling of a book.’ Second, Baba often referred to the human form as the perfect form, and the only form in which one can be God-realized.

The idea that the human form is perfect is not new. It is a major theme in sacred geometry. For example, the famous Vitruvian man by Leonardo da Vinci is meant to show the perfect proportions of a man. This is demonstrated by showing that with arms and legs diagonally protruded a perfect circle can be drawn while placing the focus of a compass on the navel. And with arms held horizontally and legs held straight a perfect square can be drawn. The perfect circle and perfect square are symbolic of heaven and earth (or oneness and duality) in sacred geometry, making the human form a representation of the idea of the meeting of the sacred and profane, or where earth meets heaven. This perfection of geometry found in the human form is not found in any other form in evolution.

So this is the unfolding and turning over of the form in evolution according to Baba:

The first form is bound up in a ball like a stone, though it really contains the human form latently within it. 

Next this unfolds as a plant standing erect, but it is upside down of the human form. The stamen and pistol (sex organs) face up toward the sky and are between its petals - as that of a man’s are between his legs and face down toward the earth.

Likewise, as our arms are near the top of our form and reach around us for sustenance, the “arms” of a plant are its roots reaching down into the soil for sustenance. It is as if the plant’s legs are in the air and its arms reach downward into the earth.

This form then falls down and becomes recumbent again, though now as a worm or bug crawling horizontally on the ground. 

From this position, the changing form begins a slow rise from its horizontal position to a more and more vertical one as it moves gradually toward full erect stance. At last as an ape it is nearly upright, although in the opposite direction from a plant.   

Finally, in human form, it has become fully upright, reflecting that it is fully conscious.

This could seem preposterous to a contemporary educated person conditioned to believe the human form is the accidental result of billions of random mutations over time and natural selection by a series of untold accidents. But this is what Meher Baba said.

Note that this evolution described by Baba still took place over millions of years. This has nothing to do with creationism.