hands. Then He led us directly to the lounge. Meherjee followed with an oriental rug, which he spread on the divan for Baba to sit on, a phonograph and some records. Eruch followed with letters for the group.

Baba began by inquiring whether we all sat in contemplation of Him from 9 to 9:30 a.m. After each had answered in turn and described his experience with this assignment, Baba began to speak.

"Today I will explain about trance and inner sight—Samadhi. Trance, which the Sufis term 'Haal' and Vedantists term 'Bhav,' is just a momentary ecstasy which, in the true spiritual sense, has no great value. During this state of Haal one feels unconscious of his surroundings and of his own body, but is conscious of an overpowering force of bliss pouring in on his soul. As soon as this Bhav ends, he is just his ordinary self. There are four different types of Samadhi—Yoga Samadhi, Tantrika Samadhi, Nirvikalpa Samadhi and Sahaj Samadhi.

"Yoga Samadhi and Tantrika Samadhi have no importance, spiritually. In these Samadhis, one feels at peace with everything and everyone, and finally finds his mind still; but as soon as this Samadhi is over, he is again his own ordinary self. Most Yogis, after these Samadhis, feel the strain of illusion even more. It is like taking intoxicants; one feels in harmony with everything for a while, but when the intoxication is over, one gets a headache. So, Yoga Samadhi, Tantrika Samadhi are like getting drunk completely. One feels like an emperor, as if one could do anything; but as soon as it is over, one feels the stress and strain again.

In Nirvikalpa Samadhi, which the Sufis call ‘Fana,’ and which means passing away from selfhood to the union with God, the soul identifies itself with God. This Samadhi is the real Samadhi, Fana. Here one becomes God. God's Knowledge is his knowledge, God's Bliss is his bliss, God's Power is his power, God's Beauty is his beauty. During this Samadhi, he has no consciousness of body, energy, mind, universe, but is only conscious of the Self as God. Very, very few, it is said, get this Nirvikalpa Samadhi, and these few only rarely.

"It is said: 'After cycles and cycles, one gets Fana.' This one is then called 'Fana-fillah; or one who has been made one with God. Very few such regain normal consciousness; but one who does regain normal consciousness has Sahaj Samadhi. To have Sahaj Samadhi means that spontaneously and simultaneously