of the Mandali — and I was shocked to know some said the crypt should be closed the very next day. But in the evening when the news was broadcast from All-India radio we got hundreds of telegrams requesting the crypt should be kept open for at least one more day — that the lovers be allowed at least a glimpse of Baba. So the doctors permitted one more day. Then Baba lovers started coming by taxis, by train, by whatever vehicle, day and night and they had Baba's darshan. And then we were going to close the crypt on the second day, when again we received urgent telegrams from different stations with further requests to delay the interment. Once again the doctors said, you can't take the risk — permitted only one more day;—again more lovers poured into Meherabad.

"In this way it went on for seven days and the doctors were surprised to see Baba's body was as fresh as ever, as if He were sleeping; His body was robust and beautiful, some of us thought Baba would speak, open His eyes, any minute now. Thousands and thousands of people came and paid homage.

"Mehera, Mani and the others had a meeting and recalled what Baba had said, before he dropped His body — 'I will be alright and I will walk on the seventh day, so you must not worry about it.' February 7th was Baba's birthday according to the Parsee calendar. So, the crypt was closed on the seventh day, with all tears, bhajans, artis, day and night in presence of thousands of people, and they are still coming.

"So, Baba has started speaking in this way. Now some people from India and other parts of the world are having some experiences. Even in the daytime, they have seen Baba approaching them, blessing the sick, and talking to them — they couldn't believe it. But I told them, Baba is now revealing himself. Baba said, 'The day will come when I will speak one word, and it will penetrate the hearts of the whole world,' — that means the day when the whole world will feel the same thing, as these Westerners, who have not seen Baba, feel today. They will experience Baba's love and that's the one Word Baba will speak. Jai Baba!"

Jal went on to describe how he came to Baba.

"It was about 43 years ago — I am now 67. We were well-off at that time, we had about thirty shops. Baba was at college. Even at that time, I had no idea Baba was Avatar or God. He would tell me, 'Jal, you belong to me, you don't belong to this world, you must leave everything and join me.' And I said, 'How can it be possible, to leave everything, the prosperous business, what's the sense? You are just my brother and that's all!' And my mother was on my side. This went on for some time and then I had one or two dreams of Baba, in visions of bright light and it penetrated to my heart and when I woke up I said, what was my elder brother telling me— 'you have to join me—everything is Illusion—you don't belong to this world!'

Then one day he came with some of his disciples to our house (765 Dastur Meher Road). My mother was in the kitchen. He said 'If I put a piece of burning charcoal on your palm, will you be able to bear it? And then Baba went to the kitchen and brought in a pan a big piece of burning charcoal which he put on my palm and the coal burnt my flesh. My mother smelt it and came running and she scolded Baba: 'Take it off! What are you doing!' and Baba tried to pull it off with his hand but it was stuck, and he tried harder. When it came out, I became unconscious. I was taken to hospital — but during those moments when the coal was on my palm I didn't feel the pain at all as if it was a piece of paper and that was a miracle. Baba used to visit me in the hospital. The pain was terrible, and a huge blister formed and it had to be cut with scissors. During the weeks it took to heal, I was wondering why did I allow Baba to test me by burning my right hand unnecessarily? I couldn't understand it! And then I dreamt of Baba again. He came, walking in my dreams, and I had some experiences in the daytime also and I felt His divinity . . . "

Jal continued talking, but I ran out of tape. I felt the hard scar on his palm, and saw in those brown eyes the light of love for his "elder brother" that had lasted a lifetime. We hugged and parted.