Letters from the Beloved

My beloved Selves,

It has been a long silence — silence that has been a severe test for you all dearest, as I alone know. But it has its great purpose served, and I am so glad.

This silence, in its long spell, taught you a great lesson — the lesson to suffer, very keenly at times, I know. But if that suffering has made you think of your Beloved all the more, if that has brought you closer in love, I am delighted. I know it has, and am not only delighted but happy, for so much of your work done, for so much of the "progress" made.

Whatever one suffers for Love is suffered always for the better, and won't you all dearest be delighted and happy, as I am, to know that all this has brought you closer to me. I have my great work to do — this the greatest — and I want all the dearest who are mine to tide over certain things of the world — this world of phenomena — to pass through certain experiences that are necessary, while I am working during this period of seclusion, seeing none, not even the nearest who stayed with me.

And do you know how they all clamored for that!

The "seclusion" period is a period of great importance when I work internally. That is why I kept myself very little in touch with the world, except for the most important things that really needed my advice and guidance. All, whether living near in India or abroad and far away, were kept at a distance on purpose. There are dear ones and devotees here in India who haven 't seen me for the last two years while I have been to distant parts of the world, across the continents, to see you, my loved ones in the West, and how they feel for this long separation. Their grief is none the less, yet they all suffer for me in silence. And none knows it better than Baba that all who suffer thus for "Love", suffer for the best. It is the greatest achievement in the onward march towards Eternity.

It was during this period of your suffering that we enjoyed each other's company the most, through inner communion. For I listened with no small delight to the throbs and music of hearts that wished to convey their voice and message to me at all times. The cries of complaints and grievances, some playful pranks at times of a naughty child, whose outbursts of grief and desperation, whenever conveyed, pleased rather than teased me for I know all the while that these are all expressions of Love and as such always sweet and endearing, however crude or even mischievous in their mode of expression.

I knew also how each of you felt all the while for the various difficulties, physical and mental, that you had to pass through. And knowing all, if I kept quiet remember, my dearest, there was a purpose behind it which you at the present stage can never understand. But I loved you none the less for you are now mine, and my Love for those who belong to me and are ever at heart never changes, whatever its expression, and whenever conveyed.

THINGS THAT ARE REAL ARE ALWAYS GIVEN AND RECEIVED IN SILENCE

Individual letters follow next. My love — to all . . .