I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to come here and say a few words about Meher Baba. Many of us have known and seen Baba and many have not, but His divinity is all the time present and the few thoughts I have placed before this audience are not mere imaginary thoughts. These thoughts are born out of my experience of fifty years with Meher Baba. Ever since I was eighteen years old I have been with Him. I was with Him until the last, until He dropped His body , and out of this experience I give you something which is really worthwhile for your life to take up. Life is only worthwhile when you are loving God, and there is nothing else greater than that. Meher Baba says, ''I am the personification of God. I am the form of God. If you love Me, you will know who you really are. You will find that you are nobody but God."
Jai Baba!
How the Silence Began
The following excerpts are taken from the daily diary kept by Mr. Gangaram L. Pawar during the "Meherabad Stay", I925-26, during which time a boys' school was set up and run by Meher Baba and the Mandali.
Friday, 25th June, 1925. Baba spotted a couple of boys in the untouchable section* of the school as not having properly washed their mouths this morning. As a punishment they were asked to go home for the day and to be very careful about cleanliness henceforth . . . Some boards have been prepared announcing to the public that Baba will be observing a vow of silence for one year from the 10th of July and during which period he will not talk with anyone under any circumstances. It has also been announced that Baba will not speak with outside visitors from the 1st of July, as from the 1st to 9th, he will exclusively attend to the Mandali and colony people in giving final instructions before becoming silent for such a long period.
Some discussion as to the possibility of Baba letting out some sound while rebuking someone from the Mandali, who may commit a grave blunder during the silent period, took place. Someone even suggested that to avoid this, Baba should keep a kerchief around his mouth. Baba assured all that nothing of the kind will be necessary if he once decided upon keeping mum.
Tuesday, 30th June, 1925. Consequent to the public notices of Baba observing silence with outsiders from the 1st there was a record crowd today for his darshan. Baba often talked about Anna** and showed great concern for his progress throughout the day. In spite of going to sleep very late last night, Baba was up and moving about cheerfully as usual from early in the morning and also took his usual morning bath.
Wednesday, 8th July 1925. In the afternoon Baba held a meeting of all the Mandali when for about an hour he explained to each his respective duties during his silence for one year. Many visitors have come to see Baba of late including Chunte, Navel, Chanji, Barsoap, etc.
Thursday, 9th July, 1925. The daily discussions and arrangements held and made since the last two weeks in connection with Baba's observing silence have come to definite conclusions and programs. Besides the old instructions and advice given individually to
*later merged in one
**he had been beaten by robbers
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