Even those who are not God-realized and have not Knowledge, they too can control their minds to such an extent that nothing makes them feel pain and suffering — even being buried alive. One yogi, who had not even the smell of Knowledge, had himself thrown into a tub of boiling oil. [Through his yogic power] not only did he not feel the pain, but his skin was not even a little burned. This is not the spirit's [mind's] control over matter, it is even lower — it is breath control.
When I talk of Knowledge, it is not ordinary knowledge: it is experience of Godhood. Knowledge of God means becoming God — then all else is zero. When the Master comes down from Godhood to normal consciousness, the Master brings down God. He is not aloof from God for one second, but he has to be on the same level of all, so he eats, drinks and suffers. All this does not affect him personally but universally.
Since the Westerners were from a Christian background, there would often be questions about Jesus. Baba had already explained that Jesus did not die on the cross, and one of them asked, "Did Christ suffer physically on the cross?"
Baba answered:
If not, why the body? What need for Jesus if he was not affected? Christ suffered. If not, what would be the meaning of his taking form? Through his Universal mind — which the knowledge of Godhood continually gives — Jesus experienced that all is nothing and was sustained by the Godhood's bliss. He suffered, but was not affected by his suffering. Knowledge means perfect Union with God. The Master's suffering is universal suffering. But his universal suffering has no effect on the Master's Godhood.
How to explain what happens when you become God-realized? No more body, mind, ego; no more universe, only you as God experiencing bliss. You then experience Knowledge too, power too, but you do not use power. You are one with this power, this Knowledge, this bliss.
When you come down for the world, you take on a Universal mind. Now, as God, you see all souls as your own; you see yourself in everything and your Universal mind has all minds in it — as one mind. What every mind suffers comes into your mind. Your mind suffers the suffering of all minds and experiences the happiness of all minds.