"Today is New Year's, and you should make a resolution to forgive and forget. Only by forgetting can you truly forgive. Otherwise, what is the use of merely saying the words, 'I forgive you' ? It must be from the heart."
Pappa left for Nagpur the following day.
Dr. Deshmukh arrived from Nagpur on the 1st to see Baba. Deshmukh had written a Marathi book on Baba's life, which had recently been published. He told Baba that people were asking him why Baba was calling himself God. They were saying, "Isn't this the expression of Meher Baba's ego? Isn't he a supreme egotist?" Deshmukh did not know how to answer them. Baba gave this explanation:
In all that a God-realized soul or an ordinary man says or does, the I in him asserts itself. The difference between the two is that the I in the ordinary man is limited, whereas in the God-realized being it is unlimited. If Deshmukh says, "I have written the book," it is the limited I in Deshmukh asserting a certain job he has done. But when I say, "I am God," it is the unlimited I asserting its universal aspect.
The limited I must go for the unlimited I to take its place. The limited I is like a seven-headed demon. The seven heads of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy and hatred must be killed so thoroughly that not even the slightest trace remains. When the false I is completely destroyed, another I, which is Real and unlimited, takes its place.
On 2 January 1939, Baba wrote this short but loving note to Baidul at Meherabad:
Dear Baidul, How are you? How is dear Swami [Swamiji]? How is the big-headed Doctor [Ghani]? How is the pig-headed Baily? How are my dear mad-children? Write me a letter in Gujarati through Baily. My love to the sane and insane inmates of the Mad Ashram.
On the 3rd, Baba visited the Madan Mahal Fort and Gwarighat with the women. Walter Mertens was traveling with Baba's group, but separately by train with a few of the others. In Jabalpur, Baba directed him to leave for Zurich that day. He began weeping at the thought of leaving Baba and Hedi, whom he dearly loved.
Baba consoled him, "I am coming with you, and will be with you in the work you will do for me in Zurich."
Obeying Baba, with a heavy heart, Walter left for Bombay, from where he sailed for Switzerland.