ChaptersChapter 15Page 2,119

Chapter 15: Seclusion

1940Page 2,119 of 5,444
Take twice in 24 hours milk, tea or coffee, and once in 24 hours one solid meal, with as much water as needed. 21. You must fast in the following manner, one day a week, for a period of one year: Take twice in 24 hours milk, tea or coffee, and once in 24 hours one solid meal, with as much water as needed. 22. You are to observe silence for one year. 23. For a suitable period each day, you are to meditate either upon the Impersonal God, or upon Baba. 24. You are to make a pilgrimage on foot to places of spiritual importance, or to any place instructed by Baba. 25. You must prostrate yourself before, or kiss the feet of, any person or persons named by Baba. 26. For the period of one year, you must beg for food, and must not accept any money offered to you. 27. You must refrain from taking part in any religious ceremony or ritual. 28. You must perform, conscientiously, the prayers customary to your religion. 29. You must give personal selfless service to those physically afflicted. 30. You shall neither hit, strike nor beat anyone, save in self-defense, or in case of life and death. 31. You shall neither hit, strike nor beat anyone, save in protecting the weak.
It must be emphasized that each person was instructed to carry out only certain numbers of these orders. For example, one woman was ordered by Baba to follow the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23 (every day, half-hour meditation), 27, 28 (every day, half-hour repetition of God's name), 30, 31. In a similar manner, Baba dictated which orders each of his lovers was to follow for one year. In some cases, he left it up to the individual.
These clarifications of Baba's instructions were also mailed:
1. Those who have been instructed to follow orders Numbers 2 to 5 (no alcohol, meat, fish and eggs) must follow these orders, under any circumstances, including sickness. 2. In case of illness, when no solid food is taken, any kind of liquid food can be taken, as many times as the patient likes during the fast, under orders 20 and 21. 3. Snuff and chewing tobacco is allowed during the fast. 4. Paan, fruit and sweetmeats can be taken immediately following meals only (breakfast and supper). 5. Aerated soda water (no sweet drinks) can be counted as water. 6. Taking of medicines does not affect any of the rules.
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