The hakim knew what it was, for he had experienced it. He explained for hours in words and actions, but the man could not imagine what a headache could be like. At last, in exasperation, the hakim got an idea. He picked up a stone and struck the man squarely on the head. The man knew at once what a headache was, and with his question answered in this realistic manner, he left.
About the shadows, I can give you the experience in a second, but cannot explain it to you in words.
I said this world is the seventh shadow of God. If God does not exist, the world would not exist. But the Voice of God is not sound. Even on the third plane, there is no sound. On the first plane is subtle sound — very, very faint. In the second plane, the sound is more "drowning," and you get drowned in it. But that Voice which is God, the shadow of that Voice, is overpowering in the third plane. Sufis call it "dumbfounding."
Nadine could not grasp it and asked, "Does the shadow of the Voice of God gradually get fainter in every plane?"
Baba replied:
You cannot say that God is infinite and gets more and more finite on every plane. Infinite cannot be finite. If you say God's Voice becomes weaker, it is not right. God's Voice cannot become weaker.
It is like the example of the bells. Let us say, the first bell is of gold, and that its first shadow is an iron bell; the second shadow is an earthen bell; the third shadow is a paper bell, and so forth. All have the same shape, but the gold bell and the paper bell are quite different. So, in the case of the paper bell you cannot say the gold bell has become weaker.
Throughout September 1940, Baba continued to work in strict seclusion in the mast ashram on the hill. He also continued his visits to the women twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.
During this period, Baba had passed on to Rano a portrait someone had done of him, painted on a piece of plywood. Baba instructed Rano to paint his picture over it, in a seated posture, wearing a sadra with his long hair open. This she did, titling the work The Avatar .1
On Sunday, 22 September, Baba asked the women, "Who was it who said, 'Unless you lose yourself, you cannot find yourself?' "
Footnotes
- 1.Rano's painting is now kept at Meherabad.