Baba then commented:
The breaking of my silence will also be as sudden and unexpected as the passing away of Upasni Maharaj. The difference will, however, be in the general "feeling," which will be very strong when I speak. All will feel it.
It will shake the world like an earthquake. People will feel the shock in different degrees in different parts of the world. Thus they will experience it in different ways.
I feel unconcerned and even happy at this news of Maharaj's death, since I know that he is now relieved of the burden of retaining his physical body after his work was over and the long-awaited meeting with me had taken place at Dahigaon.
In memory of Upasni Maharaj, Baba instructed the men and women mandali and his lovers everywhere to fast completely, taking tea only twice on 13 January 1942, and to hold a public feast on the 14th. He also ordered that the dhuni, which would be lit on 12 January, be kept burning for 48 hours in Maharaj's honor.
A Parsi named Minoo Bharucha had come into contact with Baba during his stay in Nasik in the thirties. After this, Minoo had gone to Sakori, where he had Upasni Maharaj's darshan. He became very devoted to Maharaj, who would sometimes visit his home when he came to Nasik. Ramjoo and Minoo had gone together to Sakori for the funeral. After a few days Minoo and his wife Aimai (who once was a kanya at Sakori) were called to meet Baba at Meherabad.
Sitting outside the gate at Upper Meherabad, Baba assured Minoo, "There is not the slightest difference between Maharaj and myself."
Feeling comforted by this, Minoo asked, "Who will take Maharaj's place [as one of the five Perfect Masters]?"
"A man living near Tibet," Baba answered.
Manek Darasha Mehta was the leader of a group of spiritual seekers in Bombay known as the Jap Mandal (Group). The group was planning a pilgrimage to all five Perfect Master's headquarters. Kaka Baria brought four of the group, including Mehta, to Meherabad on Sunday, 28 December 1941 to discuss the matter with Baba, whom they had not met before. The idea was not thought to be a sound one. Baba also at first refused to permit the entire group to come to Meherabad, but then relented and said they could come and have darshan from a distance, if they agreed to come to Meherabad directly from Bombay and return there directly.