4. Learn for yourself, and teach others that recognition of God's will means not to complain of your lot; that control of the mind means not to be upset by misfortunes; that loving all as children of the same One God means not to be jealous of anyone and not to hurt the feelings of anyone.
Now listen very carefully:
The period of one month, beginning from May 15, 1943 and ending on June 14, 1943, is the most important period of my spiritual mission. During this whole month, I want every one of you to follow, literally, the following:
1. Observe strict celibacy, even if you are married. 2. Do not attend cinemas. 3. Do not go to theaters and concerts. 4. Do not attend parties. 5. Avoid entertainments. 6. The first thing every morning is to say a sincere prayer from you to God to make you understand Him and His Will.
All were up at 6:30 A.M. on Sunday, 16 May 1943 and had tea at 7:30 A.M. Baba held more interviews for two hours, from 8:00 to 10:00 A.M.
The gathering assembled before him at 10:00 A.M. and Baba inquired, "Did you sleep well last night? I ask this because you all have to be awake and attentive tonight for three hours, from 7:30 to 10:30 P.M."
All replied that they had slept well, and Baba continued at length:
Now, listen. I want all to observe silence on the 18th for twelve hours in such a way that it equals silence for 1,200 days! This silence must be both within and without — internal as well as external. External silence is easy, but the internal is difficult.
Now, what do I mean by internal silence? It means you must silence your mind for twelve hours. When you speak with the tongue, it is speech. When the lips are sealed, it is external silence. Now, the mind too has a tongue of its own with which it talks. The continual working of the mind is like the mind continually talking. The very creation of a thought is like speaking internally. Hence the "lips" of the mind must be sealed.
Keeping the mind silent for twelve hours is equal to not thinking at all with the mind for twelve hours. But the mind does not stop thinking for even twelve seconds! If anyone can consciously keep the mind's thoughts silent for even twelve seconds, he would achieve a very advanced spiritual state.