The symbolic representation of these departed souls through flowers dispenses with the separative burial or cremation ceremonies, which are prevalent in different societies. The placing of all these flowers in the same foundation is intended to emphasize the truth that, though the bodies of these devotees were different, they were all parts of one eternal and indivisible soul. The Memorial Tower has completely dispensed with the physical bodies of departed souls; for the physical body is only the illusory shadow of the soul. Those devotees whose names are likely to be inscribed on this Tower, after their demise, will have free choice in respect [to the] disposal of their bodies after their demise. Their bodies may be buried or cremated or disposed of at the Tower of Silence according to the rites of their respective religions or according to any desire expressed by them during their lifetime; and they shall be represented on this Memorial Tower only by their names.
The Tower will be in memory of men belonging to different religions and will, in fact, represent the fundamental unity of all the great world religions. All the great world religions have, in their own way, revealed the same one Truth, which I bring anew. This unity of all religions will be clearly emphasized by placing on the Tower the emblems of all the important religions of the world. The Tower shall thus be a silent proclamation of the unity of all religions. The unshakable peace of the life in eternity and the unfading glory of conscious divinity shall crown the souls which are represented by this Memorial Tower.
They are all eternally mine. I bless them all.
Then, according to Baba's wish, Adi read out the names of all the departed ones which Baba had listed a few days before.1 Sitting down in a chair, Baba placed one rose after another in the foundation as each name was called. Age noted, "It looked as if Baba were indicating that they were all merged in his infinite Ocean of divinity. Placing a flower in the foundation for each one, Baba was showing that every lover of his will merge in that Ocean someday.
"While this was occurring, Baba's face radiated bliss — proof that the death of each of his lovers was nothing but the medium to drown them further in his love. The Memorial Tower, when built, will serve as a lasting reminder to the world that religion is one, and all distinctions are illusory."
Footnotes
- 1.See Appendix D for list of the departed ones prepared in 1951, which contains these names.