Baba concluded by dictating:
Therefore, in this Avatar business, if any of you really feel confused, excited and disappointed, you would be rendering me the greatest service by leaving me for good or bad. I want you to be honest with yourself and with me, because I am what I am, what I always was and will ever be.
Maybe I am Avatar of God or the Devil. So, once and for all, see within and find out if you are confused or fused. In Satara I said, "See what happens in February." Now wait for June 1948!
The following are some of the men and women mandali's written comments in response to Baba:
Adi Jr.: "Gandhi was no doubt a great man, but compared to Baba, he was like a flickering candle, whereas Baba's brilliance is that of the whole universe."
Deshmukh: "You are the Avatar not only of our times, but for all time. All shine by your light, even as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, while you are the Light itself. If there is any goodness or greatness in anyone, he or she has it from you."
Don: "I sink or swim with Baba, and without him I sink anyhow."
Eruch: "Let others select, decide and declare their Avatars of the age. For me Baba as BABA is all in all."
Feram: "Gandhi was Gandhi and Baba is Baba; so there is nothing more to be said."
Gadekar: "To me there is not the least doubt about the Avatarhood of Shri Meher Baba. Other personages may be saints or Sadgurus, but for the present age, Shri Meher Baba is the one and the only one Avatar as Lord Krishna, Buddha, Christ and Muhammad were in their times according to their mission. May the world accept his guidance and help, and be happier soon. I have declared in my speeches before that Shri Meher Baba is the Avatar of the present Kali Yuga, and I mean to do the same in the future by his grace."1
Ghani: "I have decided irrevocably to continue to the end to be the chronic disciple of the 'incorrigible' Master."
Gustadji: "Gandhi is a very sincere, hard worker and loving soul, but insofar as Baba is concerned, there is as much difference between them as between the Earth and the heavens."
Footnotes
- 1.The Kali Yuga (or Dark Age) is the last of four stages humanity passes through, according to Indian scriptures, characterized by a general spiritual decline in the world.