The Visapur Seva Samiti, a social service organization
serving the poor, was given a donation of Rs.500 to the refugee camp. Baba
wished to distribute the remaining bundles of grain among poor people in
Pimpalgaon and surrounding villages, so he instructed Eruch, Pendu and Chhagan
to hand out passes for a program to be held at Meherazad on the 24th.
After returning to Ahmednagar, on 22 February 1948, Baba
in the evening discussed matters with the mandali in the Ice Factory Bungalow.
In the course of the conversation, the subject of the Master's manifestation
came up and Baba asked those present, "What do you think constitutes 100
percent proof of my manifestation as the Avatar?"
Khak Saheb, Babadas, Kaka (who was on silence), Ramjoo,
Adi Sr., Ghani, Dhake, Ramjoo and Nariman (who was visiting from Bombay)
expressed their views, but Baba further observed:
You people say that at the time of my Avataric
manifestation, mankind will receive a shock like an earthquake and I will appear
at different places in my physical form. But such ideas do not prove the
Avatar's manifestation 100 percent.
In the Avatar is contained the whole of
creation. All the lives contained in the world are like his limbs. If a scorpion stings a man on one part of his body, the
brain immediately knows it and pain is felt throughout the body. Similarly, when
the Avatar will 'sting' [manifest], every life sustained in creation
will feel it. Thus, the Avatar's presence on this plane and the
scorpion's sting [manifestation] will be experienced by all.
If the sun were to shine 24 hours a day and there was
no darkness, the presence of the sun would not be recognized, unless there was
complete darkness once. The rising of the sun consequent to darkness would make
humanity appreciate the presence of the sun. The dark night is signified by the
scorpion's sting.
Thinking of pralaya , Ghani interjected,
"Darkness may also mean mass annihilation and dissolution of the
world!"
Baba laughed and remarked, "You all [those present]
remember this subject of dissolution."
Continuing, Baba spelled out on the alphabet board:
After the Avatar's manifestation, humanity will
receive the Light in different degrees proportionate to each one's
receptivity. Those out in the open will experience the full light of the sun;
those holding umbrellas over their heads will receive less; and those who remain
closeted in their houses will get even less.
This means that those who keep themselves shut up in
the houses of their desires will receive the least Light; those who, though out
in the open, hold an umbrella over their head — refuse to open their heart
to God — will receive less; and those of pure desires and an open heart
will experience the full brilliance of the Avatar's coming.