At the completion of the Mohammedan portion, Baba walked to his gaadi and hung a cross around his neck. Murli stood before him wearing a long gown.
Baba remarked, "You look exactly like a Christian priest."
The Lord's Prayer was recited and then the Sermon on the Mount. When Murli finished, Baba took off the cross and gave it to him to keep.
Last to step forward was Daulat Singh. At 10:30 he began reading from the Granth Saheb. Before he started, Baba placed around his wrist a steel bracelet like that of a Sikh. By eleven o'clock, the reading came to an end and prasad was distributed to all. It was a very solemn and serious ceremony, and Baba acting as the perfect devotee was very devout throughout it. He left without making any comments and went to the Interview Cabin (Kaikobad's former cottage, opposite the hall).
While Baba was in his cabin, Sarosh informed him that Mehera's mother, Daulatmai, had died in Nasik. She was 76 years old.
When Baba returned to the hall in the afternoon, he disclosed the news to all: "Today is a very important day, and a fine day, too. Sarosh told me that Daulatmai expired today at 4 [ sic ] A.M. of heart failure.1 She had kept perfect silence since 1933, and it is said that she had a peaceful end. My dear Daulatmai will live in me forever, by God's grace. I say 'by God's grace,' because today I am in the state of a devotee."
The question of printing a circular about Daulatmai's death for distribution among his close women disciples was discussed and agreed to by Baba. Later a tombstone for her was erected on Meherabad Hill. It read: "Daulat — one of Baba's dearest lovers. Observing silence for 20 years."2
Pleader asked, "Baba, what is the use of getting circulars printed about those who have expired, for it is said, ' Aap mar gaye, doob gai doonya ' [With our death, dies (submerged is) the world]."
Pleader's remark was sufficient for Baba to give all a good idea about those who die the Real Death and those who are on different planes. He first quoted this couplet of Kabir:
Discard the body, it remains; preserve the body, it goes. The astounding fact emerges that the corpse devours death!
Baba then continued dictating to explain:
Footnotes
- 1.Daulatmai actually died at 6 A.M. according to Adi Sr.'s diary.
- 2.Daulatmai's date of birth on her tombstone (1883) is incorrect. She was born circa 1876.