Referring to his sickness in the afternoon, Baba remarked in the presence of Sadashiv Patil and others:
This is the third time during the last eight years that I have actually shed tears and then gotten ill. The first two illnesses were a wound in my shoulder and then the dysentery at Ajmer.
For the various members of my circle, I will thus have to die 28 times, and every time I will have to cry. But the subsequent illnesses will be lesser and lesser in severity. This fever is for you, Sadashiv, who always suffers from it. The first two sicknesses concerned Gustadji and Behramji. The second group, for whom I will have to suffer, includes Ghani.
[After some time, Baba further stated:] In the circle, Ghani's number is seven and it is most significant because, even after Realization, this number is always with the Perfect Master. The next three to four illnesses will be somewhat severe, but the suffering will lessen thereafter.
Listening to this explanation, some of the mandali were wondering when Baba would have to suffer for them. Age knew that the Avatar's every breath is for the benefit of all animate as well as inanimate things in creation. It is for this purpose he takes form on the physical plane. His Universal work concerns everything in creation. He forms his circle of 122 persons, does his Universal work through each circle member and consequently suffers as he wipes out each circle member's sanskaras.1
Later, while comparing worldly happiness with divine bliss, Baba explained: "An ocean of worldly happiness is merely a shadow — not even a drop of a single small drop of the infinite ocean of divine bliss! It is for this reason that a Sadguru is called sat-chit-ananda — all-knowledge, power and bliss."
After tea the next day, Baba played chess with Ramjoo, and though he played inattentively, he won. A discussion about the best chess player in the Manzil ensued, and Baba remarked, "If I concentrate and put my mind in any game, I can defeat the best of experts or champions!"
Ghani inquired what Baba meant by concentrating and putting the power of his mind in it. The Master then gave the following explanation:
He who is a slave to his mind is an ordinary human being. He who has conquered the mind but at the same time is overpowered by it, drowned in intoxication, is called by Sufis a majzoob.
Footnotes
- 1.Refer to Bhau Kalchuri, Avatar of the Age Meher Baba Manifesting (Manifestation, Inc., 1985), pp. 78–80.