Then, for the first time, I asked myself whether I was the Avatar, and the clear and definite answer was, "Yes, I am the Ancient One, the Highest of the High."
Then I asked Avatar Meher Baba, "Why this rain — this inconvenience to the lovers who have come all the way to meet you?"
Avatar Meher Baba replied, "Those who really love you would come with their heads on their palms, and this inconvenience would be a happiness to them. Lovers go to the shrines of past Avatars — who I was! — undergoing great hardships to revere them, and some even die in the attempt. If now they do not put up with such an insignificant inconvenience in going to the living Avatar, Meher Baba, then it would be a farce to call themselves lovers!"
Now, after embracing you all one after the other for the last time, we pray and confess our weaknesses. Very soon, I am going to destroy all the bindings of religion. Religion will remain, its farce will vanish.
Eruch was reading Baba's board in English, and his words were translated by Keshav Nigam into Hindi, Kutumba Sastri into Telugu, Dr. Deshmukh into Marathi and Burjor Mehta into Gujarati. But Deshmukh was so overcome with emotion that he could not continue, and Dhake had to take over for him.
Everyone was taken aback at Baba's mentioning dropping his body. Several men had tears in their eyes, some were openly sobbing, some were simply dumbfounded. The atmosphere turned serious, and all sat absolutely still in their places.
Nana Kher had typhoid and his brother, Vinoo, and nephew, Bal Subhedar, brought him to the meeting tent in a car. He was made to sit on the platform with his brother and nephew to care for him. Baba's order was that even if anyone was ill he should participate in the meeting. And although Nana had a temperature of 105° F, he was brought to the pandal.
Each man went to Baba, turn by turn, for his embrace. Statements were being announced over the microphone, and the gathering was often warned: "Pray don't break Baba's ribs by pressing him in a tight embrace! To save time, embrace Baba on only one side; don't touch Baba's feet; don't garland him; don't present him with any fruit, flowers or gifts."
As Dr. Daulat Singh approached Baba, he burst into loud weeping and was about to fall down when Eruch and Padri caught him.