Then, as with the former two language groups, Baba touched on the subject of a seven-day fast, and asked those prepared to do it to stand up. Several men volunteered.
Looking at Pukar, Baba said, "You are too fat, so you are chosen!"
To Hakumat Rai Kapil, Baba remarked, "You are also quite strong! All right, you too are selected."
Selecting Virinder Singh of Dehra Dun, Baba said, "See how I have caught certain Sikhs! How pleased I am with you! Guru Nanak is dear to me. The same Nanak is in the world today!"1
Meherdas (Ramdas) and Kunj Behari were also chosen, and thus five from the Hindi group were selected to fast for seven days on water starting 15 February 1956. Baba assured the others who were not chosen not to worry, because by their very willingness they had already fasted.
Addressing those men who were to fast, Baba stated:
I will give you further instructions tomorrow. Don't think after fasting that you have advanced spiritually on the Path! Once, in Andhra, I made a person fast for 40 days. Thereafter, he had some inner experience and started allowing people to garland and worship him. He would tell them about his experience, and that drew them to him.
My instructions regarding fasting or about anything else are, although seemingly easy, difficult to practice. In America, this craze of fasting has started and they boast of breaking records!
Fasting does not increase love. No connection exists between them. All austerities, repetition of God's name, penances, et cetera, are quite apart from this fast I am telling you to do. So, as long as I don't ask you to fast, why should you? If you want to fast on your own, fast in such a way that your stomach remains full while your mind starves! This is the best fast.
Referring to the topic of his gift of love, Baba repeated:
Love is such that it needs no asking for anything.
When you sit at midnight, on the first night say "Baba, Baba" 14 times, and on the second night 28 times. Thus, alternately, do so for one year. Don't bind yourselves with any thought if it comes, but submit to only one binding which is the binding of 14 times and 28 times, no more no less. Although difficult, it is possible. If Bhau wants to do it, however, he will fail, because even during deep sleep he unconsciously calls out my name! This is his habit.
Footnotes
- 1.Guru Nanak was a Perfect Master. By stating, "the same Nanak is in the world today," Baba is equating his own stature to that of Nanak, for the benefit of his Sikh followers.