The mandali were at a loss to understand these words, and the Master explained in his own inimitable way:
To die does not mean the ordinary death of the body, but the real death of the ego; that is, to die before death, which amounts to becoming one with God.
To fear is also not to be taken literally. To fear means to be in the state of one created, in spite of realizing one's self as the Creator, or God. This is the state of a gross-conscious Perfect Master which is more difficult to attain and spiritually superior to that of a majzoob — one who remains eternally immersed in the Ocean of divinity, intoxicated continuously.
To fill means to fill the hearts of people with the wine of divine knowledge.
To do or make is the highest possible attainment. It means to make others perfect like yourself. To do for others what you have done for yourself! To make them like yourself in terms of power, knowledge, authority and duty! This is the most supreme state, the state of being a Perfect Master.
The meaning of my words is that it is better to be one with God than to lead a worldly life; better to return to normal consciousness after Union with God than to remain divinely absorbed; better to fill the hearts of others with divine love than to remain indifferent to humanity; and better to make others one with God than merely to fill their hearts with love!
More news about Upasni Maharaj's condition came from Sakori. Memo was also visiting in Bombay and, on 25 February she was sent to Sakori to inquire on Baba's behalf about Maharaj. Shireenmai returned on the 27th and gave this account:
When I went near Maharaj's cage in Sakori, he slapped me. Maharaj put out his hands from behind the bars and, catching me with one hand, severely slapped me with the other. My bangles were broken. Not being accustomed to such harsh treatment, I was very upset and immediately prepared to leave Sakori. But I was detained for a day, during which Maharaj called me to him four times. He not only abused me each time but shouted against Merwan and some of you men. Warningly, he said, "Your son, Merwan, pretends that he is a Sadguru! He is impersonating a guru!"