On the way to Satara on 8 October, Baba went to Meherabad to see Ali Shah, who was unwell.
When Baba returned to Satara, he again fasted two separate days — on the 10th and 12th of October — taking nothing on either day, not even water, for 24 hours. He also drove to Kolhapur on the 12th for mast contacts.
Adi Sr. had written to Baba asking for some clarification about the divine states of nirvan and nirvikalp , and on the 13th, Baba dictated a reply through Bhau explaining both states.1
Sunday, 14 October 1956, was the holiday of Dassera, and Mehera decorated Sheba grandly and paraded the horse before Baba. Baba loved Sheba and also Mani's pet cocker spaniel, Peter. That day, Baba took Mehera, Mani, Naja, Rano, Goher and Meheru to see the confluence of the Krishna and Venna Rivers.
On the 15th, Baba fasted again without water for 24 hours. Yet, he did his seclusion work with Kaikobad as usual — bowing down to him while Kaikobad prayed.
On Sunday, 21 October, Baba, along with Eruch, Pendu and Nilu, left by car for a mast tour. Baidul had been sent in advance and met the party that day in Nasik. Baba originally planned to contact masts in Guna in Madhya Pradesh and Kota (650 miles directly north) in Rajasthan, but after the first day out, he changed his plans and went only as far as Indore. Traveling night and day, he then journeyed to Meherabad on the 23rd, arriving there at midnight, to work with Ali Shah for two hours.
At the time, Ali Shah had recovered from his recent illness, and was quite hale and hearty, but, while mentioning the mast, Baba instructed Padri and Sidhu about his burial in case he died. He went to Khushru Quarters, also, where he spoke to Adi Sr. about the same thing. The mast's funeral was to be conducted according to Muslim rites and Baba would bear all the expenses.
"This is my last contact with Bapji," Baba remarked.
Indeed it proved to be Baba's final meeting with this great mast, because Ali Shah unexpectedly dropped his body two months later.
Baba then proceeded to Bombay for more contacts. At this time, it was extremely hot in Bombay. A cricket test match was being played and Baba spent all day of the 26th at the stadium.
But the heat was so overwhelming, with not the slightest hint of a breeze, that when he returned to Ashiana, he remarked, only half-joking, "After my strenuous mast journey, I wanted to relax. But, instead, today was a day of tapas [penance] for me, and reminded me of the penances I used to do when I was Krishna and Ram!"
Footnotes
- 1.See this discourse on nirvan and nirvikalp See also Page 4389