Baba continued:
It is as if the mental suffering of the universe wants to crush me. But the infinite bliss I experience and the love I have for all sustains me, and the love of all my lovers supports me in the burden I carry. The week ahead will be the climax of my suffering, but it is necessary and must be. This critical period, too, will be tided over with the love of all who love me.
Baba dictated this message "to all who loved him":
In this apparent helplessness, I declare again that everything except God is illusion; and that the only way to be united with this Self of all selves is love, sacrifice and unreserved and honest resignation to the Beloved's Will.
I am the Self of all. I am the Ultimate Goal. So love me with all your honesty and whole being. After my seclusion is over [on 15 February 1957], I will be free from this helplessness. I will give my sahavas, darshan and my blessings to all.
On the 15th of February, I will fast for 24 hours along with all my lovers. And, regardless of the restrictions imposed on my physical activities because of the injuries, I will feed and bow down to 700 poor people on that day.
My love to you all.
From Sunday, 16 December 1956, Baba began feeling and looking weaker in health. His pain had risen with renewed intensity. Because Baba's leg was in traction, the sandbag weights would drag him gradually toward the foot of the bed, and when he was shifted up again, he had terrible pains. There were abrasions on his back because of the previous cast and bed sores, but it was impossible to treat them, as the pain in his leg became excruciating whenever he was moved. Also, because he was always on his back, he had pain in his coccyx.
It was exactly 4:00 P.M. on the 16th, while the women were with him, that this incident occurred. Baba was lying down, comparatively peaceful and not in pain, when suddenly the women saw tears pour from his eyes and roll down his cheeks. This weeping was preceded by a lot of finger-moving. After almost a minute of weeping, Baba had his eyes wiped and gestured to them to forget it.
Baba explained, "The tears are not for the suffering of my body, but for the suffering of the world to come."