Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1960Page 4,713 of 5,444
Baba was not feeling well. He looked pale and tired. Because he would not take proper nourishment and informed the mandali that he would be fasting during his seclusion, Goher convinced him to allow her to give him a vitamin B12 (500 mg) injection, and a liver supplement (2cc) injection. Although these injections were painful, Baba submitted to one on 4 July and to another on the 8th.
From the 5th of July, Baba began sitting secluded with Kaikobad for a fixed period each day, and this lasted until the end of his seclusion.
On Sunday, 10 July 1960, the 35th anniversary of Baba's silence was observed. Baba fasted that day, and all his lovers in the East and West, including the mandali, were instructed to remain silent from 8:00 P.M. of 9 July until 8:00 P.M. of the 10th.
According to Baba's instructions, on 12 July Kumar arrived at Khushru Quarters from Rishikesh with the mast Nilkanthwala, and brought him to Meherazad the following morning. For the next fifteen days, Baba sat with the mast twice a day in Bhau's room, where the mast was kept. Nilkanthwala was usually quite jovial — chuckling and holding forth in Hindi on various subjects — but on 27 July he grew extremely anxious and expressed his ardent wish to return to Rishikesh. Kumar, Baidul and Eruch did their best to persuade the mast to stay, but he would not listen. He appeared so restless, as if his body were on fire! So, after working with Nilkanthwala on the 28th, Baba sent him back to Rishikesh by train with Kumar.
From Monday, 1 August 1960, Baba began intensive work with Kaikobad. He would work with him every morning for half an hour, but not on Sundays. Each day the Master's and Repentance prayers were said aloud by all the men in the hall. On the 2nd, Goher gave Baba another vitamin injection. (On 20 July, Baba's feet had begun to swell.)
Eruch was instructed to fast for four days at the beginning of August. Baba was eating only one meal a day. But, in addition to that routine, from 4 August, Baba began fasting on liquids every Thursday for three weeks: two ounces of tea taken twice and four ounces of buttermilk taken once. Because he was fasting, Goher increased the doses of his vitamin injections when she administered them on 12 and 22 August.