Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1960Page 4,730 of 5,444
Despite such physical suffering during Baba's seclusion, he wished to call a meeting at Meherazad on the 4th of December of 138 close, male followers from all over India. Baba wanted to give them a message to be delivered by them personally to all concerned at their respective places. Accordingly, circulars were sent stating what each man was expected to adhere to and abstain from, to which every participant willingly complied. As Baba's health worsened though, on 1 November, Adi was told to inform all the men: "Due to a most important factor having arisen in his seclusion, there is a one percent possibility of Baba postponing the meeting." After a short period of suspense, another letter was sent which read: "Despite the seclusion work having taken its toll upon his health, Baba will definitely hold the meeting at Meherazad on 4 December." But, on 21 November, a third letter was sent, stating that the meeting was canceled and Baba's seclusion would continue indefinitely.
On Friday, 25 November 1960, Baba said:
My silence must break. There is no escape from it. I shall not lay down my body until I have given the Word to the world.
Of my own, I shall not break my silence; universal crisis will make me do so. When the crisis will reach its absolute culmination, it will make me utter the Word at that moment.
Circumstances are converging and fast gathering momentum toward precipitating the right moment, which will come completely unawares — at any time, any hour, any day. That moment is not far away.
As I am the Pivot of the universe, the full pressure of the universal upheaval will bear on me, and correspondingly my suffering will be so infinitely overwhelming that the Word will escape from out of my silence.
Remain completely resigned to my will, and do not let any circumstance or situation shake loose your grip from my daaman. I shall not come out of my seclusion until I break my silence. The divine moment for my giving the Word is not far off.
During this period, Ben Hayman and Joseph Harb (Baba's term of affection for the two men was "BenJo") had been planning a trip to India to see Baba for almost a year. Telegrams had gone back and forth. Baba had given them the choice of seeing him for five days now or ten days in February.