Ruth Ringer, who had first met Baba in 1956, had traveled around India after the East-West Gathering, visiting Baba centers in Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta. Ruth suggested that the meetings be done along the lines of those she had witnessed there — singing Baba's arti, burning incense, distributing prasad, reciting Baba's prayers and garlanding his photograph with flowers.
In reply, Adi wrote back on 26 December 1962:
“”Any act can be a ceremony and a bunch of acts cannot be a ceremony. Love and devotion should not be made dependent on ceremony, but could be made use of to manifest it.
Baba wants me to inform you that the Monday meetings be held as of old — prior to your visit to India — and you can play the record of Baba's arti just before the end of the meeting. As for garlanding Baba's picture, you may do so if you wish, with a feeling and a faith that you are all honoring Baba's presence in your midst during the meeting. It is of no use garlanding a mere frame of Baba's picture if his presence is forgotten and not felt.
As for burning incense, it is good to burn it sometimes as a disinfectant. Easterners use incense as Westerners use deodorants for keeping the atmosphere clean.
In late December, Baba began complaining of continual headaches, but he would not let Goher consult Dr. Ginde or other outside doctors. He tried aspirin for relief, but it was found that he was allergic to it. The painful headaches continued for several months, yet Baba continued his daily routine.
After the East-West Gathering, it was found that Baba would get not only headaches, but also a severe jolt or spasm in the hip joint or spine whenever he sat for a long period of time in a chair. At times, tiny fragments from the bone inside the socket of his right hip would go in between the pelvic joint, which would give him such severe pain that absolute bed rest was essential. But even with that excruciating pain, Baba would walk to mandali hall, be with the men, do his work with Kaikobad, return and do his inner work.
“”The mandali pleaded with him to take rest, but Baba would say, "My work comes first," and so saying would neglect his body, sacrificing it for his work.
He would say: "I cannot afford to be kind to myself — there is not much time left and I want to break my silence by the end of this year." He added, "When I break my silence my presence will flood the world, and even an inanimate thing like a stone will feel my love!"
