Baba would work in the hall in seclusion for three hours each morning, and again from 3:00 P.M., for 20 minutes in his room, where he would remain alone, forcefully beating his chest and thighs with his fists.1
He explained about this hard pounding: "I am working in higher planes, and to maintain the link [with the physical body] I have to do this."
In Poona, Baba had stated: "My health is not good. I will become even weaker in Meherazad. Sometimes I will not be able to come to mandali hall at all, and if so, then late."
But once his seclusion work started, Baba would be in the hall by 6:00 A.M. to begin his work.
Bhau and Francis had been permitted by Baba to sleep late — Francis because he would be engaged in writing up to 1:30 A.M., and Bhau because of his nightwatch until midnight. Francis had been looking forward to the prospect of sleeping in for a change, but Baba would call for him as soon as he settled in the hall. This went on for a number of days and finally Francis lost his composure and blurted out, "What kind of bloody God is he?! He said he would be weak and come late, but now he comes even earlier than before!"
Baba had two phonograph records played to him on the morning of Saturday, 5 August 1967. One was a song sung by Saigal describing a lover of God; the second was sung by Malika Pukhraj about masts and God-intoxication. Baba translated them for Francis into English, who completed the translations under his direction. The first song about divine love began with these words: "I am mad, I am mad, a stranger to comfort!"
Jalbhai came to Meherazad on 11 August, but met only with Mani and did not see Baba. Rama, Mehernath and Sheela, along with Adi, were called to see Baba on Sunday, 20 August. Adi was instructed to go to Bombay and arrange for a few good qawaals to entertain Baba, and to provide him some relief from his intense seclusion work. Gajwani was given the opportunity to bear the expenses for bringing them, and to pay their fee, if any.
Adi went to Bombay and contacted different singers. He returned to Ahmednagar on the 25th, came to Meherazad at 2:00 P.M. and reported to Baba. Adi was called again the following day and had a further lengthy discussion with Baba about Baba's preferences for the programs.
Footnotes
- 1.Baba's work with Kaikobad in the mornings did not necessitate such actions, since Kaikobad provided the physical link with the gross world. In the early years, Padri observed that, to maintain the link with the gross world while he worked in the higher planes, Baba would keep up a constant stream of conversation with the mandali, often about nonsensical things, or he would ask questions such as, "How big is America?... Three times the size of India?... Really?"