Although April is usually one of the hottest months of the year in India, in 1968 it was for the most part cool and pleasant, which Baba remarked helped his work. Because of the milder climate in Poona compared to Ahmednagar, Baba decided to extend his usual three-month stay for eleven more days.
During the morning seclusion work period, Nana Kher was posted as a guard outside Baba's room. When Baba clapped, Nana and Eruch would go into his room, wipe the sweat from Baba's body, apply talcum powder and help him change his sadra or attend to a call of nature, and give him a glass of water. Soon after finishing this work, Baba would come to the main hall, where Eruch would recite the Master's and Repentance prayers.
All the mandali, except Bhau, were called to join in the prayers; it was part of the daily routine. Bhau was exempt from these morning sessions to give him time to do the translation work of The Wayfarers Baba had assigned him.
Baba remarked, "My participation in these prayers has great significance, and by it, the prayers are being invested with added power, which people will feel when reciting them and be benefited."
Baba further stated: "The work that I am doing at this time in this seclusion is something that no previous Avatar has done in any of the past incarnations. Something very unique."
Nana Kher related:
When I was with Baba at Guruprasad for three months, what I noticed was that he was constantly suffering inwardly. The suffering was continuous, with no break in that suffering, day and night. I could feel it. I would sometimes say to Baba, "This is the old way of taking on the burden of the whole world, and because of that you are suffering continuously. Why not have a modern way and eliminate this type of suffering?"
Baba would smile broadly and say, "There is no other way. I have to undergo this suffering. That is the only way in which I can relieve humanity. That is the very purpose I come as Avatar."
During the final seclusion in 1968, when he would come to the mandali after finishing the work, he would tell us, "When I am doing the special work in my room, there is absolutely no suffering for me. It goes very smoothly. But as soon as the work is over and I come to this room, among you, I have the whole burden on my head. When I am doing the work, it is like a having a heavy Himalayan burden lifted from my head. As soon as the work is over, then the whole burden is there again."
But whenever Baba would permit anyone to have his darshan for a short while, even when he was in seclusion, we would see a sudden change in Baba's mood and in his expression. His suffering that we were sensing would vanish all of a sudden. He was all-bliss, all-happiness and radiant. But as soon as the person who came left the room, we would see Baba again in the same suffering state. It was instantaneous.
A strict injunction against anyone entering the premises was imposed by Baba that year. The following two incidents will give some idea of how strict.
Nana Kher and Aloba would take turns being on watch during the day and keeping a vigilant eye on the gate to the bungalow, so that no one might inadvertently walk inside. One day some women happened to come, but Aloba went to the gate and prevented them from opening it. They earnestly requested Baba's darshan. Aloba pleaded his total inability to help them and asked them to go away, but they refused. At last, they asked him to show them a way whereby they could see Baba from a distance. Helplessly, Aloba suggested that the next morning at 10:00 A.M. they should stand by the gate, since at that time, after completing his work, Baba would walk on the verandah while going from his room to the hall.
As Aloba was talking with them, Baba inside his room instructed Bhau to call Nana and Aloba immediately. Bhau came out and saw that Aloba was near the gate. Bhau called him, and Aloba, along with Nana, came to Baba. Baba inquired about the slight delay, and Bhau explained that Aloba had been standing by the gate.
Baba asked Aloba what had happened and then questioned, "What did you tell those women?"