Baba explained that in the last stages of this fast he would remain only on water.
He remarked, "At the end of this fast in February, I will be like a corpse for 70 hours. And when I rise again, I will make others rise with me. In fact, I am a corpse. But for the benefit of those in my circle, my body will really be like a cadaver for 70 hours in February."
In conclusion, Baba wrote on the slate: "How very fortunate are the circle members that they will get Realization in an instant at that time!"
Before starting the fast, Baba also conveyed that he would not give discourses to the mandali or participate in any games with the children. But after three days, he resumed giving discourses and took part in the sports activities as usual.
On Wednesday, 1 September 1926, Baba informed the mandali, "From tomorrow, I will stop eating solid food for five or six months. So, with your own hands, cook various dishes for me today since this will be my last meal before I break my fast."
The cooks prepared a delicious meal for Baba, which was ready by noon. Baba tasted each dish and then distributed the food to the mandali. He began fasting the next day, taking only a small amount of weak tea.
Because of the large number of residents and the large daily milk requirement, several cows and buffalos were kept at Meherabad and a milkman employed.1 But the milkman was ignorant of a Master's ways and kept disobeying Baba's order not to leave the property. He continually broke Baba's order, and his health suffered as a result. On one occasion, when he had barely broached the Meherabad boundary without Baba's permission, he became seriously ill. He pleaded for Baba's forgiveness. Baba forgave him for all his previous slips, but warned him never to leave Meherabad under any circumstances without prior permission.
Due the tensions of living together, working strenuously under the Master's strict instructions, sometimes with minimal food, several times different mandali members walked away from Meherabad, intending to leave forever.
It happened with Pendu, Behramji, and recently with Barsoap. The others would follow and, after lengthy conversations, persuade them to return. But Barsoap stubbornly continued to disregard Baba's orders, and he left for good on 2 September and began living in Poona.
The 9th of September was the Parsi New Year.
Footnotes
- 1.There was no refrigeration then, so fresh milk had to be delivered and boiled each day.