Kalingad, while sitting beside Baba, fell asleep. Baba tossed his handkerchief at him and he awoke, slowly opening his eyes. Observing his reaction, Baba stated:
People all over the world are like that. When awakening, first they gradually open their eyes and it is the same with me. I take two and a half hours for rest or sleep, but I do not really sleep. My body is here and you think I am sleeping, but I am inwardly working at different places. I perform my duty during these two and a half hours, but it takes me half an hour to become fully conscious. In a similar way, Ramakrishna Paramhansa [of Calcutta] would take one hour to become fully conscious.
A Perfect Master never sleeps. While he is doing Universal work strenuous efforts are required to open his eyes, as if after a long sleep. Sai Baba looked like he was actually sleeping while sitting in the presence of his disciples, but he was, in fact, engaged in his universal duty. To bring him "back," an old devotee would put a chillum in his mouth and he would "come to" after a long time.
Babajan also used to take an hour to be fully awake. She would go to sleep or rest at 4:00 A.M. and not awaken until 9:00 or 10:00 A.M.
The next day, Baba urged the Prem Ashram boys, "If you love me, I will make you Jivanmuktas."
(This meant that if pleased by their love, Baba would bestow Realization upon them but not give them any spiritual duty.)
On Wednesday, 10 October 1928, the thirty-first day of his fast, Baba entered his special seat in the Table Cabin at Meher Manzil and informed Vishnu, "I will not leave here starting from tomorrow."
For the next twelve days and nights, Baba did not step out of the Prem Ashram, but worked exclusively with the boys. Though he was fasting and not eating, he would serve food to the children. His entire concentration was on the boys of the Prem Ashram.
If one of the mandali were to approach Baba about any other facet of the ashram, Baba would express his annoyance and abruptly cut the person short, snapping, "Do as you like!"
The divine tavern was open, and the Saki wished to immerse the young ones in his Ocean of love!
This period was especially intense, and Baba seldom rested at night.