Meher Baba's Silence

The following has been generated by NotebookLM from source material located at lordmeher.org.

Meher Baba's decision to maintain silence was a profound and sustained aspect of his spiritual work, lasting for 44 years from 1925 until his passing in 1969. He often spoke of its deep spiritual significance and its connection to his universal mission.

The Commencement and Purpose of Silence

Meher Baba formally declared his intention to observe silence on 4 June 1925, stating, "I will observe silence for one year. I will not speak to anyone. But all should hold fast to my feet. Those who stick with me until the end will be greatly benefited and highly rewarded". This initial declaration was postponed briefly due to an incident on 13 June 1925, when Gulmai, while cleaning the Post Office building at Meherabad, fell and sprained her ankle; Baba declared he was postponing his silence until she was well enough to walk.

He later announced on Friday, 26 June 1925, that his silence would commence on 10 July 1925. Notices were printed and mailed, and a sign was erected at the entrance to Meherabad to intimate this decision. On the evening of 9 July 1925, the day before his silence began, Baba conveyed his final instructions to the women's quarters, telling them, "Now listen to my last words, because from tomorrow I will keep silence for one year. ... When my work is done, I shall speak". He also spoke his last words to the mandali, reminding them of their duties and the dangers of snakes, stating, "I have my own reasons for keeping silence. I must do it". A snake incident that evening provided a final opportunity for the women mandali to hear his voice: "How fortunate you are that you have heard my voice so many times today! This incident with the snake took place to allow you to hear me speak for the final time".

Meher Baba's silence, which began on 10 July 1925, was not merely a vow or penance. He explained its purpose was "to lessen the difficulties and bear the burden of my circle members, who are to be God-realized and who otherwise would have had to undergo certain physical afflictions". He also linked it to "excessive spiritual work that will result when Babajan drops her body in the near future". He frequently stated that his silence was connected to a future manifestation and a "Word" that would revolutionize the world.

Methods of Silent Communication

Throughout his 44 years of silence, Meher Baba employed various methods to communicate:

• Writing: Initially, from 10 July 1925, he communicated by writing instructions, wishes, and discourses swiftly and emphatically. He even began writing a book, mostly in English, after his silence began. He also composed poems on his slate about the difficulty of not speaking.
• Chalk and Slate/Paper and Pencil: In the early days, a young boy named Bal would accompany him with a pencil and paper or chalk and slate for communication.
• Hand Gestures and Alphabet Board: By 1927, Baba ceased writing and began conveying his thoughts through hand gestures or by pointing to English alphabet letters in a newspaper. He later used a dedicated alphabet board for this purpose. He continued to give messages to thousands this way.
• Cessation of Gestures: By 1 December 1954, he had stopped using his forefinger for gestures to convey thoughts, marking "the last link of conversation" with the mandali through physical signs.
• Interpreters: As his gestures became more minimal, his close mandali, such as Eruch, would interpret his signs.

Reception of His Silence by Others

Meher Baba's silence was met with varied reactions:

• Mandali's Perception: Many mandali initially doubted he could maintain silence due to his "outgoing and voluble" nature but were "greatly impressed" by his perfect control. They found his not speaking "considerably more disconcerting" than his usual goading or censure. Later, it became "painful for the mandali to witness Baba's continued silence".
• Public and Media: His silence was often described as "imposing, impressing and inspiring". People noted that his eyes spoke volumes, expressing much without words. Media attention sometimes misrepresented facts, leading to misunderstandings. Some followers were disappointed when he postponed breaking his silence, and he even lost some followers due to this. Opponents, like Colonel Irani, used his silence as an excuse for false propaganda.
• Inward Experience: Despite his outward silence and seclusion, his presence was often felt more intensely by his lovers, as their attention became focused on him. He often stated that his silence did not impede his work, but rather increased its intensity.

Incidents Related to Maintaining Silence (1925-1969)

Throughout the 44 years, numerous incidents highlighted the nature and impact of his silence:

• Early Tests and Strictness (1925-1927):

  • In 1925, Baba instructed Gustadji, a naturally loquacious person, to observe silence for his work; Gustadji maintained it until his death in 1957. He later gave similar instructions to Daulatmai and Bala Tambat.
  • He explained that the silence of his devotees was for their own benefit, while his own was "to drown the world in the Ocean of his silence".
  • In a meeting, when asked why he was quiet, he gave curt replies like "My choice".

• Seclusions and Working (1928-1930):

  • He entered seclusion in a Table Cabin in 1928, fasting on one meal a day. He assured the women mandali, who had begun keeping silence out of worry, that he was not displeased and that they should resume speaking.
  • In January 1930, he entered a strict seclusion inside a cage, fasting partially. He compared this confinement to Jesus's 40-day stay on a mountain, explaining it was for work in "non-physical realms" and was "apparent, not real". Paradoxically, more visitors came during this strict seclusion.
  • In May 1930, he planned a strict six-month seclusion with nine people fasting on milk, where he would give up the alphabet board and all darshan. He expressed "grave doubts" about two participants, who indeed left the next day. A rumor spread that he would miraculously emerge from a sealed cave, drawing crowds.

• Interactions with Gandhi and World Tours (1931-1933):

  • During his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi on the Rajputana in 1931, Gandhi expressed his astonishment at Baba's seven years of silence and eagerness to hear him speak.
  • Baba clarified to Gandhi that references to him "speaking" were always through his alphabet board, not his tongue.
  • He explained that he kept silence to "make the world know me after breaking my silence".
  • On a trip to the US in 1932, he was heralded as potentially breaking his silence in Hollywood, with plans for radio broadcasts. However, he postponed it, stating "conditions are not yet ripe". This led to disappointment among some followers.
  • He assured a reporter in 1932 that he was "one hundred percent" confident he would speak when the time came, despite his long silence.

• Intensification of Work and Health (1936-1941):

  • In 1936, he wrote to Westerners that his long silence served a "great purpose" and taught them "the lesson to suffer".
  • His intense inner spiritual work often affected and strained his physical body.
  • In 1937, he stated his silence was not a vow and he might speak in the 13th year, as he liked the number 13.
  • From 1938, he dictated discourses for the Meher Baba Journal, often using "ghostwriters" to draft them based on his points.
  • He stopped signing his name for his passport due to his "own reasons".
  • He started an intense four-week fast in 1941, which "considerably weakened his health".
  • He announced a stricter six-month seclusion from 1 August 1941, during which he would not be seen or even hear a human voice in the last three months. He declared, "From February 1942 onward, I will start speaking to myself and afterwards to the public. Be ready to hear me speak".

• "Universal Work" and "New Life" (1942-1949):

  • He stated his greatness lay "in suffering for the universe" rather than performing miracles.
  • At a momentous meeting in October 1941, it was decided he would speak any day between 15 February 1942 and 15 February 1943, unannounced. He explained his silence would coincide with "the breaking of the long-awaited silence of God," and "The Word that will move the heart of all... will carry infinite power behind it".
  • His 49th birthday in 1943 was celebrated in six cities, with representatives delivering his message, "The Task for Spiritual Workers".
  • He broke a brief fast in March 1943, stating, "Hereafter, no more seclusion. I will come out publicly for darshan as often as required".
  • He revealed his final instructions for his biography in verse to Bhau Kalchuri on 24 January 1969, seven days before dropping his body. This was his last order. He told Bhau that he liked his writing and to disregard criticism.
  • On 24 January 1969, he uttered the words "Yad rakh" (remember) to Bhau. Bhau clarified that this was not the breaking of Baba's silence or the "Word-of-Words," but a demonstration that his vocal cords were still functional, refuting any idea that he was physically unable to speak. The true breaking of his silence would be his universal manifestation.
  • In 1945, he indicated that his "spiritual death" would occur in November 1945, and his suffering during a "conference of the Five" almost threatened his physical existence.
  • In 1947, he stated the world was approaching a "great upheaval" before he broke his silence, leading to "great suffering" but also a "profound change of heart".
  • The 22nd anniversary of his silence on 10 July 1947, was observed by followers worldwide with a 24-hour fast.
  • In 1948, he dictated that his devotees should abstain from taking part in political activities or discussion.
  • His "Great Seclusion" began on 1 July 1949, where all his mandali and followers were to keep silence for the entire month. On 10 July 1949, he broke his fast that began with the seclusion.
  • On 1 August 1949, he ended his seclusion, appearing radiant and healthy, as if returning from a holiday. This marked the end of his "Old Life" and the beginning of his "New Life" of renunciation and helplessness from 16 October 1949. During the New Life, his name was not to be disclosed, and begging was to be done cheerfully. He also instructed that if asked why he was silent, companions should say, "It is his personal and individual desire".

• Continuing Seclusion and Universal Work (1950s-1960s):

  • He stated in 1952, "If my silence cannot speak, of what avail would be speeches made by the tongue?".
  • On 7 October 1954, he announced he would give up his alphabet board and finger signs, and that his speaking was "very near". He declared an end to mass darshans, meetings, and correspondence. His last public appearance was in Pandharpur on 6 November 1954.
  • From 1 December 1954, the "last link of conversation" via finger gestures ceased, intensifying the "seriousness" around him.
  • He confirmed in 1958 he would break his silence in "sixteen months".
  • He also famously stated, "I am really the only one who is not in seclusion. It is the rest of humanity that is in seclusion. I have come to make it emerge into eternal freedom!".
  • On 10 July 1960, his 35th anniversary of silence was observed with Baba fasting and lovers observing silence. He stated then, "I shall not break my seclusion until I break my silence".
  • He repeatedly indicated that his silence would break due to a "universal crisis" and that "the moment is not far away".
  • In 1962, he emphasized, "When I break my silence it will be heard infinitely more clearly than the loudest of speech uttered by anyone".
  • He explained his suffering was immense because his inner work intensified, particularly from 1963 onward, when he compared the nine months leading to his speaking to a "gestation period" for the "birth" of a new dispensation of Truth.
  • On 10 July 1966, his 41st anniversary of silence, he gave the message: "God’s first Word was ‘Who am I?’ God’s last word is ‘I am God.’ And the Word that I, the God-Man, will utter soon will be the sound of my Infinite Silence".
  • He stated in 1967, "I bind myself with silence that, when I break it, mankind will realize what real freedom is". During this period, he would work with Kaikobad daily for three hours in silence, with Kaikobad repeating God's names and Baba bowing to his feet. This rigorous work left him exhausted and soaked with perspiration.
  • His seclusion was prolonged several times in 1968, indicating the "fate of the universe hangs on his seclusion". His birthday in 1968 was celebrated with great anticipation of an "unprecedented" event after his seclusion.

Final Days and Last Instructions (1969):

• As his health deteriorated, Baba experienced painful spasms when moving his fingers to communicate.
• On 24 January 1969, seven days before he dropped his body, Meher Baba gave Bhau Kalchuri the "very important work" of writing his biography in verse, instructing him to include the lives of the five Perfect Masters and his father's life. This was the last order Meher Baba ever imparted.
• In this same poignant moment, Baba uttered two words, "Yad rakh" (remember), to Bhau. Bhau later clarified that this was not the true "breaking of Baba's silence" or the "Word-of-Words," but rather a demonstration that his vocal cords were still capable of speech, dispelling any notion that his silence was due to physical inability. His real speaking would be a "universal manifestation".

Meher Baba's silence was a dynamic, active process that intensified his connection with the world, leading him to engage in tireless inner and outer work, preparing for a future spiritual awakening of humanity.