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6465 FORTY-ONE YEARS OF SILENCE
In 1966, Meher Baba's lovers throughout the world had been
instructed to observe complete silence from midnight of July 9th to midnight of
Sunday, the 10th. They had been informed through a circular issued at the end
of June, stating:
Meher Baba wants all his lovers to know that the forty-first
anniversary of his silence is a very important event, and as such, all his lovers
should observe complete silence for twenty-four hours on this occasion.
Avatar Meher Baba has given the following message for the forty-first anniversary
of his silence:
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.
In the year 1966, there was no mention of a fast in lieu of keeping
silence. Also, according to Baba's instructions, it was the first time that
Silence Day was publicly celebrated in New York City at the Barbizon Plaza
Hotel. The program was organized by Harry Kenmore with the help of Annarosa
Karrasch, John Bass, Fred and Ella Winterfeldt, and others.
DURING 1966, water scarcity because of lack of rain from the failure of
the monsoons created distressful situations throughout India. The population of
Bombay was especially hard hit, and a drastic plan was drawn up to possibly
evacuate the city. Extremely upset, Baba's longtime, and usually
mild-mannered, lover Minoo Desai (Mansari's brother), sent this telegram
to Baba on July 13th, which echoed the grief of millions: "I pray on
behalf of the five million people of Bombay for your intervention about rain
and blessings."
Baba immediately sent this reply: "Bombay has already started receiving rain.
Love, Baba." Rain came, the city's hopes were revived, and the citizens celebrated
the happy event.
Two days later, another telegram from Minoo was received in the evening:
"I offer you wholehearted gratitude and thanks in love and faith."
Heavy rains continued to fall in Bombay, and all the outlying lakes that
supply water to the city were filled. From different corners of the land,
letters and telegrams would arrive about this critical water shortage, and Baba
heard their pleas. The mandali |
