THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE FINAL DECLARATION 269you love him.' This was translated into Hindi, Marathi, Gujerati and Telegu, as were all the otherstatements made during the meeting. Baba said: 'What is known as virtue and sin are nothing but strengthand weakness.' Then followed the Prayer of Repentance with the addition of a Sikh version.Baba then said: 'You are now free to call out "Jai" or anything you like', and he called for FrancisBrabazon to come to the microphone, who cried: 'Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!' which was repeated loudly bythe company. After which Baba told the company to disperse and said that from 2 o'clock onwards hewould call groups and give talks to them, also a few private talks. He told the Westerners to go up the hilland stay there. He also said, 'Whether it rains or not, be here tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock and in theafternoon at 3.30, when I will say precisely for the last time what I have to say'.Thursday was cool and cloudy, with a little sun, but no rain. Instructions had been given that none ofthe devotees was to go up the hill. The crowd of men was waiting for Baba by the pandal and when heappeared at 9 a.m., they made a path for him to pass through. He then led the whole company up the hill.When they arrived, Baba sat under a tree near the gate, looking down the hill. He allowed pictures to betaken of himself and the crowds and led the way to the tomb, after explaining through Eruch, Kaka, andtwo other men in four different languages, that he wanted the assembled men to see his last resting-place.All then returned to the pandal, and Baba entered the tent, mounted the platform and took his seat onthe couch. He sat on the couch and looked at the company, and said:"Before I give my Final Declaration, I want to say a few words regarding other matters. After themeeting, I shall leave promptly. All who want to get the full benefit of this meeting, and return home withthe atmosphere of this place, are to go directly after the meeting to their destination. If any should want tostay at Bombay or other places, it would mean that they had not come to Baba only, but to talk or to play,or to attend to their own affairs, so I want all to return home at once. One devotee from Jubbulpore hasasked if he might go to Panchgani and has been told that he must return home, and afterwards go toPanchgani if he has to."Before the Declaration, I will say a few words about my Masters. Today, during both sessions, I shallbe precise in what I want to convey to you."