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

272 THE GOD-MANactually be hostile. For example, I may be then in Poona, with no one from the mandali near me, but thirtyor forty of the hostile group may be there, and they will not feel this Glorification and upheaval. All therest of the world will feel it. No one of my mandali or lovers will be near me when I am beaten and finallystabbed.Yet I never die. I am always the Ancient One. You should all remember that God alone is real, all else isillusion.Your attending this meeting and hearing in precise and definite terms about these happenings will beworth it if all of you, or if some of you, or at least a few of you, spread the message of my love to others.The above was heard in deep silence. Baba then said that at 3 o'clock, his Final Declaration would beread in all the four languages, and that from 5 0' clock, all would be free to depart and that all must leaveby tomorrow noon. They were asked not to try to embrace Baba as he left, or to garland him, or to ask himfor anything. He asked the Western group to go at once up the hill and to come down at 3 p.m.In the afternoon when everyone had assembled, Baba was outside the pandal and entered at 2.50 p.m.,taking his seat. The company was told not to rise. He then asked for five young men and said to them:You asked for this, so I give you ten minutes.' They then sang a hymn to Baba; Baba expressedappreciation in gestures, and sent them back to their seats.At 3 o'clock precisely, Eruch read 'Meher Baba's Final Declaration', which is given in full:I am very happy to have you all here.I know that very many of you have come to Meherabad under greatly difficult circumstances. Some ofyou have covered thousands of miles, and even crossed continents to be at Meherabad today. It is yourdeep love for me that has braved all obstacles and prompted you to sacrifice your comforts andconveniences to honour my call and to be near me today.I am deeply touched by your devotion and I am proud of the hearts that contain such love and loyalty.There are many more devoted hearts like yours yearning to be present here, but these are not to be seenin your midst today. I know that in spite of their intense desire to be near me, they could not possibly comefor one reason or another. Therefore they depend on you to convey to them in detail all that you see andhear during this