THIS IS HIS MESSAGE TO US

 
Although Mehera did not wish her Beloved to suffer further, nevertheless, on Monday, 7 February 1969, at midday when Meher Baba's body was about to be covered, Mehera was again distraught. Baba's sweet face still glowed with a pinkish hue, and there were no signs of decomposition.

Donkin drove to Ahmednagar daily, to collect the ice and to check the progress of Baba's coffin, a job he had entrusted to a local carpenter. The man made one coffin, but Don rejected the workmanship. "This is not for an ordinary person!" he shouted angrily.

The next day, the carpenter had another sample ready; it too was rejected. The man said that he could rectify the faults which Don pointed out, but Don insisted that he start over, with fresh teakwood. "It must be strong enough to withstand the weight of a ton of earth," Don specified. Moreover, he instructed that the coffin be polished not only on the outside but on the inside, as well. A third attempt was finally approved. Don told Sheela to feel it to make sure it was absolutely smooth (especially inside), and he did likewise himself.

They brought the coffin to Meherabad, but when it was to be placed over Baba's body, Mehera became very, very upset. She was afraid it would hurt Baba. "Don't worry, Mehera," the women assured her. "Don has had it made so well that it won't hurt Baba. And the carpenter has guaranteed him the wood would not break for 100 years. No earth will ever touch Baba's body."

To ensure this, as one final act of love, before the coffin was placed over her Beloved, Mehera gave a kerchief (one that was new and unused), which was draped over Baba's face.

Mehera stood outside the tomb, by the north window, as the men mandali lowered the coffin over Baba's body. As Baba's body was being covered, all shouted, "AVATAR MEHER BABA KI JAI," so loudly and with such feeling, Meheru felt "as if the sky would open. I was thinking, as I was shouting, that God should do something to prevent this from happening. It wasn't right to cover Baba's body! He must rise up. Surely, he can hear us and do something."

Mansari and Chhagan cooked a special meal that day, in honor of Baba's birthday according to the Zoroastrian calendar. Seven days had passed since he had dropped his body — the date Baba had specified, from which he would be freed from suffering. After lunch, the women returned to Meherazad.

A few days later, Mehera and Mani were sitting in Baba's bedroom. "Baba didn't leave us any message," Mehera said regretfully, "any instructions." Baba's departure from their midst had been so sudden and unexpected.

Mani said, "Yes, he did. Early on the morning of the 31st, he had that board [Hafiz's] brought in." They stood in front of it and read the three couplets together:

Befitting a fortunate slave, carry out every command of the Master without any question of why and what.

About what you hear from the Master, never say it is wrong, because, my dear, the fault lies in your own incapacity to understand him.

I am the slave of my Master, who has released me from ignorance; whatever my Master does is for the highest benefit to all concerned.

Mehera said, "Yes, this is his message to us."