swallow it. This kind of obedience is 'castor-oil obedience.'

"(c)  Highest stage of willing obedience: Here is an example or illustration: If I, Baba, tell G., 'Cut through the throat of your son D.,' he (G.) feels quite happy and cheerful and wholeheartedly cuts D.'s (his son's) throat and feels satisfied because he has thereby pleased the Master. I call this type of obedience 'complete obedience for the pleasure of the Beloved.'

"Another type of obedience—that is Absolute Obedience. It is something different from the above types. None other than the advanced saints on the Path can give such obedience to a Master. Those on the 5th or 6th planes of the Spiritual Path alone can give such obedience to the Master. As an illustration, I tell G., 'G., you have come here. We don't find D. your son here. Why is he not to be seen'? (Remember that D. his son is actually sitting by his side before Me). This absolute obedience leads G. to such oblivion he does not see D. his son by his side and also tells Baba, 'Yes, Baba, D. is not to be seen.' This is not just nodding his head to please the Master, but he actually feels that D. his son is not to be seen by him."

BABA wanted the discourse to be concluded by the recitation of one more couplet of Hafiz. R. was asked to recite it in Persian and later Baba gave the English rendering of it and as usual, it was followed by translations in Telugu and Gujarati. The translation was thus, as given by Baba:

"After spending years and years of intense longing for God, one out of thousands of 'Mardan-e-Khuda' realizes God.”

"Out of millions of those who live not so much for themselves but for God only, only one realizes God."

Baba continued: "This gives us some idea of the difficulties on the Path of Self-realization. `Mardan' means the male population. It means the 'real male or real man' and He is of God. Only one out of such millions can realize God after years and years of intense longing for God."

The time was now 11:40 a.m. and Baba asked the Bhajan (devotional songs) to be continued. A poem specially composed on Baba by Yogi Shuddhananda Bharati in Telugu was sung by the group of singers. Baba appreciated the poem and the way it was sung. Godavari Mata was seated on the dais by Baba's side all the time and Baba announced that, after the songs and the closing Arti song, Godavari Mata would leave the place and then come back on Baba's Birthday, 25th February. Baba also desired that after