A few minutes silence, then followed: "After the 15th I will be explaining many things, and Kitty* will take down in shorthand and Nonny* will copy and give to Garrett*. Today no talk."

"I am continuously crucified and I am continuously taking birth."

"Garrett with Malcolm are going to edit a magazine. It will be unique."**

Meher Ashram, Nasik, December 26th, 1936

Baba says: What we give to the Master on his birthday is "Prasad". Gifts given by members of the Circle on that occasion do not benefit them directly, because, being members of the Circle they do not need it; but it benefits those closely connected with them. For example: If Delia* makes a gift to me on that occasion the spiritual benefit touches her mother.

Meher Ashram, Nasik, December 26th, 1936

The difference between the states of Majzoobs, Saliks, and Avatars: Majzoob is one whose mind is eternally merged in the Infinite. Salik is one who after realizing the Infinite comes down to the normal consciousness. The Avatar is like the Salik, but the difference lies in this: ordinary mind is not conscious of the Infinite. The Salik's mind has universal scope, because his mind, after merging into the Infinite, has become the universal mind. But when the Salik is not specially working for the universe his mind tends toward the Infinite again, and he finds it very difficult to keep it down. So, at such times he has to compel his mind to come towards the material engagements. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa at such times used to call for food, and if it was not ready he used to slap himself, or pull his hair, etc. to keep his mind down. But remember the mind even then is universal. (It is difficult to grasp if you do not follow). The Avatar finds no such difficulty. Last evening I was engaged in special work and I had no difficulty in maintaining normal consciousness.

In Rishikesh you will see an agent of mine who is in the sixth plane, but acts exactly as a Salik in the seventh plane. This man is very fat, huge, and wears a long beard. A Salik is perfect, a Majzoob is perfect too, but he has no working.

Even those in the fifth plane find it difficult to keep away from illumination. It is called the state of Hariat in Sufism. When the soul sees the Infinite it has illumination. Now to work in the world for others this soul must at times keep away from illumination, but finds it very, very difficult. One famous Wali (in the fifth plane), named Ganjay Shakar, found it very difficult to obey his Master, the Khwaja of Ajmere. Then the Master turned the key. Five thieves who had stolen a lot came to where that Wali was staying. That Wali could not close his eyes, they were always open, dazed, glassy. He would not eat. These thieves stood five paces away from the Wali. They sat down and began sharing their loot and soon were quarreling among themselves. Then two of them killed the other three. Then these two took all the loot and were going away with it. They passed by where the Wali was sitting, and as soon as they came near he regained normal consciousness. The moment he opened his eyes he saw sparrows. He wanted to try his powers and said, "O sparrows, die!" and the sparrows fell down dead. Then he said, "O sparrows, rise up!" and they rose. (This is a very famous story in India. At Ajmere there is a very big tomb, and every year hundreds and thousands go there on pilgrimage.) The two thieves were amazed and asked the Wali to raise the other three. The Wali said, "Rise up!" and they wouldn't. Then he went crying and repentant to his Master. When he went there he saw the three thieves massaging the feet of the Master. The Wali went back to his original place. For ten years he did not eat or drink, and became very lean, and white ants were eating his body up. People came every day and placed sugar around his body and the ants used to eat the sugar. From that time that Wali was named 'Ganjay Shakar' — The Treasury of Sugar', and whenever people go to his tomb they take sugar with them.