Then, as with the former two previous language groups, Baba touched on the subject of a seven-day fast, and asked those prepared to do it to stand up. Several men volunteered. Looking at Pukar, Baba teased, “You are too fat, so you are chosen!”
To Hakumat Rai, Baba remarked, “You are also quite strong! All right, you too are selected.”
Selecting Virinder Singh of Dehra Dun, Baba remarked, “See how I have caught certain Sikhs! How pleased I am with you! Guru Nanak is dear to me. The same Nanak is in the world today.”
Ramdas and Kunj Behari were also chosen, and thus five from the Hindi language group were selected to fast for seven days on water starting February 15th, 1956. Baba assured the others who were not chosen not to worry, because by their very willingness they had already fasted.
Addressing those men who were to fast, Baba stated:
I will give you further instructions tomorrow. Do not think after fasting that you have advanced spiritually on the path! Once, in Andhra, I made a person fast for forty days. Thereafter, he had some inner experience and started allowing people to garland and worship him. He would tell them about his experience, and that drew them to him.
My instructions regarding fasting or about anything else are, although seemingly easy, difficult to practice. In America, this craze of fasting has started and they boast of breaking records.
Fasting does not increase love. No connection exists between them. All austerities, repetition of God’s name [japas], penances, et cetera, are quite apart from this fast I am telling you to do. Therefore, as long as I do not ask you to fast, why should you? If you want to fast on your own, fast in such a way that your stomach remains full while your mind starves! This is the best fast.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 13, pp. 4781 – 4782.