LATER this same day (Oct. 1928) after dinner and arti, Baba sent for the Prem Ashram boys to come to the Manzil. It had been a long time since the boys had gathered there. Baba allowed the boys to bow down to him and each sat quietly afterward close to Baba. One boy, Vasant, continuously stared at Baba and another boy, Dattu, sat with his head on Baba’s knees. Kalingad, while sitting beside Baba, fell asleep. Baba tossed his handkerchief at him and he awoke, slowly opening his eyes. Observing his reaction, Baba stated:
People all over the world are like that. When awakening, first they gradually open their eyes and it is the same with me. I take two and a half hours for rest or sleep, but I do not really sleep. My body is here and you think I am sleeping, but I am inwardly working at different places. I perform my universal duty during these two and a half hours, but it takes me half an hour to become fully conscious. In a similar way, the Sadguru Ramakrishna of Calcutta would take one hour to become fully conscious.
A Perfect Master never sleeps. While he is doing Universal work strenuous efforts are required to open his eyes, as if after a long sleep. Sai Baba of Shirdi looked like he was actually sleeping while sitting in the presence of his disciples, but he was, in fact, engaged in his universal duty. To bring him back, an old devotee would put a chilum pipe in his mouth and he would come to after a long time.
Hazrat Babajan also used to take an hour to be fully awake. She would go to sleep or rest at 4 A.M. and not awaken until 9 or 10 A.M.
Lord Meher, Bhau Kalchuri, Original Publication, Vol. 3, p. 1105.