On the 10th of July 1925 he announced that he would be observing Silence to emphasize that mere words are meaningless unless one is prepared to live one’s life according to them, and continued an unbroken Silence for 44 years until 1969 when he dropped his physical body. Meher Baba observed Silence for the rest of his life during an era of Radio and technology when the world was facing an uncontrollable desire to talk to each other. Meher Baba in spite of his Silence was active and communicative through an Alphabet Board in earlier years and later through hand gestures language. Some of his close disciples developed a good understanding of his communication methods and instantly articulated his words to visitors. In addition, books were given by him through the medium of the gestures or alphabet board and were scrupulously edited by him, word for word, before they were sent for printing.

From 1925 to 1969 Meher Baba extensively travelled many countries around the world including America, Australia and within India working with the poor, lepers or meeting God-intoxicated persons (known in some Indian languages as “masts”). The Words of his Divine Knowledge are available in the form of wonderful Books like God Speaks, Discourses, and some recently discovered manuscripts published as Infinite Intelligence.

In 1954 Meher Baba declared himself to be the Avatar of the Age, which is a similar term like the Buddha, Christ or Prophet of the present time and said that all religions of the World should be regarded as “beads on one string.” He stated that he has come to redeem the humanity from the bondage of false spirituality and show the real path to God’s Love, which he explained could be found in one’s own heart.

Most of his later years were spent in Seclusion for his inner Spiritual work, yet occasionally his followers organized Mass Darshan programmes where thousands of his followers visited and met him personally. As he lived in a time of inventions, fortunately we have a number of films and photographs of his life activity. Meher Baba, though a famous person, led a very normal life without luxuries and comforts, living his entire life with a group of close companions, in simplicity and discipline, as even the men and women followers of his Ashram always lived in separate premises.

On 31st January 1969, Baba dropped his physical body (died) at the age of nearly 75. His physical body was then brought to Meherabad Hill in Ahmednagar District of India to be interred in a Tomb or “Samadhi” that he had already directed to be constructed in 1939. His body was kept uninterred for “Darshan” for a week to allow followers to pay their last respects. For 7 days the “Darshan” continued with thousands of followers coming to pay homage from all parts of the World, there were no signs of deterioration on the physical body. So on 7th February it was decided to perform the internment, and the divine form was covered with a Marble Slab inscribed “I have come not to Teach, but to Awaken.” The Tomb (“Samadhi”) is now open every day from 6 AM to 8 PM for Darshan to visitors, and the Avatar Meher Baba Trust has developed infrastructure facilities to house and feed visitors. These facilities include a Museum, a Library and some archives and of course the preservation of the places and items from His time on earth. Meher Baba’s close Men and Women disciples who lived with him were called his Mandali and contributed a number of Books including a 12-volume biography called “Lord Meher” covering almost a day-by-day account of his life, his actions, and messages and conversations. Many other books describe the authors’ experiences in the company of Baba and also the Messages and stories given by Meher Baba. Many talks by members of the Mandali are available on audio and video.

The message of Meher Baba is to live a simple yet spiritual life full of true Love for God and Service to Humanity, which is free from unwanted bindings of religious dogma. For those seeking higher spiritual understanding, Meher Baba gave the theme of Creation explaining how God, the sole Reality, assumed different forms in order to know Himself through the medium of His own imagination or dream. His teachings compare and define the Spiritual Terminologies used in three major schools of spiritual thoughts i.e Mystic, Sufi and Vedantic from an entirely new perspective. His teachings cover explanations on topics as: God’s whim to know Himself, the evolution of consciousness, reincarnation, the drop-soul’s involutionary journey through the seven inner planes, God-realization, the spiritual hierarchy, and the ten states of God. Much of his teachings on these esoteric matters are to be found in his famous book “God Speaks,” published in 1954.