They knew that this would be the last opportunity to hear the Master's voice again for a long time. Baba's last verbal discussion with his mandali covered three topics. First, Baba's general advice to all was, "You have to live for others and use your bodies for the benefit of others."

Then he explained that one reason for him no longer speaking concerned Babajan: "I must keep silence for some excessive spiritual work that will result when Babajan drops her body in the near future." 

Lastly, he explained that his self-imposed silence also related to the future of the world: "There will be religious and communal hostilities, riots, worldwide wars, and natural disasters. These events will cause the shedding of blood of millions of people throughout the world in general and throughout India in particular. But, thereafter, peace and brotherhood will come back into the world."

Baba turned to Gulmai, one of the few women present, and added, "There will be another world war; it will be much more destructive and extensive than the one before. Rivers of blood will flow! I will dip my kerchief in that river of blood and tie it around my head! Not until the world cries out for God will I give up my silence!"

The teacher Pandoba then pleaded with Baba that if he became silent, people would no longer have the opportunity to hear what he had to declare, and the world would be deprived of his teachings. Baba replied, "I have come not to teach, but to awaken."

These were to be his last words to anyone outside of his circle, and they contained the essence of Meher Baba's divine mission in the world.

During the evening of 9 July, Baba walked to the women's quarters at the Post Office building to convey his final instructions to them: "Now listen to my last words, because from tomorrow I will keep silence for one year. Attend to your duties with love and fulfill them with all your heart. Cook for the children at the school as if they were your own.

"I have much work to do for the world. When my work is done, I shall speak."

Baba left them at eight o'clock in the evening and, accompanied by Masaji, went to visit the mandali's quarters. He told them, "I am going to be silent from tomorrow for one year.