DISCOURSES & TALKS BY MEHER BABA

WHEN  AWAKENING  FROM  SLEEP

9 October, 1928

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 duty during these two and a half hours, but it takes me half an hour to become fully conscious. In a similar way, Ramakrishna Paramhansa [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 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 chillum in his mouth and he would "come to" after a long time.

Babajan also used to take an hour to be fully awake. She would go to sleep or rest at 4:00 A.M. and not awaken until 9:00 or 10:00 A.M.

Lord Meher On-line page 978

Lord Meher Vol.3 p.1105