"Silence means silence." - Avatar Meher Baba
Meher Mount
Today is Silence Day when followers of Avatar Meher Baba keep silence for 24 hours. The following story is shared in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba’s silence — July 10, 2025.
At Guruprasad, Pune, India, in 1960 when Meher Baba was meeting with His followers, the topic of keeping silence came up. L. Neurgaonkar, an engineer from Pune, informed Meher Baba about his resolve to observe silence for several days.
Neurgaonkar asked Meher Baba whether during that period, he could make exceptions by speaking only about God.
Meher Baba did not approve of this and said:
“Silence means silence. If you want to observe it, observe it thoroughly.”
“Silence means silence. If you want to observe it, observe it thoroughly. Do not leave room for the mind to play its tricks.
“Mind always creates obstacles in your one-pointed resolve. Its ways are very elusive.
“In the beginning, you will speak about God or spirituality, but in the guise of this desire, mind will soon make you feel fed up with your silence.
“Then, indirectly, you will go on expecting others to come to you and converse with you about God. It is not impossible for the tricky nature of the mind to induce you into creating such situations.
“While observing silence, let the mind remain silent. It is this silence for which the outward silence is to be helpful.
“Put your heart and soul in your anticipated meditation and observance of silence and I am there — there in you — to help.”
~Avatar Meher Baba
Sources
Bhau Kalchuri, Lord Meher: The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba, Online Edition, pp. 4651-4652, accessed May 30, 2025. ©Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India.
Photo of Meher Baba in Meherabad, India, in 1949 by Faredoon (Padri) Driver, one Meher Baba’s mandali (close disciples). Courtesy of Meher Nazar Publications.