Silence Day

Silence Day is the name the followers of Meher Baba give to their practice of commemorating July 10th of each year by maintaining verbal silence for twenty-four hours.wisegeek.com
From July 10, 1925 until his death in 1969, Meher Baba was silent.Haynes, Charles C. (1993). Meher Baba, the Awakener. Avatar Foundation, Inc. p. 2Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba. Manifestation p.738 He communicated first by using an alphabet board, and later by hand gestures which were interpreted and spoken out by one of his mandali (devoted disciples), usually by his disciple Eruch Jessawala. For many years, Baba asked his followers to undertake austerities on this date. These took various forms: in addition to keeping silence, Baba had asked his followers to fast, to pray, to repeat the names of God, and similar practices. In his last request to his followers on the subject, in 1968, he asked only that they keep silent.Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba. Manifestation p. 6633 - "I want all my lovers to observe complete silence for twenty-four hours, from midnight of July 9th to midnight of July 10th, 1968." 
While Meher Baba did not establish any ongoing requirement, even after his death the majority of his followers voluntarily keep silent on July 10. Some stay in seclusion for the duration, while others attempt to engage in their typical activities; there are therefore many humorous anecdotes associated with keeping silent on Silence Day.
About his silence Meher Baba wrote, 
Man’s inability to live God’s words makes the Avatar’s teaching a mockery. Instead of practicing the compassion he taught, man has waged wars in his name. Instead of living the humility, purity, and truth of his words, man has given way to hatred, greed, and violence. Because man has been deaf to the principles and precepts laid down by God in the past, in this present Avataric form, I observe silence. Meher Baba's Universal Message, World's Fair Pamphlet, 1964 The Universal Message
== References == 
== External links ==
* Online video about Meher Baba's silence
* Online video of Meher Baba's hands pointing to letters on his alphabet board
Category:Meher Baba
Category:Religious holidays