Editing Meher Baba (section)

=== 1960–1969 – Final years and death ===
In 1962, Baba held one of his last public functions, a mass meeting in India called the East-West Gathering. At these meetings, at which his Western followers were invited to meet his Indian disciples, Baba gave [[Darśana|darshan]] to many thousands, despite the physical strain this caused him.<ref>Kalchuri (1986) p. 6000</ref><ref>''Awakener Magazine'', Volume 9, Number 1–2, 1963, p. 1</ref> Despite deteriorating health, he continued what he called his "Universal Work", which included [[fasting]] and [[seclusion]], until his death on 31 January 1969. His ''[[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]]'' in [[Meherabad]], India, has become a place of international [[pilgrimage]].<ref>Haynes (1989)  p. 62</ref> In the mid-1960s Baba became concerned with the drug culture in the West and began correspondences with several Western academics, including [[Timothy Leary]] and [[Ram Dass|Richard Alpert]], in which he discouraged the use of [[hallucinogen]]ic drugs for spiritual purposes.<ref>Kalchuri (1986) p. 6412ff</ref> In 1966, Baba's responses to questions on drugs were published in a pamphlet titled ''[[God in a Pill?]]'' Meher Baba stated that drug use was spiritually damaging and that if enlightenment were possible through drugs then "God is not worthy of being God".<ref>''God in a Pill? Meher Baba on L.S.D. and The High Roads'', Sufism Reoriented, Inc. 1966</ref> Meher Baba instructed his young Western disciples to spread this message; in doing so, they increased awareness of Meher Baba's teachings. In an interview with Frederick Chapman, a [[Harvard]] graduate and [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright]] scholar who met Meher Baba during a year of study in India, Baba described [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] as "harmful physically, mentally, and spiritually" and warned that "[its continued use] leads to madness or death".<ref name=UPI07271967>''Spiritual Leader Warning on LSD'', United Press International, 27 July 1967</ref> Baba lovers in the United States, Europe, and Australia initiated an [[anti-drug]] campaign during this period. Though some contend that this campaign was mostly futile, it attracted new followers to Meher Baba.<ref>Bruce Hoffman, 'Something on an Inner Level,' Glow International Feb 1990, p. 17</ref> Furthermore, some of Baba's views entered into [[academic]] debate on the merits and dangers of [[hallucinogen]]s.<ref>Albert Moraczewski, 'Psychedelic Agents and Mysticism,' Psychosomantics Vol. 12:2 (1971), 95–96</ref>

From the East-West Gathering of 1962 onward, Meher Baba's health deteriorated. Despite the physical toll it took on his body, he continued to undergo periods of seclusion and fasting.<ref>Haynes (1989) p. 61</ref> In late July 1968, Baba stated that he had completed a particularly taxing period of seclusion and noted that his work was "completed 100% to my satisfaction".<ref>''Awakener Magazine'', Volume 13 Number 3-4, p. 75</ref> He was by then using a wheelchair. Within a few months, his condition had worsened and he was bedridden, wracked by [[spasm|muscle spasms]] without clear medical origin. Despite the care of several physicians, the spasms worsened. On 31 January 1969, Meher Baba woke up in the morning. He had a few pieces of papaya. At 12:15{{spaces}}p.m. he died at 74 years of age after a violent spasm wracked his body.<ref>''Encyclopædia Britannica'', retrieved 7/2/14,</ref> He conveyed by his last gestures, "Do not forget that I am God."<ref name="Kalchuri 1986 p. 6713">Kalchuri (1986) p. 6713</ref> In time, his devotees called the anniversary of his death ''Amartithi'' (deathless day). Meher Baba's body was placed at his [[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] at Meherabad, covered with roses and cooled by ice. His body was kept available to the public for one week before its final burial.<ref>Kalchuri (1986) p. 6735</ref> Prior to his death, Meher Baba had made extensive preparations for a public [[Darshan (Indian religions)|darshan]] program to be held in [[Pune]]. His mandali decided to proceed with the arrangements despite the absence of the host. Several thousand attended this "Last Darshan", including many hundreds from the United States, Europe, and Australia.<ref>James Ivory, The Talk of the Town, "Jai Baba!", The New Yorker, 21 June 1969, p. 28</ref>