The Divine Humanity of Meher Baba
De Simple Silence.
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[modifier] Mani's Powers
There was, Mani said, rivalry among the thirty or so women in the ashram for progress on the spiritual path in the form of spiritual experiences and the acquisition of powers. Baba of course knew this, and one day, He took Mani aside and said that the next day He would announce to the women that He had given certain powers to her, and that they could ask questions and that she would answer. He then taught Mani a series of answers and a few signs that would indicate to her the particular answer to the question.
At 4 pm, everyone was called, and Baba told of Mani’s powers and invited them to ask her questions. This they did and with signs from Baba, Mani answered and all were impressed — she did have some power.
A few days later, with everyone again present, Baba told them the show with Mani had all been pre-arranged. Baba loved to play such tricks — but the interesting point, which Mani only realised years later, was that Baba knew beforehand what questions would be asked!
[modifier] The Gecko
Meher Baba was staying in the north of India and with Him were His men and women mandali. He spent some time each day with the women in one of the rooms.
One day as they sat there talking, the largest gecko Naja had ever seen, ran along high on the walls stopping over Baba. It then voided itself on Baba. Baba, not ceasing His conversation with the women, took a handkerchief from the pile on a small table beside Him, wiped His head clean and discarded the handkerchief. Naja, observing this, was not at all happy, but could do nothing to stop the gecko.
The next day, the same thing happened with Baba again quietly wiping His head with a handkerchief without any sign of irritation or impatience. But it was not so with Naja, seeing her Beloved Lord having to endure such insult. The next day she brought with her a long broom, resolved to deal with the gecko if it sought to do the same thing again.
Sure enough it did appear, but as she leapt to her feet to strike it, Baba stopped her in surprise, ‘What are you doing with that broom?!’
‘Baba, I want to stop the gecko reaching You.’
‘What do you have against the gecko? All of you,’ said Baba, circling the room with His hand, ‘are much more a burden around My neck than that poor gecko!’
[modifier] Safe And Sound At His Feet
When Baba would come over from the women’s quarters to be with the men in mandali hall, Peter the cocker spaniel would follow Him with his ears flopping. Baba would sit on His chair, Eruch would come in with the mail and the other mandali would come and sit in their usual places. Peter would be at Baba’s feet and after a while he would lie down. He would feel so relaxed, so trusting, so happy to be with Baba, that he would go to sleep. After going to sleep, he had a habit of snoring and he snored like a human. I remember once in Baba’s room, when I was reading a book to Baba, suddenly in the midst of the reading I heard this snore. I couldn’t believe it. Which one of us was doing that? We were in front of Baba. But everyone was wide awake and then from under the chair we heard another snore... it was Peter. Just inside the door of mandali hall two bells were kept. When the bigger bell was rung we knew that Goher was wanted by Baba, and when the smaller bell was rung we knew that it was for me. One day when the little bell rang, I came running. Baba, with a twinkle in His eye and a mocked helplessness, said, « Look at Peter. » There was Peter lying down very happy and snoring away. I laughed and said, « Baba shall I take him away? » He said, « No, no. » So I went back to my work. A few moments later the little bell rang again. This time Peter was not only fast asleep, but he was having a dream, and it was a very exciting dream. He was so excited in his sleep that he was making noises with his mouth and his paws were going so many cycles to the second! He was so excited that he was frowning. If he had been any other sort of dog his ears would have been up, but being a cocker his ears came altogether over his eyes and gave him a Carol Lombard look. Baba said, « Peter thinks that he is chasing some wild animal or that some wild animal is chasing him, and that he is going over mountains or through deserts, that he is going through so much, yet really he is not. All the time he is lying safe and sound at My feet » I said, « Oh yes, Baba! » It was only afterwards that I realised what a wonderful discourse it was. Even while we are thinking that we are going through so much, that we are striving, and suffering, Baba tells us not to worry because He knows that we are safe and sound at His feet. He doesn’t tell us not to worry in the sense that a doctor would tell a patient. It is not advice. When Baba said a thing it was with the authority of supreme knowledge, knowing everything. So when He says be happy, don’t worry, He knows that there is no reason to worry. For instance, when I read a book to Baba (and Baba being all-knowing would appear unknowing, because He would play the game perfectly) — when I was reading a book usually He would have me stop at a very critical juncture — where Pauline was hanging over the cliff or something, and we didn’t know if the train would be going over her or not — and we were told not to look to see what happened... not to look further to find out. Baba would then ask me, « Do you think there will be a happy ending? » I would say, « Well Baba, we can’t look, so we will know tomorrow. » But then Baba always liked a happy ending, That is because His story, the story of His creation, has a happy ending. We are simply going through chapters. But somebody who has read the book and who knows the end, can very authoritatively say, « Don’t worry, don’t worry. » while you are in the midst of a chapter which is terrible. So whenever we go through something that seems so difficult, so disagreeable, don’t worry, remember it is only a chapter... the next chapter may be different. When the end of the story comes, the story is finished. So, we might as well enjoy the story while we are in it too.
[modifier] Naja
A neighbouring farmer came each morning with milk for the ashram and gave it to Naja who was the cook for Meher Baba and the women mandali. The farmer was a simple, devout and humble man who loved his three buffaloes as though they were his children. He knew and accepted Baba as the Lord, and he always addressed Naja respectfully as ‘Mummy’.
One day he announced sorrowfully to Naja that one of his buffalo ‘children’ was ill. Naja, eager to help, offered him dhuni ash, saying that he should apply it to the forehead of the buffalo. She explained that because the ash was from the dhuni ordered by the Lord, it was therefore most beneficial. The farmer accepted it very happily, and Naja felt confident that his ‘child’ would recover.
A few days later, when Naja asked about the buffalo, the farmer quietly said, ‘Mummy, she has died.’ Naja was shocked and distressed for the farmer, but he appeared unperturbed, saying, ‘Don’t worry Mummy that she has died. It is not for you to worry.’
Again a few days passed, and the farmer said that another of his ‘children’ was ill. This time Naja hesitated in offering him dhuni ash, concerned now over the outcome, but the farmer again accepted it happiiy. Naja prayed that the poor farmer would not lose another buffalo. But he did, and while Naja was really upset and concerned, he accepted the loss with quiet equanimity.
When later his third ‘child’ became ill, Naja was most reluctant to give him some dhuni ash. But he asked for it, and she gave it, yet she feared that another loss would surely destroy the farmer’s simple faith in his Lord.
In time the third buffalo did die, and Naja, loving soul that she was, felt most distressed for the farmer. But that simple devout man quietly assured her, ‘Don’t worry Mummy. It is all right,’ and looking towards the ashram with a benign smile, ‘I know where my ‘children’ have gone.’
[modifier] Free Will
No question has been asked so often by so many people from all walks of life as the question : is there free will? There appears to be, yet all religions, all spiritual schools of thought declare that not even a leaf, a blade of grass can move without our Beloved’s Will. If this is so, then where is the free will? So the figure has been given in spiritual tradition, of a cow tethered to a rope about fifty metres long, with the rope tied to an iron post firmly embedded in the earth. The length of the rope, about fifty metres, is the extent of the free will of the cow. The iron post to which the rope is attached is the Will of God, our Beloved Meher Baba.
However Beloved Baba has given us something much more precious than free will. He has given us discrimination, and this what our Beloved taught us in His Gita, when He walked His earth as Lord Krishna :
‘Arjun, thinking of sense objects will attach you to sense objects ; grow attached you become addicted ; thwart your addiction and you become angry ; become angry and you confuse your mind ; confuse your mind and you forget the lessons of discrimination ; lose discrimination and you have lost life’s only purpose.’
So, what then is discrimination?
An incident from the life of Abu Said, a great Sufi Master, once described by another Master as ‘the royal Falcon of the Way’, throws light on the question. Three youngsters desiring to become His disciples visited Abu Said, and He directed that they should be segregated from each other. After a short time the Master called the first aspirant to Him, made him feel comfortable and relaxed, and then put this question to him, ‘If you found a purse full with money, and you knew to whom the purse belonged, would you return it to the owner?’
The aspirant boldly answered, ‘Of course I would.’ Abu Said smiled and said, ‘You are a fool,’ and sent him packing. The young man was most happy to go thinking that he had just escaped from a false master.
The second aspirant was then brought to the Master, and the same question was put to him. He answered, ‘Do You think I am a fool? Of course I would keep the purse for myself.’ Abu Said looked at him and said, ‘Not only are you lost to this world, but also to the world to come,’ and sent him off.
The third aspirant was brought to the Master, and given the same question. The man answered, ‘If at that time, honesty, integrity and fear of consequence prevailed, I would return the purse to the rightful owner : if however, dishonesty and the desire to steal prevailed, then I would keep the purse for myself. Whatever it be, will happen according to Allah’s Will.’ Abu Said smiled and gave orders that this third aspirant be accepted into the ashram.
This is discrimination — to know what would please the Beloved and what would displease Him — the most precious gift given by Him to His creation.
[modifier] What The Monkeys Said
One [New Life] story that came to light many years later is an interesting one. It was perhaps 1950 or 1951 and Baba was walking the roads of India with four companions. In the early morning when Baba would see smoke from a nearby village indicating cooking He might send Eruch to beg for food. Then, whatever had been given in alms was distributed by Baba between Himself and the companions. Now of course the food given varied in quality and variety, and on this particular occasion it must have been poor. They were seated beneath a spreading tree, and above them in the branches was a family of monkeys chattering. One of the companions remarked idly, « I wonder what those monkeys are saying. » And another, in humour but with a twist of sarcasm, replied : « Just look at the food these humans are eating. » Baba did not say anything. Many years later, towards the end of His physical life, Eruch was alone with Baba and massaging His limbs. Suddenly, Baba gestured to Eruch, « I know what little food you had so often, perhaps no food at all, or only a chapati, tea without milk or sugar... » Baba paused, and Eruch wondered at His words, such reflections being unusual with Him. Then Baba continued, ‘ »But the time will come when men will give a handful of gold for a morsel of bread, and you My mandali will be inundated with food! » Another pause from Baba, then, « That wasn’t what the monkeys were saying by the wayside! What they were saying, was, ‘How fortunate those people are to be eating with the Lord!’ »
[modifier] Buried in Bananas
[Eruch described] one scene in the south [during the 1953 Andhra tour] where the main offering of the people to Baba was bananas. The chief Baba-lover and organiser of the program, a lawyer, had built a platform just big enough for Baba to be seated and a few Mandali to stand beside and behind Him. As the people filed before Baba, the lawyer stood to the side of the platform, and piled the offerings to Baba around him to keep the platform clear. Hour after hour the people came, each bringing bananas, and steadily the mound around the lawyer grew, until incredibly he was submerged in bananas, with the people then frantically throwing their love offering onto the mound when they realised the darshan program was ending. When the Baba-lover was unearthed from the mound, he was quite dazed from the experience, from the atmosphere of Baba’s love and the people’s devotional response to Baba’s presence. For days he roamed the streets unable to work, became Mast-like, and died a year or two later.
[modifier] Good Advice
This [1956] stay at Meherazad, Meherwan [Jessawala] said, was a happy, intimate time, and there were some delightful moments for him — and too some counselling that would be with him forever. When he arrived Baba said to him, ‘You have long ears, listen well. Let everything that is said by others go in one ear, and out the other.’ Baba was advising Meherwan to be an observer — not to harbour and dwell upon what is said and done by this one or that one. Be a witness to life, listen, observe and do not get involved.
[modifier] Hang Me
At one time at Guruprasad, Meherwan recalls Baba had Nilu tell the following story to lighten their mood on seeing Baba so pulled down in health. Baba began by pointing to Nilu, who was exceedingly fond of sweets, and said, ‘See, he is getting fatter and fatter, and I am getting thinner. If he continues to put on weight, he could meet the fate of a man in earlier times, so Nilu, tell the story of that man.’
Nilu began : There was a Master who wandered the country with his disciples, and they lived on whatever was given them. It was a very hard life, yet the disciples clung to the Master. One day they entered a certain kingdom and found a very strange situation. The King was very capricious and despotic, and his decrees were most odd. For example, a bundle of vegetables and the costliest sweets were the same price and the smallest crime and the greatest merited the same punishment — hanging! The Master gave his disciples permission to eat as they wished, and with what money they had, they enjoyed the richest food at the lowest price. This was a wonderful change from their usual fare, so much so, that when the Master said it was time to move on, one disciple pleaded that he be allowed to stay. (Here Baba interjected that this disciple was like Nilu — exceedingly fond of sweets.)
Although the Master warned him that this Kingdom was very strange and strongly advised him to come with him, the disciple would not agree. So finally the Master gave his permission but said, ‘Well be happy here, but if some real difficulty occurs, remember me and I will help you.’ The disciple was delighted and inwardly could not imagine that he would ever need the Master again. The food situation was the best he had ever encountered. So he continued to thoroughly indulge himself and he grew fatter and fatter without a care in the world. But he was the only one in the Kingdom to do so, because everyone else lived in constant fear of doing even the most minor crime, aware that it would bring about the punishment of hanging!
As a result of this fear, everyone except the disciple, was totally emaciated. But the carefree disciple continued to eat to his hearts content. (Here Baba again interjected, ‘See, despite My telling him not to do so, Nilu keeps eating and fattening.’ All the mandali and visitors were now quite caught up in the story, and the heavy mood that had been created by Baba’s frailty lightened considerably).
In the Kingdom some construction work was being done, and in the process a wall collapsed and a donkey was crushed beneath it. The donkey’s owner went to the King seeking justice. So the builder was called, but he protested that the fault lay with the man throwing water on the wall because he did not throw enough. So he was summoned, but he said that the goatskin water bag had a hole in it and therefore the goatskin supplier was to blame. That fellow was then called, but he maintained that it was the stitcher of the skin who should be blamed. . . and so it went on until some poor wretch was sentenced to hang. But now that person was so emaciated and thin that no rope was able to hang him!
The King was not to be thwarted, someone had to hang, so he ordered that a fat man should be found in the Kingdom. The only fat man in the Kingdom was the disciple, so he was hauled, bewildered, before the King and told he was to be hung. The disciple pleaded, ‘Sire, what have I done wrong?’
‘You are the only fat man in the Kingdom!’
Then the disciple, in his desperation, remembered the Master and called inwardly for his help : ‘Oh Master help me, I erred in not heeding your words.’
The Master suddenly appeared, and told the disciple to ask to be hanged and leave everything to him. The Master then approached the King, and sought to know what was happening. The King explained, and the Master cried out, ‘No, no! please hang me instead!’
But at that the disciple came forward, ‘Sire, you said I was to be hanged, and I beg you to do that’.
So there upon the Master and his disciple appeared to have an argument, each seeking the right to be hanged, until the King intrigued, intervened, ‘Why are you both so anxious to be hanged?’
Then the Master said, ‘Today is a most auspicious day. Death by hanging today means a direct path to heaven. So naturally we are both seeking the privilege.’
The King was thrilled, declaring, ‘The prerogative is mine’ and he gave the order for himself to be hanged. All the people were delighted to carry it out and get rid of him, and they promptly did so before he had another caprice and changed his mind!
Nilu, with little asides by Baba, gave a very comical account of the story, and everyone had a hearty laugh.
[modifier] Murli's Circumcision
Sam [Kerawala] also recalled an interesting example of the lover becoming the total responsibility of the Master. Murli, a close lover of Baba and also living at the time with the mandali, was sent on some errand to Hyderabad, a predominantly Muslim city. Now a characteristic of Muslim women is their physical beauty and as Sam said : ‘Even the best of minds could take a gallop at the sight of them.’
On this occasion Murli passed by the racecourse at a time when rich and aristocratic Muslim women were riding horses for their morning exercise. Murli’s glance fell on a young woman and his mind suddenly became overwhelmed with thoughts of her, but then he controlled his mind and went on to complete his work.
In Mandali Hall, Baba was at the same time telling the mandali, ‘Remind Me when Murli returns to circumcise him.’
Murli returned and Eruch or one of the others said to Baba, ‘You told us to remind You to have Murli circumcised.’ but Baba gestured, ‘Now forget it, he has returned home safely and that is enough.’ and Baba went to His room.
Murli asked the mandali what that was all about. The mandali replied, ‘At a certain time Baba suddenly told us to remind Him to circumcise you’.
Then Murli thought back, and realised that that was the time he was attracted to the Muslim woman. That is an example of how the Master is ever watchful over those who have put their heads on His feet.
[modifier] Dog Days
Baba was at one time in Lonavla for some months. He would call everyone to be with Him, and sometimes after these meetings, someone would find one of their shoes missing. This was reported to Baba and He asked the watchman to be more vigilant and find what was happening to the shoes. Sure enough, the culprit was caught — a very scrawny dog, full of mange and so starving that it would take a shoe and eat it.
The watchman brought the dog to Baba and Mehera happened to learn of the matter and pleaded with Baba, ‘Baba can we not do something for that poor animal?’ To please Mehera, Baba called Eruch and told him to look after the dog, and to apply curd and sulphur to its skin. Eruch did this and over a month or so the mange began to disappear and hair started to grow again. After some time he became a beautiful clean dog with fine brown hair and quite plump. Mehera was delighted. Baba named him Faifoo.
When Baba left Lonavla, He sent the dog to Padri in Meherabad. Faifoo mated with one of the other dogs there and from the first litter, Baba selected a pair of puppies male and female. Baba gave them to Meheru, Eruch’s sister, to look after, but they grew up totally unmanageable, and they were then sent to Bindra House where they were renamed Princie and Brownie. Princie died fairly young from poisoning, picked up in his wanderings from home. Brownie did not wander, was a very good watch dog, and lived until she was sixteen or more years. Whenever Baba came to Bindra House, Brownie would try to jump on His lap, but being quite big, her hind legs would be on the ground with her front paws trying to embrace Him. She would then lick Baba all over.
On one occasion when Baba was leaving the house and Brownie was lying asleep across the threshold, Adi Senior, Baba’s secretary and very close disciple, gave the dog a shove with his foot so that she would move and not cause Baba to trip or stumble over her. Baba stopped immediately, very upset and said to Adi, ‘What’s wrong with you? Why did you do that — kick the animal?’
Shaken Adi replied : ‘Baba I did not mean any harm. I was afraid you might trip over her.’
‘What do you think?! That I am blind?!’ And Baba then told Adi, ‘Now bow down to the animal and ask her to forgive you.’
Adi did just that and Baba departed.
[modifier] Qawwali Program
In Satara Baba had two houses, ‘Grafton’ for the women and ‘Rosewood’ for the men mandali. On the night before giving up the alphabet board, 7th October 1954, Baba said that they would have an all-night Qawali program.
The men came from Rosewood in the dark of the early evening, and on entering the big room in Grafton found cups and a huge kettle of tea. Aloba presumed that this was for the men, so he distributed it. At this point Baba came, and seeing the soiled cups, suddenly became upset : ‘Who told you to have the tea?’ His mood was such that some of the men trembled, and there was stunned silence.
Then Eruch spoke, ‘Baba, the kettle was here and we all thought it was there to be drunk and Aloba served it.’
‘Who is Aloba that he takes it on himself to serve the tea?! Eruch, tell the singers to leave immediately, and you all return to Rosewood!’
Eruch somehow gestured to the other men that it was a passing storm, and said to Baba, ‘We are so sorry. We presumed that the tea being here, it had been left for us.’
‘Yes, I did keep it for you and with these tablets it was to ensure that you stayed awake all night. Alright, I forgive you, but all of you bow down and rub your noses at My feet.’
The men of course were delighted, the storm over and with the added joy of being at His feet. It was, in a very strange way, a victory for the men.
Then Baba directed that the women, who were behind a curtain in the same room, prepare another kettle of tea. Baba was by now His usual loving self, chatting in an easy flowing manner, unique to Him, never forgetting anyone — ‘make sure there is sufficient tea for the Qawali singers.’
Well the program began, and everything was fine until one or two in the morning, when suddenly Aloba came running to Baba : ‘Kill me immediately’ so overcome was he by the words and music of love for God. Baba took Aloba’s hand and held it very tightly, gesturing at the same time ‘calm down, calm down, calm down... ’ Then He ordered another cup of tea, and Aloba gradually calmed down, and the program resumed until about five or six in the morning.
Baba told Eruch to pay the Qawali singers extra which was always the way with Beloved Baba. As Mohammed the Prophet, He had said : ‘Pay your labourer ere the sweat has dried on his brow.’ Baba then told everyone to depart, fold their hands to Him and go — no embrace as He had earlier specified.
Sam who was returning to duty and this was therefore his last visit to Baba, felt keenly the absence of an embrace. He returned to Poona early afternoon, and in the afternoon mail delivery was a beautiful letter from Baba, saying Sam should not feel disappointed that he was not embraced and to remember that he was embraced long ago — as it were, in the very beginning of his life with Baba.
Sam was amazed — how could the letter have reached him so soon, when normally mail took 24 hours or more.
[modifier] Laurel And Hardy
During another period of leave, Sam was with Baba and a large gathering of Mandali and lovers. Baba suddenly gestured towards Sam and then addressed the room, ‘You know Sam earns very good money in his work yet he never thinks of giving us all a treat. I think he should take us all to the pictures!’
There was of course a chorus of approval from all of them. So they proceeded to the theatre where Sam purchased 26 tickets, and they seated themselves in the back two rows. Sam was seated directly behind Baba and Eruch, and he could detect that Eruch was enjoying the Laurel & Hardy film, and in fact it seemed all were enjoying it.
But with Beloved Baba, His work was paramount, and sure enough, before the film had finished He gestured to Eruch ‘Let’s go!’
Eruch gave a very half-hearted response, ‘Baba... another five minutes, and I think it will be over... ’
Baba gave a gesture of assent, and, incredibly as it may seem, with that gesture, the power went off!
After sitting in the dark for a few minutes Baba again nudged Eruch, ‘Do you still want to wait or shall we go?’
Eruch knew he was defeated ‘Yes Baba, let us go!’
[modifier] Heartfelt Remembrance Of God
... Sam remembered another story from spiritual tradition, this one with a practical twist. It concerns, Sam recalled, a very successful business man — so successful that he was totally occupied with either his business affairs or with his family, staff and business people, and he seemed to have no time alone and unburdened.
With the passing years, this business man felt keenly the lack of opportunity to be alone with God and repeat His name, and in distress he consulted a very close family friend. This friend suggested that they seek the advice of his spiritual Master.
The Master graciously listened to the man’s heartfelt concern, questioned the routine of his day, and concluded, ‘The only time you are truly alone and undisturbed is when you go to the toilet and take your bath in the morning : so the moment you begin to pour water over yourself take the name of God audibly, and continue repeating it with sincerity and fervour until you have finished.’
This advice the man happily accepted and he began in earnest the daily routine. Years passed by, many years, until one day the man suffered a severe stroke and lapsed into a coma.
With time it was clear that the man would not come out of the coma and would surely die. The family were naturally distressed, but particularly so because by tradition if their father died without taking the name of God then he would not go to God.
In their distress they turned to their father’s old friend, and he advised them to seek the advice of the Master. The Master listened and knowing the daily routine of the man said, ‘Let us go to the man.’
This they did, and the master directed the business man be taken to the bathroom. He called for a bucket of water, and began to pour the water over the man. With the first touch of water the man in his coma began saying aloud the Name of God, and with the last drop of water gave a sigh and died.
Such was the impression of years of heartfelt remembrance of God.
[modifier] God Is Infinite
During this same period of leave, Baba was staying at Ganeshkhind Gardens in Dadi Kerawala’s quarters. Dadi was superintendent of the gardens.
Adjoining the Gardens was the Seventh Day Adventist Mission school, where students from all over the world studied religion and a regular curriculum of subjects. As Sam and the mandali were sitting with Baba in Dadi’s quarters, two Indonesian youngsters from the mission approached, and Eruch spoke to them, ‘What can I do for you?’
They were very polite and said that they had heard the living Buddha was there and they had come to visit Him. Eruch informed Baba, and He called them in, embraced them and told them to sit down.
As was usual in coming into Beloved Baba’s presence, the youngsters seemed quickly at home, relaxed and comfortable. Baba asked them, ‘Are you Christians?’
‘Yes Baba.’
‘Do you love Jesus?’
One of them replied emphatically, ‘Oh, yes Baba!’
A little later Baba asked, ‘Do you have any questions?’
‘Yes Baba, please explain ‘God is Infinite.’
Baba pointed to a large black ant crawling on the floor, and said, ‘Can this ant ever comprehend a human being? Can its consciousness grasp the significance of the world of humans?’
‘No Baba.’
Then Baba said, ‘An even greater chasm divides your state of consciousness from My state of consciousness, so if I were to define for you the word ‘infinite’ you would not grasp it.’
That seemed at the time to be the end of the matter. A general conversation broke out, when suddenly Baba said to one of His close ones, ‘Take down what I say — whatever is, is God.’
The conversation continued and again Baba gestured, ‘Take down this — whatever is not, is God.’
After a short while Baba said, ‘Take down this too — on the off chance that anything is left over, even that is God.’
Then He turned to the young men and said, ‘This is the true definition of the word ‘infinity’, and this is My state from My beginningless beginning through to My endless end.’
[modifier] Detachment
From Rishikesh, Baba took the group to Hardwar, back to Dehra Dun, and then to Lonavla. Here Baba gave Meherwan a lesson in detachment.
It was in the monsoon period and Meherwan was required to accompany Baba from his visit to the women’s quarters to the men’s quarters. He would carry Baba’s alphabet board, shawl, etc and hold an umbrella over him. This would always happen at breakfast time (toast, butter and tea).
Meherwan would invariably be half finished, and by the time he returned the tea and toast would be cold and covered in flies. So Meherwan decided he would not start breakfast that morning but wait, accompany Baba, and then have his breakfast in one sitting.
Well, he waited and waited and no Baba. So finally he decided to eat after all and sure enough, exactly halfway through Baba arrived! As Meherwan points out, what trouble God-man undertakes for Himself in order to awaken, in this case, detachment in His disciple.
It was not in this instance, but at other times Baba might even comment, ‘Oh your tea has gone cold, that’s too bad!’ This would intensify the disciple’s feelings of annoyance and thus hasten the process of learning.
[modifier] Not Enough Food
During Baba’s visits to Dina’s [Talati] family home [1920’s] He also gave her instructions to cook for the Mandali and for those who stayed the full day, in total 40 persons. The quantity cooked had to be just enough and no more. She was allowed to take the help of anyone she wished. But she was to cook separately for Baba, and in this, no-one was to touch anything, not even the spoon that was being used.
At times Baba would ask some visitors to stay for lunch, and although she would only cook for 40 persons as instructed, still the food, perhaps with a little extra water in the dhal or curry was proved sufficient — particularly accompanied by the joy the visitors experienced eating with Baba.
However on one occasion Baba allowed everyone who came to stay on, and the hall filled to capacity. Dina, noting this, became more and more worried. No-one was leaving, and when the hour for lunch came, and Dina was asked to serve the food, the hall was so full that the Mandali had to stand behind Baba.
Dina retreated to the kitchen and looked at the food — one vessel of okra (lady fingers) and a basket of chapatis — there was no way such food could be stretched to feed so many. Then she also realised she did not have enough plates apart from the food. As she stood there indecisively, Chanji came for the third time to ask her to serve the food.
She was by now on the verge of tears, and she went and stood in the doorway to the hall waiting to catch Baba’s eye.
When Baba saw her, He said, ‘Why are you standing there? Why are you not serving the food?’
Very reluctantly and hesitantly she begged Baba to come to the kitchen. Baba arose and Dina, taking Him by the hand, led Him to the kitchen.
Almost in tears she pleaded with Baba, ‘Baba, there is only this much food, and You have invited so many! What shall I do? Why didn’t You ask me — I don’t mind cooking for more people.’
Baba patted her : ‘You have been right ; don’t ever break My orders by cooking for more than I have asked you to. Now don’t worry there is enough for everyone.’
Then she pointed out that there were not even enough plates. Again Baba assured her, and reminded her to leave everything to Him.
Then He had two of the mandali carry the food into the hall. He directed that everyone should approach Him, and as they did so, Baba gave each a chapati and on it a good helping of the lady fingers.
Dina, standing in the doorway watching, thought that the okra would be sufficient for perhaps 15-20 people, with Baba being so generous. Yet when all had been well fed, He called Dina to look into the vessel, ‘See there is so much left — now who will eat it? You?!’
The next morning when Baba reminded Dina to cook for the usual number, she joked with Him ‘Baba as long as You serve, I do not mind cooking for just 2 or 10 as You wish!’
The lessons that Dina absorbed in those early years with Meher Baba, stood her in good stead throughout her life. So she held, despite all hardships, to absolute obedience, to the importance of the first order given by Baba, and to maximum effort towards perfection in any and all tasks undertaken for Him.
[modifier] Yes, Yes Mother
1961 and again Guruprasad was prepared for Baba’s stay. This time Baba stayed in seclusion, and all His lovers were warned that if they disturbed Him He would abruptly return to Meherazad. So Guruprasad remained quiet, and all took great pains not even to go near Guruprasad in case they in any way displeased Him.
However, much to the joy of the mandali, one day Baba suddenly announced that He would give darshan to all the small children of His lovers. Then it was pointed out that small children would need a parent or guardian, and so Baba agreed that one adult should come with them.
This was done, and it was a happy time for children and guardians alike, and so too for the mandali who welcomed the relaxation of His severe seclusion work even for a day.
After that, Baba decided that all His adult lovers could have His darshan — but with very strict guidelines. Each could see Him once only within a two week period, each could bow to him and then return home, with no questions and no disturbance of any kind.
This led to a great rush of people, despite the prospect of only a glimpse of their Beloved. Amongst that rush came Harry Kenmore from New York for just a glimpse of his Beloved ‘Pop’ and in accordance with His wish, he returned that night to New York.
That year, 1961, there was phenomenally heavy monsoonal rains in Poona and the earthen-work dam gave way. There were devastating floods, in some areas more than 20 feet deep.
One such area was a hospital where Naja, one of the women mandali, was recovering from a delicate operation. Before the flooding Naja thinks Baba visited her, but whether He did or He sent word, Naja was instructed against the expressed wishes of the surgeon, to leave the hospital the next day.
She said to the protesting surgeon, ‘I can not explain but I must leave this place.’ She returned to Bindra House in the rain, but before the flooding occurred.
The flood, when it happened, was sudden and completely submerged her room at the hospital, and thus if she had remained she would have surely drowned.
The floods caused great damage and some loss of life and when recounting this, it prompted a memory in Meherwan, of his mother telling him many years earlier that Baba’s mother said to Baba, ‘Merog, you say that there will be widespread destruction, so when you destroy Poona do so with water, not fire.’
She asked this because she was afraid of fire.
Baba simply responded ‘Yes, yes mother. Don’t worry.’
[modifier] Baba's Omniscience
As a little contrast to these incidents, there was, Meherwan recalls, an occasion in Rishikesh that showed Baba’s omniscience. It was summertime, with intense heat created by the towering mountains surrounding the place. But in the evening there was relief in the temperature, and Baba allowed the women to go to the Ganges River to bathe in the icy waters if they wished.
The water was from the snows of the mountains and was, as remembered by Meherwan, of a milky white appearance, and tasted unusually sweet and refreshing. On this particular occasion Baba was sitting on the sandy bank with His back to the river and most were gathered around Him. He had given permission for Meheru and two or three others to swim, but the rest were enjoying an interesting talk from Baba.
Suddenly Baba rose, turned and moved swiftly to the river, and pulled Meheru out of a whirlpool where she would surely have drowned. Her cries were not audible to the group, but Beloved Baba knew and responded.
[modifier] Carrying The Worry Of The Whole Universe
After the wedding, March 21st 1958, Sam and Roshan [Kerawala] departed for their honeymoon to Agra and Kashmir with the money that was given to them as wedding presents. March in Kashmir is not a good tourist time normally, being too cold and wet, yet for the week they were there, the weather was warm and sunny. But then as Sam reminisced, the Lord Himself had told them to stay there, so they were delighted and grateful but not surprised.
On their return, after a five week honeymoon, Baba called them and was very disappointed to learn that Roshan was not pregnant. Again Eruch interceded, 'Baba, why place such a burden on young shoulders?' Baba replied: 'Look at your cousin [Sam] — what — worry has he got? It is I who am carrying the worry of the whole universe, the whole creation. He has no worries — so keep quiet!"
A little later Baba went to the West, May 15th 1958, and the whole family went to see Him depart. The moment He saw Roshan, He gave a sun-smile and put his hand on her head. Then He gave Sam His hand to kiss, and Sam felt, in those moments, that Roshan had already conceived.
Before their first daughter, Mehera, was born, Baba told Roshan to stitch a dress so naturally the whole family accepted that the child would be a girl. When Roshan was again pregnant, Baba did not say anything, so the family assumed that this time the child would be a boy. Before returning to sea, Sam was sitting amongst the mandali with Baba and the conversation was proceeding smoothly, when He suddenly turned to Sam and gestured, 'Would you be disappointed if it's a girl?' Sam replied cautiously to God, 'No, Baba, I don't think so.' Immediately the conversation continued as though there had been no question. Sam returned to sea, and a couple of months later, he received the news that a second daughter had been born.
The words of Baba to Eruch that He carried the worry of the universe, reminded Sam of a very beautiful story in the life of Prophet Mohammed: It was during the early years of Mohammed's Advent, and He was still in Mecca where the people sought in every way possible to humiliate and denigrate Him. One day He was standing near the Kaaba, and an elderly woman returning from a journey asked of the people there if a porter was available to carry her luggage to her home. Seeing this as an opportunity of belittling Mohammed, they pointed Him out to the woman as a porter. When she approached Mohammed and asked if He was indeed a porter, He replied: 'Yes, Mother. I am the One who carries the burden of all.'
Not understanding His words, but happy that He was a porter, she had Him carry her goods. As they walked, she expressed surprise that He was a porter. 'You are such a fine upright man, you do not seem to be the usual porter — surely you could do better than this work.' But Mohammed simply replied to her concerns: 'No, Mother, I am the One who carries the burden of all.'
So they walked and then the woman said: 'Well, you are not like that scoundrel Mohammed that I have been told about — what a terrible man He is, so intent on destroying our religion. But you are obviously different.'
So the walk continued with the woman still speaking against Mohammed. They reached her home and the woman sought to pay Mohammed, but again He only said: 'No, Mother, I am the One who carries the burden of all.'
Then she said: 'At least tell me your name that I may thank you personally. Your company has given me joy.' Mohammed replied: 'I am Mohammed.'
With that the woman fell at His feet, weeping: 'Forgive me, Lord, I did not know You.' She wept and Mohammed comforted her. She and her whole family became Mohammed's devoted followers.
[modifier] I Created You!
[Meherwan Jessawala] remembers that Shireen, Baba's mother, would come and be with them for varying periods from time to time. Shireen took a particular liking to Gaimai, and Baba granted her wish that she should have Gaimai look after her. Baba said to Gaimai: 'Do whatever she asks of you.'
There was a very loving relationship between the two women, and perhaps this was a part of Gaimai's preparation to be the Avatar's mother next Advent, as Baba once said she would be.
Gaimai delighted in hearing stories from Shireen of Baba's early life, and often she would ask Shireen to repeat them. Once when Gaimai did so Shireen in exasperation began to scold her. Just then Baba came in, and upon coming to know the reason for His mother's outburst, told her that His stories were always fresh no matter how often they were told, and exhorted Shireen to keep repeating them!
As Baba's mother she had certain prerogatives, yet she was also required to accept restrictions in line with Baba's orders for the ashram. She was a very strong-minded woman, lively, very intelligent, with a zest for life and an enjoyment of the good things in life. The following is a delightful example of these qualities. Gaimai was asked by Baba to write to her sister Banumasi in Bombay to bring her two sons for the Thread Ceremony of Sam and Meherwan. On the side, Shireen asked Gaimai to add a P.S.: 'Please bring two nice fresh fried pomfrets (fish) with you.' Now at the time there was strict vegetarianism in the ashram, and in any case everything coming to and out of the ashram had to have Baba's permission. But of course, Gaimai did as Shireen asked, because of Baba's order for her to do whatever Shireen wanted. So Banumasi duly arrived and with her came the fish.
Shireen was very happy and after Gaimai had heated the fish, Shireen sat down to enjoy them. Just as she did so, and was about to take a morsel, two cats suddenly jumped on her shoulders, one on each side, and Shireen, not liking cats, screamed loudly and threw the fish onto the floor to distract them. They promptly made off with the fish, and at that point, Baba came into the room saying, 'What is this smell of fish? How is it that the ashram has fish?'
Gaimai became very frightened, 'Baba, Shireen asked that it be brought from Bombay.' Baba as usual professed total ignorance, 'But without my permission!' Now Shireen flared up, 'Yes, Merog, I called for it! How could You do this? You did not want me to have the fish and You sent those cats to harass me!'
'But, mother, you know that there is strict vegetarianism here, so without My order, how could you do that?'
'You know I like fish, and I am your mother.'
'Yes, you are My mother but remember, I created you!'
What a delightful relationship existed between Baba and Shireen! Gaimai told of a time when she was massaging Shireen's feet. It was evening, and suddenly Baba came into the room, inquired of something, and then said, 'Mother, I would like to sit on your lap.'
Gaimai described the scene as very touching and very lovely. Shireen was shocked, 'Merog, behave yourself! There are people here, what will they think, and in any case you are too big, too heavy!'
But Baba said again, 'I want to sit on you lap,' and proceeded to do so. It was, Gaimai recalled, such a delightful scene.
As a contrast to that scene, Eruch has told of a time when Shireen had written to say that she would stay for a period with Baba. She was permitted to come and go as she pleased, even though Baba would complain that her presence disturbed His work, that she would be unhappy with this or that of ashram life, and would involve Baba in her complaints. This particular incident occurred in Lonavla, and it was during the wet season when there were many snakes and scorpions. So Baba sought to take advantage of the season and the fact that Shireen was extremely afraid of snakes, and He told Eruch, 'Mother is coming, meet her at the station, and give her a vivid picture of the very heavy rains here, and of the many, many snakes and scorpions. Do it to such an extent that she will hesitate to stay. But be very careful, mother is very shrewd!'
Eruch met Shireen and when she asked for news, he took the opportunity of saying 'Everything is fine, but the weather is awful, raining all the time and because of that there are many snakes, and only the other day the watchman killed three.' Shireen said quietly, 'Really!' and Eruch went on, 'And the scorpions are huge, six inches long, dark green and black with hair on their bodies.'
Shireen quietly responded, 'Oh really — and what else did Merog tell you to tell me!'
Eruch sought to look innocent, but Shireen again said, 'And what else were you told to tell me to scare me away from here? I am His mother, I know His ways.' Once more Eruch tried to bluff his way out of this predicament but Shireen said, 'Oh keep quiet, you are but a youngster and don't know anything!'
Later, when Eruch told Baba of the exchange, He said, 'See, as I told you, she is very shrewd. You could not have said it convincingly enough!'
There would be at times, Meherwan recalled, friction between Shireen and Baba, and at those times it was best to be absent. But there was one such occasion which had an amusing twist. Shireen sought to find out from Baba certain incidents in the ashram life, and Baba kept giving her evasive answers. Finally Shireen said, 'Merog, call Meherwan and if the child says it's so, then I will believe it.'
So Meherwan was called and immediately Baba gestured to Meherwan to look at His face when replying. But Shireen, noticing Baba's gestures and knowing His trickiness, said, 'Merog, he is a small child — don't teach him to lie. It doesn't behove You as God to lie and You mustn't teach the lad the same.'
Baba protested, 'Did I tell the boy to lie? I never said any such thing!' But Baba would wink at Meherwan when a question was asked and Meherwan, responding to Baba, would say anything that he thought would please Him. So mother and son would interact, sparks would fly, yet of course there was also such a deep love between them.
[modifier] The Farmer
In the early years at Meherabad a nearby farmer became very close to Beloved Baba, and he would often sit with the mandali as one of them. All was well with him, except that he had a persistent backache which gave him considerable pain and interrupted his work. But he did not complain to Baba about his condition and pain.
One day when he was present, Baba complained about the effect the buffalo milk that He was given each day was having on His stomach, and He turned to the farmer and asked about his one cow.
"But Baba, she only gives barely a cup of milk each day."
Baba replied, "Never mind, bring Me tomorrow whatever milk you get from her. Do not keep any of it for yourself."
The next morning the farmer appeared with about two litres of milk, not the cupful that he normally got. Seeing this, Baba appeared as though angry, and said sternly, "You liar, you said you only ever receive a cup of milk daily!" and with that He struck the farmer such a blow that he banged against the will, hitting his back as he did so. When he arose he found that his back pain had disappeared, and it never returned.
[modifier] Now Tell Me — Is It A Potato?
During the Nasik stay, Dina [Talati] became quite ill and Navalsha was very worried about her. He told this to Baba, and Baba assured him that nothing would happen to Dina. In fact, in consoling Navalsha, Baba said Dina would outlive him, and that it would be best if Navalsha looked after his own health.
As a part of the treatment for the illness, the doctor prescribed a course of 20-24 injections. Dina hated injections and refused to have them. No amount of pleading by the doctor and the family had any effect. Finally the issue was brought to Baba. He came, spoke to her, but still Dina refused.
This went on for some time, with Dina finally weeping and pleading with Baba not to force her to have the injections. In the midst of her tears, she said, "Baba, do You know how it feels to have an injection? How much it hurts to have just one? And you want me to have 20-24! How will I bear it? I'm scared!"
Baba pacified her and said, "Alright, you take one, and I will take one the next day and so on, and together we'll finish the course. Now will you agree?"
But now Dina was more upset. She did not want Baba to take on her pain, nor to cause Him pain in any way, so she agreed to take the full course herself. But now Baba would not agree! He insisted on taking half the course, and the doctor was instructed accordingly. Every day he was to come to Rustom's house where Baba was staying to administer the injections. Dina was to be present each day, but the injections were given to Baba and Dina on alternate days. Baba took the first shot and Dina the second the next day.
On one of the days that it was Dina's turn for an injection, but before the doctor's arrival, all were sitting in the hall with Baba. He was giving a discourse on everything being nothing. He concluded by saying that the entire creation was a zero, and then turning to Dina, asked, "Do you understand? All this, including your husband and children, everything, is just a potato! Do you believe this?"
She replied, "Yes Baba, I believe this because You say so. I do not know it, but I believe You absolutely."
Baba then said, "What is there to know in this? When there is nothing, where is the question of knowing anything!"
But Dina answered that even if the whole world is nothing, for her everything was there; she could see, touch and experience everything including Baba himself. For her, Baba was there, as also all the people and things in the room, so how could she therefore know that everything was a potato! Yet she accepted His word that it was so, because of her faith and conviction in Him. Baba then ended the talk with the remark, "Let it go! You will know."
Some time later the doctor arrived, and Baba sent Dina into another room for her injection. The doctor gave it, but then came out after a few minutes to tell Baba that Dina had died. Baba told him to go back and check. Again the doctor returned saying that there was no pulse or breathing in Dina.
Baba called him a "barber" (which was Baba's general disparaging sign for a doctor) and told him to go and check properly. He also sent someone to go with the doctor. Both returned to declare to Baba that Dina was no more.
With this, Baba got up and went into the room. He climbed onto the bed on which Dina was lying, put His foot on her chest. Then, getting down, asked the doctor to check her again. This the doctor did and reported heartbeats. Baba told him to wait with Dina, and see that she lay quietly until He called or her.
After some time He sent for Dina, and when she came, told her to sit near Him. As she did so He asked, "Now tell me — Is it a potato?"
She answered: "Yes Baba" — and nothing more was said on the subject.
Years later when asked if she remembered her feelings at that time, all she could say was that there was nothing really to say. She did remember the great peace and blissful happiness that she experienced on opening her eyes. She know nothing at all of the drama of that occasion, not even of Baba's closeness as He placed His foot on her chest. No amount of questioning or probing produced more than a smile of perhaps "nothing"!
[modifier] Bringing The Right Pair Together
During a darshan program at Guruprasad, Beloved Baba said that two souls do not come together haphazardly either in marriage or birth; and that he had to search the entire universe to bring together the right souls at the right time. He continued, 'You have no idea what trouble I have to go through to bring the right pair together. Then the couple's child too has to have the right connection with both parents and with Me.'
There are many most fortunate close ones who were brought together so beautifully in marriage and in birth by Beloved Baba.
[modifier] Dr. Ginda On Seclusion Hill
In the early sixties Dr.Ginde had a massive heart attack, but he continued his work as a surgeon. When he came with the masseur for Baba's neck pain, he asked Baba's permission to stay over-night at Meherazad and ensure that the masseur was doing his work well.
In the evening after Baba had retired, Ginde expressed a desire to visit Seclusion Hill. Eruch, knowing of Ginde's heart attack, voiced some concern, saying that even the track to the Hill was rough and meant some climbing. But Ginde assured Eruch of his fitness, and so together with Meherwan, they set off. As they proceeded Ginde was inspired by the great serenity and beauty of the area, the immense silence, and after reaching the base of the Hill, he said he wished to go further. Eruch asked, 'Are you sure you are alright?'
'Oh yes Eruch do not worry.' Ginde had fallen in love with the Hill. So little by little, despite entreaties from Eruch to please consider 'should he not stop and return,' Ginde reached the top, even the last part with the narrow ledge.
In the meantime the women mandali saw them going towards the Hill, and reported this to Baba. Now Baba became restless, gesturing, 'Has Eruch no sense, taking a heart patient there?! What if he has a heart attack?!'
So He continued fretting and fuming, constantly sending Bhau and others to see if they had turned back. While Baba was extremely restless and concerned, Ginde was assuring Eruch not to worry, and was thoroughly enjoying himself. There was also a beautiful sunset, and the three of them stayed at the top for some time.
When they returned to Meherazad and Baba was told that all were safe, He gave a sigh of relief, but then sent word to Eruch that he should have shown greater sense before taking Ginde up the Hill. Eruch reported what had happened and finished with — what else could he have done?
[modifier] Throwing Hats And Shoes Onto Railway Tracks
In 1923 Baba was staying in Manzil-e-Meem in Dadar, Bombay. This was situated adjoining the railway line and Baba, when displeased, would often order things to be thrown over the wall onto the railway area.
One such occasion was during a discussion on Navalsha's and Dina's forthcoming marriage. Baba, who was to arrange the whole ceremony as ordered by Upasni Maharaj, had called Dina's father, Hormasji, to discuss the arrangements. Now Hormasji was a hot-tempered person, accustomed to giving orders, not taking them, and at some point he started arguing with Baba. Baba quietly, politely but firmly insisted on the point, and Hormasji flatly refused to agree.
After some time of this, Baba lost patience, and ordered Navalsha to throw Hormasji's hat and shoes onto the railway track. In those days of absolutely strict conventional behaviour, for a future son-in-law to do this, was unbelievable, but Navalsha without a moments hesitation, picked up the hat and then left the room for the shoes. He was on the point of throwing them over the wall, when he was called back into the room by Baba. Baba then proceeded to scold him, 'Have you no sense! Do you have no respect for your prospective father-in-law!? How could you do such a thing!'
Navalsha said nothing. Baba turned to Hormasji: 'Do you now agree to all that I have said?' Hormasji only started to say: 'But Meher Baba...' and Baba at once turned to Navalsha and said, 'Go! And make sure that this man's hat and shoes are thrown over the wall and don't come back until it is done!' But Hormasji had had enough, and hurriedly exclaimed, 'Baba, I agree to everything You have said!'
Baba was most pleased with this reply, and told Navalsha to escort Hormasji with all respect to the gate of the property.
[modifier] Baba Drinks Stars And Planets In His Cup Of Tea
The wedding of Naval Talati and Dina Karani took place on the 9th of April, 1923 at Camabang, a traditional venue for Parsi weddings and navjote (thread ceremonies). The main road is on one side of the building and by-lanes on the other three sides. Throughout the ceremony Baba, with Gustadji, drove round and round the Camabang in a Victoria (horse) carriage. All the mandali, ordered by Baba to attend the ceremony, were seated respectfully in the front row. Among them were Padri, Adi Snr, Ramjoo and Homi Vajifdar. Baba also ordered that the Mandali were to leave and join him immediately when the ceremony was completed, and that they were to have no refreshments there whatsoever. They left as instructed, and Padri recalled that at the point they reached the gate, Baba also came round the corner and they then joined Him. Baba was pleased to learn that they had consumed no food or drink at the ceremony as He had ordered.
Navalsha's sister, Jer, was also married on the same day at the same place. She and her husband lived at Kalyan, an outer suburb of Bombay.
In accordance with tradition, the day after the ceremony the bride spends with her parents, and the son-in-law then escorts her to his home at night. The following day after Navalsha's wedding, he left in the early morning to join Baba at Manzil-e-Meen as Baba wished. Dina joined her now sister-in-law, Jer, and travelled with her to Kalyan.
Two days later, in the early morning, Baba called Navalsha to Him. He was thoroughly displeased and asked, 'Where is Dina?!' On being told where she was, He ordered Navalsha to go and bring her to Him at once. This Navalsha did, and when he told her how displeased Baba was, they tried to think of anything they had done that could have provoked this mood in Baba. With the intense love they both had for Baba, they anxiously sought an answer, but none came.
As soon as Dina was before Him, Baba scolded her, 'Where have you been?'
Dina explained that with Navalsha's knowledge and permission she was staying with his sister.
Still stern Baba said, 'I know all that, but what did you do there?'
So Dina detailed how she and Jer chit-chatted whilst doing embroidery work.
But Baba kept on asking, 'And what else?'
Dina became more and more confused and anxious about what she had done to so upset Baba.
At last Baba asked: 'And what did you do yesterday afternoon!?'
It was only then that she remembered, 'Oh, yes Baba! While we were sitting on the porch a Brahmin astrologer approached us.'
Baba, very sarcastically exclaimed, 'And of course you showed him your hand!'
Innocent, Dina replied, 'Yes Baba, both of us did' — because with her upbringing in the house of her grandfather-astrologer, she thought nothing of consulting one. She could not understand how such a thing could so upset Baba.
Then Baba asked her what the man had said, and she replied that he had predicted a grave, prolonged illness for Navalsha, and a severe financial loss in Jer's husbands business. Dina went on and said how they had both asked how they could help their husbands, and the man had given elaborate instructions to give to some temple and to distribute food, etc in order to avert the disasters. Since they could not themselves carry out the instructions, the man offered to do it all for them asking 10 Rs. each. They finally agreed on 5 Rs. each.
Baba listened to all this and again sarcastically said, 'So 5 Rs. each! Do you think that paying some astrologer Brahmin some money can change your destiny? How could you believe such stuff?!' Then in all seriousness and intensity, Baba said, 'You have placed your head on My feet and I have accepted you, now I am responsible for you and for everything in your life. Your stars and planets no longer govern your life. For those who lay their head at My feet and are Mine, I put all their stars and planets in My cup of tea and drink them up! Remember, from this day, do not consult any astrologer for your horoscope or show your hand to anyone. Just leave everything to Me and obey Me.'
While speaking he had gestured as if holding a cup and saucer in his left hand, adding the stars and planets with his right hand, stirring it with the right hand index finger and then lifting and drinking from the imaginary cup. After speaking, Baba embraced Dina as a sign of forgiveness.
Baba has said on a number of occasions, that during His lifetime He takes His followers through a number of lives, that He blindfolds them and leads them avoiding all temptations on the path. Perhaps it is for this reason that horoscopes and hand readings of His lovers did not prove correct.
2 volumes.Ed. Bill LePage. Woombye, Meher Baba Foundation Australia, 1999-2002. © 1999 AMBPPCT
