Previous Page
Table Of Contents
Next Page

 

 

Only Love counts."

 

Surrounding the ashram grounds was a stone wall about six feet high. Occasionally Baba took us for walks around the outside wall or over the hill, Baba leading the way and setting the pace. We followed in groups behind, Baba, however, reminding us when we started out to keep close to him. What would happen? Soon we would become engrossed in small talk and laughter, not noticing the ever-increasing distance between ourselves and Baba. Baba had frequently to wait or have some one call to us to hurry along. Baba chose odd moments to tell us of fresh plans or to explain some point of the Spiritual Path and one such moment was often on a walk. I have known Baba to wait two or three times for us all to catch up; maybe the fourth time, He would look back, and seeing the stretching "crocodile" of followers, look sad and just walk on. How slow we were to realize our privileges!

 

At the main entrance was an iron gate, close to which was the watchman 's tower, really a small water tank holding the water pumped up from the well, and underneath which was built a room for the watchman. There, for twenty-four hours, a watchman was on duty―two from amongst us, Masi and Kaku, and one of the men at night. If anything unforeseen should happen, then a loud bell was rung from the tower to call the men mandali from Lower Meherabad.

 

To the west of our compound and reached by a gate in the wall, was a nice garden in which stood Baba's other cabin, and, a few paces away, the square, domed vault (hence referred to as "The Dome"), with the sign of the four great religions, one at each corner—a cross for the Christian, a crescent for the Mohammedan, a flame for the Zoroastrian, and a temple for the Hindu. Over the doorway of the vault, destined to be the resting place of Baba's physical body, are the stupendous words, "Mastery in Servitude," Baba's own motto. Dr. Ghani has explained, in reference to these words, that servitude is not only the means to achieve mastery, but that mastery itself lies in true servitude, and only a Perfect Master can render selfless service, such as Christ on the cross.

 

28

 

Previous Page
Table Of Contents
Next Page