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15

 

We felt for these moments that we were truly one and our Master was holding all of our hands.

 

Francis read his ghazals or songs of devotion to the Divine Beloved. Baba taught Francis this song form. It's a form of expressing all the shades of the lover and is not well known in the West . . . where surrenderance to the Master's perfect will is not even thought about, let alone attempted.

 

At 10:00 it was time for Baba's darshan and fond last embraces. We all took a long time with our Beloved at His chair in the main hall. In His bedroom we took darshan at His chair. Never while Baba was in the body was anyone allowed to move or touch that chair.

 

Mani said that it is unimaginable what universal work Baba must have done while sitting in that chair.

 

We walked and talked with the mandali. We shared our hearts with each other. We felt no separateness. . .no old lover or new lover, man or woman, no duality . . . we just loved Baba and He through everything loved us. We were all so touched deeply and everlastingly.

 

Buses, oh, no one wanted to see those buses arrive. They had taken us to and from Guruprasad each day and now for the last time they had to come to take us away. As we pulled off, we shouted three times: "AVATAR MEHER BABA, KI JAI!"

 

* * *

 

John Krchniak writes of this day:

 

April 14th was our last day for Baba's darshan. Guruprasad seemed a little sadder at our leaving, and although the love was as strong, it was "parting." I don't recall what transpired the first hour, but I do know that we were again taking darshan at Baba's feet . . . I again was filled with great joy and as I walked up to the chair, when my turn came, I embraced and kissed Baba's picture, His hands, His feet.

 

It was then a round of farewells. I again went into Baba's bedroom, knowing it was my last time. I knelt and said a little prayer. As I left, Eruch, who was surrounded by a group of young folk on the veranda, raised himself on his toes and over their heads told me: "Don't let go of Baba. DON’T LET GO OF BABA!!!!"   A slight fear went through me at this admonition happening this way, and I quietly said, "No, I won't." My heart was pounding and my mind said, if I let go of Baba, there will be nothing, there will be no reason for anything. How can I let go of Him? God is all there is.

 

Going back, the bus was strangely silent. So different from the previous rides. The cheers were still chanted, but with a sadness because we knew we would possibly never again see Guruprasad in this lifetime. A few know they are coming back, but most of us know we've had it for this lifetime. And I kept seeing Eruch's eyes as he said “Don't let go of Baba. Don't let go of Baba!" They were filled with love and concern. We had never been able to get together even for a small chat, the crowds pressing around him always were so large. One knows that had Baba allowed us to touch Him, our Love could become thoughtless of the fragility and pain of His flesh body crucifixion. Our love for Him needed expression, and we might have literally "squeezed Him to death."

 

* * *

 

In the evening we went to the Avatar Meher Baba Poona Center. Each Monday night many of Baba's lovers come there to forget about the week of work ahead and just sing to Baba. Anyone having attended a Baba meeting any place knows how good it feels to be with your close family. Ramakrishnan gave us the background history of Poona Center. He told us the story of Beloved Baba's visit to the opening dedication ceremony. Dr. C.D. Deshmukh then gave us a short talk.

 

Madhusudan and his wife sang bhajans. Baba had praised them many times and given them His blessings. In fact, Baba once called for them to come to Meherazad and sing. From 8:00 A.M. til' 5:00 P.M. they sang with only a five minute break in between. That day Madhusudan told Baba that even having gone through all his songs twice he would still sing, even though he felt as if he would collapse. Baba then told him he could stop . . .Madhusudan thought perhaps Baba just wanted to see how much they loved Him.

 

We went back to the hotels, tired, yet filled with Baba's love. We left early the next day for home.

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Continued on Page 77

 

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