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56

 

Lenny Willoughby is Master of Ceremonies for the Westerner's program. First we have three songs from "Let Us the People Sing" of Francis Brabazon, by the Luck Brothers. Then "Baba Bhagavan" ―the same Mani had introduced to us. Next — Mike Childs on his inimitable guitar, playing and singing his own Baba Song. Next a short skit, by Diane Cobb ―of a chela (Pat Sharin) asking Baba (Pamela Hudson with mustache!) for power to change a toad into a man, and getting a gestured "very interesting—come back in 700 years."After hundreds of years and several meetings with the Avatar, the chela finally gets the point —and surrenders his ego.

 

Roger Lull read a poem by Josephine Ross, then Harold Rudd resurrected the jazz Age with Baba, How I Love You to the tune of Mamie —and Baba to the tune of Chadda. Mike Childs, guitar.

 

Patty Gauss read from "The Love Song of John Kerry," by Francis Brabazon. Then Lenny followed with He's Got The Whole World in His Hands—we all join of course; how could we resist? Then I played a tape of Mike Thorne's beautiful Ancient One.

 

Mike Childs followed with a guitar solo and a group sing-in, It's a small world. Lenny and Bernice Ivory sang Divine Love by Francis; music by Richard Williamson. Gil Alvarado's 'gang' put on a most amusing "Symphony of Sounds"—Musicians played on a toothbrush, bubble blower, scissors, alarm clock, note book, bucket and ended with a spray-can finish! My Lord, What a Beautiful Morning was rendered by Lenny, Pat Hawkes and Sheri, as Mike Childs, Pat Sheridan strummed their guitars. Vivian Agostini then read Steps to the Master's Feet, another Brabazon gem; it was followed by a Begin the Beguine—guitar solo by Paul Morse.

 

Next a classic Indian Dance interlude—by Debbie Wertz; sitarist—Mani S. Irani! Who then favored us with two sitar solos! "Papeeha"—Papeeha is a bird. The song says: 'Papeeha, go to my beloved and give him this message from me'. The second song says 'My heart, my body sways to the music of Lord Krishna's flute'.

 

I believe ours was the first darshan group to hear Mani play—we were honored, as she plays with verve and sparkle. Then she led us in the English arti, the hit of the first darshan: Mike Childs on guitar, Alice Klein on recorder.

 

It was a typical 'Baba' entertainment—home brewed talents, all performing for love of dear Baba! One could almost feel Him there, head swaying, fingers tapping, in rhythm with the music.

 

In the afternoon Digambar came to see me, I recorded several of the songs he had composed. He had a charming voice. His father was a teacher in the Babajan School, and met Baba in 1921, when Baba was still talking.

 

Jal came by and told of the Mast Tours—in which he sometimes participated—how they were so cold, all bundled up while Baba kept on His thin clothes and sandals; how they used to go through terrible thick jungles, over hills, to look for Masts, and how Baba would not even allow them time to eat and sleep until the Mast was contacted. Jal got used to not sleeping, and now he can't sleep much. He said Baba would be kind and sweet to them, and harsh at the same time. He told how his father was a wandering Dervish. He wandered on foot from Iran to India. His sister forced him to marry, so he picked five-year-old Shirinbai—not believing the child's parents would consent! Jal said this is the first Avataric time the whole family of the Avatar has been devoted to Him, 'top to bottom'. His mother had a dream about Baba being the Avatar, after He was born.

 

The Western men met with the mandali at Guruprasad, around 4:30 P.M. Eruch began by saying he knew Baba would speak the Word, and he felt Baba's Presence the same as ever. Adi got up to speak, began to sob, and could not stop. Then the Easterners entertained with a little 'Night Music, Madhusudan and family with We Welcome You, O Lovers of Meher and Meher Daaman Chutay Na—'Don't let Meher's Daaman Slip.' Madhusudan was a Brahmin whom Baba joined in marriage to an "untouchable"; this turned all his relatives against him and depressed him almost to the point of suicide. Baba then asked him to compose some songs—which he did, beginning with the beautiful Bhajan, 'O Baba I have no relatives, You are my only relative'.

 

About 6 P.M. it rained, and a beautiful

 

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