In the afternoon Baba and the entire party (Mertens, visitors and all) went to Zurich, to the studio of Otto Haas Heye, a very well-known designer of Zurich, and an ardent devotee of Baba. It was a very big party of about 25, half of which drove in three cars, the others going by train. All had a nice afternoon out with Baba. Some of the workers in the designing department were introduced to Baba, and some private interviews took place also

July 12th : THE DAY OF BABA'S SECLUSION ON THE MOUNTAIN "FALLEN FLUE".

This morning at 6 o'clock Baba and party drove in a car to the mountain "Fallen Flue" for the place selected by Baba last Saturday for seclusion. The party consisted of Adi, Kaka, Chanji, Tod, Walter and Heidi Mertens. Heidi drove the car, a 5-seater Buick with 7 of us, and the various packages of our luggage typical of Baba's party. The weather was very nasty since last evening, although it had been very clear all these days until last evening. 'Maya' working in opposition as usual! Water started falling all of a sudden, from 11 to 12 noon, causing a change in atmosphere.

Heidi drove for hours around Lake Lucerne and the scenery was charmingly beautiful. A guide, who was a friend of Mr. Walter Mertens and knew the mountain sides and road perfectly well, was picked up. The dear soul had to stand all the way on the luggage carrier as we six were packed in the car with our luggage.

At a certain spot we had to leave the car and walk uphill with the packages of luggage in our hands and also on shoulders for half an hour through a short cut, which was full of rough, muddy fields, to avoid detection. It was a breath-taking task and a good trying exercise and experience of the rough country life as contrasted with the easy, busy city life where we work within four walls. Perhaps it was needed. While crossing the fields we were troubled by very big, insistent flies.

Upon reaching a beautiful spot we partook of a breakfast of bread, butter and fruit which were distributed by Baba. Then Baba gave us instructions of what to do while he was sitting in seclusion. Each of us had to keep a watch for two hours consecutively until Baba arose from his seclusion an hour earlier or later than 7 P.M. Kaka was to accompany him to the secluded spot and stay a hundred yards away. We all were to fast, not even to drink water, within that period. We were allowed to rest after duty hours, and talk softy, if required. Baba left us with his hat on, overcoat on shoulders and other things in hand, Kaka following him with Baba's bedding, etc. The watch duty was assigned as follows: Tod 9:30 to 11:30; Walter 11:30 to 1:30; Adi 1:30 to 3:30; Chanji 3:30 to 5:30 P.M.

We had practically no sleep and since the downpour increased as time went on, by way of precaution, we prepared a roof above our cave with branches of trees and leaves to keep us safe from the pestilential flies and pouring rain. But when we completed the roof after three hours of hard and trying labor, it stopped raining! The sun came out and with it we did dry ourselves. We tried to light a fire to make us warm. Some folks came into the woods, but Walter explained that some important astronomical work was going and no disturbance was allowed, and I made them go back.

Baba returned at 5 P.M., earlier than expected from his seclusion, quite happy at the work done, and more satisfied than he was at Assisi. Then Baba explained: "While thus working I leave my physical body which would be dead to all feelings of touch, and would not feel it even if the body were hammered or cut up. But I draw a boundary all around, of a radius of 50 yards, so that none can come in. Any one trying to cross the boundary line would drop dead instantaneously. That's why I told Kaka to keep watch at a distance of 100 yards. When I work like this meetings are held where spirits (my Agents) attend in numbers unseen by the common eye, but sometimes visible and audible."

Then Walter narrated his own experience of how he felt inwardly between 11 and noon, and how when he was asleep he heard somebody distinctly calling him by his name. He walked towards the side, but found that no one was there.