Jubbulpore in eastern middle India. This is supposed to be a large city in a very beautiful landscape. A high magistrate is Baba's disciple and will take care of our lodging.

Hedi tells me how every time Baba undertakes such meaningful tours "maya" works against him to block the movement. In Hyderabad for example we were invited (about 35 persons) by the first prime minister and a couple of other influential persons of this rich state. The first minister, who had put a palace at our disposal, became seriously ill. Then the second minister offered us his palace (they all look like white "oriental fairy-tale castles"), whereupon his son-in-law died. Then he put a bungalow at our disposal, whereupon the black plague broke out there. A sort of gentleman's house with beautiful cloister-courtyards in an old park received us then on the first day (meanwhile the wife of the first minister suffered a heart attack), until the palace where we presently are, which belonged to the dead brother of the Nizam, was ready at night-time.

It's been a week since we moved in here, to stay for a month. On the trip south the landscape became evermore fertile, many parts reminded me of the Greifensee-region, then more and more boulders of strange, round form appeared (giant plastic sculptures by Arp), and in the area around Hyderabad one finds oneself transported to a fairy-tale-like, unreal primitive landscape, with giant hills and fields with boulders as high as a house, which are often balanced three and four on top of one another. The grayness lies still and heavy in the beige-yellow, dry fields, and little lakes with light-and dark-green grasses are as refreshing as a morning vision as they mirror the radiant sky.

Corbusier-houses, oriental palaces, giant trees and villas in Italian style show the proximity of the rich city. In between are located the villages of the poverty-stricken natives like hidden stalls or areas walled off naturally.

Baba sets the people here in motion. He comes with the idea to create here (or somewhere else) a "spiritual world center". A Major C., a small man, who, as the right hand of the first minister, takes himself to be most important, has provided for our lodging. He and his wife practice occultism. When I was there on the first evening, (in order to accustom myself slowly to the oriental way of lodging), he told me mysteriously of the healings of his wife, spoke of the ten masters of the Deccan, of the old diamond mine Golconda, where in its day the Koh-i-Noor diamond was found, and of his ability to make a pearl out of a pea, to conjure up fresh California apples and other things out of the air. He played himself up to me as a master, one who wants to put one over on the naïve "Westerner". The whole "Major" episode is a funny-interesting intermezzo showing Baba's work. I have noted everything in detail in my diary and can give here just a few highlights.

The next day Norina has to go under Baba's orders to the Major, in order to "snob" him. Again he wants to brag, but she tells of her own earlier healings and spiritual adventures, all of which she has long since put behind her in order to dedicate her whole existence to Baba, who is the incarnation of truth and spirit. The Major takes himself to be a master. Then it follows that she must also be a master, she says. But neither is a master, that is all deception and child's play when compared to the true transformation into life lived under the guidance of the Master.

The next day the Major and his wife go to Baba. He plays with the two of them like a boy with balls. He lets them puff themselves up (the Major could become his right hand), and lets them fall, (he knows more about him then he himself). The Major says one couldn't say anything bad about him. Baba answers, whether he wishes that one might only say good things about him? (In real existence pure deeds grow out of a state-of-balance of "good and evil").

The Major tells of his achievements. Do we both find it necessary, to talk about our achievements? answers Baba. In short, the game goes this way and that, Baba unveils his project of the "Centre", the Major would be his right hand (the little fool is very industrious). In the end the Major declares to his wife, "This is the man who will wind the whole world around his finger" (what an enlightening image!?). He offers his true and loyal services.

In the afternoon Baba gives me a sketch, which is drawn according to the format of my centre-plans and contains the designations of the various divisions (Baba and his main people, advanced souls, saints, male and female followers, Mad-Ashram, meditation-ashram, spiritual academy, ashram for touched souls, etc.).* I am supposed to have made a beautiful plan made out of it by

*see Vol. 3. No. 1, The Awakener.