Then He asked Bill LePage to tickle Him; it evoked no response. Baba asked Frances Brabazon to tickle Him; also no response.

While I was eating my first helping of dessert, Baba asked me to eat more, so I took another helping. I was not finished eating it, when Baba came and gave me another helping and then He started to give each and everyone the same prasad. I had received a letter from somebody for Baba and I gave it to Him; Baba put it in His pocket. Baba had Malcolm and Purdom for a conference - revising notes taken during the giving of Messages. Baba left about 2:30 p.m. I went to see Dr. Donkin, and after sat with Ali Shah, the cigarette-smoking mast. I found him sitting and counting Indian coins and he seemed to lack a certain amount. I added a 2-anna piece, however, that seemed to disturb him, as he kept on counting over and over again. He then made motions, asking me, if I gave him that coin for keeps. I nodded and he was pleased. He kept on talking to me, it appeared, as if he complained about something. He never speaks when other Westerners are around, but as soon as I enter the room, he talks and smiles a sunny smile. I intended to leave, but he wanted me to stay, so I stayed for a long time with him. Some Indian men outside were watching us, but Ali Shah motioned them to go away. After finally leaving Ali Shah, I paid my homage to Baba's place of seclusion by meditating and leaving a flower there. Then I took a long walk over the fields and hills into the setting sun, meditating and absorbing all the experiences of the day.

Book Reviews,    continued from page 59

Let's Go To Meherabad! by Bhau Kalchuri. Soft cover, ill. 147 pp. $7.95. The Beguine Library.

PREM: (winking at Geet) All right - one last story, and this is a good one. In Meherabad as I mentioned before, there has always been the problem of water shortage. At the time of this particular story there were nearly five hundred people staying at the ashram. To alleviate the water problem Rustom asked Baba for permission to dig another well, and Baba agreed.

Rustom hired all the necessary equipment, but in spite of drilling to a great depth no water was found. He persisted with great effort in the work but without success, and he became quite disappointed. Now it so happened that at this same time a dejected man from a nearby village came to Baba and complained, "Baba, I have incurred a great debt digging a well, but still I have not found water - even at a depth of forty feet! How will I ever be able to maintain my crops and provide for my family, as well as pay back the money." Considering his pitiable condition Baba consoled him and said, "Go five feet deeper and you will get water!"

The man gratefully bowed before Baba and left. Baba then turned to the mandali, and pretending ignorance, said "Today I have made a mistake in telling that man to go five feet deeper! If he does not strike water, what will he think of Me? He will hold Me responsible. I don't know why I said such a thing! When we can't find water, how can I expect him to?"

After a week, however, the same man, along with several others from his village, returned to Meherabad, bringing with them the various articles traditionally used for performing arti. With obvious joy the man exclaimed, "Baba, with Your blessing I have struck water!" He then sang Baba's Arti with great devotion, and after receiving prasad he and his friends departed.

Immediately after they had done Rustom shouted, "Baba if he got water, why can't we find it?" Baba replied, "I have done nothing for him. Only because of his faith in My word has he succeeded." Rustom retorted, "But Baba, this is Your well!"

"That is the reason we don't get water," explained Baba.

"Besides Myself there is none in whom I can have faith to produce water!"

"But we have faith in You," insisted Rustom.

"Yes, you do have faith in Me, but that man's faith brought him success."

Rustom felt hurt. "Does that mean that his faith in You is greater than ours?"

Just to tease him Baba jokingly replied, "I don't know about that, but I do know that he reaped the fruits of his faith."