Previous Page
Table Of Contents
Next Page

 

22

 

be a lifetime of service for Baba's work. I wired home that we should arrive the next day. Baba wanted also to return the Thursday following, the 24th of September, and Herbert, before sailing, was to arrange with Father to let them stay again at our home. It seemed as if Maya was already at work and Baba's difficulties in the West beginning. Things were very bad in England; we went off the gold standard the day I returned and the Stock Exchange was declared closed for a few days. This greatly interfered with my work for Baba, but like all one does for him, it is better for his work if there are these difficulties. Thereby he teaches us not to worry nor be anxious over the issue, but to go ahead exactly as he ordered and obey his orders implicitly, not caring about results. These are his concern, not ours.

 

Two others arrived at East Challacombe a day or so before the 18th, the day I left. Both were to play important roles in the future. One was Kim Tolhurst and the other Margaret Craske.

 

Saturday night was our last night at the retreat. Zilla didn't want to leave Baba. She was beginning to feel a little love for him, and Baba, Margaret, Zilla and I were together till very late. Next morning we had breakfast upstairs with Baba in his sitting room, playing games and talking with him until lunch time. No one felt like eating. Baba seemed sad that we were going and yet it was he who was sending us away. He had finished his work with us. Others had arrived and after we were gone they were to have all the attention that Baba had given us. It was not personal with Baba. He had definite work to do with each of us and so had to give time and treat each differently.

 

Sunday morning we left East Challacombe. Baba came down to the station with us in a private car. All came to the bottom of the lane to see Baba into the car. All the way Baba said, "Be happy, don't worry," and told Zilla to write often to him.

 

I would like to add Margaret Craske's diary of Baba's first visit to England in 1931, which will fill in the remaining four days to the 24th of September, when Baba and his party arrived back in London to stay with us again at 32 Russell Road.

 

Quoting from Margaret Craske's diary:

 

In the Spring of 1931, I needed a quiet holiday and in search of this I discovered by chance, Meredith Starr's ashram in Devonshire, and it was here that I first heard of Shri Meher Baba. Meredith Starr had been to India for a visit to see him, and had stayed for six months. He had then returned to England to give some idea to the West of the teachings and

 

Previous Page
Table Of Contents
Next Page