Volume 19 Number 1 Page 60

religion, however much my mother tried to keep me out of it. But thanks to the protecting hand of Meher Baba's love, it did not in the least involve me in any of the contacts from which a man sometimes finds himself unable to extricate himself. My mother once complained to Upasni Maharaj. When he questioned me as to how I would like to give up the growing intimacy with the girl, I simply refused. Later the affair went through Gulmai to the ears of Meher Baba and he decided my future with a wonderful handling of the matter. He had the girl called over to Sadashiv Patel's house through my mother Gulmai. Baba sat on the ground on the first floor of the house. In front of him were to sit the girl and Gulmai. On the right hand side, I was asked to take my seat, but with my back facing Gulmai and the girl. Baba told her that I belonged to him and even my mother had no claim on me. She should try to forget me completely. He knew that any idea of a future alliance with me was not possible and even if imposed would turn out to be unhappy. The girl was very much distressed and could not help expressing her sorrow in tears. But when Baba convinced her of the extreme unhappiness that would result in case the idea was not abandoned, she gradually reconciled to the situation. It is not uncommon that a young man in love with a young girl is prepared to hazard any hurdle in life to bring about the fulfillment of his desire to marry. But what has taken place with me and my love for him, I did not in the least feel for having to give up in comparison a very small love. I always loved my mother most in my family, but I experienced that it has taken a secondary place and later on became insignificant. To compare Baba's love with that of any other became almost inconceivable for me and I was as much happy as Gulmai to see that the severance of all relationship with the girl eventually resulted in the happiness to all concerned, including the parents of the girl who, on their part, were found unwilling for the match.

The mother of this same girl once just happened to go to Baba to see him at the zhopdi. She had a rich husband, but riches did not give her happiness. She was worried about her daughter — the same girl, as her father would not agree for her to be taken to Iran (Persia). With the hope of having her desire fulfilled she went to Meher Baba. Baba responded to her request and said that he would see her wish fulfilled and when it did, she should come once and sweep the inside floor of Baba's zhopdi. She agreed. On her return from Iran, somehow she did not bother to keep her promise. She did not go and clean the zhopdi. Later it came to my notice that because of some other unhappy incident pertaining to her daughter — she became almost insane and could not look after herself. Not because she broke her promise given to Baba did she have to suffer the state of mental derangement for a number of months, but the suffering which she was destined to bear could have been avoided had she taken care to carry out Baba's advice, which she preferred to seek on her own. Baba tried to help her, but she could not receive his help.

For moving about locally, Baba seldom used a vehicle. Only from town to town, did he travel in the train in a third class carriage. From the Ferguson College zhopdi to Sadashiv Patel's house, or the house of Arjun in Kasba Peth, or to his parent's house in Poona Cantt., Baba always walked. Many a time I accompanied him with the other disciples and I found these short journeys very significant. Short discourses were given verbally by Baba, which centered round the great necessity of implicit obedience to the Perfect Master, without whose grace the conscious experience of oneness with God was not possible. The great training in unquestioning obedience was given in simple words on these occasions. It was as if a child was baited into the "snare" of his love and