The Soda Water Night
At Cannes, Baba would wake Rano multiple times throughout the night to remind Him about ordering soda waterโtraining her to be ever alert and ready to comply with the Master's wishes at any moment.
All Mandali
Rano Gayley
Madeleine E. 'Merano' Gayley
American painter; spiritual paintings made under Baba's guidance; trust trustee
July 6, 1902 โ December 5, 1986
United States โ Meherazad, India
Western DiscipleArtistClose Women MandaliOnly Western Woman Permanent
Profession
Artist (Fabric Designer in New York)
Biography
Rano Gayley holds a unique place in Meher Baba's mandali as the only Western woman who stayed permanently with Him in India. An American artist who had worked as a fabric designer in New York, she became one of Baba's early Western disciples and devoted her artistic talents to His service.
Rano's connection to Baba began in the summer of 1932 in Paris, where Quentin told her and her mother Nonny about Baba while they were visiting their friend Ruano. When Nonny saw Baba's photograph, she recognized Him from a newspaper photo she had seen in May 1932. In 1933, Rano and her mother traveled to London to meet Baba for the first time. Describing that moment, Rano later said: 'I had never seen anyone so beautiful in my life. I felt that Baba was the embodiment of everything. He had that love and compassion which is indescribable.'
In 1934, on the voyage to America, Baba revealed that Rano, her mother Nonny and fellow disciple Ruano had close past connections with Him at the time of Jesus, and with one another in a previous life in Egypt. In 1937, at Cannes, Baba asked if she would like to come back to India with Him. Despite earlier saying Meherabad was 'not for her,' she eagerly accepted and reached Meherabad on 20 November 1937, beginning a life of service that would last until her death.
As an artist, Rano created some of the most significant visual representations of Baba's teachings. Her masterwork, the Ten Circles painting, was begun in Nasik under Baba's personal direction. Baba closely oversaw her work; in Bangalore in 1940 He even picked up a brush and dabbed paint on the left eye of her large portrait of Him in a turban, instantly improving the expression. She also made a chart, for children, illustrating the evolution and involution described in God Speaks; Baba approved her sketch and gave all the wording around the chart.
Baba trained Rano through seemingly trivial tasks that taught profound lessons in obedience. At Cannes, He would have her woken several times in the night to remind Him about ordering soda water the next dayโtraining her to be ever alert and ready. Once Baba had her woken and called to the kitchen to listen to a kettle singing. When she wondered why, Baba explained: 'It is not the fact of the kettle's singing that is of importance, but that I thought of youโthat I thought to call you.'
When Rano once complained, 'There is no use in my staying with you since you are always displeased with me,' Baba replied with a promise: 'I won't let you go, and will never let you go!' This proved propheticโshe became the only Western woman who stayed permanently.
In 1949-1950 during the New Life period, Baba sent Rano and Kitty to Bombay with conditions to follow. He told them: 'Treat your conditions like a life buoy and stick to it.' In 1952, she accompanied Baba on His trip to America.
Rano participated in the lighter moments too. In 1954 during a Dassera celebration, she dressed as a groom to present the horse 'Queen of Sheba' to Baba, which amused Him greatly.
As one of the six women with Baba at Meherazad at the endโalong with Mehera, Mani, Naja, Goher, and MeheruโRano witnessed His final years. In 1969, she received her last embrace from Baba after showing Him a watercolor of the 'Mastery In Servitude' emblem she had painted for Adi Jr. Despite Baba looking fragile, she recalled, 'it was the strong embrace of the old days.'
Rano served as a trustee of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust and continued serving at Meherazad until her death on December 5, 1986. She was buried at Upper Meherazad, her artistic legacy preserved in the paintings that continue to inspire Baba lovers worldwide.
Photo Gallery(117 photos)
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Life Timeline
1932
Introduction to Baba
In Paris, Quentin told Nonny and Rano about Baba; Nonny recognized Baba from a newspaper photograph
1933
First Meeting in London
Met Baba for the first time in London; described seeing 'one whose beauty of expression defied description'
1934
Past Life Revelation
On the voyage to America in December 1934, Baba revealed that Ruano, Nonny and Rano had close past connections with Him at the time of Jesus, and with one another in a previous life in Egypt
1936
Arrival in India
On 8 December 1936 she arrived in Bombay with her mother Nonny, Norina, Elizabeth and others, and stayed at Baba's ashram for Westerners in Nasik
1937
Permanent Stay Begins
At Cannes Baba asked if she would like to come back to India with Him; despite earlier hesitation, she eagerly accepted and reached Meherabad on 20 November 1937
1940
Ten Circles Painting
In Bangalore, continued work on the Ten Circles painting under Baba's direction; in January Baba Himself dabbed paint on the left eye of her large portrait of Him in a turban, instantly improving the expression
1949-1950
New Life Period
Sent to Bombay with Kitty during the New Life with conditions to follow
1952
Western Trip
Accompanied Baba on His trip to America, flying from Bombay to New York
1956
God Speaks Chart
At Ivy Duce's suggestion, made a chart for children illustrating the evolution and involution described in God Speaks; Baba approved it and gave all its wording
1969
Last Embrace
Received her last embrace from Baba after showing Him a watercolor of the 'Mastery In Servitude' emblem she had painted for Adi Jr.
1986
Death
Passed away on December 5, 1986, at Meherazad; buried at Upper Meherazad
Quotes
โI won't let you go, and will never let you go!
โ When Rano complained there was no use in staying since Baba was always displeased with her
โIt is not the fact of the kettle's singing that is of importance, but that I thought of youโthat I thought to call you.
โ After having Rano woken to listen to a singing kettle
โIf you think I am doing this for you, you are mistaken. My work comes first; you are secondary.
โ Near Ajmer, when Rano and Kitty asked Baba not to go to the trouble and expense of taking them up Taragarh Hill
โI have saved you for My work. Had I not been here when you were sick, you would have died.
โ After saving Rano during a serious illness, explaining His divine purpose
โI have your letters and although I didn't reply by letter, you did have the reply through inner communion which always continues, wherever I am, whatever I may be doing. No call of Love ever remains unresponded, much less from those who love me and think of me constantly as you do... Remember dearest, Baba watches every little act of Love, listens to every little note (voice) of Love, and responds to every little cry given for Love, no matter where these come from ...
โ Letter of 28 March 1936 to Nonny and Rano in America, who had written to Baba without receiving replies by post.
โHow can you say you don't like it? It is so beautiful! You will never be able to draw as well as her!
โ Cannes, August 1937. The artist Anita had shown Baba a drawing, which he praised; when he asked Rano's opinion, she said honestly that she did not care for it.
โWhy aren't you as good as your mother? Nonny is so sweet, why can't you be more like her?
โ Cannes, 1937, where Baba was teaching Rano, whose mother Nonny was also with the group, to keep a buttoned lip. He teased her this way as part of his work to crush her ego.
โI want you to remind me about ordering soda water tomorrow. That's all. Now go and rest. โฆ Don't forget to remind me about the soda water. Now go sleep; you look tired.
โ Cannes, August 1937. At night Baba would often send Kaka to wake Rano and bring her to his room, only to give her this instruction; soon afterward she would be called again.
โIf I do not withdraw myself physically from you from time to time, you will not feel me here [pointing to the heart], and it is there that I want you to feel my presence.
โ Panchgani, April 1938. Rano and Kitty felt they hardly saw Baba, who was absorbed in mast work; when he asked the women what was on their minds, they told him.
โNonny was one of my greatest lovers. She always gave spontaneously [financially] for my work. โฆ Funds will come, and come in plenty, but to the dear, departed soul goes the credit of starting my work that is to serve mankind's greatest need. I am happy her dear name will be connected and perpetuated with this unique institution.
โ Bangalore, 14 October 1939, after Rano's mother Nonny died with a smile on her face. Baba took Rano in his embrace and spelled out these words. Nonny's contributions had helped start the planned spiritual center.
โIf I had not ordered you to eat that curry and rice, you would have been very sick.
โ Katrain, in the Kulu valley, June 1946. In Mandi Baba had made Rano eat a plate of curry and rice; she vomited, and Don found she had infectious hepatitis. Afterwards Baba forbade every appetizing dish Don proposed, and she recovered quickly.
โIf you wish, you may return to your country; otherwise, stay in India. My love will always be with you, but I will never see your faces again.
โ Meherabad, August 1949, as Baba prepared to begin the New Life and settled what would become of each of the women mandali. He said this to Rano and Kitty.
Notable Stories
The Kettle's Song
Baba had Rano woken to listen to a kettle singing. When she wondered why, Baba spelled out: 'It is not the fact of the kettle's singing that is of importance, but that I thought of youโthat I thought to call you.'
I Won't Let You Go
When Rano complained 'There is no use in my staying with you since you are always displeased with me,' Baba replied: 'I won't let you go, and will never let you go!'โAnd she became the only Western woman who stayed permanently.
Nasik Vision
At Nasik, Rano was awakened by a blinding light with Baba's face in it. With the light and vision came such ecstasy that she was absorbed into Baba. The next day Baba asked what she had been dreamingโHe knew.
Artistic Works
Ten Circles Painting
Large painting begun in Nasik under Baba's direction, depicting spiritual concepts
God Speaks Chart
Illustrations depicting evolution and involution for children, created at Ivy Duce's suggestion with Baba's approval and specific wording
Mastery In Servitude Emblem
Watercolor of the emblem painted for Adi Jr.; when Baba touched it in January 1969, He gave her her last embrace