ChaptersChapter 9Page 1,187

Chapter 9: Tumultuous Travel

1930Page 1,187 of 5,444
As Baba pointed out when playing gilli-danda at Meherabad the month before, every action of the Avatar is connected with his inner work.
A telegram arrived from Sampath Aiyangar, saying that he was not able to find a place for Baba's seclusion in the south. Despite this disappointing news, Baba went with the group of men and boys from Srinagar to Jammu by taxi at seven in the morning on Saturday, 28 June 1930.
There were now three men and three boys as Baba's companions: Chanji, Raosaheb, Vishnu, Ali Akbar, Tulsi, and Adam; Baba had decided to leave Rehman behind. The journey was scenic but not pleasant because it was terribly hot. And there were so many mountainous curves that all, including Baba, felt dizzy.
At two in the afternoon, the taxi got a flat tire. While standing under a tree, Baba surprised all by suddenly motioning to Raosaheb to persuade Adam to go back home. Raosaheb tried, but the unhappy boy did not want to leave. Adam was taken with them to Jammu where he was again told to go home and given train fare. But the clever lad stealthily followed Baba's party to Sialkot, traveling in another train compartment. Baba spotted him. With much difficulty, Raosaheb managed to persuade Adam to go back to Srinagar.
On the return journey, Tulsi was dropped off in Lahore where the boy had originally joined the group. He also showed his unhappiness when leaving Baba. While at the railway station, Baba noticed another boy standing on the platform, and he sent Vishnu to bring him. The boy seemed thrilled to be seated next to the silent stranger. However, Baba took the boy only as far as Manmad and then sent him back to Lahore.
On the train traveling from Lahore to Amritsar, a 53-year-old Muslim man in the compartment was also visibly drawn to Baba. He kept gazing steadily at Baba, who was patting the new boy seated beside him.
After some time, Baba looked straight at him and dictated through one of the mandali, "My friend, there is nothing but bliss everywhere."
"Maybe for you, Sir," the man replied, "but not for us."
Baba answered, "You complain because you cannot see it, but I tell you there is nothing but bliss all around. I see it; I experience it every moment."
The man then said, "I have experienced nothing but misery, conflict and suffering in the world. I have never known happiness and am quite disgusted with my life."
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