For this reason, I tell you to be ever mindful of me and not to pay attention to outside attractions. But you run after them and thereby lose me! So be careful to do as I say."
Someone asked aboout Mary Baker Eddy, the 19 th century American Founder of Christian Science.
Surprisingly, Baba said, "She was on the planes, between the third and the fourth, the point just before Illumination."
When they were sitting with Baba in the garden on the 11 th , he stated, "There is a possibility of me being put in prison or becoming seriously ill. I can't say if it will happen, but it might, in which case you are to go somewhere and wait for me, I will give directions to Tod. Should this occur, it will be very serious, but not to worry. The whole universe is in my keeping."
Norina asked if she might share his suffering.
Baba replied gently, "No one can do it for me. When I speak the whole world will consciously experience bliss for seven moments."
On one touching occasion, some of the local villagers came to see Baba. Among them was a leper who presented Baba with a flower. Baba immediately took two petals off the flower, gave one to the leper to eat and ate the other one himself. He embraced the diseased man and indicated that he would be cured.
After staying in Bhandardara, Baba and the group left by train from Igatpuri for Agra on Wednesday, 12 April 1933. There were 20 people accompanying Baba, including the Westerners, Adi Jr., Jalbhai, Adi Sr., Chanji, Ghani, Gustadji, Kaka, Pendu and Vishnu. When the train arrived at Nasik Road Station, shouts of "Sadguru Meher Baba ki jai" rent the air as hundreds crowded onto the platform for Baba's darshan. When the train came to a halt, the crowd rushed toward Baba's compartment with loud cheers. Some fell weeping at his feet, and some kissed his feet and the hem of his garment — an illuminating sight indeed for his Western lovers.
Reaching Agra on the afternoon of 13 April, they stayed at Laurie's Hotel . Baba sent Adi Sr., Pendu and Vishnu in advance to Srinagar to arrange for the group's lodging in Kashmir. After a rest and dinner at the hotel, at 9:30 Baba took the group to see the Taj Mahal by moonlight. The gopis were enthralled by the sight of the rising full moon beyond the stunning monument.
After some remarks about the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, Adi Jr. commented to Kitty, "There is nothing spiritual about it. It is a mausoleum dedicated only to a human love — a king's love for his queen. How much greater it would have been had Shah Jahan dedicated it to the worship of God."
Baba commented: "It has no spiritual value. St Mark's [in Venice] is a spiritual work of art. Do you want to stay longer? To me, these things have no interest."
He motioned to Norina asking what she had to say about the Taj Mahal. Norina replied, "Since I have seen you, no other beauty can satisfy or affect me!"
Baba smiled, gesturing, "And still you have not seen my real beauty and splendor!"
The next day Baba took them again to see the Taj Mahal by daylight and there announced a change of plans. The Westerners had been called to India to stay for six months and had left jobs, homes, businesses, families and friends. Now, after less than a week in India, Baba informed them that, after the trip to Kashmir, they would have to return home to await his arrival in the West. It was a shock to them, but as he had done when he left the Harmon Retreat earlier than scheduled and postponed breaking his silence, Baba was once again teaching them obedience, flexibility and steadfastness to him under all circumstances. Would they obey him? "Yes," they replied earnestly, and Baba was very happy.