They had been with Baba for almost a month, staying with him under the same roof in the same place, drinking the nectar of his divine company and love, which was poured into their hearts every second. They had also had a taste of the Master's ways of working by harmoniously bringing different temperaments together and had experienced some of the ways in which he trained individuals to follow his orders by subduing the mind in a way that only the Master of Perfection can."
Baba assured them of his early return and allotted them various duties so that they might always remember him in his absence. He also instructed that he wished for as many of them as possible to live together until he returned.
Baba had enjoyed his stay at Portofino very much and its place in spiritual history is assured. Portofino will one day be like Vrindavan, a sacred spot associated with Lord Krishna.1 Baba had given his company to his Western gopis and the beaches in Portofino were saturated with their tears. "Baba's smile, his splendor, his working and leela are there!" said Age. "His lovers will surely journey there on pilgrimage to pay homage to the memory of his visit."
Elizabeth expressed the feelings of all when she wrote to Baba after returning to America on 3 August 1933:
Dearest Baba,
You have left us outwardly, but inwardly, you were never more near to us, and we talk of you constantly and dream of you each night. You are the realization of all our dreams and the joy of our waking moments.
Portofino will ever remain with our hearts as Paradise. How good you were and how loving!
My heart is full of love for you, Baba dear.
Baba's cabin on the Victoria was again small, and the voyage was additionally uncomfortable because the Arabian Sea was very rough. The boat was tossed about like a toy and Chanji became violently seasick. Baba was confined to his cabin for most of the journey, but when he did venture out on deck for a walk, some curious Parsi passengers tried to meet him. The mandali, however, prevented it.
After a ten-day journey, they arrived in Bombay at 8:00 A.M. on Friday, 4 August 1933 and were met by Baba's brother Beheram and Naval Talati. Memo, Rustom, Freiny, Gulmai and Adi Sr., along with Marker, appeared on board a half hour later.2 Baba went with them to Naval and Dina's home.
Footnotes
- 1.Lord Krishna was born and lived in Mathura in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. During Krishna's advent, his gopis (women disciples) lived some miles away in Vrindavan.
- 2.Rustom had returned to India from America and China on the Naldera on 16 June 1933.