ChaptersChapter 13Page 1,769

Chapter 13: Nasik & Cannes

1937Page 1,769 of 5,444
Usually after dinner, Baba would again discourse to the group sitting outside in the garden, or go on a walk before retiring for bed at nine. Whenever Baba would spend the night in Nasik, in the morning, he would sit in an armchair and Delia and Margaret would sometimes brush his hair as he listened to the group recount their dreams. Margaret Craske once recollected:
A few of the disciples in Nasik had a strong belief that their dreams indicated some special spiritual progress and were most anxious to recount them to anyone who would listen. Baba lovingly agreed to listen to these dreams and discuss them and arranged for everyone to meet each morning at 5:30 in the sitting room.
Delia and I, who confessed to having no dreams of any kind that we remembered, were told that instead of entering the discussion we were to brush Baba's hair and massage his scalp. For us this was wonderful. What were dreams compared with the pleasure of brushing Baba's beautiful hair and, with our fingertips, massaging his scalp. His head was an amazing shape. Even now my hands can remember how it was formed.
From the middle of January, Baba outlined duties for each of the Westerners staying at Nasik. Everyone was to rise at 6:30 A.M., meditate for an hour and together take an hour lesson in learning Urdu from Ramjoo. No one, not even the older ones such as Nonny or Ruano, was allowed to rest in the afternoons. Their individual duties were as follows:
Delia: One hour teaching drama and art; one hour dancing with Margaret; two hours gardening.
Elizabeth: Helping Norina with the ashram accounts; driving members of the group to the bazaar or elsewhere (such as Rahuri or Meherabad) whenever needed; looking after the dogs, Canute and Kippy.
Garrett: Three hours writing (for the magazine) from the points given by Baba.
Jean: Secretary to Garrett and Malcolm in the magazine work; two hours writing spiritual poetry and prose; one hour weaving.
Kitty: One hour teaching piano to Rustom's daughter Meheru; two hours working with Margaret in setting music to her dances for the film; one hour typing Baba's work; writing a daily diary to be shown to Baba when he comes to Nasik.
Malcolm: Three hours preparing lectures to be delivered when asked by Baba.
Margaret: One hour teaching dance to Rano and Delia; two hours choreographing dances for the film project; helping Delia with the gardening whenever time is available.
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