During the Madras darshan program, Baba had asked Don to write a description of the proceedings and send it to Will and Mary Backett in England. At the Mudaliar's, as Baba was sitting on a gaadi listening to his arti, he twirled a small skein of cotton thread in his hands, and then handed it to Don and told him to enclose it with his letter. Baba had Don send it to Mary, who used to spin and weave her own cloth, along with instructions to hold the thread in her hands, and thereafter to keep it in a safe place and not to use it.
Five minutes later, someone garlanded Baba with a garland of sandalwood chips and this, too, he gave to Don to send to Will and Mary, as well as the two garlands of gold embroidery offered by Lakshmi Aiyangar. Don wrote his description and packed the thread, and also carefully packed the garlands in a finely wrapped parcel, and sent them to the Backetts. The thread and garlands were to Will and Mary a message of Baba's love for them, and they kissed them daily when they offered their prayers. By sending these two devout souls these precious, personal treasures — symbolically keeping them adorned like garlands around his neck forever — Baba sent his Unlimited treasure which, until their last breath, kept them alive in his love.
After receiving this prasad, Will and Mary each sent Baba a letter expressing their gratitude and joy. With it were mingled their tears, which told the story of their love for their Beloved, and which only he could understand.1
While in Madras, Baba rose at 5:30 A.M., took his breakfast of tea, cream and bread at 6:30, and then gave darshan from 8:00 to 10:30. After a short rest, at eleven o'clock he would eat a simple lunch of dal, rice and two vegetables, and at 2:30 would drink tea. Darshan was again given from 3:00 to 5:30, and dinner was served at six. In the evening from seven to nine, Baba was available to his close lovers and devotees. Thus he spent several days with every moment fully occupied, dispensing his blessing and radiant love to thousands.
S. M. Fossil arranged for Baba to visit a local high school. For those students, local artists, social workers and those associated with Madras' public institutions who were present, Baba gave the following message:
Footnotes
- 1.Some years later (in 1952), after listening to Rano read out each of the Backett's letters, Baba remarked, "I have tasted real love." One of the garlands sent to the Backetts is now preserved at Meher Baba's house at Meher Center, Myrtle Beach.