As we ran to embrace him, the years fell away, and all our problems and heartaches too. Time stood still. Here was Reality. Baba asked each of us to tell him all that had happened during these years. With streaming eyes I tried my best, as I knew there was a reason in this recounting. All I wanted to do was to look at him.
Baba explained to them, "I am so happy to have you with me. You will stay at Meherabad for six weeks. During that time you are to rest and eat well. Don't worry about anything — only think of me. Once we move to Pimpalgaon you will be kept busy all the time."
Then Baba revealed, "I am very, very tired. The weight of the universe is upon my shoulders. But soon that will change, and also conditions in the West. Everyone is Baba, everything is Baba and everywhere is Baba. All else is zero.
"I intend going out on two mast tours. I feel very happy when I am with the masts; but for the three weeks you will be at Pimpalgaon, I will be with you all the time. Discussions regarding work will take place from the 1st of August."
The other women were called, and Baba teased Delia about her habit of constantly applying cologne.
"Do you still like eau de cologne?" he asked.
Baba then went on an inspection tour of their quarters and ordered that Jean and Delia were to have everything they needed. Before leaving at 10:15 A.M., he showed them his final resting place, the Tomb, and narrated a few incidents from the Prem Ashram days.
Jean presented Baba with a painting of a winged horse, done by Marguerite Poley, whom Jean had told about Baba.1
That afternoon, Bhagirath and his wife Kokila visited Baba when he was with the mandali in the Ice Factory Bungalow.
As mentioned they were living in the same building, and Baba remarked to Kokila, "I am everywhere!"
"But how can we know it?" she asked.
Handing her a fresh rose, Baba stated, "Can you see its fragrance?"
Kokila replied she could not see it.
"But it does have a fragrance, doesn't it?"
"Yes, certainly."
Baba explained, "As the fragrance is hidden in the rose, in the same way my presence is hidden in every heart — unseen and imperceptible."
Footnotes
- 1.Another painting done by Marguerite Poley of Baba riding a white horse was hung in Baba's room at Meherazad after he dropped the body in 1969.