He is a very fine man and I love him very much. Today he sent me a telegram saying, "Dear Baba, I humbly apologize for having disappointed you and ask your forgiveness." I cabled in reply: "Don't worry; my love and blessings."1 This I tell you because dear Purdom wanted to know why he left.
The Westerners then accompanied Baba to lower Meherabad for the prayers. Baba sat in his chair in the hall, with the Westerners on the floor around him. All the doors and windows were shut. Baba called Kaikobad, and together they went to the other end of the hall, where they washed their face and hands. Standing in front of the large oil portrait of Baba ( The Avatar , done by Rano), they began to pray. Kaikobad chanted the words as Baba swayed in accompaniment. After the prayer, Baba washed his hands again and placed his hands over Kaikobad's. Kaikobad touched Baba's forehead, his own and then Baba's again. Baba touched the ground.
Next came the Muslim prayer. Baba called for a cloth, which was spread on the floor in front of his painting, and a red scarf with which he covered his head. He and Aloba then stood on the cloth facing Mecca. Aloba said the prayer, during which Baba's fingers continuously moved. Several times, Aloba raised his arms, bowed, kneeled and prostrated himself. After this, Nilu and Vishnu chanted the Hindu prayer in Sanskrit, standing next to Baba facing his portrait. Eruch, holding Don's hand, recited passages from the Bible. At the end of each prayer, Baba would touch the ground, and offer obeisance to his own portrait.
After that, Baba asked Don to go out and wash his hands. Baba paced up and down until he returned. Don read the Prayer of Repentance and, at its conclusion, Baba touched his forehead, then the floor and bowed to his picture. Baba ordered the doors and windows opened.
Resuming his seat, he explained to the Westerners, "Today you have joined God praying to God. I and God are one. Now, we go up the hill."
The Western men were deeply moved by the simple ceremony. As Dana Field later wrote: "It was a very impressive ceremony without priests or temples ... When Baba does anything, it takes on life and meaning; the old familiar songs we heard had a new flavor."
Footnotes
- 1.On 17 September 1954, Baba sent Max a second telegram, which read: "I happily accept your surrenderance. Forgiving and forgetting everything, I now order you as my wish and will that you leave straight for Switzerland taking Baba's love with you and knowing that from now on, you are Baba's and Baba is yours." Nilu was instructed to write Max from Baba, "You are mine. And whether you remember me daily or not, my love will always follow you." At Meherazad, when Baba informed the women about Max's early departure, Mani remarked, "Poor Max, he must feel so sad and empty." Baba replied, "On the contrary, Max came empty — he returns FULL!"