ChaptersChapter 32Page 4,338

Chapter 32: 1958 Meherabad Sahavas

1958Page 4,338 of 5,444
After visiting the families of Kaikobad, Bhau, Jangle and Jamadar, Baba, along with Eruch, Aloba and Pukar, departed for Meherazad at 2:00 P.M.
The editor of the Telugu magazine Avatar Meher requested a message from Baba, who dictated: "My message is of one word, and that is Love."
On the morning of the 28th, Dina and Perviz Talati arrived at Meherazad with Curshed's cremated ashes. Baba held the urn on his lap for several moments and then gave it to Eruch to keep. Dina had a cold and Baba directed her to sit at a distance from him. After a little while, they left and returned to Bombay.
On 1 March, Baba went to Meherabad and at 3:00 P.M. he lowered Curshed's urn into a grave at lower Meherabad that had been dug next to Ali Shah's grave. Nilu's ashes were buried the same day, on the other side of Curshed.
On the 6th, Baba told the women, "When I break my silence, everything will be put right for the whole world. There will be a tremendous push 'forward,' and there will be peace in all! I will break my silence in sixteen months."
Preparations were now begun for Baba's sahavas in America and Australia. Correspondence in this regard was a daily affair at Meherazad. Baba's hip joint pain continued, exacerbated no doubt from sitting all day for so many days with the sahavas groups. Adi Sr. noted in his diary on 4 March 1958: "Baba's suffering continues, and today it seems to be in excess."
The Westerners were informed through circulars that, for those who could not manage the full planned fifteen days of sahavas, a minimum attendance of one week was required. Also, unlike the previous trip to the West in 1956:
Baba emphasizes that during this 1958 sahavas there should be no publicity, no reporters or television, no tape-recording even. Films and pictures may be taken, but only by the lovers; there should be no artists doing pictures of him, no "visitors" — in short, a sahavas in the complete sense, of the Beloved and his lovers. Also, that none should fly with him on the same plane, either from New York to Myrtle Beach, or from Myrtle Beach to San Francisco, or when he leaves for Australia.
On the 10th, Baba brought the women to see the young mast staying at Meherazad.
"He is completely oblivious of his body and surroundings," Baba explained. "His outward motions, such as eating and drinking, are performed like a sleep-walker's. He is doing them unconsciously, though others see him do them as though consciously."
The mandali noted that whenever Baba went to the mast's room, the mast sat up from his usual reclining position. Being a Muslim, the habit of prayer still persisted. At certain times of the day, the mast "washed" his face and hands under an imaginary tap, bowed his head and stood in prayer.
On Thursday, 13 March, Baba proceeded in Meherjee's car to Bombay, with Eruch, Bhau and Savak, to obtain visas for his journey. They stayed at Ashiana.
Adi and Rhoda Dubash were in Bombay at the time. Their eleven-year-old son Merwan had not been able to attend the sahavas since he was too young, so Baba saw the boy at Ashiana. Naggu came every afternoon at 4:00 P.M. as instructed.
of 5,444