ChaptersChapter 33Page 4,418

Chapter 33: Western Sahavas, 1958

1958Page 4,418 of 5,444
By the time they finally got to bed, it was 11:30 P.M. — 23 hours since they had awakened in Myrtle Beach the same morning. As Lud was lying down to sleep, Nariman came to his room and said, "Baba wants me to tell you that for many nights now he has not slept well, but that tonight he will sleep well."
Adi, who was on watch by Baba throughout the night, woke Lud the next morning, Saturday, 31 May 1958, at 4:00 A.M. The house had become quite chilly, and Baba wanted the furnace turned on. Two hours later, at six o'clock, Nariman came to tell Lud that Baba wanted him to get up. After breakfast, Baba took a tour of the house. Baba had slept for only two hours but was refreshed because, he indicated, it had been a good sleep.
Shortly after 8:00 A.M., they started for the airport. Lud drove them south on Highway 101 across the Golden Gate Bridge, through Golden Gate Park, Sunset Boulevard, Lake Merced and then to San Bruno and the airport. Baba was in a good mood and happy with the route chosen. At the airport, Baba had permitted his lovers to gather, and about 25 had come — some from as far away as Portland, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Baba remarked to them:
I have made this trip to the West to give my sahavas to my devotees in Myrtle Beach and Australia. Nowhere have I seen anyone at airports. I have only seen those who had and will come for the full sahavas period in one of the two designated places. Yet, in San Francisco, I have made an exception and allowed devotees to come to see me. Therefore, consider yourselves blessed. Now, each in turn should come to greet me, kiss my hand and then go.
Each man and woman did so, and Eruch then wheeled Baba down to the boarding gate, where again he allowed his lovers to meet him.
Age recorded: "This was Baba's sixth and final visit to America in this advent. Since 1931, he had spent a total of 200 days there. Never again would he set foot on American shores. Of all the countries in the world outside of India, Baba spent more time in America than anywhere else, and the large number of his lovers from that country is testament to the work he did there for them."
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