On Tuesday, 5 May 1959, an artist and professional photographer of Poona named D. D. Rege came to Guruprasad. He had previously written, requesting permission to photograph Baba. Permission was granted, but he was informed to come a day in advance of the actual taking of photographs. He told Baba he wished to photograph him in a small room, but when he came the next day, Baba was seated in the large hall surrounded by people. Baba said he would move to the smaller room if necessary, but Rege said he could stay where he was, provided those in front moved away. Rege set up his lights and posed Baba, by turning his head slightly to one side, and took several pictures. Baba asked when he could see the contact prints, and Rege said he would bring them on Sunday.
The following Sunday when Rege returned, Baba held all four prints and commented, "Look how beautiful I look in them."
He handed them to the Maharani of Baroda, who was sitting at his feet, and also showed them to the others.
Rege asked Baba which he liked best, and Baba replied, "They are all beautiful."
Rege insisted he choose his favorite, and Baba finally indicated the three-quarter profile shot. Rege went home and printed the largest copy of the picture he could and painted it. When he presented it to Baba, Baba asked if he could give it to the Maharani, and Rege said, "Once it has been given to you, Baba, you can do with it what you like."1 The Maharani had the painted portrait hung at Guruprasad for many years.
A professor of French from Deccan College came to meet Baba on Sunday, 10 May. The man told Baba that he was interested in yoga.
Baba asked him, "What do you mean by yoga and what do you aspire to attain through it? There is only one true yoga and that is 'you go.' The meaning of yoga is as simple as that.
"I know of no other yoga than 'you [ego] go.' You are your own curtain, and only when you go, can You come. The problem is how will you go? The only solution is love. When you 'go' [are annihilated] through love for God the Beloved, you 'come' [emerge] as you really are."
Footnotes
- 1.The photograph taken by D. D. Rege was kept at Guruprasad for several years and was later kept in the Blue Bus at Meherazad. Rege was interested in collecting personal items of different saints and advanced souls and was given one of Baba's sadras.