For a few days, portions of Stay With God were being read out in the hall. Eruch would read it, and at times Francis. All were absorbed in its beauty, especially hearing it in Baba's presence. Francis, of course, was delighted that his work had pleased Baba. He wrote to Jean Foster (on 8 January 1960): "What has been the most unbelievable happiness has been Baba's praise, which has been in the highest terms and, or rather I should say, his enjoyment of the work. He has had it read through to him three times, the readings being frequently interrupted by his comments to the mandali."
Adi returned to Meherazad for instructions on the 10th. In addition to his other work, Adi was working towards publicizing Stay With God .1 That day, after playing cards with the mandali in the hall, Baba retired to his room. Harry Kenmore then went to Kaka's room, where Padri narrated stories of Baba's earlier days. Baba happened to come by, but he gestured to those present not to let Kenmore know that he had come. Quietly, he removed Kenmore's cane from his hands. Holding it upside down, he tried to catch Kenmore's neck with the curved handle. Kenmore was so intent in listening to Padri's stories, without a word he kept brushing the stick aside. But Baba would catch his neck again and again.
At last, Baba touched Kenmore with one finger and Kenmore instantly recognized who it was and shouted: "Baba!" Those present had a hearty laugh. Baba returned to the hall and the men followed. When they were seated before him, Kenmore said, "Baba, you approached like a thief!"
Baba replied to him, "Likewise, one day I will enter your heart in the same way."
Kenmore inquired, "Haven't you already entered it?"
"I am talking of entering into the core of your heart," Baba stated. "When I enter, you will know that I was always there."
Baba added, "Today, with the cane I caught you by your neck. Someday I will awaken you by giving you a slap on your cheek. Be prepared for that slap. One day, positively, I will awaken you."
On Friday, 11 September 1959, Baba came to mandali hall at 8:00 A.M.
In a serious mood, he stated, "For 40 days from the 19th [of September], I will be working with the poor. I will require 40 poor persons. Out of these 40 poor ones, a different man should come every day at 10:00 A.M. Thus, in 40 days, 40 [destitute men] will have to come. Every day I shall wash the feet of one poor man and bow down to him and then give him Rs.20."
Kaka was to arrange the poor program through his acquaintances in Pimpalgaon Village, but he was not to leave Meherazad.
After going to Kaikobad's room, Baba returned to the hall at nine o'clock.
He inquired, "Eruch, last night you men were talking quite loudly. What was the matter?"
Eruch said, "We were discussing the topic: God is One and He is many, too. Harry was there so we were talking loudly." (Kenmore, besides being blind, had a hearing defect and people would have to speak louder than normal for him to hear.)
Footnotes
- 1.Elcha Mistry was sent 25 copies of Stay With God, which he managed to present to the ambassadors of 25 countries at their embassies in Delhi.