Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
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He gestured to Alu, "Look, my daaman is firmly in your grip. Forget the whole world. It is all illusion. I alone am real. Think only of me and take my name. Don't worry at all. I will be with you."
Baba instructed Roshan to place his photograph on the small refrigerator opposite Alu's bed, so that she could see it and focus her attention on it. He then returned to Meherazad.
Alu lapsed into a coma that evening and never regained consciousness. Four days later, Alu Satha merged in him forever and was at last free of the intolerable suffering she had borne for years.
Baba observed, "She has come to me. I could have cured her in an instant, but it was best for her to suffer. Now, no more births!"
In mid-June 1961, Kumar, in Dehra Dun, had been informed that it was Baba's wish that he should visit Nilkanthwala Mast in Rishikesh every fortnight, to keep in touch with him in case Baba wished to call him. Five months later, Baba wrote to Kumar to bring Nilkanthwala to Meherazad, but only if and when the mast showed complete willingness to do so. Kumar, who was longing to return to Baba, could only do so if the mast agreed to come and, therefore, he had to exercise great patience. At last, Nilkanthwala was not only willing but anxious to come. Baba sent a telegram to Kumar to bring him at once. They arrived on 25 November 1961, and Baba soon began working with the mast.1 Aware that at any moment during the ten days Nilkanthwala stayed, he might have the sudden urge to want to leave, Baba crammed in more hours than usual, working with him daily for at least an hour in seclusion. After Baba's work was complete, Nilkanthwala was sent back to Rishikesh with Kumar on 5 December. This was his last meeting with Baba, since after this the mast passed away. Nilkanthwala had beseeched Baba to free him from the burden of his body and his wish was fulfilled.
As Age noted, "This last contact with Nilkanthwala was most significant. Baba's mast work came to an end and he did not contact any other God-intoxicated soul for the remainder of his life on Earth."
Footnotes
- 1.During one of his stays at Meherazad, Nilkanthwala was kept in the small room in the cottage opposite mandali hall, where Baba worked with him.