Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1962Page 4,785 of 5,444
Baba gestured to Eruch to bring Don Stevens up to date on the latest chapter of the concrete forms that devotion to the Avatar had taken in India. Meher Dham had been beautifully completed and now functioned as a focal point of praise for that One. But the Hamirpur lovers' devotion had now taken an even more concentrated personal turn. A life-size statue of Baba had been sculpted and set up among the other sacred objects in that atmosphere where they performed their devotions. Don thought: "Now we will really get to the line that divides practical devotion and commitment from the idolatrous!"
Once more, he looked at Baba for his signal to Eruch that he should explain to Don Stevens about idolatry. Centers were all right because they could function as places of devotion and deposits for books and literature. But statues!
Don had misunderstood. Once again, Baba looked to Don for joy in this further sign of love and devotion for God in human form. Don Stevens later deadpanned: "Sometimes, I think Baba would get Eruch to praise grand larceny to me, if it were necessary to bust up one of my pet ideas!"
Don Stevens was instructed to sleep in the Blue Bus during his week at Meherazad.1 Meherjee had arrived the same day and also stayed for a week.
The next morning, 17 February, Baba allowed Mani to come and talk with Don Stevens about various business and personal matters. Baba came at 10:00 A.M., and Stevens joined the mandali in the hall for the regular two-hour session. In the afternoon the mast-like man, Barakoti, arrived at Meherazad.
Goher brought Mehera's 8 mm movie camera (which she had received the previous November) and asked Don to take some footage of Baba as he walked to the hall from the main house. Don had brought a 16mm movie camera and took some footage with each, as Baba walked unaided from the house to the entrance of mandali hall. He took some film shots of Baba with Barakoti also. Baba then came inside the hall, where he discussed different matters with Stevens.
On Sunday morning, 18 February 1962, at 9:45 A.M., the Ahmednagar bhajan group came to Meherazad to sing for Baba. Eruch and Don Stevens had gone out for a walk, as they would do every morning, but the Ahmednagar group had arrived fifteen minutes early. By the time Eruch and Don returned to Meherazad, Baba was already with them in front of mandali hall.
Footnotes
- 1.Don Stevens was instructed to sleep in the Blue Bus on a few other visits to Meherazad, as well.