Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1962Page 4,790 of 5,444
Don Stevens vividly recalled those moments: "I felt no problem as I went to him to be embraced, but as I backed away and looked up to Eruch to smile, I found I could not, and that my eyes were filled to overflowing. It was strange to find a level of feeling that knew even deeper than I what my feelings were."
Don Stevens left with Meherjee and the Harbs, and from Bombay toured Mount Abu, Ajmer, and other points in Northern India for ten days, according to Baba's instructions, before returning to Europe.
Baba's birthday, 25 February 1962, fell on a Sunday, and it was celebrated in various ways at different places throughout the world. Because it was his 68th birthday, several Centers in India arranged programs for 68 consecutive days in advance. Baba gave this message (on 2 February) for his birthday:
On this anniversary of my birthday, I give you my blessings for the deathday of your false selves and for the birthday in me of your one True Self!
In Bombay, Adi spoke at the dedication of the new "Meher Hall," which Sorabji Siganporia had acquired at 167 Lamington Road to be used as the Bombay Center. The opening ceremony was performed by Maharani Shantadevi. Baba sent this message for the Bombay group:
Make Meher Hall the house of all hearts that seek to hear my messages of Love and Truth. I give my love blessing to all gathered at Meher Hall on the 25th.
In Poona, Joseph Harb spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony for a new Poona Center, and as expressly wished by Baba, he laid the foundation stone. Baba's message for the Poona group was:
Lay well and truly in your hearts the foundation stone of my message of Love and Truth, so that this Avatar Meher Baba Poona Center may be a light for all who come here. I give you all my love-blessings.
In Bhopal and Dehra Dun, Bhau's play Jai Meher was performed. But in Meherazad, as usual, the birthday was celebrated on a simple, quiet scale. That day, Francis presented Baba with the first copy of Let Us, The People, Sing .
In 1950, during the New Life, one of the bullocks from the caravan had been given to a friend of Kumar's named Lekh Raj. Lekh Raj was the founder of Nanhi Duniya, a school for deaf and mute children in Dehra Dun.