Dazed by the experience, Vivian left and wandered into Baba's room, where Mani greeted her. Instead of returning her greeting, Vivian could only say in wonder, "I never knew I would look into the eyes of a man and know that he is the Christ."1
After moving from Myrtle Beach in 1958, Baba had ordered Jane Haynes to try to revive her acting career. She and her three children ("the Trio" as Baba called them) relocated in New York City, where Jane briefly appeared in a Broadway play. She had a rough time finding roles to act and for many months had no work.
When she came before Baba, he asked with a mischievous expression, "Tell me Jane, do you have work?"
Thinking, "You know very well, Baba, I haven't had any work," she replied, "Yes — Baba's work!" as she had been working on a children's book about Baba.
Baba slapped both hands on the arms of his chair twice in a strong and vital gesture and looked happy.
He stated, "So be it — always. It will always be only Baba's work," a hint perhaps of her future role helping Elizabeth Patterson at Meher Center.2
Baba asked Bunty Kelley Bernstein, "Are you worrying about little Margaret [her three-month-old baby girl]?"
She said she wasn't, and Baba remarked, "Do not worry about her, because if you do then I cannot."
Baba commented on how thin Tex Hightower was and added, "He loves me very much."
He asked Ben Hayman, "Are you awake?" (in reference to Ben's drowsiness in Myrtle Beach 1958.)
Baba directed both Ben and Harry Kenmore to stay near him on the platform.
Baba expressed his pleasure at Dr. James Allen Chamberlain's presence, remarking, "I am very happy you could make the trip."
Dr. Chamberlain had been lecturing in the Far East, and joined the group flight in Bangkok.
To Warren Healy of Seattle, Baba remarked, "I am pleased with the pamphlets you have printed."3
Baba also asked several present if they had slept well.
When Charles Purdom replied, "No," Baba asked, "Were you thinking of me?"
He then asked Joseph Harb about his health.
Baba remarked to Ruth White (the oldest Westerner to travel to India, at 93), "Do not think of anything but me, so when you drop the body you will be with me."
Footnotes
- 1.Vivian Agostini was a sculptor and after her return to America, she sent Baba a sketch of a bronze medal with Baba's portrait on one side and the Mastery in Servitude motto on the back. Baba approved the project and design, and Vivian began producing the medals in 1964. Louis Agostini was working as Paul Brunton's secretary, but after meeting Baba he left Brunton's service.
- 2.Elizabeth Patterson died in 1980, and Jane Haynes replaced her as the titular head of the Meher Center board of directors, until she died in 1997.
- 3.In his small printing shop, Warren Healy also printed The Awakener magazine for Filis Frederick during the 1950s and 1960s. At that time it was the only periodical about Meher Baba printed in America.