Despite the general ban on outside visitors, on 7 April 1964 Baba permitted Mirza and his wife, along with Adi, to see him at Guruprasad. Mirza saw Baba alone for five minutes, and Baba instructed him to continue to recite the Master's and Repentance prayers daily, and to remain resigned to the Divine Will. Then Baba saw Mirza's wife briefly.
On the 8th Baba had a cardiogram, which showed some coronary sclerosis, and on the 10th, he again underwent medical tests at Ruby Hall Clinic. From the results, Dr. Grant said Baba's diabetes was well under control.
Maharani Shantadevi came to Poona for four days and was allowed to see Baba daily from 20 April. Adi came that day also and Baba asked about Rama, Mehernath and Sheela's health, and Baba exhorted him to pay more attention towards them. Adi returned to Poona on the 24th with Sarosh and Viloo, who gave Baba a detailed account of their trip to Delhi and Dehra Dun.
Meanwhile, the New York World's Fair was scheduled to open on 22 April 1964, and the American lovers had contributed and built a beautiful information booth for Baba's "Universal Message" to be disseminated.1 On 12 April, Baba sent Elizabeth Patterson and Jane Haynes this telegram for all who had helped set up the fair:
Blessed is the love of my lovers in America that has adorned the New York World's Fair with Meher Baba's Universal Message . I send my blessing of love to all my lovers and workers who made it possible and who will staff the space for the duration of the fair.
The opening of the pavilion was delayed until 8 May 1964, but Baba's telegram made the final trying weeks a joy instead of a trial. It was estimated that half-a-million visitors a day came to the fair, and many passed Baba's corner, saw his picture and heard his name through the untiring efforts of Elizabeth, Kitty, Jane and many others.
Baba indicated from the beginning, "I will do my work in my own way at the fair," and it was evident by those who were drawn to him and later wrote to the Myrtle Beach Center for more information.
Fred and Ella Winterfeldt inquired as to how to answer questions that people might ask.
Baba replied through Mani in a letter: "Baba says his love is with you, so do not be at all nervous about questions you might be asked. Your love for him will speak for itself and answer all questions."
Footnotes
- 1.The booth was located on the third floor of the Pavilion of American Interiors building.