In March 1968, Mani wrote in her Family Letter:
During these hours of utter quiet it is startling to hear a crow caw, or the sudden rattling of a window when the wind comes up. To walk on the gravel paths by the hall is like walking on eggshells.
And when these soundless sessions are over and we are again with Baba, another kind of quiet is maintained: no correspondence can be read to him, no questions asked, no argument or excuses offered in carrying out the smallest of his day-to-day orders, no cause given for the least disturbance — so fragile is the container of his momentous seclusion.
On 24 March 1968, Aloba took Baidul to Bombay, where he was to stay with his daughter Sarwar while Baba was at Guruprasad. Kaikobad's family was brought to Meherazad by Padri on the 29th, with Adi and Bala Tambat. Due to Kaikobad's condition, he was to remain at Meherazad while Baba was in Poona, with Dr. Alu to look after him. Baba instructed Adi and Padri to bring Kaikobad's family to Meherazad once a month to visit him.
Adi had received a letter from Richard Alpert in March 1968, informing him that Alpert had given up his academic career and had journeyed to India. He was staying in a temple in Hardwar, under the guidance of a guru named Neem Karoli Baba. Alpert wished to have Baba's darshan. Adi replied that Baba was still in seclusion and there was no certainty that darshan would be permitted, even after May. Purportedly, when Neem Karoli Baba learned of Alpert's intention, he made an unusual remark, informing Alpert, "You want to see Meher Baba? You know Meher Baba is your true guru."
When Adi came to Meherazad, he was able to inform Baba of Richard Alpert's presence in India. Baba said to send a telegram of his blessings to Neem Karoli Baba and to Alpert.1
Adi returned to Meherazad on 31 March with Rama, Mehernath, Sheela and Rusi Pop. Baba was in a very cheerful mood that day. A discussion took place about lower Meherabad and the Family Quarters, which had been placed in Meherjee's name at the time of the New Life. Meherjee agreed to gift the property to the Avatar Meher Baba Trust, which Baba approved of.
Footnotes
- 1.After a period of study, Richard Alpert lectured in America under the name Baba Ram Dass. He wrote a best-selling book titled Be Here Now, which served as an introduction to Eastern thought for many American seekers.