Mani and Eruch share a humorous account of their group’s aging process and their interactions with Baba. Despite their physical limitations, Baba accepts them wholly, embracing their strengths and weaknesses, and transforming their weaknesses into strengths.

A discussion about judges and their profession is recounted. Baba, known for His wisdom, engages with a group of judges, playfully inquiring about the taxing nature of their work, particularly the act of passing death sentences. He humorously contrasts their role with His own, emphasizing His approach of forgiveness over punishment.

In Satara, Baba was in strict seclusion, allowing only a few close companions to be with Him. Despite this, He would still give darshan to strangers, including a sweeper and a carpenter family, demonstrating His grace and compassion. The author fondly recalls the peaceful atmosphere, the simple joys of their time there, and the unexpected encounters with people drawn to Baba.

Slavich & Rybak

Mani and Eruch

Eruch Jessawala

Slavich & Rybak

Eruch recounts a story about a woman who bought his family’s estate, believing it to be paradise. However, she later sold it because she felt Meher Baba’s omnipresence intruded on her privacy. This illustrates why God, though omnipresent, remains hidden, revealing Himself only when truly sought after.

A story is shared about Harry Kenmore, a blind devotee of Meher Baba, who traveled from America to see Baba despite Baba’s request for him not to come. Harry, who affectionately called Baba “Pop,” arrived in Poona and called Baba from a hotel, claiming he was there to visit the Bund gardens. Baba, amused by Harry’s explanation, invited him to come over. Harry Kenmore took a Polaroid picture of Meher Baba, impressing the mandali with his ability to capture Baba’s image. Despite his blindness, Harry was observant and intelligent, able to gauge people’s height by sound and match his clothes using tactile markers. Mani recounts a humorous incident where Harry, frustrated by Mani’s work interruptions, engaged in a passionate debate about the English language, jabbing her arm for emphasis.

Mani and Mehera, believing they knew about mushrooms, collected and cooked a batch, despite warnings from a knowledgeable woman. They experienced strange effects, but Mani managed to type a complex legal document flawlessly. They never ate those mushrooms again and learned to only consume store-bought varieties.

Slavich & Rybak

Mani recounts a story about Baba’s elephant, Sumitra, who was fed by Baba during his visits to the zoo. After Baba’s passing, Sohrab and Bob visited Sumitra, who acknowledged their presence with a gesture. Shortly after, Sumitra passed away, receiving a grand funeral with a procession and mourners.

Eruch recounts a lesson from Baba about the true meaning of truth. While Eruch believed truth meant speaking honestly at all costs, Baba explained that truth should uplift others and never cause harm. Baba illustrated this with a story about Ali, a disciple of Prophet Mohammad, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding in truth-telling. A story is shared about Ali, who, when asked if he saw a fleeing man, lied to protect him. This act of compassion led the man to embrace Islam. The story is used to illustrate that truth should uplift and not harm, and that understanding one’s motivations is crucial in applying this principle. Eruch believes that feeling guilty is not the way Baba would want them to be. Heather finds it worse when Eruch apologizes, as she usually feels guilty.