Mani S. Irani

Mani recounts a visit to a Mysore elephant preserve where Baba interacted with a newborn elephant, playing with it like He did with Mastan the dog. The newborn, a miniature replica of its mother, seemed to enjoy Baba’s attention.

Mani shares pictures of Baba, including one of Him greeting lovers in Guruprasad and another of Baba with Mani’s maternal uncle, Khodadad. Mani recounts how Baba directed Behram to take and distribute Baba’s pictures to His lovers in the West, with Baba touching each picture before it was sent. Mani also shares a memory of Baba signing postcard-sized pictures of Himself, with Mani writing “I am the Highest of the High” on each one.

Mani recounts a visit to a circus in Ahmednagar with Mehera and Baba. Despite Baba’s desire to leave early to avoid being recognized, Mehera noticed the curtain parting for a final act. The circus owner presented Baba with a garland from the elephant, much to their surprise.

Mani S. Irani

Western pilgrims at Meherazad found the lack of privacy challenging, with beds close together in the dormitory. Some, like Norina, created makeshift rooms using saris to gain some privacy for activities like writing about Baba.

Mani reads a poem dedicated to Margaret Craske, a dancer and ballet teacher, celebrating her birthday and her connection to Meher Baba. Mani then shares an anonymous poem titled “How do you think of God?” describing a life journey as a tandem bike ride with God, highlighting the adventure and trust involved in surrendering control.

Mani recounts a story from their visit to Mysore, where Mehera, who couldn’t see men, wore dark glasses with brown paper pasted over them. Mani, tasked with helping Mehera, carried a BB gun and wore a long dress and topee. While waiting for Baba at the train station, a British man asked for the time, causing Mani distress as she wasn’t supposed to interact with men.

Obedience to Baba was a privilege and a gift, requiring unquestioning adherence to His instructions. This included seemingly trivial tasks like covering food labels to prevent Mehera from reading, fostering a sense of fulfillment and richness despite limited resources.

A taxi driver, a Sikh Sardarji, made a pilgrim named Ralph Jackson remember Baba during a ride from Poona to Meherazad. The driver, who loved music and often took his hands off the wheel, made Ralph anxious but ultimately brought him closer to Baba.

A group of women performed plays for Baba in Bangalore, with each woman participating in multiple plays. Mani was asked to play Jesus Christ in Norina’s play, where Soltoon and her daughter were supposed to be flower women scattering flowers as Jesus passed by. However, during the performance, Soltoon and her daughter were so engrossed in the flowers that they missed Jesus’s arrival, leading to a humorous situation which Baba loved.

Mani recounts a time when her Western sisters, including a princess and a countess, lived with Baba. Despite their different lifestyles, they all shared resources and responsibilities, with Baba orchestrating their interactions. Mani highlights the challenge of forgetting, emphasizing Baba’s ability to resolve conflicts and foster unity among them.

Mani recounts a time when Mehera was kept unaware of malevisitors by closing the kitchen door and playing the sitar to drown out any voices. Mani played continuously for two hours, even developing blisters, to ensure Mehera’s peace and Baba’s wishes were followed.

After Meher Baba’s passing, the stretcher, ambulance, and gong used during His final days held deep sentimental value for His devotees. The stretcher was returned to the Salvation Army with a new one sent in its place, while the ambulance, overwhelmed by the honor of carrying Baba, inexplicably broke down and remained unusable for three years. The gong, which had a powerful and resonant sound, fell silent after being used to summon the Mandali to Baba’s room for the last time on January 31, 1969.

Mani recounts a story about observing silence with Nadine and Irene, who used an alphabet board to communicate. In Quetta, Mani observed Baba’s masts, including Chatti Baba, who remained happy despite the cold. Later, Mehera asked Mani to interpret Irene’s gestures, leading to a humorous exchange where Mani playfully considered what to tell Mehera about Irene’s family.

Mani recounts a story about a vine with pure white flowers that Mani received from a gardener in Poona. The vine, which blossomed on significant dates, was brought to Meherazad and placed in a crystal swan vase in Baba’s room.