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The Beloved Archives - Meher Baba Archival Foundation

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The Beloved - Part 3 - THE MEANING OF DEATH
REAL EDUCATION
SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
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SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION

Meher Baba wearing a sadra (long flowing garment) in 1929.

Those who had come to live with Baba had changed totally, as if their lives had been transformed. They had strange experiences, both internal and external. Of special significance is an incident which occurred during the Ashram days, herein adapted from Ramjoo Abdulla's account in his book, Sobs and Throbs:

On January 1, 1928, the fifty?second day of Baba's fasting and the twelfth of his self?imposed confinement, a majority of the boys began to break into tears at different times throughout the day.

For about an hour between seven and eight in the evening, this awesome phenomenon held the onlookers spellbound. The tumult could be heard a quarter of a mile away from the ashram.

Among all the boys, the weeping of one in particular, Aga Ali, was most pathetic. On January 28, Baba openly declared Ali to be quite ready with sufficient love to enable him to be taken away from the domain of the "bound" to the region of the "free" but for a final touch from Baba!

On the following day Ali went into uncontrollable sobbing. The sobs were heart?rending and Ali's whole frame shook. It was nearly 9:30 at night and this piquant drama had continued for nearly three hours. Ali seemed beyond the capability of controlling his sobs. But only a few minutes later Baba gathered Ali in his arms, patted his head, imprinted a kiss on his forehead and placed his head on the boy's heaving bosom for a few minutes. Ali became as calm as a mill pond. The onlookers soon realized that Ali would not open his eyes, and when his eye?lids were pulled up, the iris was found turned inward.

Meher Baba in Madras in 1927.

Several questions were repeatedly put to him but no reply was received. After some time, to a question, "How are you, Aga Ali," he replied "Khush" (happy). "What do you see?" "Baba." "Where?" "Everywhere."

In May, 1928, Baba with his mandali was traveling in a car from Bombay to Meherabad. The car, a sturdy Hudson Super Six, managed to climb the Bhor Ghat, between Khopoli and Khandala, but about half way the car began to roll back. All attempts of the driver to stop the car failed, for even the brakes were out of order. The vehicle was heading for a deep chasm. Baba leaned on one side of the car, pressed it down with his hand and it came to an instant halt! Many miraculous incidents have been attributed to Baba and he persistently denied them. He always attributed such incidents to the faith and love of his disciples.

The same year the school was divided into two sections, the general section where normal studies went on, and the 'Prem Ashram,' a special section of the school where boys spent their time in meditation. Baba continued to give most of his time and attention to the Prem Ashram boys. To teach humility, Baba cleaned the boys' toilets with his own hands for a period of one month.

Meher Baba with devotees during a visit to Madras in 1927.

In September of 1929 Baba paid a second visit to Persia (Iran). He visited several places, and in Yezd, where he stayed for four days, the entire town flocked to him. He met people individually and in groups. Iran was passing through a transitional phase in history. Those who had come to meet Baba thought his visit was a good omen: maybe this would bring the country's redemption.

The year 1930 was spent by Baba mainly in touring large areas of India. He would travel by every conceivable mode, irrespective of discomfort.