Meherabad the Hill of Celestial Light

 - by A.R. Abdulla

(Page 2)

ANECDOTE- XIV

After staying in Jabalpur for nearly ten years, I returned to Bombay. Prior to my departure I wanted to pay my respects and as such I visited the dargah (Shrine), situated adjacent to my office compound. Actually there were two graves inside the tomb and I also visited another tomb situated close to the High Court. It was a sacred spot for many devotees who visited throughout the year.

Subsequently during my visit to Satara and Poona, I met a Hindu gentleman who was a qualified doctor and yet a mystic in disguise. He suggested me to see certain Muslim saint in Pune city. When I called upon him, he was not in good mood and said that normally he would not have given me audience but for the sake of his mystic friend. He spoke in resounding voice and emphatically said that some two persons of mine came from Jabalpur recommending him to give me something.

It was a sort of subtle communication he had. He replied "that if I am given anything, I will loose mental balance and will start tearing clothes and still further. I would start jumping in the air".

During my subsequent visit he was quite affectionate. Offered me tea and lovingly told me about the saint dressed in white robe whom I  might see but I should not ask for anything. This could happen to me while doing invocation suggested by him.

I lovingly heard him and departed. My youngest brother Easa was with me. Incidentally Easa was  amongst the twins born on 23rd December on the Christmas eve. Hazrat Baba named them Easa and Mariam.

Afterwards we had  a jolly good lunch at Dorabjee's restaurant and returned to Satara in a very happy mood.

I regret to write here that due to pressure of duties and inconvenient factors namely lengthy invocation, language difficulty etc., I could not comply with his instructions.

Once my near relative had a chance to meet him in Poona. He enquired from him about my progress. He could not reply to him, as he was unaware of the details of my meeting.

After some time. I again met the saint in Poona, as he had come to attend certain marriage. I approached him and respectfully conveyed the greetings. He sweetly replied that:

"You have the blessings of Hazrat Ghaus Pak", the great saint of Baghdad held in reverence throughout the sufi-circle and regarded as monarch of all saints and guide to the wayfarers.

All this I write here to  tell my readers that Hazrat Baba's contact brought me in touch with saints and wayfarers.

Dadoo

"MY ELDER BROTHER DADOO TOLD ME THAT HE SAW BABA IN THE CAR ON AGRA ROAD"

" DADOO RAMJOO WHO SHOT A FILM ON THE HISTORIC KRANTI MAIDAN, IN BOMBAY IN AUGUST 1942 PASSED AWAY IN NASIK ON OCTOBER 19. DADOO WHO WAS THE ASSISTANT CAMERAMAN OF THE FIRST HINDI COLOR FILM KISAN KANYA, STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE IMPERIAL FILM COMPANY. HE WAS 68.

THE DAILY, OCT 30, 1986.

ANECDOTE- XV

A few years back, I had been to Kalyar Serif, the tomb of grear Aulia (The Perfect Master), a Jalali Saint held in high esteem by saints sufis and wayfarers.  

I was standing near a tree famous for its red berries (Gullar fruit), facing the shrine. I prayerd to the Great Master, whether I was able to concentrate on him. Meanwhile a Mast, divinely absorbed person approached me and offered three gullar fruits. They were semi ripe. I had a great temptation to eat them and also share them with my wife, but I put them in the front pocket of my shirt, as they were sacred gift from Hazrat.

While leaving for Delhi, I purchased a color postcard of the shrine and unmindfully put it in shirt's pocket. After sometime when I took it out, the white juice had spread on the lower portion of the card forming into three white round patches. In one of them appeared a faint image, but I did not notice it.

My son-in-law Md. Siddik who had earlier met Hazrat Baba at "Guru Prasad" bungalow during the New Life phase, spontaneously said it was "Meher Baba". Afterwards I showed the postcard to my younger brother Meherahmed, an expert professional photographer, who without hesitation confirmed , it was "Meher Baba".

I have preserved the fruits in an air-tight bottle which always remind me about the memorable visit to Kalyar Sherif and blessings received in disguise.

ANECDOTE-XVI

In Poona, the seat of Hazrat Babajan was under a neem-tree and was not far away from our place.

She was sometimes seen going in a tonga to Bund garden. There she alighted assisted by the devotees and sat under a tree watching the beautiful view of the river and blissfully received the cool breeze blowing across the wide stretch of water flowing over the bund.

Many families also visited this beautiful spot.

I right from my childhood had love and reverence for such great saints. Once we had been to meet the family of Bhau Sadashiv Patil of Kasbapeth, Pune. We were treated to tea and enjoyed the home made sweet and salty preparations. My elder brother took the permission of aunt to see the circus which was on the outskirts of the city. I accompanied my brother but were disappointed to see that the show was cancelled due to sudden dust storm followed by heavy showers, thunder and lightning. The circus people were seen running with a Kangaroo, which was a rare sight for we children, since it was an uncommon animal. The tonga-horse, in which we were traveling suddenly started going out of control. I silently prayed to Hazrat Babajan and the agitated horse became calm, thus we safely returned to Bhau Sadashiv Patil's place. On our way, we could see the havoc caused by the storm which uprooted trees, bending electric poles and damaging overhead wires.

ANCEDOTE XVII

My wife, the second daughter of Baba's dear Dr. Ghani met Hazrat Babajan when she was a child. She accompanied her mother along with her sisters. Hazrat Bbajan gave some pieces of sweets to each one of them except her who received five `pedas'.

ANCEDOTE XVIII

Dr. Paul Brunton visited my maternal uncle's place who was a Hon Magistrate in Poona. He was directed from Ahmednagar to meet him who would arrange his meeting with Hazrat Babajan.

The visitor was dressed in a white suit wearing a typical British solar hat. The humorous side of this visit, according to my elder brother is that my uncle suspected him to be a British Agent.

My uncle sent him with a guide to Hazrat Babajan's place. Brunton latter wrote that even an hidebound rationalist like him was unable to speak anything and further did not disclose to any body about his inner experience which he received when  Hazrat Babajan held his hands and looked in to his eyes. It remained a closely guarded secret with him.

It is reported that Paul Brunton's ex-secretary who had left him, visited Guru Prasad and sought Baba's darshan and blessings.

Brunton's earlier quest was to seek yogies and faquirs possessing extra ordinary occult powers and who could demonstrate to him some feats, convincing him about the existence of such wonderful persons.

In the latter period he devoted himself to solitude and meditation, and finally settled in Switzerland.

ANCEDOTE XIX

So far I remember, Hazrat Babajan left her physical body in 1931.

 She was laid on the raised couch at her regular place. This enabled the stream of devotees to pay their last respects in an orderly manner. The entire arrangement was excellently made by one Janab Jan Mohamed, an army contractor who was highly devoted to the great saint. She was like Hazrat Rabia Basri, the renowned sufi saint of Basra.

In the night I too went with my aunt, Mrs. Ameena Abdulla Haroon Jaffer to have the last deedar. I stood very close to the couch. Her face was lustrous and her hair were silvery white and shining. A devotee sitting by her side kept on fanning.

Many educational institutions remained closed. The next morning a huge crowd of devotees from far and near joined the funeral procession. It literally looked like a sea of humanity.

The ladies and children of our family along with Mother Gulmai watched the procession from the nearby house facing Main street.

ANCEDOTE XX

Mussolini invaded Abyssinia not knowing that some day he would return to dust, unsung and unwept.

The illustrated Weekly of India, published photographs of the horrors of man-made calamity. Baba's affection sometimes encouraged me to speak. I said, "Baba, how long this war will go on." He silently conveyed through alphabet-board. "It will not stop".

Now in 1993, the human sufferings in the particular African region have not yet ended. Unless humanity realizes the importance of mutual tolerance, spiritual understanding, love and brotherhood, the search for peace will ever remain elusive.

(LATE) DR. SURESH BILLAMPALI MBBS AT SATARA WHO WAS INITIATED INTO THE REALM OF SPIRITUAL SPLENDOR, ATTRIBUTED TO HAZRAT DADA HAYAT QALANDER OF CHIKMANGALUR.

ANCEDOTE XXI

I had a keen desire to read the discourses of Sadguru Upasni Maharaj in English language. I could not obtain he book of my choice. Gradually due to hurry and bustle of life I forgot about the book.

In due course of time, I was appointed manager of my company's branch in Delhi and thus I got an opportunity to visit some historical places, including Jamia Masjid. After moving with the guide, I descended the steps of the great mosque, a building of sheer magnificence. As I reached the road, I saw a man sitting on the other side of road selling old books. I at once approached him and picked up a book. I was happy to see, it was the book written in English, consisting of more than four hundred pages, not only containing discourses but also the life of Shri Sadguru Upasni Maharaj.

The ways of great Masters are strange and beyond our comprehension. 

ANCEDOTE XXII

During one of the congregations at Meherabad, Baba ordered a delicious lunch to be cooked and served to the visitors. It was dhansak, a dish of fried rice and spicy dal.

He came to the dining hall and personally conveyed to the diners that none should waste food and nothing should remain in the plate.

I don't know whether anybody could understand its full implication. Within few a weeks I read in the newspaper about the devastating Bengal famine.

ANCEDOTE XXIII

It was a congregation at Meherabad and during the post lunch session, we were all happy to see Baba seated on the dais, while Bro. Eruch perfectly explained to us a few things which Baba conveyed, by his sign language, as he had already given up the use of alphabet-board.

After sometime Baba began to give a Discourse on SPLIT I (Ego). Bro. Eruch had difficulty to explain to us about the new subject, however he did his best and Baba often corrected him. Then he looked at the audience and told them that as they were finding it difficult to understand, He would give this discourse during His next advent after 700 years. Now the book `GOD-SPEAKS' is quite sufficient for them to study and understand comprehensively.

He further ordered them to go out, wash face and splash water into their eyes to drive away sleep and tiredness besides helping themselves to a cup of tea.

Frankly speaking, I was also feeling drowsy possibly due to a heavy lunch and had a craving for a cup of hot tea. In such a frame of mind I understood that Hazrat Baba was giving a discourse on `SPLIT EYE' but it was actually "SPLIT I" (EGO).

If Baba wanted he could have given hundred such discourses but humanity must wait for, till the global consciousness reaches a higher stage.

ANCEDOTE XXIV

East-West gathering held at Guru Prasad, Poona was a unique occasion. It was an important phase of Hazrat Baba's universal Work. It was bridging the gap between East and West.

Many old and new devotees and admirers flew to India as also a large number of devotees from different parts of the sub-continent.

While a foreigner entertained the gathering by his spiritual song which conveyed that the world was like a ball in Baba's palm. Baba interrupted and added that it was like a rotten fruit.

In the morning session I was sitting far away in one of the back rows. I said to myself why not concentrate on Baba. I did it for sometime and experienced that golden rays were emanating from him.

I turned my head to ascertain whether it was due to reflection caused by electric bulbs or tapestry but it was not so. I again concentrated and saw the beautiful golden rays.

After sometime Baba told the gathering that people try to understand him in their own ways.
 

It was announced that those who were leaving Poona, may come next morning to have his darshan. I said to myself that in this big crowd, where do I stand. I should now get away and pack-off. Next morning, I rushed to "Guru Prasad" and had Baba's Darshan and embraced him. He particularly instructed me to stay till the entire program was over.

Oh! Omniscient Hazrat Meher Baba your love and kindness is infinite. It is too difficult for we stupid and weak in flesh to comprehend your Universal Mind.

"YOU HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF HAZRAT GHAUS PAK", THE GREAT SAINT OF BHAGDAD HELD IN REVERENCE THROUGHOUT THE SUFI-CIRCLE AND REGARDED AS MONARCH OF ALL SAINTS AND GUIDE TO THE WAYFARERS.

ANECDOTE XXV

When I opened my eyes, I had Baba before me. It was due to my blessed parents that I and other members of my family came in very close contact with Him.

I was born on 18^th of July 1922 at Poona. At that time my late father Shri Ramjoobhai, affectionately remembered as Ramjoo by Baba group, was travelling with Baba. 

Baba called father and quite seriously informed him that he just received a telegram that his second son i.e. myself passed away and awaited his reaction. Father did not show any concern and remained quiet. There upon Baba smiled and told him that he was blessed with a second son and suggested that the son may be named "Noor Mohamed". Light of Mohamed, but due to orthodoxy, the members of the family pointed out that there was already Noor Mohamed in the family namely my uncle from mother's side. Hence they were allowed to choose the name and accordingly the Holy Book was consulted and thus I came to be known as "Abdul Rehman" which is presently my name.

Once while having an interesting discussion with late Shri Girijanandan Dubey, at Jabalpur he emphatically pointed out that in order to come in contact with a spiritual Master needs extra ordinary efforts. In his case he had to undergo physical and mental hardship before he found his Guru which finally led him to Baba whom he had earlier seen in a dream. He, therefore said that "You people are really fortunate that without making any serious efforts came in direct contact with Baba".

In my early days, I was away from understanding philosophy except that the entire family was preoccupied with Baba only, at the same time performing worldly duties of course as ordered by Baba.

I frequently got opportunities to witness and over hear the various matters the seniors discussed about the Master.

The occasion of Baba's Birth Day was always a wonderful event. Devotees came from various towns. There were Bhajans and Qawali programes. Baba personally visited the dining hall and enquired about arrangements. Excellent vegetable food was cooked for the occasion. Hot sheera (A sweet preparation) was served for breakfast. Everybody got Baba's Darshan before leaving Meherabad.

In brief, when people were around Baba they totally used to forget about the so called affairs of the world and remained happy, far far away from the worldly worries.

After his return from foreign tour with Baba, Dr. Ghani once told us about an interesting incident. Once while traveling by sea, he with others, was on the ship's deck along with Baba. Baba pointed to an old man standing by the side of the ship's railing and explained that he was His agent doing spiritual work for him. This surprised the group who had a difficulty to understand the strange rapport. Baba then touched His cap and the old man tapped the railing duly reciprocating the message.

Brother Adi.K. Irani once told me that during his travels with Baba in the North hw saw a kind of blue ball of light emanating from the distant mountain. He reported it to Baba who said that such a phenomenon pertains to advanced Yogis who are engrossed in deep meditation.

My father once had an occasion to narrate to me the following strange incident. He was with other members of the Mandali along with Baba, was travelling by road. When the car was passing by the side of Dehu village, it failed a one of it's wheels started wobbling and the wheel nuts which flew off could not be traced. The boys looking after cattle grazing nearby were curious to know about the feverish activity of Baba's men and innocently enquired about the problem. They said they were searching for lost wheel nuts, where upon the boys suggested "why don't you call out to Sant Tukaram Maharaj. "The Mandali reported it to Baba. Who gave permission to do so. Accordingly they loudly uttered Sant Tukaram Maharaj Ki Jai. My father said it was really strange to see the lost nuts neatly arranged one upon another in the nearby grass.

Dehu village in Poona, is a renowned place of pilgrimage. Sant Tukaram Maharaj the Great Master belonged to this vilage. Chattrapati Shivagi visited the village to meet Sant Tukaram.

Today nearby the Indrayani river, there is a beautiful ghat which is overshadowed by the giant tree sheltering a monument. Pilgrims who visit this sacred place, offer peanuts to fishes who abound in the river and could be easily seen as they jostle for the nuts. Some forty years ago I visited this beautiful spot.

Mr. Munshi affectionately and respectfully remembered by old Mandali as Munshi Saheb was a great admirer of Baba. According to elders, he always expressed that when Hazrat Meher Baba's manifestation would take place, as according to traditions and mystical sources, He would appear as the promised Imam Mahdi (12^th Imam), riding a white horse, Brother Munshi expressed with sheer love that he would be ther person holding the rein and supporting the canopy.

Baba said that Munshi was Aurangzeb and he returned to His Darbar due to his previous connection with Him. Such matters are never revealed to satisfy the idle curiosity but when occasion demands, it is revealed to way-farers.

Baba had once disclosed that Sadguru (Perfect Master) Narayan Maharaj was initiated into perfection by Hazrat Khizr Alaisalam, the immortal Divine Being.

In Sufi tradition it is believed that those who lost while travelling in jungle and mountains and also those in dire need of spiritual help, Hazrat Khizr comes to their rescue. It is said that He holds the key to secrets of Ab-e-Baqa (the water of Immortality or Aab-e-Hayat).

Shri F.H. Dadachangi maintained Baba's diary and noted all important events. They were regularly published in "Meher Baba Journal". The old copies in bound volumes are available with Meher Publications, Ahmednagar (MS). Whenever he was in Poona on Baba's work, he visited our residence and all were too happy to welcome him. He always gave interesting news about Baba. Once he said that Baba told him that Shakespear, the renowned Poet and Playwright, was wandering in Benaras (Kashi) as a Brahmin.

Inner experiences are not commonly discussed or revealed since it obstructs spiritual progress. As mentioned earlier, they are meant to help the deserving aspirants.

Hazrat Meher Baba once disclosed that it is not necessary to believe in reincarnation because the inner progress and God-realization has nothing to do with burdening oneself with unnecessary knowledge for intellectual satisfaction.

Hazrat Imam Gazali the great mystic once drowned the diary of his early spiritual observations in a river because he felt that more book learning was not going to help hom to achieve the ultimate spiritual objective.

Shri Raman Maharishi once remarked that "Reincarnation is there and it is not there" Devotees expressed surprise and wanted to know about the spiritual significance of the paradoxical statement, whereupon the Sage clarified that those who are not enlightened, the reincarnation process is a reality and those who have transcended the duality, the reincarnation is non-existent.

As previously declared by Baba to a foreign journalist, during the early phase of his Universal Work, that he was Chattrapati Shivaji in one of his previous incarnations. According to History, Shivaji came in contact with two Perfect Masters, namely Sant Tukaram and Ramdas Swami, besides some Muslim Saints.

According to Baba, Sadashiv Patil of Kasbapet, Pune was Tanaji who gave his life for Chattrapati on Singhgad.

Baba has explained in the Book "The Way-Farers" written by William Donkin, that Ghous type of saints leave the body before retiring for night. They can sever their limbs.

An Army Dentist and a friend of our family narrated to me that during his youth, he was fond of out door life. He once proceeded on cycle from Poona to Ahmednagar. When the destination remained about twenty miles away, it was quite dark and he thought of breaking the journey and go to sleep till day break. He saw an old masjid on the road side. Left his cycle against the wall and went inside but was frightened to see a man sleeping on the floor with various parts of his body separated. He immediately left the place and continued his journey till he reached Ahmednagar.

I informed about this incident to my father who explained that had he remained in the mosque, perhaps he would have been spiritually benefited.

On the spiritual path there are many stages, such as realms of light, power knowledge, acquisition of divine attributes.

Hazrat Jio one of the spiritual guide was deeply revered by Prince Dara Shiko, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jehan, explained that the aspirant should keep himself away from miracles. The enchantment of the stages may retard the progress of the seeker. He may perhaps see the buried treasures, and come to know the life-giving qualities of herbs and plants besides likely to be tempted by the beautiful inhabitants of the astral spheres.

Chaggan Master a member of the old Mandali always performed the duty of night watchman guarding Baba's room or cabin. According to Baba the spirits who are awaiting release from their bondage of suffering come in the night to disturb Baba, but seeing Baba's man do not dare to enter the precinct. Even people of horrible faces make appearance. Once Chaggan Master told me that a strange person of short stature used to come in the night and tried to talk to him. Bhai Chaggan suspected he was not ordinary fellow but a spirit in disguise.

Late Abdul Rahman Barsoap, a Baba devotee of the early days, was once pressing Baba's feet, who instructed him no to loose his grip. In the night the sleep overcame him and he lost contact of Baba's body. Suddenly he screamed. Baba woke up and enquired about Barsoaps' strange behavior. He admitted having seen some frightening spirits.

Once I was traveling in MP and passed through the town of Ujjain. I got down from my car on a narrow road and went to a nearby shop for a pen. The shopkeeper had nicely arranged the pens of various colors in the show-case. I immediately spoke to the man sitting there without having bothered to know who he was, and asked for the price. He promptly replied, "You were Pandit in your previous life and now wandering as a Brahmin (Seeker after Truth)" I looked up and felt hew was not the shop-keeper and appeared to be unconcerned about the worldly things around him. I quietly left the place and continued the journey.

Due to having come in contact with Baba and entering His fold, the strange persons of the path, instantly recognize His people.

One thing stands in bold relief that coming in close contact with Baba, destroys all sentimental barriers and at the time made the individual feel that He alone existed.

The love which emanated from His pierced the curtains of "Me and Mine" and made the person feel that He, Baba knew and felt the individual's destiny.

My late father disclosed to me that Hazrat Meher Baba once told him that He knew what thought was going to come in his mind after twenty years and my father confirmed that he felt what Baba told him many many years ago was correct.

A great Aulia said that even a short time spent in the company of a Mursheed-e-Kamil (Perfect Master) is equal to prayers and penance of several years. His Tajjali (Light) and Tawajjo (Attention) will destroy the effect of evil actions and shatter chains of worldly slavery.

I hope my readers will now realize that they should hold firmly Baba's daman to avoid the pitfalls of duality. Whatever I have written here is to help the readers to know some basic facts about spiritual matters. They should not bother about enigmatic spiritual problems bust stick to the path of RIGHTEOUSNESS namely Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds.

• God is absolutely independent. The only way to approach Him is through love, constant repetition of His name and invocation of His Mercy.

• Complete remembrance of God, honesty in action, making no one unhappy, being the cause of happiness in others, and no submission to low, selfish, lustful desires, while living a normal worldly life, can lead one to the path of realization. But complete obedience to the God-Man brings one directly to God.

• -Meher Baba-

SAJJANGAD

A DISTANT VIEW OF BEAUTIFUL SAJJANGAD, THE SEAR OF SADGURU SHRI RAMDAS SWAMI.