[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK: William Donkin's Diaries 12

Fri Feb 8 03:06:27 GMT 2008

HEART TALK - Donkin's Diaries: Twelfth Installment

DR DONKIN'S DIARIES VOL 3

5/4/40

We left Bangalore at 7:00 am on 1/4/40, Baba in Elizabeth's car with
the invisibles going first, then Jalbhai in the Auburn, driving the
Western women, then Tukaram driving the Opel with Jessawala ladies
[Gulumasi - Gaimai's sister] and Merwan, then the bus with the big
gang of women, 16 of them. Kaka and Nilu with myself driving the bus.

The first day quite dull, slept at Arsikere, hot, and bad night. Baba
says he will do much work on this tour, and war will now really get
going - we shall see!

At about 10:00 am we reached Shimoga on 2/4/40, and were welcomed by
the 2 'tiger men' in grand style; everything with flags out, coconut
water with lemon, when we arrived, flowers and whatnot - but lots of
strangers to see Baba too, rather tedious because of them. In the
evening I went with Baba and a few others to see a prospective gold
mine owned by the tiger man; Baba kept on picking up leaves and
throwing them away there, and told them where to start digging for
gold, whatever the experts might say, I hope they do find gold.

That evening singing and music by Moslem singer, very pleasant in
Baba's tent in the garden; only Baba, we 7 men, and the singer and
instrument players.

The next day, 3/4/40, we were to leave early, but at suggestion of
'tiger men' we left at 3:00 pm - lots of darshanites whom Baba saw,
but didn't want to. Very hot drive at first, then series of mishaps to
all 5 cars, tiger men's as well. Bus stuck in one place trying to
avoid a low arch at village entrance made of bamboo poles: broke back
step; and later bus lights fused and we went 5 or 10 miles by
torchlight only through jungle.

Auburn and Opal both had punctures, Elizabeth's car the horn got stuck
on; 'Tiger men's' car had fan belt broken. Baba said it was because
his original plan had been altered. Road through deep jungle; Jal's
car and Opal saw a tiger; great high trees meeting over the road, real
story book jungle, scented, quiet, and yet full of the sounds of beast
and bird, very impressive; Baba called it the real India.

We reached Jog Falls at 12:00 midnight; first went to British Rest
House because ferry was closed, and then they let us come over to
Mysore rest house when they saw our lights across the river. Ferry by
night very beautiful; bus just got on ferry, which was made of long
boats 4 or 6, scooped from solid teak, with boards on top punted by
man with paddles and long poles. Jog Falls were lighted for us by
bundles of burning grass dropped over the edge of the falls, 950 foot drop.

These Jog Falls are very beautiful, especially in morning, being in
the midst of the jungle - a most impressive place, though not a great
deal of water now - November, December are the best months - but a
lovely and memorable place all the same.

Baba rushed us off at 8:00 am the next morning, - we only got there at
midnight the night before, and down through 60 miles of jungle road -
lovely and scented as always - huge trees towering up close against
each other, and a dense undergrowth.

We had lunch picnic on the way, crossed one ferry at a river estuary.
We reached Karwar last night, 4/4/40 at 7:30 pm. All the women in the
'Grand Hotel' with Baba - not so grand, but old and dirty, and the men
in the rest house alongside. This Karwar is a divine place, jungle
covered hill falling into the sea, sandy bays and rocky headlands,
trees over the beach, islands out to sea; Baba said that he remembers
'piddling' for millions of years creating the sea, and 'shitting' for
millions of years making the land - he told this to us men only,
naturally enough; Baba has paddled in the sea to-day, and all the
women and ourselves.

Yesterday I had a fine swim in the river above Jog Falls while waiting
for the other cars to cross the river on the ferry - this is a lovely
river, running as it does through jungle forests - crocodiles in water
though, but none I think, where I bathed.

Baba loves this place, but has forbidden loitering in the town because
there is plague there - but not many cases, only 2 deaths a day -
which isn't much.

The other morning when I was 1/2 awake only before leaving Arsikere,
Baba quoted some Persian poet [Kabir], who said (in translation) it
takes time for the runner to gain speed; it takes time for the sleeper
to awake; and it takes ages for one who has been spiritually asleep to
be spiritually awakened.

[Bahu bhagat bhagat bhage
Rang lagat lagat lage
Bahut dinka soya manva
Jagat jagat jage]

7/4/40

Yesterday we all went with Baba in the morning to an island a mile or
two off the coast called Ajadip where Vasco-da Gama first landed in
India. A lovely tropical island, about a mile long and 1/2 mile broad
- with two springs of water. We crossed over in small local boats -
very picturesque, and lovely experience.

Later in the day Baba said he wanted to buy the island (from the
Portugese) if possible, and Norina, Eruch and I are to visit the
Governor of Goa in Goa - so I must hire a suit there! Baba said if he
(the governor) had a beard, Norina must flirt with him, if he had only
a moustache Elizabeth must rattle money in her pocket, and if he is
young and ailing I must enquire of his health and offer to operate on
him free of charge. Baba says the Governor of Goa is like a Nawab and
only in good humour will give things away, and if in bad humour will
be adamant. In Goa we are to keep Baba's name secret and call him
Babuski, and call Gustadji Kabuli, his twin, who are both on a vow of
Silence. On coming to the tomb of St. Francis Xavier in Goa, we are
also to treat Babuski as one of ourselves there, no darshan, no
standing, no special reverence. To ensure that no-one gets to know who
Baba is - he says he has much work to do there re island, and Kaka and
Jal are to find a mast and a boy in Goa too.

Yesterday Baba was sour with me because I didn't wear a hat crossing
to and from the island, and told me that he would like to put a 12 " x
6 " stone round my neck and drown me - he also quoted the English song
-  "The mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun. "

We are all eating a lot here - food is good, and we make the best of
it. Lots of bright coloured birds too - and beautifully coloured
monkeys in the trees.

This morning Baba took the ladies for bathing. I bathed too, away from
the ladies of course.

8/4/40

Baba gave us men all a little talk this morning; starting on how we
are resting, bathing, eating and generally enjoying life here. He went
on to say that it is easy to be in good moods in such circumstances,
but not easy to keep cheerful when life is hard, and this we must do
if we wish to serve and help others; i.e. if we love them. If one man
gives up his only water bottle to 3 or 4 others who are in the jungle
with no water, and dies in so doing, that is real love and sacrifice,
but if all fight over it and the water is spilt, then all die.

Spirituality, said Baba, is character building - praying with
wandering thoughts in any religion is humbug, but to keep one's poise
in all situations, that is the aim of his teachings - otherwise why
are we with him?

Baba last evening told us all about the doctor who used to be in
charge of the hospital at Meherbabd in 1925 - how good he was -
hard-working, never rattled - save once when Rustom had disobeyed
Baba, and he went to the dispensary and swallowed an ounce or two of
nux vomica: the doctor almost fainted - then Baba came and cursed
Rustom, asking him why he did such a thing - i.e. swallow poison,
without first asking Baba! Etc etc - then he ordered Padri and Pendu
to give him salt water - they forced it down - Rustom vomited - he was
then left in the hut by the Tank for 24 hours - after which he was O.K.

I feel a lot fitter here, sunburnt, and fresh after so much bathing
and all - We move off to Goa tomorrow morning starting 4:45 am to get
to the tidal ferry here as 5:00 am, at high tide.

===================================

Jai Beloved Baba!
Archives Team
Avatar Meher Baba P.P.C. Trust

Other Heart Talk letters can be selected at:
http://www.ambppct.org/archives/collections/written_materials/correspondence/heart_talk.htm

To learn more about the Avatar Meher Baba Trust Archives go to:
http://www.ambppct.org/archives