[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK: William Donkin's Diaries, 18

[Tavern-Talk]

HEART TALK - Donkin's Diaries: Eighteenth Installment

DR DONKIN'S DIARIES VOL 4

12/9/40

Last Sunday, on receiving Baba's order through Vishnu, I went again to 
Ankai to order the 5 people there to come back to Meherabad. This time 
there was no crush of pilgrims and therefore no difficulty in not 
touching women. Baba warned me that if I touched women this time I 
must fast for 10 days! 

They were all glad at the order to return to Meherabad, though Papa was 
in real bad mood. I think the last 2 weeks have been difficult for 
them in Ankai mountain.

The next day I saw Baba for the second time since his seclusion began, 
to report result of Ankai expedition. He seemed fit and in good mood. 

He refused to see a Swiss woman explorer Miss Ella Marthart , who 
rolled up just as I was about to see Baba, so asked him if he'd see 
her. Baba asked me if I'd like to come with him on his tour starting 
in November. I told him if there was a chance of occasionally seeing 
him, even if only to be ticked off, then I'd like to come with him, if 
I was not an encumbrance. So he said that I shall come with him. It is 
not settled yet where we go, with the ladies of course.

He also told me to stay here as long as possible and not to write to 
the authorities that I'm doing no work, only wait to be asked up, and 
then go. He wants me he says to obey those special orders as long as 
possible. 

I am hoping to get a little surgical work in Nagar. Urdu goes well, can 
now read and write slowly.

15/9/40 

Some of the GodMad are going to Bombay at Baba's order, tomorrow I 
think, so maybe Baba will leave on tour before November - which, 
knowing Baba - is highly likely.

A tale - explanation re Sai Baba.

People used to go and visit Sai Baba for Darshan, and from all comers 
he would take all the money they had in their pockets; some visitors 
would leave money with the station-master before going to Sai Baba, in 
order to have a little money to spend on the journey home, and all 
would buy return tickets; But whatever any visitors had on them in the 
way of cash or notes, Sai Baba would take from them.

Each evening he would give all the money recovered that day from his 
visitors to 4 or 5 of his disciples, always the same men, so that each 
of these disciples used to get 50 Rupees or more per day; some others 
of his old disciples used to complain at this rank favouritism to 4 or 
5 only.

After Sai Baba died, and his disciples dispersed, those very ones who 
had got so much money from Sai Baba were overwhelmed by one misfortune 
after another - deaths, poverty and despair.

Baba one day told the Mandali that they must never question Baba when 
he treats one man well and another badly, and he explained Sai Baba's 
action re money as follows.

Sai Baba in taking money from his visitors took from them bundles of 
their sanskaras, and in giving that same money to those 4 or 5 
disciples of his he made those 4 or 5 "dung heaps" of all the 
sanskaras. Sai Baba of course had it in his power to burn up those 
collected dung heaps of sanskaras any time he chose, but in this case 
he left them there: and after Sai Baba's death those bad sanskaras 
thrown on to those 4 or 5 disciples bore fruit in suffering for those 
disciples: and this suffering was for the spiritual good of those 
disciples; and was thus arranged by Sai Baba with the wisdom of a 
perfect Master. So, Baba explained, however he treats one of the other 
disciple, never worry or enquire, he has very good reasons for 
pampering one, and cursing another.

By the by Baba's special treatment for guinea worms (Dracunculus 
medinensis) is to take the cast-off skin of a snake, a bit about 1/2 " 
square three times a day for 3 days. It should be covered in raw sugar 
or anything to conceal it, and swallowed like a pill. This is said to 
cure guinea worms very effectively; I must try it next case I see.

Have started at Nagar hospital: giving anaesthetics and assisting 
operations; hope to be allowed to operate soon.

2/10/40

I was hoping that Baba would go to North India next month but this is 
not to be it seems for he is very set on Ceylon. Although it will be 
very difficult to get all the ladies there - vaccinations, and a train 
journey right down India for several days, and the expense and trouble 
will be colossal; he is so far set on going there. Boats from Bombay 
can't be taken as there are no passages for so many people.

I suppose it is something to do with his spiritual work that he is 
leaving India, and it is pleasant to feel that I shall be going with 
him in these momentous times. I suppose we shall leave towards the end 
of this month, though how we shall face a fast during the long journey 
remains to be seen.

We have now had enough rain for the sarwardi [kharij] crop, but it has 
turned hot here.

Baba is, I think, taking Mohammed and perhaps Chatty Baba with him to 
Ceylon - 'all che vedemus piu tarde.'  ['We'll see you later.']

7/10/40 

Chanji has gone off to Ceylon to find a bungalow in Colombo and will 
wire Baba by the 15th, then he decides; he still is insisting on 
Ceylon in spite of all difficulties and handicaps.

3 days ago Baba sent messages to Nilu to kill a sick chicken up the 
hill; and if he didn't do it painlessly and quickly Baba threatened 
Nilu with next birth as a chicken, and such a chicken that it would 
lay eggs every 2 minutes.

He also ordered Nilu and I to consult over his own glycosuria - we told 
him what we thought, but he'll never listen; as a patient he is really 
no good at all: but I suppose that Avatars can do as they please.

There seems to be a vague idea that Rustom may be up in Himalaya past 
Dehra Dun way, or if not there then perhaps in California. Perhaps he 
is knocking about India as a sadhu on Baba's order though wherever he 
is it is a well-kept secret. 

17/10/40

Nilu and I were called up to see Baba two mornings ago, to arrange 
vaccination of party going to Ceylon. It was settled that a lady 
doctor should come to do the ladies, and the city vaccination officer 
do the men. I was to do Baba in his presence or rather to pretend to 
do Baba as he didn't want to be done. Let us - Baba said - be 
dishonestly honest about it all. All this needed for the long trip to 
Ceylon, for which vaccination certificates signed by local authorities 
are needed.

Baba looked very fit and was in good humour.

Yesterday morning we again (Nilu and I) saw Baba because we were called 
up to see Mani, Baba's sister, who had fainted during morning Arti; 
Baba had been called over there, as the women got windy at Mani's 
fainting, but she is O.K. now: Baba was in good humour then too. 

I managed to get the necessary vaccination lymph in Nagar, which, with 
the stuff Sarosh got, was enough for the vaccination of the whole 
party. I managed to pretend to vaccinate Baba while the vaccination 
officer was engaged in Aga Baidul; I used the other end of the needle 
which was clear of lymph; I let the vaccination officer do one 
properly to make it seem bona fide, also I did Vishnu in front of him 
properly too. I also did Mohammed and Chatty Baba - I didn't even see 
Chatty Baba, but with those masts, what can one do? Mohammed was 
troublesome enough.

A few nights ago for 2 nights ladoos were given out in Baba's presence 
from the place up the hill, to all Arangaon villagers. Baba said it 
was a prasad for rain, and sure enough both nights at the ladoo time 
heavy showers, though monsoon is really finished by now.

Baba the other day teased Nilu when he saw us, and told him that he 
should have to fast on water only during the four days of Diwali 
holidays. 

Anyhow on Oct 8th we get 2 solid meals a day, breakfast and supper; 
with afternoon tea.

Chanji arrives tomorrow from Ceylon, having booked bungalow 
temporarily.

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

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

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Heart Talk, Diary Part 238, 20 March 2008
Copyright 2008 Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust