[Tavern-Talk] HEART TALK: William Donkin's Diaries, 20

[Tavern-Talk]

HEART TALK - Donkin's Diaries: Twentieth Installment

Nov 7th 1940 
Veyangoda. Ceylon

The journey to Ceylon worked out quite well considering the size of the 
party and the length of the journey; Baba for the most part was in 
good mood. [Babanand] Swami and [Sampat] Ayangar came from Madras to 
Chruplejut, where they saw us, but not allowed to see Baba.

Passport business and medical inspection wangled O.K. Of course our 
party 40 or so in all created a good deal of interest, what with Baba, 
Chatty Baba, Europeans, Indians and all.

Baba chatted with us a bit on the train, called Hitler the chief 
villain, Churchill the hero and Musso a comedian of his Divine drama.

He says Ceylon will be bombed, but I doubt it as yet. 

I was held up just as I was about to get on to the ship to come to 
Ceylon because my military permit was not quite in order; so I came 
over the following day, Nilu came back next morning from Ceylon to 
Dhanushkodi because 79 pieces of our luggage had been left behind at 
Dhanushkodi on the Indian side.

But all ended well, and we got to this estate where we are now the next 
morning. Baba and ladies arrived the previous day: but climate very 
sticky, all in coconut trees, very rainy - wet; Baba is not happy, and 
he tried for another bungalow in Colombo near the sea, and at Kandy; 
so far no success. 

Baba has got a cold in the head now, and rather peeved: ladies not 
happy.

Also the bus has got held up in Madras, because it is too wide for the 
South Indian Railway and so it may not come here at all. There is also 
doubt if it will be allowed on the Ceylon roads, as it is too heavy.

Chanji and I are now going up to Kandy, and Baba has told us that if we 
want to live till he speaks we must find a suitable bungalow there 
within 3 days; so we shall do our best.

A point re the way Baba spends money, as interpreted by Vishnu.

Baba always likes to spend off the money he gets from anyone; for 
example if to-day he asks me for £20 on Dec 1st and I give him a 
post-dated cheque, he will the same day tell Vishnu to spend that £20 
on some project: Vishnu feels that this expensive trip to Ceylon is to 
spend off a vast accumulation of cash at the bank.

This means spending the sanskaras of those who gave the money to Baba.

When he takes their money, he takes their sanskaras, and when he spends 
it, he gets rid of those sanskaras.

Whereas when people take money from him they take sanskaras, which is 
not good, which is perhaps why Baba is often not keen to inflict them 
with.

I think this idea of Vishnu's is probably the correct one re Baba's 
treatment of money.

14/11/40
Baba has been sending me and others during the past few days to various 
places in Ceylon to find suitable bungalow.

First Chanji and I went to Kandy, we found 3 or 4 bungalows there - at 
least a bungalow on a tea estate, with additional quarters for the 
Mandali, fine situation, but v. expensive; 500 Rupees per month. Baba 
came over to see it with us.

As this was very expensive Vishnu went off to Bandarawala, and I went 
to Hatton to try for better bungalows; but no luck; so yesterday we 
went up to Kandy again with Baba and took the tea estate bungalow, 
expensive as it is, for 2 months. Baba now in good mood. We mentioned 
to Baba about the Rumanian earthquake, and he said that floods, famine 
and disease all to come, 1/2 the world's population will die.

Seasons will alter. Also he says that although Russia is the key to the 
war situation, and she will take Persia, she will not digest anything. 
Baba does not like Hitler's speeches.

So on Saturday we all move up to Kandy, and glad by Jove, to get out of 
this steamy cocoanut place.

20/11/40 Wednesday Kandy

On Saturday last week we all came up to Kandy, on the Primrose Hill Tea 
Estate - a beautiful place, very fine view, and when weather is fine 
very pleasant indeed: we drink fresh tea off the estate.

The move up here was by 2 buses and a lorry, and went O.K. Chatty Baba 
gave no trouble at all, which was good. I got rather angry with the 
Veyangoda people who collected round Baba's car, and started putting 
their heads right inside the windows where the invisibles were, 
laughing and all; I was rather rude to one or two of the crowd, which 
was stupid of me no doubt.

The last 2 days I have been engaged in enquiring about the climate in 
Kandy and Ceylon, and after discovering that December is 1/2 wet 1/2 
fine, on an average, Baba has already decided to leave Ceylon on 
December 10th for South India Malabar Coast; Chanji goes tomorrow to 
Cochin and Calicut to find suitable quarters.

Baba says he must therefore finish 3 months work in 20 days, so he will 
be one day in his hut, on water and honey only, and one day with the 
ladies, on our present 2 solid meals diet, alternating thus each day.

In Cochin he tells me he will get me to apply for army job, as he says 
he needs money - which he doesn't at the moment - so we'll see if he 
really gets me to start a job or not. He told me last May I was to 
take job in July, and this never came off - so this may be true this 
time, or perhaps another false alarm, to keep my mind uncertain.

Our bus should arrive to-day or tomorrow, so that I can then take the 
ladies round Kandy on pleasure trips. 

Dec 2nd 1940

Baba and all of us leave Ceylon on Thursday this week, Dec 5th, sooner 
than any of us expected.

Since Baba settled to leave on Dec 5th he made himself fast on tea only 
till 4:00 pm then one solid meal, but we others are all on the 2 meal 
fast as before, except that the evening meal is now at 4:00 pm, which 
is a great improvement.

We go by bus and car, I shall drive the bus, and first for 3 weeks we 
go to a place near Calicut, which Chanji went over to see.

We stay 2 days at Ramnad just in India, where there is a well-known 
saint Baba wishes to contact.

After 2 weeks or so Calicut side, we go to Rajputana by bus; a really 
long journey.

We have made a few trips here since the bus arrived, to Anuradhapura, 
Colombo and Nigombo: Baba in good mood - and we see a good deal of him 
each day.
I have made 2 trips to Colombo to arrange tickets and car transport 
etc.

Baba says all we disciples are a second-hand lot, like chairs with 3 
legs.

Some want to stay on in Ceylon, but I shall be keen to see Rajputana.


Dec 12th 1940

Baba and all of us left Kandy on Dec 5th morning. Chatty Baba and most 
of the men left the day before by train, with excess baggage. Baba sat 
in the bus while we were in Ceylon, with the invisibles, but when we 
reached India he went in Elizabeth's car.

The first day we motored all the way to Talaimannar pier some 160 
miles, good road; some trouble with the bus; radiator packing dropped 
out - but with Baba's and Vishnu's personal help, all was put right; 
Baba tightened up a nut or two.

Near Talaimannar we stuck in the sand, and had to be dug out and towed 
out. As soon as we reached Talaimannar pier it of course began to 
rain, and Elizabeth, who went in her car to get ticket for the 
shipping of the bus, got a puncture, in pitch darkness and rain.

All the bedding, all the ladies, and Baba, got wet, and Baba as usual - 
our King and Avatar - is the last to get on the ship at 11:30 pm 
carrying Elizabeth's bag for her, after 4 hours waiting about seeing 
to everyone and everything. Baba and the ladies slept, or tried to 
sleep, on the ship, and Vishnu and I slept nicely in the bus.

Next morning I drove the 2 cars to the ship's side, and saw to their 
loading.

Because of loading the bus, the boat left 1 hour late.

On reaching India Baba and the ladies went by train to Ramnad, where 
the road begins; I saw to the unloading of the cars, and their loading 
on the train.

The wagon supplied for Elizabeth's car had an obstruction in the middle 
which had to be removed, and so I came with Elizabeth's car in the 
next train 2 hours later.

The bus came overnight. Next day by much ingenuity and cooly labour, 
the bus was unloaded at Ramnad.

I had a nice row with the customs people at Dhanushkodi and the 
station-master at Ramnad - both foolish men. Station-master at 
Dhanushkodi a 1st class horror.

Nilu had a hell of a time with Indian customs at Dhanushkodi.

At Ramnad Baba gave all the ladies a lecture saying they were hopeless, 
and started Norina weeping, which she seldom does; he told them all to 
go away: Baba's usual teasing - though he is rather extra lovable at 
such times. 

On leaving Ramnad for Calicut the road was breached by a small river, 
and we had to push car and bus through the water - 2 or 3 feet - with 
the help of 50 men or so. This spoilt the oil in the bus, which we had 
to change. It was a wonder we got through.

Baba and the ladies all waded across.

First night at Dindigul, 2nd night at Palghat - a 1st class place at 
the foot of the Nilgiris. Baba slept with us men: he teases me a bit 
of a morning because I don't get up promptly - brings an empty cup 
pretending it's tea etc, and saying we're a hopeless lot - though 
mostly I try not to get annoyed - as that's all he's really trying to 
do - to get me to lose my temper: so mostly I keep quiet, though 
pretty glumly, as I am never at my brightest at 4:30 in the morning - 
and Baba is an inveterate and incurable early riser, capable of 
teasing anyone at their weakest moments. 

We are now in Calicut - a very hot place, even in December, but better 
than Ceylon - not so sticky.

After January 1st we shall probably go to Waltair, near Vizagapatam - 
not Rajputana - I am rather disappointed, as I want to see northern 
India.

Baba in good mood here as Kaka brought a good mast yesterday. Baba said 
he radiated God.

Baba then gave a few signs peculiar to masts:

They never stick to milk only as diet, like yogis - they always sit 
apart - they usually have some odd movements of hands or feet or head 
- they tie bits of cloth around fingers, toes, legs and arms; they 
chew tobacco, drink tea, chew pan, smoke endlessly - they may talk 
nonsense.

Saints like Chatty Baba don't act like this - they look venerable - but 
are often rather childish - as is Chatty Baba.

Tomorrow - to celebrate this mast in Calicut - Baba has ordered toddy 
for all!

Baba seems pleased that Mussolini is in the soup over Albania and 
Egypt.

19/12/40 

It seems now pretty well settled that Baba and the ladies go up to 
Muttra Rajputana; leaving here on 23rd Dec, and Nilu and I leave on 
21st morning taking all excess luggage in the famous bus all the way 
to Rajputana. 

Baba dislikes this place, it is too hot, and we shall all be glad to 
leave.

We see a good deal of Baba here, he is with us most of the day, 
knocking about our bungalow.

I take the ladies at 6:00 am to the beach in the bus for a bath.

Baba says the whole world will be in a mess by February.

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

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

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Heart Talk, Diary Part 240, 3 April 2008
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