ONE FOOT IN THIS ROOM AND ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE

 
Vishnu was one of the mandali, who had lived with Baba for over forty years, a smallish man with a regal bearing and the kindest of hearts, who had never been known to express anger or harsh words during his life with Baba. He had been suffering for sometime from coronary thrombosis, and scarcely an hour had gone by after that Sunday's assembly had dispersed from Guruprasad, when dear Vishnu dropped dead of heart failure, in the midst of a sentence and with laughter on his lips.

In death, as in life, he wore a tender look, and as his beloved Master sat by his body, it seemed as though Vishnu had drifted into a gentle sleep. Baba sat thus for over an hour and to Vishnu's brother-disciples gathered around, Baba said, "I have never before sat by any of my mandali as I am doing today by Vishnu. He is indeed most fortunate."

We later recalled Baba's remark to the Mandali that morning "Vishnu has one foot in this room and one foot in the grave." The ashes of this very loving and loved companion of ours would rest in Meherabad the place dearest to him.