MEHERABAD DIARY Judy Stephens

#162B 9-15 February 2013 Jai Meher Baba to you all! Saturday 9 February 2013. I went to Yazdan Café for breakfast, and then shopped at Dorabji's before going back to the apartment where I had been staying for a few days. I drove down the Main Street to the apartment. I passed where the old German Bakery had been. To my absolute delight it is in the process of reopening. It had been the target of a terrorist attack three years ago. Now, at long last they are to reopen. There was a sign out front that was asking for recruitment (workers wanted). Before leaving to return to Meherabad, I got a call from another resident that was also in Pune and wanted to know if I could fit in my car two more people. I had to make sure they didn't have much luggage, as my car is small. It turns out they were just around the corner from where I was staying. On the way home there was a slight traffic jam. I looked ahead and saw the problem; a caravan of bullock carts was crossing the highway. There must have been ten of them. I took a photo from my IPhone. --photo of convey of bullock carts crossing road We got back to Meherabad in time to attend a concert in the MPC Hall at 4:00 pm. Cindy Lowe, who is one of my favorite singers, was singing with backup choir and musicians. It was an incredible concert. She sang two new songs. One called Jasmine & Roses, and the other was called Holy Night. Holy Night was written about the night Mehera went to her Beloved Baba. It was so beautiful that I can easily see it will become a classic of Mehera's unique love for her Beloved Baba. I was so glad I got back in time to hear this most beautiful concert. Sunday 10 February. I got ready and drove to Meherazad. I had time to take darshan in Mandali Hall and the Blue Bus before going to the main house to help out. There were a lot of pilgrims that wanted to take darshan in Baba's room. So, I spent most of my time there. I stopped at Yash & Joli for lunch before going to the Trust Office. I put on my sari with Asha's help. I then went to the Baba Center and took a short nap before having a cup of coffee and going into the Chat Room. The room quickly filled. More than half of the 'Chatters' were Iranian. Marge, my neighbor, and her son, Paul, also came to the Chat. I think it was Marge's first time. She really enjoyed it. I had a photo taken of us with Bhau. --Marge & me with Bhau Bhauji looked so cute with his suit and suspenders and purple tie. Bhau was in a very good mood. He was often joking. He gets a smile that shows he is so pleased with his effect on us when he jokes. He likes to see us laughing. Monday 11 February. I went up the hill by 8:00 am to do Archive cleaning of the Samadhi. As soon as the last of the Arti pilgrims took darshan I began cleaning. When I was finished I went back to my room and washed all those cloths. At 10:00 am there was a talk in the MPC Hall by Peter Nordeen. He talked of Baba getting his inner circle. One time, I think Peter said it was at Meherazad, Baba said Gustaji was already on the 7th plane, but for some reason was still hanging around here. Baba then lifted His shoulders saying He didn't know the reason. It is always fascinating to listen to Peter share the information he has spent years gathering, or his sharing the stories that he heard from the Mandali during his years of living here in the 70s & 80s. Peter tells stories with such animation and facial expression that you easily loose yourself in the stories; they seem to come to life. I had Samadhi duty from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. It has been hot in the afternoon, so I now bring my hand fan. Plus I make a point to drink lots of water. There were a lot of pilgrims because tomorrow is Dhuni. Many come from Mumbai and Pune, especially from the Zoroastrian community. Baba was born into a Zoroastrians family Tuesday 12 February. I went up the hill early to clean Mani's shrine before taking darshan in the Samadhi when the doors opened. I then went to clean Baba's Room, gathered my flowers, and walked back to my room. After washing all the cloths I got ready for Meherazad. After parking my car in back I went into Mandali Hall to take darshan. Next I went into the Blue Bus. I love it in there. I love putting my head and resting it on the bed Baba dropped His body on. It is so blissful. However, I didn't have time to linger as I heard the buses coming down the road. I was able to help get Mehera's room ready. There are extra cloths put over the windows except when pilgrims come, this way it helps to preserve the room. When the pilgrims came I was able to give tours of the house. All of us were busy with the tours. It was fun because we would overlap and I had a chance to listen to the others and learn something new. I stopped for lunch on the way home, took a short nap and got ready for my Samadhi duty from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Evening Arti was at 5:15 pm because the Dhuni would be lit at 6:30 pm. I was not able to attend the Dhuni because of my Samadhi duty. When the person who comes on at 7:00 arrived I hurried down the hill to the Dhuni. The Arti songs were starting to be sung, so after it was over I got a sandalwood stick from Jal, who usually keeps some in his pocket for late arrivals. At least I was able to attend some of the Dhuni. Wednesday 13 February. I went up the hill early to take darshan when the Samadhi doors opened. I then went for a power-walk to the MPR and back. I gathered my flowers and walked back to my room. I had a lot of laundry to do, so that is where most of my morning went. While doing the laundry another resident came over so we could do a DVD workout together. Aerobic workouts were not part of Robin's lifestyle, so she wanted me to teach her how to do them. I think they are fun, and I feel so much better and have a lot more energy when I work out. In the evening, Parog, my car mechanic, came by to change the pin-drive gadget that can be put into the car cigarette lighter. I can then play music from the pin-drive or my IPod. It is great to have in the car, but mine quit working so Parog will fix it. Thursday 14 February. I went up the hill early to clean Mehera's shrine before taking darshan in the Samadhi when the doors opened. I then went for a power walk and after picking up my flowers I went back to my room. The mornings are nice and cool. But, the afternoons are beginning to feel like summer here. That means it is very hot. We didn't have much of a winter, couple of weeks of cold weather that was split with a couple of weeks of hot weather in between. The clothes worn now need to be of a lighter material. I got ready and drove to the Trust. I had to take my glasses for new prescriptions. When I was in Pune the eye doctor gave me new ones and so I was taking my glasses to have the glasses replaced. I want to keep the frames. On MG Road there is a very nice optomologist. On the way to the Trust, I was happy to have music once again in my car. But, every time I neared an electric pole I got horrible static. This continued to Meherazad and back home. I would get in the mood of the music, then horrible static. At the Trust I first went to Mehernath's office and he had one of the office workers go with me to the local police. The gas cylinder problem I had back in December, having to report a missing regulator that I lost maybe ten years ago. I had to wait for two months and then get an update from the police saying the regulator was indeed missing. So, after getting the police to write on the old form that information, I returned to the Trust to drop off Sunil so he could go back to work. Just at that time the wedding party were getting in their cars to go to the Samadhi to say prayers. I had to first go into the bazaar. I then took the rickshaw into the bazaar to drop off my glasses. The man said they would be ready by Monday. As soon as we got back to the Trust I got in my car and drove straight to the Samadhi. I was hoping to join the prayers. But, just as I was walking near the Samadhi the party was walking away from it. I was at least able to give them a hug and take a photo with my IPhone camera --photo of wedding pair I then went home and had a quick lunch before driving to the Page house. I was meeting Kishore and Raju. I showed Raju a couple of things that need to be done right away. Then Kishore and I went through a list and talked about what would be done right away. Friday 15 February. I went up the hill early to take darshan at the Samadhi when the doors opened. It was wonderful walking in the early morning cool air. After taking darshan I went for a power-walk to the MPR and back to my room. Right after Arti Robin came by to do a DVD workout with me. She is learning. We did a 30-minute workout with weights. Around noon I got a phone call from Kishore. He was at the Page house waiting for the village grandpanchyat (head person of village). The Ahmednagar grandpanchayat survey man was coming to measure all the construction structures for tax purposes. It seems the Ahmednagar man comes once every 25 years to make sure the size of the structures agree with the Arangaon village one. The boss is the Ahmednagar man. It seems the Page house had been measured 500 meters larger than it actually is by the village survey grandpanchayat. So, that means the property tax that is paid every March will be less than it had been in the past. That turned out okay. In the evening there was the wedding ceremony at the Trust. I drove with some other residents. We had to park outside the compound; as the courtyard was full of tables and chairs. The center area was for the wedding ceremony. Bhauji came out in a nice suit and tie. He looked very adorable. There were many people. After the ceremony, all enjoyed food, and dancing. ---photos of the wedding In Beloved Baba's sweet love, Judy