THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE FINAL DECLARATION 267with other things; but the women had presents they wanted him to give with his own hands, and todistribute photographs to which he had put his signature. Hitaker, the Japanese, was called and told thatfrom 12 mid-day until six o'clock tomorrow evening, he was to keep silence, to think of Baba and to readthe messages.Baba then explained what was to happen on the 29th and 30th. On the first day there were to be grouptalks and interviews, when we should come down to mix with the company and chat with them, but therewas no need to stay there. We must, however, be there at 8.45 a.m. next day, and come away only when hesaid so. He then again embraced everyone and went away.It had rained heavily for twenty-four hours from 4 a.m. on Tuesday until Wednesday morning; most ofthe time an 'elephant rain' with a very high wind from the north-west, so that part of the wall surroundingMeherabad was broken down, and the water blew into the refectory, dormitory and elsewhere. But the wetsoon cleared away.Down the hill near the highway a large pandal had been erected just off the roadway, in which athousand men could be seated. There were also sleeping quarters for them, a place where they were to eat,and a field kitchen. Owing to the heavy rain there was deep mud everywhere, and much discomfort musthave been suffered by all the nine hundred and fortyeight devotees and workers for Baba who had arrivedduring the day and night from various parts ofIndia. Nonetheless the arrangements improvised underdifficult conditions were most efficiently carried through. There was hot water for everyone, and goodfood. An electric light supply was fitted throughout the pandal and the other buildings, operated from theMeherabad flour mill for the villagers. The comfort of everybody was attended to, and the mandali workedextremely hard to make sure that everything went off without a hitch.The pandal was gaily decorated, with a platform at the end for Baba, who arrived on Wednesdaymorning early. When all had gathered in the pandal, Baba had this announcement made on themicrophone:"I called all you dear ones for the meeting. What is meeting? Meeting means we meet. So before webegin anything, we meet in embrace for the last time. So meet me with all your heart, but not so tightly asto break my ribs!"Last night, all the time I was thinking: Why did the rains start especially on the 28th when you were toarrive here? All the 28 days before there was sunshine and the programmes went off very cheerfully.