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

THE SAHAWAS 297All who came to the sahawas undertook to spend the full time there, to make no other visits during theperiod, to leave exactly on the dates given them, and to be ready to obey Baba implicitly. There was to beno publicity of any kind and no visitors were allowed.In accordance with Baba's wishes, no one met his plane at the Idlewild Airport, New York, on Saturday,17 May at 9.30 a.m., two hours late. He was reported to have been in a good mood and to have stood thetrip fairly well, and went at once to the Centre. He had given orders that all were to arrive on 19 May, notbefore. Everyone was free to travel his own way: so individuals and groups arrived from early morning,from England, France, Switzerland, Israel, the majority of people from the United States and some fromMexico, altogether 225 people. By 10a.m. that day Baba was in the Lagoon Cabin to welcome those whoarrived as soon as they entered the Centre, and he remained there most of the day.The following day, Tuesday, all assembled in the large bam for the first full day of sahawas. When allwere seated in a semi-circle, Baba was carried into the bam on his special chair, he 'said' through hisgestures, interpreted by Eruch at his side: 'Relax and be comfortable. Feel at home because I have comedown to your level. I want you to be here in spirit as well as physically.'He then spoke about the accident in India the year before, and talked about the Indian sahawas.Looking at all before him he said, 'Don't worry. You haven't come to die unless a snake bites you! Let ushope, because you do love me, you will he happy here; you will not mind inconvenience. Just rememberthat I have not eaten properly for three days because of the pain. It is your love that has brought me here. Ilove you all alike.' Baba also said not to worry if he called one person to be with him over and over againduring the sahawas, and another not at all, it was his way of working. Any worry over whom he calledwould disturb their love for him.After a break all rose, Baba also, while Dr. Kenmore recited the Master's Prayer and the Prayer ofRepentance. Baha resumed, 'Is everyone here prepared to obey me one hundred per cent? You should bevery honest.' It seemed that everyone raised his or her hand. 'Can you obey me one hundred per cent?'asked Baba again. A young man exclaimed, 'It's impossible!' 'One should try', said Baba 'Harry Kenmorehas had a great discussion on this point and has said, one must obey, not try to do so. That is one of thereasons he has come....'What I want is love and obedience. I might manifest in you if you