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

Part I Chapter 3THE PERIOD OF WORLD TRAVEL1931-1939There opens a new period. Hitherto, except for visits to Persia, Baba had not gone outside India.He was now about to enter upon a period of travels around the world. In the course of thesejourneys, of which I propose to give an account, Baba authorized a number of 'messages', whichwere written by disciples on 'outlines' provided by him on his alphabet board: specimens of thesemessages will he found in these pages. I also quote verbatim from the diaries of those who werewith him on certain of these journeys, for they have the value of first-hand records.An English journalist who had already been to see Baba returned to Nasik and stayed until 8February 1931. 1At the end of March, Baba went to the Himalayas, and in May went again to Persia. This visitwas private, and only a few people saw him. He attended a place of holy pilgrimage to whichpeople from all parts came to pay homage. One day at this place Baba was walking with three ofhis disciples when they were followed by two women. When they returned to the house Babaasked the women, who were prostitutes, to enter. He then took off the covering he had over hishead and made them sit near him while he talked to them and occasionally caressed their faces.The women cried and said they would no longer do what they were accustomed to do. Then theywent away.FIRST VISIT TO THE WEST 1931On 1 September, Baba sailed from Karachi on the Rajputana with three of his disciples forEngland. On the Rajputana there was also Mahatma Gandhi on his way to the Indian RoundTable Conference. J amshed Mehta had wired to Gandhi that he should meet Baba. So1 He was H. Raphael Hirsch. An account of his visit to Baba is given in A Search in Secret India, by 'Paul Brunton'. (Rider& Co., n.d. The book was published in 1933.)