MAN UNKNOWINGLY SUFFERS FOR GOD,
AND GOD KNOWINGLY SUFFERS FOR MAN

 
On November 29th, Baba remarked, "The month or so before the climax of my seclusion on February 15th will hold greater and more concentrated suffering for me in which a number of my close ones will also share." Little did the mandali know to what form of suffering Baba was referring.

Baba wished to fast on the 2nd of December, and also asked the mandali to fast that day without water. Bhau's health had suffered. Since he had been working long hours, because all Hindi correspondence had been handed over to him, Bhau had fallen ill with pleurisy. Baba ordered him to take complete rest and not to move out of bed. He then asked the mandali, "How should we spend the 2nd? We cannot take even water that day, and something should be done to avoid thirst and hunger pains."

A lengthy discussion ensued, and Baba suggested, "Why not go to Poona that day where we can watch the cricket match and then return in the evening? We won't feel thirsty or hungry if we are absorbed in seeing the game." The men mandali agreed, and it was resolved to proceed to Poona in Nariman's car, which was kept in Satara for Baba's use.

Vishnu had departed for Poona on December 1st for some work, and Baba invited him to join them on their return to Satara on the evening of the 2nd. Meherjee was called to Satara from Poona on the 1st and instructed to bring several crates of soda water. It was Baba's standing order for him to come to Satara by bus. But because he had been told to bring the soda, Meherjee drove to Satara in his new Chevrolet. When he arrived, Baba was furious with him. "Why did you break my order and come in your car? Send it back to Poona immediately." So, Meherjee sent it back with the driver and he stayed the night.

On the pretext of going to enjoy a cricket match, Baba left Satara in Nariman's 1952 blue Chevrolet for Poona on Sunday morning, December 2nd, accompanied by Eruch, Pendu, Meherjee and Nilu. On the way, Baba changed places with Nilu, moving from the front to the back seat.

In Poona, they proceeded to the cricket grounds, parked the car under a tree and began watching the game. Despite their fast, Baba gave each a banana to eat. Gadekar and K. K. Ramakrishnan had also come to see the cricket match, and observed Baba and the mandali. They started walking back and forth, and finally Baba met with them for about ten minutes. Baba castigated Gadekar, who was nevertheless highly pleased to see Baba. Vishnu arrived and took Meherjee's place, who was to return to his home in Poona. In the afternoon after the cricket match, they headed back to Satara.

Before leaving Poona, Baba had Eruch drive to his family's house to visit his brother Jal, Beheram and his wife. Perin, and their sons, Sheroo, Sohrab and Rustom, called the "twins," and their daughter, Gulnar. Baba walked to the back of the house to Jal's room and called the twins, Sohrab and Rustom, and directed them to go and get their best marbles, as he wanted to play a game of marbles with them. Examining the marbles, Baba selected a fine "shooter" and insisted on being the first player. Baba's mood was very serious and he shot the marble with such force that several of the glass marbles burst or were shattered into pieces. Observing this, the twins were utterly amazed and wanted to play their turn, but Baba gestured that that was the end of the game. Soon after, Baba and the mandali began their return drive to Satara.

As they were leaving, their car was stopped due to a motorcade. The Prime Minister of China, Chou En-lai, was in town that day with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India to attend some political function. Nilu was anxious to get out of the car and watch them pass, but Baba did not like the idea. Nilu persisted, and finally Baba gave in and allowed him. It was a bit far, but Nilu stood on the road by an intersection, as the motorcade with Chou En-lai and Nehru passed. Nilu then returned to Baba's car.

On the way, Baba instructed Eruch to drive the car slowly, since he wanted to reach Satara in the evening and there was plenty of time remaining. Baba had taken a seat in the back with Vishnu and Pendu. At 5:05 P.M., fifteen miles outside of Satara, Baba had the car stopped and switched places with Nilu and sat in the front seat. Baba's fingers were working continuously, indicating his serious mood.

They drove on and neared Udtara, twelve miles from Satara, where Baba had played cricket with the mandali and other lovers a year and a half before. Baba pointed out the spot and recalled the day. Again, Baba warned Eruch to slow down. At 5:15 P.M., the steering wheel suddenly and inexplicably went completely out of control. The car swerved, crashing against a stone culvert and landed eventually in a foot-deep ditch on the other side of it. All the men in the car, including Baba, were seriously injured. Baba was bathed in blood, his tongue was torn, his hip bone fractured, and he had abrasions on his forehead, nose, cheeks and legs.

Yet, at the time of the accident, when Vishnu saw Baba's facial expression he became dazed! Catching a glance of Baba's bleeding face, Vishnu was overcome and saw Baba's glorious Universal Body and a dazzling light on his face.

Vishnu later recalled:

The whole thing happened in the flash of an eye. When I came to, I found I was the only one in the back of the car. I stepped out and went to the front to see how Baba was and saw him reclining in the front seat, with blood on his clothes and face. Even though I saw Baba bleeding, never in my life have I seen such utter radiance and luster as was on Baba's face then! He was like a king, a victorious king who had won a great battle. Lord Krishna must have looked like that in his chariot on the victorious battlefield. The radiance was blinding! I could see nothing else, not the car, nor the surroundings, only Baba's face in glorious triumph!

After a few moments, Vishnu asked Baba if he was hurt much. Baba nodded, pointing to his mouth and leg, but gestured for Vishnu first to see how the others were. The sight had infused Vishnu with strength. Although one of his legs was injured, and he had face cuts and a broken rib, Vishnu forgot the pain and began moving about trying to help the others. Eruch, Pendu and Nilu had been thrown out of the car. Nilu and Pendu were unconscious lying on the ground; Pendu's leg was broken. Eruch was conscious, but his ribs were fractured; nevertheless, he managed with superhuman effort to stand up and lean against the car and talk to Baba.

The road was deserted of traffic and pedestrians. Three minutes after the accident, a young man, driving in the opposite direction, from Belgaum to Poona, saw the wreck and stopped his car. Vishnu and the young man lifted Baba into the man's car. An open truck stopped, and Vishnu asked the driver to take Eruch, Pendu and Nilu to Rosewood, and he obliged. Vishnu then had Baba driven to the Grafton bungalow.

When Baba arrived at Grafton, Mani rushed on her bicycle to get Dr. Donkin from Rosewood. Donkin came running and, with Dr. Goher, began treating Baba's wounds. Mehera was beside herself with grief as she wiped the blood from Baba's face. The other women, too, did their best to ease Baba's suffering.

Bhau had followed Mani and Don to Grafton, despite Baba's orders that he should rest. He went running for the Civil Surgeon, Dr. Abadin.

The civil surgeon came and Baba asked, "How is it you've come, as today is Sunday, your off day?"

"It is my duty," the surgeon replied.

Meanwhile at Rosewood, Nilu had been placed on Bhau's bed, but he was bleeding badly. After some time, upon examination, the doctor pronounced Nilu dead. Nilu had not regained consciousness. The doctor advised that Eruch and Pendu be shifted to the Civil Hospital, and Bhau and Aloba took them there by an ambulance, where both were treated. (Before leaving, they asked Baba's permission to drink water, as they were on a complete fast that day.)

Baba was also taken by an ambulance to the small and primitive local hospital to have his tongue stitched. He was laid on the table in the operating room. Dr. Goher had come, and she and Bhau stood quietly near Baba. He gestured to Goher, "If they give me an anaesthesia, see that I do not utter any sound. Be by my side all the time."

Despite his obvious pain and discomfort, Baba showed a happy expression, and the civil surgeon was taken aback when Baba lovingly passed his hand over Bhau's face. Not a word came from Baba's mouth, despite the serious wounds and excruciating pain. Even in that injured condition, Baba wore a smile as he expressed his love toward others by being friendly with the doctor as if nothing serious had happened. It was a wonderful experience for the civil surgeon and other doctors present, and the heart of the former was awakened to his love.

After his tongue and other cuts under his chin were stitched, Goher took Baba back to Grafton in an ambulance. It was an old vehicle with no shock absorbers, which rattled Baba's body.

After a bruising journey, it was 2:00 A.M. before Baba got to lie down in bed.

Bhau had been ordered to rest, and when Baba saw him, his first words were: "Why did you break my order?" Bhau had immediately sent telegrams to Adi, Meherjee and Nariman: "Serious accident, all injured removed to hospital Satara. Car lying near Udtara village ten miles from Satara. Bhau." Meherjee arrived in Satara at midnight. But because Adi was in Bombay, Feram, instead of phoning Sarosh immediately, kept the telegram on his table, and Sarosh did not receive the message until 10:00 A.M. the next morning. Sarosh phoned Adi and sent his car to Poona with Waman, telling Adi to go directly to Satara. From Ahmednagar, Sarosh and Kaka Baria left for Satara at once.

All of Baba's lovers soon came to know of the accident through the newspapers. But because of Baba's seclusion, they were restricted from either visiting, writing or in any way contacting him, and they had to respect his wish and keep quiet.

On the morning of December 3rd, although in tremendous pain, Baba remarked:

The Hungarians suffered much in their recent struggle [against the Russians]. Many were lying wounded and helpless on the roads, away from their loved ones and from care or relief from pain. At least I am lying on a bed, with the care of good doctors and the love of all my lovers present and absent.

A few days before, Baba had remarked:

Nobody suffers in vain, for true freedom is spiritual freedom, and suffering is a ladder toward it. Man unknowingly suffers for God, and God knowingly suffers for man.

 

LORD MEHER, 1st USA ed, vol. 15, pp. 5128-5132
2003 © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust