working, though full of power. With the exception of Mehera all were told they were not to touch Baba. Some say that spiritually Baba works on all femininity through Mehera, and others say that she represents his feminine aspect. Certainly, he has always said that while others are very near and dear to him in varying degrees, she is the Chosen One, the purest of the pure.

After this meeting I felt so calm and happy. A feeling of peace pervaded my being as if a benediction rested on my head. I knew it was right for me to be there at this moment but not before. I just had to be plunged more deeply into Maya and come to terms with certain aspects of myself. Had not Baba not written to me during the war: "You are nearer to me where I want you, than if you were next to me physically where I did not want you. When we meet again you will be a changed Leyla (the Persian name Baba gave me meaning Faithful One), and yet the same."

His timing is always perfect, so that the house on the hill of nun-like seclusion now appears to be the perfect background to begin the new experience.

July 23rd. It was arranged for Kitty to go with us down to the mandali's quarters where Baba was seeing groups of people for the first time in months. At 7:30 a.m. the car called for us, and it drove up to Baba's small room, where he stood garlanded, looking simply radiant from the doorway. We went in. He touched our cheeks and said how well we were looking, then we were sent in the next room to greet Norina and Rano, and the mandali. Norina looked well. The men came in, amongst them Donkin, Nilu, Pendu, Padre, Vishnu, Sarosh and Adi, Jr. Gulmai was also there.

The people coming were mostly from Poona and Jabalpur. They trooped up and were allowed to see Baba, but no darshan. At 9:30 a.m. we were summoned into the big hall. Baba came in garlanded and sat on a chair facing us. Everyone stood up and as he entered, chanted, "Shri Sadguru Meher Baba Ki Jai," then they sang the names of God, written by Baba during the war: "Hari Paramatman, Allah, Ahura Mazd, God, Yazdan, Hu." A well-known man, who had been a disciple of Ghandi, stood up and made a speech hailing Baba as Avatar. This was translated into one or two other languages. After this the young daughter sang a sacred song. At 10:30 a.m. Baba stood up and dispersed the gathering.

We were shown around the men's quarters—also the plans for a new dispensary. We were then driven back.