someone on either side of Baba and suddenly he would stop and beckon a shy soul (sometimes behind or in front) to come and take his hand and walk or run alongside.

I often thought of the words, "The first shall be last and the last, first" It did not pass unobserved by Baba if one made way for another. He would look across at you and give you a smile. He knew and you knew just what that meant. It was in Paris that he said of the West that he liked the fact that we all always waited until beckoned to sit at his side or feet and did not rush to take the best seat.

You learn so much just being with Baba and watching his varying moods. You know when to be gay, laughing and joyous, and when to be silent. At times he communed with what seemed to us spirits of another world. All of a sudden, he seemed to look far away — serious and thoughtful — as though planning, ordering, and receiving messages. These moods or states came without any warning at a theatre, a cinema, in a taxi, in a tr ain at night, sitting 'round the fire, or during a busy conversation. I remember on this same visit being called by Baba to his room to discuss an important matter. Suddenly, he appeared no longer to be listening. He said, through his board, "Don't think I am not listening, but I am receiving important messages from China." It happened to be China we had been talking about. At that moment he was completely changing his plans and arranging to go to San Francisco, California, and from there to China to visit my brother Herbert for important spiritual work.

After our talk, I had arranged to do something for Baba. I put this personal question to him, "What makes me want to do this for you — is it hypnotism or love?" Baba looked at me and made me spell out from the board: It is love in its highest aspect."

One afternoon was spent in the bungalow listening to Western music on the gramophone and, afterwards, to music by the boys on their Eastern instruments. But alas, for all gathered there it was too short, barely twenty minutes, for there was to be a children's party later. I say it in love, but those responsible for the running of that retreat failed to understand Baba. Baba was there to be amongst all, but except for this one afternoon and occasional walks, he was kept up in his room seeing people one-by-one all day; or to please Meredith, by sitting an hour or so with him and his wife, Margaret. All below were longing with broken hearts just to sit and watch him from a distance. This was denied. The hours of meditation were kept as usual, and yet who could meditate seriously on Baba when he was amongst them? Again came the words from the Bible, “Can ye fast when the bridegroom is with you —" This was not Baba's wish, but he was teaching both the boys and us