Prem Ashram — Continued from page 35

Khosraw Toos:

My name is Khosraw* and I was nine years old when God granted me His grace. They had asked that whoever wants to may send their children to school, so that they may be educated free of charge — Meher Baba will teach and provide for their education. So, I was fortunate enough and I and my brother with twelve others left Iran for India. The people who were taking care of us on our trip were very wonderful people.

When we reached India, especially when we reached Baba, we didn't know then who it was to whom we were going. It is only now that we know what a great person he was and still is. Yet the first instant that our gaze fell on him I thought that he was very different from regular people. He was very lovable and he had a radiant countenance. He always had a smile. Whenever we children would see Baba approach from a distance, we would all be very happy that he would come to us and that we would be able to put our eyes and heads at his feet; our hearts would be filled with that purity and joy. Whenever we would see Baba, we would feel that same peace and joy and purity.

I could never get up early in the morning when I was at home, but while there I would get up very early and I would sit and think of Baba. He would constantly emphasize this: that we should constantly be thinking of God, wherever we are. Of course, my efforts have been that, as much as the world allows me and does not bind me, I should be with him. Of course, whenever I have thought of him and have been with him, my internal peace has been quite something else. I am very thankful to him for his grace. He is still with me, he is always along with me, and he is constantly preserving my inner peace. In comparison with the others, I definitely feel that I don't have the same worries, sorrows, and troubles. This was his own emphasis: we should not worry. He has helped me in this and, of course, in comparison with others I live in more peace and joy.

Meher Baba had appointed people who were familiar with the Path to teach us the sayings of the saints and the prophets. Those lessons were really something for us. It was as if we were listening to things about God's Truth that we did not know before. They were very important and interesting to us. Baba himself, although he did not speak, would use gestures as far as spiritual instructions were concerned. He would not be present for all of these presentations. But occasionally. when present, he would draw maps of the other worlds which are beyond this gross world, which none of us have ever seen, He would draw them on the board in the manner, of course, which he himself could see in his own state. Of course we did not understand everything. But a few would learn. You might have seen some of these maps in "God Speaks." He would say, "All of these things that I am explaining to you you must realize. As light and as big as they may be, including the universal self, you are all part of the one single God." That was his constant emphasis. It is all one God. He emphasized that we should keep in mind that oneness. He would say if you can feel that oneness of God within yourself that is the way you can learn to love others, That is the way you can reach your destination and your origin which is none but God.

He was very wonderful — the children singing the song of love of the seven names of God. They would sing it very beautifully, they would sing it from their heart. Really, the descriptions that they give of Paradise, I can say, was that period of life which we spent there. We were so happy during that period. Then we heard the news that Baba had ordered us to go back home. One very deep, heart-filled cry I've had in my life that I remember and that was the cry I cried then. when they told us we had to go back to our parent's house. Usually students are very happy to go home. But only once have I really cried from deep in my heart and that was then. I don't forget it; I still haven't forgotten it.

*Corrected to Khosrow by Farhad Shafa-webmaster