Eruch was with Baba in Poona when word came that Eruch’s father was very ill, and after seeing Baba, he died the following day. On the way to the funeral, Baba gestured, "Death - what is it?"

Then He explained that just as normal body functions are necessary to the body's health and nourishment, the health of the soul requires its nourishment in the form of experience. Although the human form throws off the body when the soul has absorbed the experiences for which it has come, the soul does not leave - it is always present.

Eruch commented that his earlier consciousness of death was now with an awareness that Baba had given him, through this experience, of the true meaning of death.

In my book I mention a quote from the writer, Maurice Nicoll: "Life does not always grow from the present, but in many active points lying in life that spreads forward or backwards."

This reminds me of a personal experience that may add to the significance of Baba's great gift to us of Awareness.

It was part of the early years of my life that on a Saturday morning - the day of no school - added to other small duties, my mother had the three or four of us of suitable age (out of a family of nine children) meet in the nursery, to read together and learn by heart, passages chosen by her from both the Old and New Testaments. I am sure we were not pleased! But such was a part of the Victorian era in a Protestant environment.

I remember very clearly the passages of scripture chosen. Today I realize how enriching they were in expression and meaning, and I can only be grateful.

Unfortunate indeed, it seems to me, is the absence of including in education or culture the matchless and profound beauty of these eternal Truths.

Amongst them, for example, are passages from the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 55, from Verse One to the end:

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come ye, buy and eat. Yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price."

And David's Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea. though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."

Turning to the New Testament - St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling symbol and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not love - I am nothing."

And Jesus' words in St. John's Gospel, Chapter 14:

"Let not your heart be troubled, ye who believe in God believe also in Me." "In My Father's House are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you - I go to prepare a place for you."

But there are two passages which for over 70 years have been my most constant companions:

From the Epistle to the Hebrews:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

And the second passage:

"I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in Me."

There was neither mature consciousness nor awareness, however, until after the experience of many years with Meher Baba, when these words gradually began to take on meaning, enhanced by an inner awareness - Baba's gift to each of us - the awakening within through the expansion of consciousness.