Correspondence between Ghani and Baba after Baba sent Ghani home from New Life (LORD MEHER, 1951, p. 2969)
Source: Betty Lowman
Meanwhile, Dr. Ghani was called to Mahabaleshwar for a week, for the purpose of entertaining Baba with jokes and poetry, before Baba entered seclusion. Ghani was sent this poetic summons:
If you are well
If you have not gone mad
Or don’t say you are sad
Have no material loss
From servant or from boss
Not talk of Old Life
Or children or wife
But entertain me
With jokes and poetry.
Will pay both-way fares
Won’t listen to your cares
Then come for eight days
So Meher Baba says.
Do not give me pain
By asking material gain.
Talk of spiritual benefit
Will give you gober [cowdung] & shit
In New Life no responsibility
Of reward no possibility
In January 1951, Ghani mailed Baba this humorous response:
Received your loving letter.
I feel awfully better.
Is India getting dry?
It ne’er looked to me wetter.
A thousand thoughts & whatnot,
It looked almost a boycott;
Twelve months no (w)ink, no inkpot,
I could not get the upshot.
And Jal with dates a noting,
With Gadekar drowned in doting,
With Pappa seemingly bloating
And Ramjoo meaningly gloating
This atmosphere, I was pretty sure
Could not very long endure;
De facto verdict for a cure
Could not ignore my stand de jure.
Accepting all your orders
Will come for dates & numbers;
On mind no madness — murders
Be damned the cares & thunders.
Hoping there are no blunders
I remain yours forever,
A. G. Munsiff
Baba’s reply:
After carefully your letter noting,
I feel like going a boating.
If any of my orders you break,
Your body on Ganges be floating.
Ghani had been called to Mahabaleshwar on 8 February, but he fell ill. He was then instructed to come for three days from the 12th, if he recovered. Baba wrote to him:
Well, cheer up, sonny.
Think less of money
And more of honey.