sustained by Mehera and the continuing recovery of Baba and the women in the days that followed. I had no idea how bad their injuries reallywere until I heard all the stories at this Gathering. It was wonderful to be in the presence of these people who actuallylived with and helped Beloved Baba. I could have listened to them talk all night long. Charmian is a very funny lady, and a pleasure to listen to. She told a lot of amusing Baba stories and of the pranks He would pull on her and the others with His wonderfid sense ofhumor. I loved her very much, and feel so fortunate to have been able to listen to her.
Dma: LeatriceJohnston was on the program for two talks. She not only came armed with quotes pertinent to the accident in 1952, but also shared her love for Baba a love that seems to emanate from her at all times. I must admit I have a problem with Leatrice. I am exceedingly jealous of her! We were both 17 when we met Baba; Leatrice had the good fortune to fall in love with Him right away. My response was ‘yes, He’s God, so ok.’ He allowed me to swim around in Maya for 30 years before He gave me His Grace and allowed me to love Him. Now I’m happily diving deep in His Ocean, but I know I will never capture that sweet gentle essence that Leatrice exudes. Barb Richstad was overheard asking one of her friends, “Wow did Leatrice’s talkblowyou —
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awaylast night?” Her friend answered, “Oh yes indeed!” Maybe that’s because Leatrice always seems to shoot straight from the heart. She has a unique ability to make one feel what it was like to be right there in Baba’s presence. If you ever get a chance to hear her speak don’t miss it! One ofthe stories she told us was that while Baba was recuperating at Ivy Duce’s apartment following the accident, He told Jeanne Shaw [ Leatrice’s mother] to make sure that each person who entered read a large poster with the following quote on it: “I am equally ap proachable to one and all, big and small, to saints who rise and sinners who fall, :.: through all the various Paths upon is heard the Divine Call. I am which i approachable alike to the saint whom I :: adore and to the sinner, whom I am for, and equallythrough Sufism, Vedantism, : Christianity Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, and other isms of every kind, and also directly through no ism at all.” [This quote appears on page 3872 of Lord Mehei] From Beams-page 32: “The Avatar does not take upon Himself the karma of the world, nor does He become bound by it. But He takes upon himselfthe suffering of the world which is the result of its karma. His suffering for the world is vicarious. It does not entail entanglement with the karma ofthe world. But humanity finds its redemption from its karma through —
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Leatrice Shaw Johnson
Mickey sums up his experience at the Gathering: It was truly a wonderful time. I met a lot of really nice people who are now like family to me. It was sad to have to leave, but I will never forget this time I had. I felt so blessed to have been there.
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His vicarious sufferings, e.g. illnesses, humiliation, accidents and the like. In His own way the Avatar unfailingly fulfills His incarnation by giving a spiritual push to His age.” Leatrice also quoted Eruch who was told by Baba on Feb 5, 1959: “Baba got His physical bones broken so as to break the backbone ofthe material aspect ofthe machine [meaning machine age], keeping intact its spiritual aspect.” Baba’s message to Elizabeth “This disaster has been Baba’s cross and you all took parts in it and Baba is happy and proud that Mehera took as great a part as Baba did in it.” Also, from Lord Meher page 3838: This is a poem from Bhau: “It was as if a knife had impaled the heart of the world, as the Living Christ was bleeding helplessly on that road. 0 America! You thirsted for His blood, now quench your thirst! But remember to remind future generations that along with His blood He also brought and left here the divine trea sure. It is a silent message for America given in pain. Blood is shed only for those who continue to remember God and who expe rience the divine love for the Living Christ. The Christ’s sufferingwill be those souls’ pain, which will always keep them with God. The blood of Christ is a sign of His love for the world. America is His, and by His suffering for it, He gave His love, so that America may keep its head bowed to the living God.”
Dma: On our last night we had the Dhuni and what a magical night it was. Under beautiftil Oklahoma skies the fire was lit. We all sat around singing and taking turns to bow down before the ftre and with a prayer to the Beloved, throw in thatwhich we most desired to rid ourselves of(symbolized by a little stick). During the entire evening I could not take my eyes off the sky Rain had been forecast every day, but none eventuated after the first night, (when more than a few got dripped on in their cabins!) But the sky on that Dhuni nightwas black, stars twinldinglike I never see in Los Angeles, with great puffy dark clouds scudding across the sky Every now and then there would be a break and we could see the —
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