KAIKHUSHRU JAMSHEDJI PLEADER
Kaikhusuroo Pleader Belonged to a family of barristers as his name suggests (pleader means barrister). His father was from Markera, a very beautiful place in southern India. The father was very rich man with seven houses, but at the time of his death, he had lost all houses and all his money, due to various law suits. Pleader and his mother came to Bombay with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and stayed at modest place at Cherabazar in Bombay after his father’s death.
Pleader got a job at the Bank of India His attention was always on spiritual books and scriptures. One day Pleader encountered a book by swami Ramtirth, a professor who had became a saint. The book changed the life of Pleader and He began visiting saint and sadhus. He visited Narayan Maharaj, Upasani Maharaj and Tajuddin Baba as well as some he later described as fake saints. He also went to Hazrat Babajan on many occasions. In this phase Pleader began also going to Meher Baba. He had intense desire to get out of this circle of births and deaths even in this very birth. Once when he went Narayan Maharaj, he asked where he might get God-realization in this birth. Narayan Maharaj said, “You must get a Guru and shortly, in a month’s time you are going to get him.”
Again Pleader went to Meher Baba and he asked the same thing to Him. Baba said, “Why not” You must catch the feet of your Master. At this instant, Pleader broke down; fell at Baba’s feet, grasped them and cried his heart out. Baba said Go back to Bombay, wind up your job, wind up your family ties, your every attachment in Bombay and come back to Me. You journey starts now.”
Pleader had no wife and no children. His brother was there to look after his mother, sister and no one objected.
Pleader was gifted by God-realisation by Meher Baba in the end. Many of his life time episodes and his conversation with Baba is described as under:
On Sunday, 27 May 1928, in the midst of the packing and last instructions, Kaikhushru Pleader desiring to join the ashram arrived. Baba permitted him to stay in Meherabad for a few days so they could acquaint themselves with the mandali and become familiar with the various work.
On return to Baba, he was given all sort of big and small duties in the Prem Ashram. After that Baba sent him on five-year tour of India with a begging bowl and a sadhu’s robes with order eat the food only received by begging only.
From September 1929 to 1934 he was keeping silence and was on a diet of milk, with just water in the last 28 days on direction of Meher Baba. He had imagined he might die from it, but he survived.
According to Baba’s orders, Pleader had stayed in seclusion for a period of time in the Panchgani Cave and in a cave at Mount Abu, and afterward had gone on pilgrimage to Benares and Rishikesh in the Himalayas. He had also been instructed to keep silence.
On 27th January 1928, a Zoroastrian named Kaikhushru Jamshedji Pleader came for the first time to meet Baba. He had read Upasni Maharaj’s biography and was very impressed, and subsequently met Upasni Maharaj, Narayan Maharaj and Babajan. Pleader, as he was later called, was unmarried, working in a bank in Bombay, and openly expressed his wish to remain in Meherabad. Baba, however, denied his request and sent him away.
The next day, Baba called Pleader to him on Meherabad Hill and asked what he wished to attain. Pleader replied, “I want to see God.”
Baba warned him, “It is the most difficult thing in the world. For that, one has to possess unimaginable courage and undergo untold hardships.”
Nevertheless, Pleader showed his readiness to endure all deprivations and discomforts, saying that he had no family responsibilities and was completely free from the world. Baba instructed him, “Go back to your home and arrange everything satisfactorily. When you are totally free of all your responsibilities, come back.” Pleader accepted this and returned to Bombay. He informed his relatives of his decision, attended to a few details, and was back in Meherabad within the week to join Baba permanently, just before the move to Toka.
Pleader was new to the mandali, having recently joined, and he expressed his willingness to serve Baba in any way. As mentioned, there were no sweepers in the ashram, and this was a problem as there were no flush toilets or septic tanks — just tin boxes under each toilet, which had to be emptied and disinfected daily. Masaji was given the duty of cleaning the women’s toilets, and the men would relieve themselves in the fields. But the boys’ toilets required cleaning and this was done by different men mandali.
One day, Baba informed Pleader, “You should either work as a sweeper or fast for seven months on water. Which do you prefer?” Pleader (who was from a wealthy family) chose to fast, but Baba suggested otherwise: “We Masters also work as sweepers cleaning toilets (meaning sanskaras) and we do that internally. You should attend to the external latrines and I will see to the internal. Don’t think of anything else except this duty.” Pleader hesitated, but Baba assured him, “Don’t let it bother you. I will give you another duty after some time.”
Pleader had been to Bombay for a few days and returned with his mother and a friend, both of whom were pleased to meet Baba.
In 1929, one day, Pleader came and questioned Baba about God-realization. The Master explained:
Before Realization, the veil must be torn away and the mind must die. It is due to this veil that every individual mind functions in the gross and subtle bodies. Removing the veil would separate the gross from the subtle; when that occurs, in the subtle state you would be able to see internal things with as much clarity as you see gross objects. While doing all physical activities such as eating, drinking, sitting, standing — while your body is functioning — there is simultaneous progress into the subtle world, like killing two birds with one stone.
But the veil must be ripped off. Though this veil is thin, at the same time it is very strong. It cannot be slit easily, but it can be rent in an instant by a Perfect Master. If it is torn, the consciousness of the soul at once enters the first plane. It is like a parrot which escapes from its cage; it flies straight into the air without looking at its surroundings.
But progress comes to a halt at the first plane if the rent in the veil is made through one’s own efforts or with the help of an imperfect guru [yogi or saint]. Seekers advance on their own but it is ultimately useless, as they inevitably become entrapped. If a Perfect Master is there to help, he would not tear the veil unless the aspirant is fully ready; then the Master would take him straight to the goal.
Continuing, Baba explained to Pleader:
Only a Sadguru can free one from the cage of illusion, but three conditions are required — longing, patience, and rock-like faith. Nothing is gained without longing. This is all that is needed, but the aspirant should remain restless continuously. For instance, if a man is stung by a scorpion, he constantly thinks of how to overcome the burning, throbbing pain. He forgets about eating drinking and worldly pursuits. He forgets everything and has only one thought: how to make the pain subside!
In the same way, there should be continual longing to be one with God. There should be no other thought except this: “I must be one with God today — immediately, this moment!” The mind and heart must be devoid of any other thought. Even though many years of suffering may pass, patience should never be forsaken. At first the longing is intense, but gradually it lessens and cools down. This should not be the case; patience must not be lost. It must be persistent. In the beginning there is great enthusiasm and a person is convinced he will soon gain Realization. But with the passing of time, his enthusiasm wanes.
A person may be purposely snared by the Master and then thrown out! I, too, do such things. But a wise man silently puts up with everything that comes from a Master. One who is unwise becomes impatient and starts grumbling. But Masters always coax the aspirant along and gradually give him a push on the Path. We always behave like this; it is our nature.
Traversing the Path is like a pulling-pushing tug-of-war. But a wise man does not act in this way. A clever bird who is caught in a trap does not flap its wings to free itself. It remains quiet and unflustered, waiting for an opportunity to escape. An inexperienced bird flutters and squirms, becoming flustered and injuring itself more.
Think how patient Hafiz remained to have endured the treatment of his Master for 40 years! Your steadfastness and determination should be like the steady flow of castor oil when poured.
Pleader was in the habit of visiting different saints and sadhus, and to caution him against doing this, Baba advised him:
Do not be after gatekeepers or watchmen; catch hold of the Emperor! Never be after his servants; no minister or secretary will help. A king is, after all, a king, and his servants, only servants. Once you have approached the king directly, it is of no benefit to maintain a friendly attitude with his servants. Your friendship with the king might precipitate any situation, but you should stick to him. Even if you were about to die, you should never let go of his hand.
The Emperor is perfect knowledge. One should forget everyone and everything in his company. One should stop one’s previous habits. One should not think of meditating, or repeating God’s name or any other type of worship. The most that could happen with any of these practices is that you would enter samadhi. Such practices can never make you one with God.
Instead, one should submit oneself to the Emperor’s will, having only this thought: “O God, when will You meet me?” This longing must be present 24 hours a day. If the feeling is intense enough, God will surely fulfill it.
To help people is good, but service done under the guidance and according to the instructions of a Perfect Master is the best. Service to half-baked gurus and false saints will throw you into a gutter. You will be left hanging by those hypocrites. If you are unlucky enough to find a false guru, he will accept you and take you into his service. However, he will then give you up, and that will cool down your longing! Instead of losing sanskaras, you will accumulate them, and become disappointed and disgusted.
These false saints cannot give you anything, while those on the first and second planes, and walis and pirs of the fifth and sixth planes, can raise you to a higher state with just one look! But that is not the perfect state, as these advanced souls are not perfect. At times, even Perfect Masters cannot help those caught in these nets. Therefore, except for the Perfect Ones, do not be beguiled even by the fifth- and sixth-planewalas.
Stick to the Emperor and don’t leave him for any reason! I am in everyone; but if you catch hold of me, you will have the root of all creation in your hands. Then you will not need to go after the branches and leaves.
If you are lucky enough to catch hold of the Emperor, you should never, never leave him. Go on digging until you find water. Don’t keep changing the spot. If you get impatient, and dig two feet here and four feet there, you will never strike water. If you only dig a shallow well, you will get impure water. Only patient, laborious digging will result in your finding crystal-pure water; and for that, you have to exert energy and dig deep.
This Path is not easy at all; and if you enter it, you will not find joy here. Therefore, I warn you, think seven times before entering it! If you are after God, you will have to give up everything — your father, your mother, the whole world. You have to renounce each and every thing. Therefore, ponder well and then take the step. If not, forget about it and attend to your worldly duties.
Once you fall for the Path, don’t be afraid of anything in the world. “Who will look after my parents? How about my job? What will the world think of me?” All these thoughts are useless. If you had died, who would have looked after your near and dear ones? Those affected will care for themselves. God takes care of everyone. He is the true sustainer. Once you have entered the Path, you should desist from such thoughts.
Try to be a lover of God. If you know how, you will go mad! The real lover is never influenced by the world or what people think of him; he will not even care for his life. He will remain what he is — totally indifferent to the world, unashamed of anything.
Baba ended by saying:
All rivers flow in me. I am the Ocean. Stop looking elsewhere and look only at the Ocean. By concentrating on me, you yourself will become the Ocean. To look at the Ocean means to carry out my wishes at all times.
Pleader was very moved by Baba’s discourse and took what Baba dictated to heart.
Baba ordered Pleader to stay in Nasik and continue fasting on milk. He also sent him this message, “I am arranging a good place of seclusion for myself and the mandali. When all is settled, I will send for you.”
In 1930, a notice was issued by Baba, which he instructed to be circulated among the mandali. It read:
Three months after I go into seclusion, I will make Pleader enter the Path. Otherwise, he will be free to go anywhere and to do anything he pleases, but he will have no further connection with Me.
While Baba was in strict seclusion in the Panchvati Cave, Pleader was isolated in the Post Office building. One day Pleader looked up and saw a long black cobra hanging from the ceiling. He had orders not to leave the room, nor could he shout for help, since he was also maintaining silence. Although terrified, there was nothing he could do but stare up at the snake and remember Baba even more.
A considerable amount of time passed (and it is even said that the cobra drank some of Pleader’s milk). Finally, when Sidhu came to bring the next ration of milk, Pleader pointed toward the ceiling. Sidhu stumbled backward when he saw the size of the snake. He was so scared that for a few moments Sidhu could not utter a word. Then he began shouting. Pendu and Chhagan came running to help.
The cobra was curled in the corner of the rafters and it was difficult to lure it down in order to kill it
So Pendu and Chhagan wrapped a cloth around a stick, soaked it in kerosene and lit it. When they thrust the torch toward the snake, the cobra began hissing, spitting its venom, and trying to curl further into the corner, but the roof tile soon became so hot the snake fell down. Pendu and Chhagan struck it with a staff, breaking a vertebra. Chhagan then crushed its head. The cobra had landed so close to him that Chhagan afterward fainted (even though he was an expert snake-killer). Despite all this commotion, Pleader did not leave his room nor did he break his silence, obeying the Master to the letter.
According to Baba’s orders, Pleader had stayed in seclusion for a period of time in the Panchgani Cave and in a cave at Mount Abu, and afterward had gone on pilgrimage to Benares and Rishikesh in the Himalayas. He had also been instructed to keep silence.
In April 1934, while Baba was working in seclusion, Pleader was in Rishikesh, staying and helping serve an advanced soul named Keshwanandji Maharaj. Baba never actually physically contacted Keshwanandji, but he verified to Pleader that the man was a genuine saint.
Keshwanandji was totally naked in all weather, except for a loin-cloth — even in winter. He had built a small wooden platform on the banks of the Ganges, on which he stood, with a bamboo staff in one hand, gazing all day at the sun.
Pleader, after Keshwanandji’s caretaker refused to let him see the saint and told him to go away, succeeded in persuading him to show a photograph of Meher Baba to Keshwanandji. Seeing the photograph, Keshwanandji smiled and then called Pleader to approach. He remarked that he normally never let any stranger come near him, but seeing this photograph, he had permitted Pleader an audience because Meher Baba was “the Master of the universe.”
Keshwanandji Maharaj further stated: “Meher Baba bears the burden of the whole creation on his shoulders, so great a soul is he.”
Keshwanandji allowed Pleader to stay with him for some months and to assist in serving him.
In 1936, after his extensive, extremely taxing journeys, Pleader had returned to Bombay where he was to meet Baba for the first time after many months. Baba instructed both Pleader and Savak Kotwal to search for God-intoxicated masts and mad persons who could be brought to the Rahuri ashram where he intended to work with them.
In 1937, Naval Talati saw Baba at this time and informed Baba that Pleader was suffering internally from being away from him. Baba sent this message to Pleader, who was staying in another area of Bombay: “I suffer every second of my life untold tortures; you have to share. It is now the last phase. When you see me again, you will see me in my true form!” Pleader was given orders to leave on a begging tour, and then to stay in the Panchgani Cave.
In 1938, Baba himself went to Panchgani. Baba also visited His cave in Tiger Valley where Pleader was staying. Baba ordered Pleader to go on pilgrimage to Benares and remain there for eight months, begging for his food along his way, and to fast for a certain period.
But later, Kaka had been sent with Pleader to Benares, and he returned alone to Panchgani the same afternoon and reported to Baba.
Kaka informed Baba at length that Pleader had stuck to Baba’s orders, despite facing terrible, severe mental and physical anguish, Baba commented, “More is still to come. This is not all he will have to undergo.” To the mandali, Pleader had proved his mettle, and they could only admire his fortitude and courage in withstanding all the hardships Kaka described.
Pleader had a discussion with Baba wherein he voiced his concern about the “timetable” for the spiritual awakening Baba had promised him. (The mandali had heard that he was allowing people to offer him flowers and pay homage to him as Baba’s advanced disciple.
On 21st August 1938, Baba had instructed Pleader to rehearse the masts and mad to perform a play about King Gopichand. Baba had given them one month. It was a strange order and extremely difficult to carry out. How could the masts and mad be made to act in a play? But according to Baba’s wish, Pleader devoted himself wholeheartedly to the task. With great exhortation he began rehearsing these unconventional actors, painstakingly teaching them their lines. Eruch and Homi helped Pleader produce the play. Pleader rented costumes from Poona, and a stage with floodlights and backdrop was erected at lower Meherabad for the production.
On 25th September 1938, Raja Gopichand was enacted, and lovers from Bombay, Poona, Nasik and Ahmednagar came for the unique performance, including Rustom, Goher and the Dadachanji girls. The women mandali from Upper Meherabad also attended. None had ever seen anything quite like this. The masts and mad played their parts so well, the audience was amazed at how good they were. The “God-Mad Ashram Special Program” was:
Baba’s arti, then the song Graceful Nazar sung by the God-mad men
Singing and music by Hanuman sang it group of girls
Special song. This is the Divine Court of Shri Meher Baba by Babu the singer
Drama Raja Gopichand performed by the God-mad men
Poems by “Shamlu the Shayer,” the Crack Poet of the Mad Ashram
Plain talks with Baba by Lal Saheb, the leader of the ashram, and Shamlu the Shayer
Bhajan program
Song: I Dedicated My Heart at the Feet of Baba by Babu
The full program was performed by the inmates of the mad and mast ashram. It was a marvelous event in this Avataric advent, never to be seen again. How could masts be made to act when they are unconscious of their physical bodies? How could mad persons be controlled to participate in a play? Yet, both groups did so to near perfection as if professional actors! It was an unequaled spectacle — the result of nothing but the Master’s leela! His own divine play!
Baba was very pleased and embraced Pleader, saying, “Today My work is done, and on this stage of the universe I give you My embrace.”
During their brief stay in Hyderabad, Pleader was sent to contact a sixth-plane mastani, called Mastani Mai. Baba commented, “She holds the key to all of Hyderabad in her hands.” Although Baba did not contact the 60-year-old woman directly, he instructed Pleader to tell her that he was there in her city. Hedi and Walter were later sent with Pleader to the street where she lived to take her photograph. The woman, who was nearly naked all the time, resembled Babajan.
In 1939, Baba went with Adi to Bombay where He stayed for two days at Naoroji Dadachanji’s new residence, 607-B Sohrab Bharucha House, at Dadar. There Baba met Pleader. Pleader was suffering tremendously under the restrictions placed on him by Baba. Eventually, he broke down and wept. Baba was glad and said so, appreciating his frank outburst and smilingly emphasizing once again the importance of his special case.
Pleader had returned to Meherabad, but left for Bombay after 15th February 1942. Baba commented, “He will come back. I have the string (of the kite) in My hand. Let him have a brief respite.”
Turning to Pleader, Baba gestured:
Pleader has become so desperate, he cries out, “Why talk about the height of optimism or the Infinite Ocean of Love?
I would be satisfied with just a spoonful of it! I do not want the Ocean!” But the fact is if you get one spoonful, it becomes very difficult to get the Ocean; that very taste would become an obstacle in your merging in the Ocean. A spoonful can be compared with the valley which lies between the sixth and seventh planes of consciousness. In that stage, you stand facing God. You call Him, but do not get any response, and it becomes very hard to be one with God, the Infinite. So when I give, I give the Ocean, not a drop.
Pointing to Kaikhushru Pleader, Baba observed:
You see K. J. Pleader standing by Me. I had kept him locked in a room for two and a half years only on milk, with orders to observe silence and not to read or write. It so happened one day that he saw a cobra in his room, hanging over his head from the rafters. Neither could he leave the room nor utter a word. Thus, the cobra was there for a few days. When Sidhu took milk for Pleader, he happened to see it. Returning, he informed the mandali, and one of them killed it.
May God one day make him (Pleader) realize that Baba is the only Reality, the Highest of the High, and all else is illusion.
Pleader, who had originally joined Baba to attain God-realization, had recently returned from Bombay and had been confronting Baba for several days, saying, “According to your orders, I fasted for three years; I kept silence; I remained in seclusion; but up to now, you still have not shown me the sight of God!” Baba urged him to continue his unusual practices. The other men did not practice such outward penances or austerities. Their austerity was in obedience.
But one day during this period, Pleader could not hide his dejection and frustration. In response, Baba called Pendu, and asked Pendu in front of Pleader, “How long have you been with Me?”
“Since 1922,” Pendu replied.
“What do you want from Me?”
“Nothing!”
“Then why are you with Me?”
“To serve you, to see to your pleasure and to do as you order.”
Sending Pendu away, Baba reprimanded Pleader, “Pendu has been with me for so many years, and you know how hard he works for me. Still, in return, he wants nothing! You, too, should create that mental attitude which will bring you, unasked for, that which you desire!” Baba then sent Pleader back to Bombay after giving him certain instructions.
Pleader asked, “Baba, what is the use of getting circulars printed about those who have expired, for it is said, ‘Aap mar gaye, doob gai doonya’ (With our death, dies (submerged is) the world).”
Pleader’s remark was sufficient for Baba to give all a good idea about those who die the Real Death and those who are on different planes. He first quoted this couplet of Kabir:
Discard the body, it remains; preserve the body, it goes.
The astounding fact emerges that the corpse devours death!
Baba then continued dictating to explain:
People die in all sorts of ways but it is nothing to be upset about; they are born again and again in different gross bodies. But during one’s lifetime, one should do whatever one honestly feels without getting attached to actions.
Changing bodies between lifetimes is similar to changing a coat. Some die young, such as those who died at the time of [India’s] Partition; some live long lives. They do not change their coats often, like Gustadji. But when Gustadji was with me on the recent trip to the West, he became well dressed and maintained a neat and clean appearance.
Baba then stopped at Panchgani where, in his Tiger Valley Cave, Pleader had been staying in seclusion for several months. Baba saw him and instructed Pleader to remain there until June, and after that stated he would advise Pleader further. Baba then returned to Satara. Later, Baba said that he wished to preserve the spot where the Tiger Valley Cave was located, and if possible to buy the land, but this could not be arranged.
Baba dictated the story Pleader the seeker:
Pleader came to Me and said, “Baba, I want God-realization.” I asked him if he did not want other things as well. He replied, “Nothing but God-realization.” I then asked him to lock himself in a room for three years and to take only milk, no other food and no reading or writing. And the man did this. He had the daring to do it. This man did not leave his room, and when he found a cobra in it one day, he waited until Sidhu, who brought him his milk, came and killed it.
When Pleader saw Baba at Ashiana, Baba remarked, “Gadekar has gone. I have relieved him.”
Pleader too was not in good health, but Baba told him, “What you are suffering is but a fraction of the infinite suffering that I am going through. Even though I am suffering, I have to embrace you all and take care of you all, while working for the universe day and night.”
Baba told Pleader to bear his current suffering for another four months. “I dare not care not,” Baba stated that day. “I have to take care of everything and everyone, good and evil.”
In 1959, Baba had given Pleader the comprehensive list of 12 circles of Baba, with names of all party parties in the circles written in. Pleader was told not to show the list to anybody (though his mother snuck a peek). Baba had written the names Himself in His own hands, and had signed the list Himself, so it was totally secret. Pleader did not find his name in the list and asked Baba. Baba said, “You are not an any of these circles, you are under My will, and you will be charge man when I break my silence, and Eruch will come to assist you.” This was Baba’s promise to Pleader.
As Pleader’s last days seemed to be approaching, he started doubting Baba and sent telegram followed by a letter to Baba that he had carried out all his instructions, there was no sign of the promise that Baba made to him. Baba sent back a one sentence reply, “Pleader is fortunate to suffer a fraction of My infinite suffering.”
Pleader was suffering and suffering. As per Baba order, he was transported to Ahmednagar by train against the doctor’s suggestion not to move him by train. Baba was waiting for Him and patted his cheeks. Pleader said “Look I have come back. Either you fulfill your promise, or give up your divine claim of being God.”Baba banged His Palm into pleader’s hand Baba said, “No, I will stand by My promise, even today I stand by My promise.”
In Bombay, one of Baba’s old disciples, Pleader, had a heart attack, and Baba was informed about it through letters and telegrams. Pleader was in much pain and the Bombay devotees continued to send reports to Baba, asking what should be done. Finally, fed up with the constant flow of correspondence and telegrams, Baba asked them to bring Pleader to Meherazad, and they did so on 19th February 1960.
Pleader was on a stretcher and Baba asked him how he was feeling. In a feeble voice, Pleader complained to Baba, “Either fulfill your promise or stop calling yourself God!” (This referred to Baba’s telling Pleader he would be given a glimpse of the Reality of God.)
Touching Pleader’s palm with his own, in a gesture of promise, Baba assured him, “I will fulfill My promise before you drop the body; don’t worry.”
Baba kept Pleader in a separate room and Goher began treating him. Many Bombay lovers had brought Pleader by train, among them Gulabdas and (his distant relative) Ratilal Panchal, Kishore Mistry, Kharmen Masi’s sons Homi and Sarosh, and Sarosh’s wife Khorshed. (Pleader had been staying with Sarosh and Khorshed).
Baba told them, “The disease from which Pleader is suffering is due to My wish, and it is for his own good.”
Baba called Aloba to recite this verse from Hafiz:
God says that I prosper My enemies and butcher My friends!
And no one has the right to speak against it or question why it is so!
Baba added, “Every one of you must have suffered in one way or another, but after being cured, the suffering becomes a dream. Are those pains and troubles still with you? No, they have faded like a dream.
“What I accomplish by passing through ill health, no one knows. I tolerate it eternally and derive pleasure out of it. In spite of intense suffering and various pains, when pleasure is experienced, it becomes eternal bliss.”
Baba concluded by stating, “Those of My lovers who experience pain participate in My pain.”
Baba kept Homi and Shapur P. Parekh (Pleader’s cousin) in Meherazad to look after Pleader, and He sent the others back to Bombay. Baba would visit Pleader several times in the course of the day, pass his hand over his face and kiss him. At times, Pleader would call out Baba’s name.
On the 23rd February 1960, Baba called Padri and Don to Meherazad and gave them instructions about Pleader. Sarosh (Irani) came that day; and Baba later visited Akbar Press.
The next day, 24th, an ambulance was sent for Pleader. Before going, Pleader again requested, “Carry out your word, Baba!”
Slapping Pleader’s palm with His own, Baba promised, “Before you give up your body I will carry out My word. Go to Meherabad, where you will receive My grace. Before leaving the body you will have a glimpse of me as I truly am.”
Baba then kissed Pleader’s cheeks, his head, his forehead, his hands and passed His hand over his body in love and blessing. Pleader was then carried to the ambulance. Baba stood by and watched. “I have no pain now, Baba,” Pleader told Him. “Make me sleep in Meherabad.”
Baba replied, “Very soon now I will make you sleep in Me, and your physical remains will mix with the earth of Meherabad.” Pleader thanked Him and the ambulance drove off for Meherabad, where Don did his utmost to give him the best possible treatment and see that he was comfortable.
By Baba’s order, Pleader had been kept in Pendu’s old room, next to the hall at lower Meherabad. His condition was serious. At 1:00 P.M. on Friday, 26 February 1960, he told the servant in attendance, “Put out the lantern; it is too bright in here!”
Shapur told him, “It is daytime; no light is on in here.”
But Pleader complained, “There is a brilliant light on!
It is too bright!”
Shapur reminded him, “Remember what Baba said about giving you his darshan? Perhaps you are seeing his luster.”
Later Pleader stated, “I have had Baba’s darshan! He has kept His promise! Now stay near me until I breathe my last. Don’t leave the room. After I give up the body, when Baba comes here convey my deep gratitude — for I have achieved the Goal by his grace. Tell him I am eternally grateful to him.”
During his last moments, it seemed as if Pleader was enjoying infinite peace. At 6:45 P.M. he gave up his body. News was immediately sent to Meherazad and telegrams to Bombay. The next day Pleader’s brother Ardeshir, other of his relatives and a few lovers arrived in Meherabad.
On the 27th February, Sarosh drove Baba to Sarosh Motor Works in morning where Baba’s presence blessed Sarosh’s new office premises. Baba then sat in the DeSoto and rode to lower Meherabad, where he watched as Pleader’s body was placed in a casket and lowered into the grave Padri had kept ready, near Gustadji’s. At a signal from Baba, Kaikobad offered Zoroastrian prayers. To those who had come for the funeral from Bombay, Baba stated, “Normally, I don’t go near a dead body. But here is my special person, whom I have freed today in all senses, and he has not to come back.”
Baba asked everyone to repeat the Master’s Prayer and the Prayer of Repentance. During the prayers Baba held both arms outstretched heavenward. Afterwards, Baba was the first to scatter earth and flowers on the coffin. Pleader’s physical remains mixed with the soil of Meherabad for all time. Baba remarked to Ardeshir, “How fortunate he is that he got mukti (liberation).”