DR.SUBODH CHANDRA ROY
Dr. Roy, a blind Indian professor, met Baba at Meherazad on 21 January 1964. Elmer Scott, Horace M. Kallen, Professor Subodh Chandra Roy , Dr. Hans Simons (acting President of the New School, NYC), Ralph Walker (a trustee). The photo was taken at the University commencement ceremonies, where Professor Roy and Elmer Scott both received the Louis S. Weiss Memorial Award in Adult Education. date: 1952 location: New School, New York City
Baba allowed him to come to Meherazad in January, but Chandra Roy failed to show up on the appointed day. Baba acted very concerned about him. By mistake, Chandra Roy had gone to Ahmadabad instead of Ahmednagar, a difference of over five hundred miles. But the man had a strong will and at last, found his way to Adi K. Irani’s office in Ahmednagar.
On the morning of January 21st, at 9:00 A.M., he was brought to Meherazad by Adi. After embracing him, Baba also kissed him two or three times. Chandra Roy recalled the incident:
I was very happy and also much embarrassed, as I had never been kissed by a man. But Baba embraced and kissed me with such kindness and affection that it was most gracious.
Chandra Roy was with Baba for about three-quarters of an hour. Baba was in the mood to discourse and answered the scholar’s questions about reincarnation.
Chandra Roy then asked, “What does Your darshan mean for a person without sight?”
Baba lovingly drew His hand over the man’s face and explained, “All who come for My darshan are blind, for none can see Me as I am. There are very few in the world who can see Me, the rest see only illusion. But the contact of touching Me or receiving My embrace is a darshan of untold blessing, and so you are blessed.”
When Chandra Roy asked about the breaking of His silence, Baba replied, “The fact that I have observed silence is in itself the answer that I must break it.”
“My silence is no vow. I had the urge to observe silence, and I will equally have the urge to break it. An urge is independent of time, but the time is fast approaching when I will have the urge to break My silence.”
Chandra Roy spoke of his deep study of various world religions and the conclusions he had reached, and invited Baba’s comments. In response, Baba stated, “There are two aspects of religion, the ceremonial and the spiritual – for example, the husk and the substance. When a man’s consciousness begins to involve and he dives deep within, he can rightly assert that he belongs to no religion but that all religions belong to him.”
“How should I characterize your teachings?” asked Chandra Roy. “To what philosophy or religion is it closest to?”
Baba replied, “My teachings are not like any religion or philosophy. If you are looking to anything for close similarity, it would be a synthesis of Sufism, Zoroastrianism and Vedantism.”
“I am glad to know this. As a professor in America, I teach comparative religion. I teach all three of these religions, Sufism as a part of Islam.”
Chandra Roy next inquired, “How do you convey your gestures when you feel tired or get impatient?”
Baba took the blind man’s hands into His and showed him how He did His signs, letting him feel His hands as He gestured. Chandra Roy asked, “Do you feel impatient at my questions?”
Baba joked, “Not yet.”
Chandra Roy said, “I lost one day in my life by going to Ahmadabad by mistake instead of coming to Ahmednagar. How am I to make it up?”
Gesturing, Baba’s answered, “Time has no real existence in Eternity.”
Chandra Roy put other questions to Baba about metaphysics, to which he replied, “You will find all the answers to your questions in God Speaks. Study the book thoroughly and absorb it.”
Chandra Roy said, “I have found that your teaching is the same Truth established through the ages.”
Baba smiled and answered, “If it were otherwise, it would not be Truth! Truth is but one, the same and eternal. However, I have not come to teach it, but to give it.”
Baba pointed to the metal plaque on the wall, which Eruch read out, “I have come not to teach but to awaken.”
While leaving Meherazad, the professor told the mandali how happy and satisfied he was with meeting Baba, and said more than once, “Baba is indeed compassionate!”
Later, Chandra Roy summarized his meeting with these words:
Meher Baba’s love is really very genuine and very great. He showed me what life should really embody, that is, about the “power of love” as opposed to “love of power.” Most of us have experienced love of power, but very few of us have experienced the power of love.
After meeting Baba I concluded for myself, here is a person who embodied, practiced and inspired many of us with the power of love. I will cherish the interview I had with Him throughout my life.
Refr: LordMeher/ambprasarkendra
Refr: https://archive.org/details/dli.calcutta.10701/mode/2up
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