Meher Baba copyright 1987 Charlie Mills

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31031952 TRIP TO THE WEST1952

As Age noted, "It is significant that the Complicated Free Life ended in America, as bindings overcame Baba's life there. These bindings were America's, which assaulted and wounded the Avatar, and which Meher Prabhu uprooted by enduring. It was these bindings which made Baba's Free Life 'complicated.' The world will know its result when America bows at God's feet. To do that, Baba purposely suffered and bore the assault of these bindings, because he had a special mission to fulfill for America. This work was done extensively there, and its rays will shine forth over America like the welcome rays from the rising sun on the horizon!"

On Monday, 14 July 1952, Baba, with the men and women mandali, left Myrtle Beach by car for Florence, South Carolina, where they took a train to New York City.  Elizabeth and her nurse, Sadie Martin, accompanied them, along with Ruano and Charmian. Delia and Margaret had left for New York on 26 June. Delia went on to London, so she could receive Baba and the mandali there after making due arrangements with the help of Charles Purdom and Will and Mary Backett. The pillow she had placed under Baba's head alongside the road where the accident occurred in Oklahoma was drenched with his blood. Delia gave it to the Center in Myrtle Beach as a memorial of Meher Baba's love and sacrifice for America and its people.

The next morning at 8:50 A.M., Ivy Duce was waiting to greet Baba at the New York train station. Baba and the mandali proceeded to the home of Kate Ferris at 14 Cohawney Road in Scarsdale, New York, where arrangements had been made for Baba and the women to stay. Kate Ferris was an acquaintance of Jean Adriel, whom Filis had met. When Filis asked her boldly, "Would you like to loan your house at Scarsdale to Meher Baba for two weeks?" she had replied, "Of course."

Mrs. Ferris and Filis were waiting for Baba to arrive. This was the first time Filis had seen Baba since the accident. She took his hand wordlessly, and Baba gestured, "Don't be despondent." Adi and Meherjee unpacked his wheelchair, and again Filis felt a lump in her throat. Baba waved away her grief. As he had stated to her in Myrtle Beach: "God is always lighthearted, even when crucified."

Baba and the women could move about freely in the garden, as all three of Mrs. Ferris' neighbors had "unexpectedly" taken a vacation, and so they were assured of privacy.

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