Born : 1902

Died : 5th Dec.1986 - Meherazad, India

Buried : Upper Meherazad, India

Mother : Nonny

Nationality : American

http://mandalihall.org/talks/speakers/Rano_Gayley/

8th September 1934
 
Dearest Rano
 
I asked Norina to lecture you all about you all not remembering to keep things
private. I forgive you and wish and order you not to feel hurt and to remain happy
as you promised. But all the same I want you to be ultra cautious.

My infinite love.

MS Irani

Click here : Nonny Gayley

Memiore covering Rano's art under the direction of Meher Baba. The intriguing and enigmatic Ten Circles Chart is the focal point of this memior by one of Meher Baba's early Western disciples. Fully illustrated in color and black and white.

 
One day near Ajmer, Baba decided to go up a hill called Taragadh were there was a shrine. Instead of just taking the men mandali, he said he wanted to take all the women too, entailing quite a lot of trouble. Baba kept emphasizing the fact that there was a great deal to do in preparing for the excursion. He would have to arrange for coolies to carry up our bedding. Food arrangements would have to be made. Lift chairs were needed for Elizabeth and Nonny who could not walk that distance uphill. Over and over, Baba kept telling us what a lot of trouble it was and what expense he was going to.

We thought, "Oh, dear, Baba is doing all this for us." So Kitty and I put our heads together and decided really it was all right if Baba didn't take us up. Indeed, why should Baba go to all this expense and trouble for us?

We went to Baba's room: "Baba, we appreciate so much all the trouble you're going through to take us up the hill to the shrine and for us to stay there but Baba, don't do it on our account. If we don't go, it's all right."

Baba gave us one look and said, "If you think I'm doing this for you, you're mistaken. My work comes first; you are only secondary."

We walked out of the room with our heads down. Baba had made it very clear that his work did come first, and it was something that we had to experience.

 
It was at Nasik that I first realized that Baba was more than just the flesh and blood being that I could see. One night it must have been toward morning — I was awakened by a blinding light, and in the light was Baba's face.

My heart was beating very fast and everything was twirling, radiating pinwheels of light. With the light and the vision, there was such a feeling of ecstasy that I was no longer myself, but was just absorbed into Baba. Then the light and vision went and slowly, slowly, my heartbeat went back to normal. I tried to recapture the moment, but it was gone.

The next day I was alone with Baba and he turned to me, "What were you dreaming last night?"

I tried to hedge, to make out I didn't know what Baba was talking about because I didn't want to verbalize what I'd seen and felt. But Baba gradually brought it out of me.

I said, "Yes, Baba, it's something I'll never forget." Baba tried to get me to tell the others, but I just mumbled about it, and they didn't really understand. I wanted to keep it to myself.