The following is from Bhau’s email of 18th December, 2001 to Emery and Susan Ayers and Nancy Marx (CPD). Due to the disturbing nature of the account, I did not want to add it as a P.S. to one of Bhau’s Awakenings and thus interrupt the reader’s concentration and enjoyment of such message, so Bhau granted permission to send the report out as a standalone email.

You will be amazed to hear that theft has been committed in God’s home at Meherazad, and not only that, this is the third time such theft has occurred!

Growing by the side of the private road to Meherazad were sandalwood trees. Twice, thieves came and took them.

There were also sandalwood trees growing in the garden behind the men Mandali’s quarters. Around 1:30 a.m., Friday, the 14th of December, thieves came again to cut the sandalwood trees inside the compound. They accosted the night watchman, dragged him out into the field and beat him. They ordered him to lie down and told him not to make any noise. It was very cold, but the poor fellow could not move.

The barking of the dogs roused Katie. She went to the men Mandali’s quarters, where she woke up Merwan [Jessawalla, Eruch’s brother]. He went outside, and Katie returned to her room.

The thieves seized Merwan, then ordered him to sit on a piece of stone and not move.

"Why are you committing this theft?” Merwan asked the ringleader, a man about 25 years old.

"My mother is suffering from cancer,” he answered. “I have nothing to give her for treatment, so I am forced to do this."

"We have a clinic here,” said Merwan. “Why don’t you bring your mother to it?"

"I am from Hyderabad. How can I bring my mother to Meherazad?"

"Do you know what this place is?” Merwan asked.

"Yes,” the ringleader replied. “I know this is the place of Avatar Meher Baba. God is Love, and Love is God."

As others cut the trees, the ringleader remained standing before Merwan, not saying a word.

Merwan, too, remained silent, which was good. All thieves had come with swords in their hands.

Suddenly, the ringleader said to Merwan, "Take this sword and kill me."

"Why should I do that? I will never do such a thing.” Merwan answered. “Whatever you want to take, you take. Take as much sandalwood as you like. I have nothing more to say."

So Merwan sat on the piece of stone for one hour in the biting cold. When the thieves had cut down three trees, they loaded them in a truck and ordered Merwan to go.

Poor Merwan left. He then phoned Mehernath, who in turn informed the police.

The police went out to Meherazad, but the thieves had already vanished. The police then conducted an investigation. This morning (Tuesday, the 18th of December), we received news from Merwan that the inspector of police informed him that they had caught eight gang members. Three people remain to be apprehended.

So this is the age when people do not hesitate to commit thefts in God’s home. Just two months ago, thieves had also gone to Meherabad to steal sandalwood trees. Sandalwood is very, very expensive in India. And the thieves will earn more than one hundred thousand rupees for the wood. Now we are thinking of cutting down all the sandalwood trees. They will be used for the dhuni, because otherwise, this theft will go on and on. We have also three trees in the Trust Compound, but I don’t want to cut these trees. With all love and Jai Baba to you,

In His Love & Service,

Bhau
Trust Office
Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Tuesday, 18th of December, 2001

A further note from Bhau on Sunday, 30th December, 2001: "Today I heard that because he felt scared, Dr. Dadi Kerawalla cut down the sandalwood trees at Meherabad."