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Shiva
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ONE DAY in October, 1976, I was scurrying around the house searching for a lost article. Looking in the waste- basket, I came upon a form letter that my wife or I must have filed there. It was from Dr. Jules Masserman, the upcoming president of the American Psychiatric Association, informing psychiatrists of a trip to India that he and a colleague, Dr. Schwab, would be co-sponsoring.
I got excited. Having wanted to share my experience of Baba with colleagues for some time, I felt this might be a sign—a way of Baba’s granting me this wish—no matter that news of the event was coming by way of my wastebasket.
I called Dr. Masserman, sent word to Baba asking for permission to bring the doctors to the ashram, and managed to arrange for a meeting. I would talk to the group upon their arrival in New Delhi and make final arrangements regarding how many would join me, at that time. This would take place soon after Mahashivarathri.1
Shiva, the God of beneficence and compassion—the renovator, guardian and father of the universe—is worshipped and revered, propitiated and prayed to for mercy on the auspicious eve
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