ANITA VIEILLARD
BABA'S LOVING CLOWN

Compiled from talks given by Anita Vieillard at Meher Spiritual Center in 1982, 1987, and 1988, and at the L.A. Silence Day Sahavas in 1982.

 
Once when Anita and Norina were together and getting ready to go and stay with Baba, Anita was present during a rather stormy telephone conversation between Norina and her husband, Prince Georges Matchabelli. Georges was opposed to Norina's involvement with Baba, but Norina was adamant about going to be with Him anyway. At the end of the conversation, Norina appeared devastated. She told Anita that her husband had said, "He's seduced you, and now He's going to seduce Anita also!" After that, Norina just spent days lying in bed listening to sad classical music up until the time they were to go and meet Baba. When they met Baba, Norina told Him the whole story. Baba replied, "The physical seduction is nothing. But the spiritual seduction? Ahhhhhhh ... [indicating bliss]" Everyone laughed and it brought Norina out of her depression. ²

In the Summer of 1933 Anita was among those called to come and stay with Baba at a beautiful seaside villa in Portofino, Italy. For Anita, being in that beautiful setting with Baba was like heaven. She describes the Baba of those days as young, walking with a tremendous stride, radiant, and full of energy and vitality.

When they first arrived Norina told her, "Look darling, now this place is very expensive. So see that everybody doesn't make too much of a mess." Then Anita noticed some beautiful flowers and thought wouldn't it be nice to cut some and put them on the table for Baba. But as she reached up to get a vase from high up on a cupboard the whole cupboard fell, spilling all the dishes on the floor. Everyone came running to see what had happened. Anita didn't dare look at Norina. She looked at Baba, expecting to be chastised, but Baba caressed her face and sent her to go and rest. ¹

Another of Norina's concerns had to do with the name of one of Baba's mandali members, Kaka Baria, usually referred to as just "Kaka." Norina was very uncomfortable with using this name while they were in southern Europe, because in Spanish it is the word for excrement. She conferred with Anita about what to do, "Anitina [Norina would often address her with the Italian version of her name], don't you think we should tell Baba that that is a word that we can't use?" But Anita thought it might be upsetting for Kaka if he knew about it. So they decided just to start calling him "Uncle Kaka." ¹

On one especially gorgeous day in Portofino, Anita was sitting outside looking at the landscape. It was very beautiful and she was feeling happy. Then Baba came and sat beside her, which made her even happier. Baba said, "You know, Anita, I am both God and man." She was shocked. She replied, "Baba, I don't understand You as a man. How can I understand You as God?" Then, in a humorous vein, she said, "Baba, You don't have to say these things to me. You know I love You anyway. What does it matter? You know, we all make mistakes in life. You know, these things are of no importance." Baba called the mandali over and told them, "You know what Anita said? She doesn't care at all whether I'm God or man. And she even says, you know, I could have made a mistake, and she loves me anyway." ²