True spiritual mastery is achieved through complete self-emptying and devotion.
"Becoming the sandals worn on the Master's feet"
Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai
Beheram Hoshang Faredoon Irani
Baba's friend from youth, head superintendent of Meherabad, manager of the Meher Ashram
โBehramji, Buasahebโ
Beheram Hoshang Faredoon Irani, known as Behramji and from 1927 as Buasaheb, was born in Persia in 1892 and migrated to India, where he became a friend of the young Merwan Irani in Poona. Lord Meher notes that although he had little education, he had a habit of speaking to others in legal terms, and Baba nicknamed him "Barrister". In December 1914 Merwan began teaching Behramji to read and write Persian, and nothing made Behramji happier than these daily lessons.
Behramji was a shrewd businessman who owned several teashops and toddyshops in Poona. On 1 August 1918 he opened a new toddyshop at 723 Kasba Peth in partnership with Merwan, where Merwan served the customers and where his early followers later gathered. Late in 1921 Behramji was called to Sakori, where Upasni Maharaj told him, "Your friend Merwan is now God-realized. Always do as he says and obey him implicitly." In 1922 he sold his liquor stores and toddyshops, including the one he shared with Merwan, to help support Baba and the men at Manzil-e-Meem in Bombay. Baba once told the men that they had all been with him in the time of Shivaji, and that Behramji had been Afzal Khan, the general killed by Shivaji.
Behramji stayed with Baba throughout the Manzil-e-Meem and early Meherabad years. He often acted as manager on Baba's journeys, and in 1924 Baba sent him to Persia. In 1925 he was appointed head superintendent of Meherabad, with Rustom K. Irani as vice-superintendent, and in 1927 Baba gave him the title Buasaheb, manager of the Meher Ashram. He managed supplies on Baba's travels, helped obtain visas for the journeys to Persia, and in June 1931 accompanied Baba on his third visit to Persia. At Rustom's Circle Cinema in Nasik he worked as the cashier.
In 1933 Buasaheb left Nasik suddenly and went to Persia, where, of his own accord, he spread Baba's name and message. When he returned to Meherabad in February 1934 Baba told him to rejoin the mandali; when he refused, Baba sent him to Nasik as a partner in Sailor's tea stall and a new restaurant, and Buasaheb went, feeling in his heart that he had been banished. He later settled in Poona and built up toddy plantations, toddyshops and a restaurant. In 1938 Baba urged him: "Your connection with me is very old, and I wish that you now permanently come and stay in Meherabad." Buasaheb declined because of his businesses.
Before dawn on 1 May 1940, on his way to his toddy plantations in Poona, Buasaheb was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle and died instantly. He was 48. Baba and the mandali fasted on 8 May in his memory, and the circular announced that Baba would feed 100 poor people with his own hands that day. Baba said of him: "As one of my nearest and dearest disciples, [Buasaheb] unconsciously when alive was One with me, and now that he has left the body, he consciously enjoys that blessed union with me!" The notice of his death was the first of the printed circulars that Baba thereafter used to send messages to his followers. In December 1944 Baba named Buasaheb among the departed disciples honoured at the foundation of the Memorial Tower at Meherabad.
โI am going away on a long and arduous journey. I may not be back for a long time. I have decided to lead a life of fakiri [renunciation and ascetic austerities]. You may not hear from me for a long time, but if I should write you to come to me, you should immediately join me wherever I am.
โ Merwan to Behramji in April 1915, before leaving Poona; Behramji, who wished to go with him, promised
โDear Behramji, Circumstances compel me to do things which I do not like to do. I am obliged to eat all sorts of things that I have no taste for and keep myself dressed in clothes I have no desire to wear. O God! What entanglements! What sort of bondage is this!
โ From one of the letters Merwan often wrote to Behramji in 1916, while touring with a theatre company in Lahore
โLearn to swallow your anger. Try to remain cheerful in all circumstances. Try to be humble and don't ever answer me back.
โ Baba's advice in 1929 after Buasaheb, vexed by Baba's teasing, said something regrettable
โYour connection with me is very old, and I wish that you now permanently come and stay in Meherabad. You have been with me from the beginning; I no longer wish you to continue to reside in Poona. You won't have such an opportunity again in this life!
โ Baba to Buasaheb at the birthday celebration of 1938; he declined because of his businesses in Poona
โYou complain about Raosaheb and others breaking orders when you yourself break them!
โ Meherabad, late November 1927: after the 7:30 P.M. bell had rung for all to leave, Baba found Buasaheb, the manager, sitting idly and talking with Borker.
โYou cannot understand these sudden and frequent changes of my plans. There is a great mystery behind making these changes. Stick to me and bear everything with patience. I know what I am doing.
โ Malegaon, 23 August 1929: after Baba's sharp rebuke on arriving at Malegaon, Buasaheb, on the verge of losing control of his tongue, began packing to leave, and Baba called him back.
โThese sharp arrows of mine are very good for your spirit; the wine is hidden in them. You have been my companion the longest. Have courage; it is because of your courage that I am going to Persia [Buasaheb's birthplace]. Keep me pleased and remain content that you do so.
โ On board ship to Persia, 24 September 1929: Baba had been goading Buasaheb, who in his vexation said something regrettable. After telling him to swallow his anger, Baba went on.
โWhy did you break my order? Why didn't you ask me about it before the car left? โฆ When the Master has to punish himself for the faults of his disciples over their disregard for his orders, it is not good!
โ South India, March 1930: as manager, Buasaheb was about to ask Baba who should ride in the bus and who in the car when Dastur boarded the bus and the car left without him. Before Buasaheb could answer, Baba slapped his own cheeks hard.
โYou don't take interest in your work now, because you were not appointed the superintendent.
โ Meherabad, October 1926: when Masaji reported a minor infraction by one of the workers, Baba sent for Behramji. He then had Rustom resign as superintendent and become assistant superintendent under Behramji.
โDon't you feel ashamed to sleep when I am sitting here wide awake? How can you feel like sleeping? Have some thought for me!
โ Train to Sholapur, late 1923: in a packed third-class compartment Baba asked the dozing Behramji whether he felt sleepy, pushed people aside to make room for him to lie down, and shook him awake just as he was falling asleep.
โBecause of your slight disobedience, the whole plan is upset and out of kilter. What a calamity, and it is due to the negligence of one man! What was the necessity of bringing these books with us?
โ Mohammerah, Persia, 26 September 1929: on landing, the customs officer seized all the books, lockets, photographs and records the party carried, calling them anti-Islamic. Baba pointed to Buasaheb.
โYou are both breaking my order by not staying at Meherabad.
โ Poona, 1934: after leaving the ashram Buasaheb had built up businesses in Poona. Baba sent for him and Sadashiv Patil, neither of whom wanted to move from Poona.
In Poona in 1922, glancing at the men around him, Baba revealed: "You were all with me at the time of Shivaji. Behramji was Afzal Khan, the Moghul general who was killed by Shivaji. Sadashiv Patil was Tanaji Malsoore, the man who gave his life to save Shivaji." Later Baba again remarked that Behramji was the duplicate of Afzal Khan.
When news of Buasaheb's death reached Baba on 1 May 1940, Baba showed no emotion and reminded the mandali of what he had said in Bangalore: before the end of the war two of his dearest disciples would die. Sarosh, Chanji and others went to Poona for the funeral, and a circular was issued announcing a day of fasting on 8 May in Buasaheb's memory. Before 1940 Baba's messages had gone out by letter or typed copies; from Buasaheb's death onward they were conveyed through printed circulars.
Behramji was introduced to Merwan by Khodu in 1914. At 22 he was still illiterate, though he had a sharp mind and was successful in the liquor business. In December 1914 Merwan began teaching him to read and write Persian. Merwan told him to come to his room every day, and nothing made Behramji happier than these daily visits; he would not let even his business affairs interfere. Due entirely to Merwan's efforts, within four months Behramji went from being completely illiterate to reading the poetry of Hafiz.
In 1917 Merwanji suggested that he and Behramji become partners in a toddyshop in some village, where besides doing business they could do public and social service and meditate in solitude. Behramji applied for a liquor license, but when it was granted Merwanji refused to go ahead, because the license was not in Behramji's name as he had instructed but in Behramji's brother's name. It was a hard lesson, and from then on Behramji remembered to follow Merwanji's words literally. Lord Meher notes that because he followed Merwanji's guidance in everything, he can be considered the first of Merwanji's close disciples or mandali. In 1918, this time with the license in his own name, he opened the shop at Kasba Peth with Merwanji.
In late 1923 Baba took a crowded third-class train to Sholapur with Gustadji and Behramji. Behramji was dozing, and Baba asked him, "Do you feel sleepy?" When he nodded, Baba pushed several people aside and made room for him to lie down. But as he was about to fall asleep Baba shook him: "Don't you feel ashamed to sleep when I am sitting here wide awake? How can you feel like sleeping? Have some thought for me!" Baba went on teasing him until Behramji became so angry that his sleepiness disappeared, which is exactly what Baba intended.
After leaving the ashram in 1934, Buasaheb built up businesses in Poona. Baba repeatedly called him back. In 1934 he told him and Sadashiv Patil, "You are both breaking my order by not staying at Meherabad." At the 1938 birthday celebration he urged, "You won't have such an opportunity again in this life!" In 1939 at Lonavla, when Buasaheb pleaded business commitments, Baba even offered to take the whole financial burden on himself; an agreement was drawn up, but Buasaheb backed out and it was torn up. In light of his death in 1940, Lord Meher calls this an attempt by Baba to save him, and notes that as the years went by Buasaheb came to regret his refusal.