An evening gathering was held at the school on the 13th. At the request of Topkhane and Dixit, Baba planted a mango tree on the school grounds. One of the youngsters was called on the stage and given charge of looking after the tree. Dixit, the vice-principal, told the boys, "As the tree grows and selflessly gives out its fruit to others, so also should you grow in moral and spiritual greatness, and then selflessly serve others who are in need. This is the lesson taught by Meher Baba."
Topkhane delivered a short speech on that occasion in Marathi, from which the following is an excerpt:
What we as teachers by our sincerest efforts have failed to do during the past twelve years — to inculcate love and morality in the hearts of the boys — Meher Baba, by his very presence, has in one day created that love in them. This we could never have done. It is concrete proof of what a Sadguru can do!
I firmly believe that there is no need to "seek out" Sadgurus, who, being realized souls, know and see where thirsty souls are and contact them themselves to give them a lifting hand. I believe that Shri Baba must have seen that there are struggling, yearning souls here with higher aspirations, and hence has come here to bestow his grace and august blessings.
I pray to Shri Sadguru Meher Baba to continue to have his grace and nazar on this institution.
Baba dictated these remarks, which Vishnu related:
Out of all the paths to Self-Realization, the path of karma-yoga [service] is the most advisable for you. Sincere, selfless service to others, which if done wholeheartedly, will gradually wipe away much of the [lower] self element in one's nature, and enable one to progress steadily yet surely towards the Goal of salvation and Self-Realization. Although the grace of a Sadguru is essential for reaching the Goal, this selfless service, if sincerely done, will render one worthy of the grace of a guru.
I am indeed highly pleased to see such a clean, healthy, devotional atmosphere here, the feeling of brotherhood, love between the teacher and the taught, and an intense longing for the higher ideals of life here and hereafter, culminating in a desire for divinity. That is the reason I feel so happy here amongst the devotional souls whose inner yearnings I know fully well and highly like and appreciate.