Chapter 1: Age Is Shedding Tears

HAZRAT BABAJAN
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When she walked, her gait was like one intoxicated. When she listened to devotional music, her body would sway to the rhythm of its melody. Babajan's physical condition changed frequently. One day she would have a high fever and the next, without taking any medication, she would be fine.
She would address everyone, whether young or old, man or woman, as baba (child). If any person called her Mai (Mother), she would grimace and rebuke them, "I am a man, not a woman." This strange declaration of hers was faithful to the words of Prophet Muhammad, who said, "A lover of the world is a woman, a lover of paradise is a eunuch, and a lover of God is a man." People would, therefore, affectionately call her Amma Saheb , meaning Mother and Sir at the same time.
Miracles were often associated with Babajan. She was a physician in her own peculiar manner. If someone sick approached her for relief, she would utter, "This child is suffering due to pills." By "pills" she meant that the person suffered from the sanskaras (impressions) of his or her actions. Babajan would take hold of the painful part of the person's body and mysteriously call to an imaginary soul. She would then shake the afflicted part two or three times and tell the cause — the sanskaras — to go. This method of treatment inevitably cured the sufferer of his or her complaint.
One day a Zoroastrian child who had completely lost his sight was brought to Babajan. She took the child in her arms, mumbled some incantation, and then blew upon the child's eyes. Immediately, the child regained his vision, jumped out of her lap, and joyfully declared his jubilation at being able to see.
Babajan lived as a poor, homeless fakir on the street, but out of reverence, her devotees would bring her expensive cloth or jewelry as gifts. Babajan was indifferent toward such material offerings, and dishonest persons would take away the cloth or jewelry. Some would even steal from her while she watched. Babajan never tried to stop them. Once Babajan, covered by a fine shawl, was seemingly asleep under her tree. A thief snuck up and, seeing the shawl, was tempted to steal it. But as a corner of the shawl was under Babajan's body, to pull it out was risky. The thief was wondering how to manage it when at that moment Babajan turned over.
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