Once Baba used this simile to explain to Baily the importance of obeying his orders:
Imagine that we are sitting in a room and the room has two doors, a front door and a back door. It is convenient and easy to leave through the front door, but it takes longer to do so through the back door. It is also difficult, cumbersome and time consuming to exit through the back door. Now you receive news from your home that your mother has fallen and is lying unconscious on the floor. You need to rush home immediately, so you get up at once to leave. At that time, I know there is a deadly poisonous snake hiding near the front door, and the moment you exit from the front door you will be bitten. You cannot escape its lethal bite and will surely die.
At the same time I also know that there is no real danger to your mother, and even though you may reach home late, there is nothing to be worried about. And because I cannot explain all this to you openly, I order you, "Baily, do not go through the front door, but go from the back door." In spite of my telling you, you think, "If I do that, I will be delayed further, and also my leg is paining and I cannot walk fast," et cetera. You argue and think that you are wiser.
In that case, I cannot do anything about it beyond thinking about your welfare. I am helpless to do anything further. And for that very reason, I have always been telling everyone that whatever order I give first, you should follow it — and ignore your intellect and baseless arguments. When you use your brain and argue, on the contrary, I am compelled to give in to your arguments and moods, and I bow down to your wishes. Then when you face the consequences, you come running to me, complaining and crying at your misfortune. You even get upset with me or blame me. With my trying to explain to you time and time again, it would be so much better had you taken cognizance when I cautioned you. Otherwise, there is no other recourse but to bear the fruits of your karma.
Baba returned to Meherabad on Wednesday, 15 August 1934 and began settling matters with the mandali living there. Pilamai was managing the kitchen, where Masaji was the cook. Not a day passed that there was not a quarrel between them, mainly because Pilamai would grudge Masaji the proper ingredients needed for cooking the meals. Masaji complained that Pilamai was too strict a manager, whereupon Pilamai threatened to leave for Karachi, claiming that Masaji was always "crossing" her.
On the 19th, Baba prevailed upon them to work together harmoniously by pointing out, "You have both been with me for many years, yet you have not yet learned renunciation. You know that the body will drop one day, so why this continual expression of hatred, jealousy and anger between you? To renounce these traits is real renunciation!"
Like Pilamai, Chhagan too said he would leave Meherabad, despite his promise to stay. Baba became annoyed with his ultimatum, but pardoned him in the end.
Chanji arrived at Meherabad on 20 August, and the Shahanes saw Baba the following day.
Adi Sr.'s mood had been gloomy since Baba's return, and he too had thoughts of "complete abandonment of Baba's company and association." Baba seemed to deliberately taunt him to get him to stop brooding and speak his mind.
On 23 August 1934, Baba asked him, "Why don't you look happy these days?"
Adi was never one to mince his words, even with Baba. He replied, "During your last five foreign tours, you did not take me with you and kept me here under one pretext or another."
Baba commented, "You should be the happiest of the mandali! You are free from worldly cares or bodily disease and have a car at your disposal to drive about in. Still, you are always discontented! You are the 'champion grumbler' and never satisfied with life!"
Since his return from the West, Baba had been sleeping in the bathing room next to the kitchen on the hill. He expressed a wish for a small two-storied, residential building to be built on the hill, saying the women would occupy the ground floor and he would occupy the upper one. Adi and Padri were instructed to engage a draftsman (Pandoba's brother) for the project. The plans were delivered to Baba on 24 August.
Funds were tight, and for his "spiritual reasons," on the 23rd Baba had a request sent to certain close lovers (Ramjoo, Naval, Aiyangar, Maneck Ranji, Minoo Kharas) to each donate Rs.10 per month towards the maintenance of the mandali.