On other occasions, Meher Baba explained to the mandali:
Such persons, known as masts, are not insane or mad in the ordinary sense; masts are desperately in love with God — or consumed by their love for God.
Masts do not suffer from what may be called a disease. They are in a state of mental disorder because their minds are overcome by such intense spiritual energies that are far too much for them, forcing them to lose contact with the world, shed normal human habits and customs, and civilized society and live in a state of spiritual splendor but physical squalor.
They are overcome by an agonizing love for God and are drowned in their ecstasy. Only the divine love embodied in a Perfect Master can reach them.
Another time, Baba further elucidated:
How does it happen that some men and women become masts? There are those who have become masts whose minds have become unbalanced through unceasing dwelling upon thoughts of God so that they neglect all normal human requirements. There are those whose minds have become unbalanced by sudden contact with a highly advanced spiritual being. There are those who have sought spiritual experience and have met a crisis from which they do not recover. What characterizes all masts is their concentration upon the love of God.
Rahuri, a small rural town, lies on the road that links Ahmednagar with Nasik and it was a convenient place for Baba, since his permanent headquarters remained at Meherabad. The town was located near the banks of a tributary of the Godavri River, and plentiful rain made it abound with greenery. The ashram was built in a grove of orange and mango trees, making it a pleasant atmosphere for such work.1
Baidul was given the duty of cooking for the Rahuri inmates and the few mandali who were living there. (A hired cook named Laxman cooked for Baba.) Baidul was also to help look after the mad and masts. Pleader (who had come from Bombay at the end of July) and Raosaheb were appointed supervisors. Pleader, Kaka Baria, Savak Kotwal and Homi Irani were directed to travel about and bring masts and mad persons from different places.2
At this time, Dhake was a practicing attorney in Rahuri and visited the ashram often to manage the office affairs, and sometimes stayed there. A dispensary run by Dr. Nilu was later opened in Rahuri, with Jalbhai as his assistant. Besides helping supervise the dispensary, Jalbhai managed the office in Dhake's absence.
Footnotes
- 1.Kulkarni Maharaj, an advanced soul who had guided Upasni Maharaj to Sai Baba, had resided in Rahuri in the early 1900s.
- 2.Homi Irani was Kharmen Masi's son and had been a student in Meher Ashram, along with his two brothers. He was now helping in Baba's work.