Shri Baba does not merely teach, but practices spirituality himself and makes it practical for others with his personal example. The dignity of labor cannot, therefore, be too highly emphasized in his ashrams. As a practical example, in his new ashram at Rahuri spiritually dazed and God-intoxicated mad persons are collected and treated personally by him, and are also given a spiritual push by him as a Master. Not only does he himself give them a bath, food and drink with his own hands to give them all the benefit of his personal touch, but he makes a number of his intimate mandali and others work and cooperate with him in this and in various other capacities to render real and selfless service to these God-mad souls — who in the world are left uncared-for and are found wandering in streets, indifferent to their physical existence.
As a Spiritual Master, to whom the rich and the poor all over the world are all alike, any allusion as to discrimination in class, creed or color, of encouraging begging or of making poverty sinful, is absolutely out of place.
The mandali also sent the following cable to Narayan Maharaj at his ashram headquarters in Kedgaon:
February 15, 1937
We request your presence on the 17th and 18th for Sadguru Meher Baba's birthday occasion at Meher Retreat, Trimbak Road, Nasik.
— Meher Bhakti Mandali
It is not recorded why, but Narayan Maharaj was unable to attend.
As mentioned, day and night for six weeks, preparations had been in full swing to celebrate Meher Baba's 43rd birthday at Meher Retreat. The celebration was to be on a grand scale, and a large tent was erected on the grounds to house the guests. Ramjoo, Adi Sr. and Rustom were occupied solely with this work; on the 15th of February, Pendu, Padri, Vishnu and Sidhu arrived from Meherabad to assist them.1 The excitement mounted each day, and the Westerners were particularly anxious to meet the Master's Eastern lovers and witness the pageantry.
"The world is in constant pursuit of peace and pleasure," Age observed, "but that happiness does not contain Wine. Compared to this intoxicating Wine, worldly pleasure and happiness are nothing but shadows. Only the good fortune accrued from previous births procures this Wine. Even the entire treasure of the world cannot buy one drop of it; only the heart's thirst can pay its price. When a desperate heart burning with thirst approaches the Tavern, only then do its doors swing open!"
Footnotes
- 1.The women mandali living in seclusion on Meherabad Hill did not attend the function.