ChaptersChapter 13Page 1,935

Chapter 13: Nasik & Cannes

1938Page 1,935 of 5,444
Raosaheb, who was living in Bombay, also came after a few days to meet Baba.
On the 11th, an elderly villager was brought to Meherabad by Dada Patil. The man had a bullock cart, which Pendu had hired to bring materials to Meherabad, but the villager had been stealthily stealing wooden planks from the stockpile on the hill. Baba had come to lower Meherabad that day, and the man was brought before him. Baba was to punish him. Padri or Pendu would have whipped any thief! But what was Baba's justice? Baba sentenced him to go to every house in the village with the stolen planks on his head, and to tell all that he had stolen this property from Meher Baba! Dada Patil was to follow him and make sure he did it at every house, and then report back to Baba. The old man asked forgiveness and said he would do as Baba ordered, but begged not to have to carry the heavy planks on his head, and Baba relented.
Eruch's cousins, the Satha boys, had come that day, and Baba met them and asked about their school. When they said they had a holiday that day because of Shravan (Hindu month of festivals), Baba quoted the Buddha, who said, "I am eternally free and eternally bound."
Gaimai's brother Nusserwan Satha came with Kaka Chinchorkar on the 17th and were shown the mad ashram and the new buildings on the hill. Baba arrived that morning with Adi's father Khansaheb, who was also given a tour. Khansaheb was impressed when he saw Baba serving the masts — cutting their hair, cleaning their latrines, bathing and feeding them.
bottom: cleaning the masts' latrines with Baidul
Murli was staying in Bombay at this time studying homeopathy, and Baba sent Adi Sr. there on the 19th to persuade him to return to Meherabad. Adi returned on the 22nd, but without Murli which greatly displeased Baba.
At the women's quarters in Ahmednagar, a mangy dog had wandered into their compound and Baba had it kept. It was ill and Baba called Mansari and asked her to look after it. Mansari, who at that time had a strong aversion to dogs, said, "But I haven't come here to serve a dog. I've come to serve you !"
Baba looked at her as if to say, "Oh, really? I never thought of that."
He then called Gaimai and asked her the same thing in front of Mansari. "Of course," Gaimai said, "I will gladly look after it."
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