Every thought is limited by such restrictions; and the mind, which is hurt the most, revolts at every step. This is why it is next to impossible to stay for any length of time with a Perfect Master. Every breath brings pain to the ego, and at times, being alive becomes a living death!"
Pendu was sent to Jodhpur on 3 January 1941 to locate masts, and he returned two days later with a list of possible contacts. Baba proceeded to Jodhpur by train on the 6th, to contact a few of them, accompanied only by Eruch and Gustadji. One sixth-plane mast named Nanga Sadhu lived some miles away near a military barracks. He was a middle-aged man with bushy hair and a beard. He was guarded by a sentry and had two servants to look after him. Baba went in a tonga to contact him. The mast has no bodily consciousness; he didn't eat until someone fed him. He was sitting on a heap of sand with his hands over his face.
“”"When he started on the Spiritual Path," Baba explained, "he did not want to see the world at all. So he covered his face with his hands. Now, from habit, he still does the same thing."
When they arrived, the sentry was on duty. As Baba wished to contact the mast alone, they returned to the dak bungalow. But as soon as they arrived, Baba wanted to return to the mast immediately, which they did. This time the sentry was gone. Baba told Eruch and Gustadji to stand far away while he worked with the mast alone for half an hour.
By the time Baba completed his work, the sentry had returned and was agitated. Baba said to tip him generously, which appeased the man. They returned to the dak bungalow to have a meal, but again Baba wanted to return to the mast. Back they went in a tonga for a third time. The sentry was not there and, again, Baba contacted the mast alone for half an hour. When Baba was with the mast, the mast did not cover his face, but when Baba was leaving, the mast kept looking at him through his fingers.
Baba also contacted a high mastani named Mastani Mai , who likewise was not conscious of her body. She was covered with rags, and flies hovered around a wound on her leg which was swollen. Rich devotees gave her food and clothes, but she left it all by her side and gave it to the poor. Baba contacted her seven times near the dak bungalow, once when she was alone without devotees around her.
Baba returned to Jaipur at noon on 8 January. Meeting with the women that day, Baba described his contacts. ("Baba gave a delightful imitation of the mast who peeped through his fingers at Baba," Mani recorded.)
“”Emphasizing the importance of his mast work, Baba remarked, "Before I speak, I have to contact 75 percent of the masts in the world. I have already contacted 70 percent; now only five percent remain."
Baba also commented: "What chaos prevails in the whole world! Here we don't realize all the misery. When Margaret has a toothache she says, 'Damn the world and its quarrels. I have a toothache!' For her toothache, Margaret wishes the whole world to hell, but why not for me? Create such an ache for me that your ego is uprooted."
He once told them, "Unless you become the dust of the Master you cannot stay with me. You can all go to hell! I have a strong mind to send you all away."
One evening soon after they had arrived in Jaipur, Baba humorously related to the women, "We are going to publish a new book on milk and Kitty's adventures with the milkman. Every day the cows don't give [enough] milk and the mandali and Kitty and the milkman all go crazy arguing about it.
"Then the milkman turns to me and says, 'You are the only good man here. All the others harass me!' "
Fierce tigers abounded in Jaipur. A local old man used to come and tell the mandali to beware, as a tiger had just killed an animal or human at such-and-such a place. Once Krishna told this to Baba, and Baba directed him to ask Chatti Baba about it. When he approached the mast with the news, Chatti Baba said, " Everyone will be butchered to pieces!" but did not elaborate.
When it was reported to Baba that a tiger had killed a man just a mile from their bungalow, Baba ordered the women to lock all the doors by seven o'clock each evening.
“”He then quipped, "I don't mind tigers — I mind fighting disciples!"
