ChaptersChapter 16Page 2,326

Chapter 16: Wartime Travel For Masts

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The trustees of the temple received him in grand style.
Baba spelled out to the Hindu priest there, "Lord Shiva himself has come to pray in your Shiva temple."
At one point during Baba's stay in Sholapur, he made these statements:
I am now like a stone which can be used in different ways. Use me either as a brick in the wall of your house, pollute me with refuse by using me as part of your W.C. [water closet; toilet] — or sanctify me with flowers on a pedestal as a holy idol.
From now on, no more seclusions. I am prepared to meet all in public, even move about in processions.
You and I are all equal. I have nothing [new] to give you. It is all with you, within you. The only difference is I can see it, whereas you cannot. What I have to do is to open your eyes. Then you will see it for yourself.
After the temple darshan, Baba went to Rustom Nagarwala's bungalow, where most of the Zoroastrians of Sholapur had gathered to pay their respects. He then went back to Gadekar's house at eight o'clock, and met select workers of the Meher Spiritual Center of Sholapur for one hour. Baba explained some spiritual truths to them, commenting:
When nothing upsets you, you are at the beginning of the Path. When you desire nothing, you are halfway on the Path. When nothing becomes everything, you are Perfect!
Marwaris [businessmen] and atheists can realize God, but hypocrites cannot.
In ordinary human beings, it is the body which controls the mind through attachments, requirements, cravings, and so forth. In advanced souls on the fifth and sixth planes, it is the mind that controls the body. In majzoobs, there being no mind, it is God that controls their bodies. But in Sadgurus, their mind being Universal Mind, it is God which controls both the mind and the body. Their Universal Mind automatically becomes the expression of God's will.
A bhajan program was held from 9:00 to 11:00 P.M., after which Baba retired for the night. The next morning, the 11th, Baba and the mandali proceeded 44 miles by car and buses to Barsi, where Pandoba and Babadas had made excellent preparations for the program. At ten o'clock, Baba was carried in an open horse-drawn, four-wheel carriage and paraded around the town for four hours accompanied by a band of musicians.
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