"I am the driver; Gustadji is the engine. Sadashiv is the coupling joining the carriages to the engine. Behramji is the guard, and Baily is the railway tracks. The rest of the circle of men are carriages of different classes according to each one's past connection with me."
Such spontaneous pronouncements by Baba would strengthen the ardor of those in his intimate contact, thus enabling those young men to have the courage to decide to leave homes and families and go away to live with him.
"Amidst the divine intoxication of bliss permeating the atmosphere around his hut," Age declared, "Meher Baba gradually inspired his chosen circle to leave the worldly life for the spiritual quest. Who knew then that he was the Messiah? Who knew then he was the Murderer? The sweets they were receiving from his hand were only to entice them to lay their heads at his feet, so he could swing his sword and cut their throats, after they had surrendered all to him."
Rays of spiritual light and knowledge emanated from the Master during his talks, and he expounded truths to those near him during every activity. Once Baba was playing cards with the men, and he asked them, "Do any of you know the spiritual significance of the different cards?" No one answered and he explained:
The card numbers deuce through ten represent the lower evolutionary stages through which the soul has to pass, gathering experience, consciousness and strength along the way. The Jack symbolizes the human form with its fully developed consciousness and, representing at this point the stage of bhakti — devotion. The Queen symbolizes the stages of karma and raj yoga or tariqat — the spiritual journey of the soul on the inner path. The King denotes gnosis — knowledge. Surpassing all these preliminary stages is the Ace signifying the One without a second, the Ultimate Reality of God — the Infinite Consciousness — Paramatma.
The game gilli-danda is played by striking the pointed end of a small piece of wood lying on the ground, with a two-foot-long stick, thereby making the piece of wood rise and rotate in the air. Before the piece falls to the ground, it should be struck again with the stick, hitting it as far as possible. One day Baba explained this game's spiritual significance.
When a Perfect Master selects a disciple to become worthy of God-realization, he invariably strikes at the lower part of his nature — the limited self or ego.