This corresponds to the striking of the gilli [small piece] by the danda [stick] to enable it to rise in the air. After the limited or lower ego-mind of the disciple is shattered, the second hit consists in driving him onward toward the goal of God-realization. This ordeal is explanatory of the second stroke which sends the gilli, suspended in the air, to a distance proportionate to the impact of the hit.
The game atya-patya is played in a large rectangular field with many parallel horizontal lines and one bisecting vertical line. Once, when the game was being vigorously played, Baba stopped play and called the men under the shade of a nearby tree where he explained its spiritual meaning:
The horizontal lines are the barriers representing pride, anger, greed, jealousy, hatred, envy and egoism, which the traveler on the spiritual path has to overcome before attaining the spiritual goal of God-realization. The bisecting line represents lust which persists to the end, even long after the other undesirable qualities have been subdued and overcome. Once the goal is attained, these very faults are elevated to the level of divine attributes, and nothing but good accrues to others when they are expressed. Those on the Path can and do help others, yet only up to the point or level where they themselves are. But those who have realized the ultimate state of God and reached the goal of Self-Realization can help others stranded at any stage of the inner journey.
With such simple discourses, Meher Baba drew his circle of disciples to him and inspired them. Some of his discourses would be so effective and profound that they were remembered verbatim and repeated by those who heard them for the rest of their lives. Many things about the Master impressed these early disciples as they came to discover who their guru really was. Three recurrent things in particular impressed them about Baba. He would read the minds and hearts of those around him, and would express their thoughts in one way or another, making them feel that "Baba knew everything they were thinking." Second, without their asking, the Master would reply to questions that were troubling them. And last, Baba would often make predictions that at a certain time a particular person would be coming; or, at a certain time a specific event would take place. Invariably, these predictions would come true.