If while climbing a mountain, Ghani falls from exhaustion and Don is going strong, I may ask the former to sing and the latter to stop going further. If in that situation, Ghani makes an effort to sing and Don does not stop instantaneously, then Ghani succeeds and Don fails.
So all of you should try to shake off old habits as early as you can, and remember to carry out implied orders and direct orders implicitly — even if such orders seem unimportant or meaningless. The cultivation of this habit at this stage will stand by you in good stead after January 1, 1950.
The editor of a local newspaper came for Baba's darshan again that day and, even on Adi's explanation and persuasion, he remained obstinate in his insistence on seeing Meher Baba in person. Baba was sweeping the hut at the time. Keeping the broom on the floor, Baba came forward and touched the man's feet.
When Baba came to the companions on 9 November, in the morning, Dr. Ghani was in the toilet. Baba sent for him, and he came as he was — unwashed and with his pants down! Baba and the others applauded him, loudly clapping their hands at his instantaneous obedience. Baba appeared very pleased. Ghani was then sent back.
Baba remarked, "Last night, I had no interruption whatsoever. I rested well because Anna was successful in driving away the owls and bats!"
Baba had sent Vishnu to Poona on some work. Upon his return the previous night, the companions pressed him for news of Poona. He replied, "It is Baba's order not to read newspapers, not to talk politics and not to see friends or acquaintances. So how could I get any news? But I did hear the newsboys crying in the streets that Godse and Apte [Mahatma Gandhi's assassins] will be hanged on the 15th of this month."
Learning of this, the companions told Baba, "We are supposed to reach Benares on November 15, and it is possible the government might apply section 144 of the Indian Penal Code banning public gatherings and barring outsiders from entering the city.1 Because of this, would you reconsider your order and allow us to read the newspapers to keep us informed during these troubled times?"
After a long discussion, Baba made this decision:
None from the companions should read any newspaper or discuss politics among themselves, as they have been doing up to now.
Footnotes
- 1.Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code was enforced to prevent riots and arson.