Forgive me for yesterday's fault. It was the first day."
In the evening Baba sent word to Gaya Prasad through Vishnu that from the following day food should be cooked and sent from Dr. Nath's home. Gaya was quite pleased, as both the doctors' wives were hoping for this opportunity.
Gaya Prasad's service was genuine. Despite rebukes and taunts, Gaya served Meher Baba with complete humility and love. Baba was not giving him darshan — not allowing him to sit with the companions — and, in addition, Gaya was being castigated without reason or fault on his part! The doctors and their families could not even step near the bungalow's vicinity. But Baba's behavior was purely out of love for both families. He was showering his love on them by his strict attitude, and they were fortunate to have had such an experience.
On the morning of Thursday, 17 November 1949, no sooner was Baba with the companions than he sent them to wash their feet. On their return, without explanation, he touched their feet with his hands. In the New Life, mention of the word mandali was prohibited. The members, including Baba, were called "companions." This meant that, at that time, the level of Baba's work was of gross-plane consciousness; and being centered on the gross world for his work, Baba was playing the part of a devotee. While acting the role, to the companions, he displayed all the weaknesses of a devotee. At the same time, by his own conduct, he was pointing out the Path to be free of weaknesses.
"Embodied Perfection is complete in every aspect of perfection," Age explains. "When perfection compels a Perfect Man to do a sweeper's work, while doing it he manifests perfection. Similarly, when acting as a king, the perfection is perfect. In this way, playing the role of a destitute, a faithful man, a scoundrel, and in other aspects, a Perfect One manifests perfection. There is as much perfection in acting the part of a sinner as there is in playing a fakir.
"During this phase of the New Life, Baba had completely turned from a Master into a devotee, and his divine consciousness fully manifested that part. Thwarting the imperfections of the companions at every step, Meher Baba was leading them toward perfection through the medium of "imperfect" Perfection!"
After touching their feet Baba stated, "It was the amount earmarked for the donkeys that has brought us this far, but the gesture on the part of Dr. Nath, who secured this bungalow free of cost, has enabled us to replenish the amount for the donkeys to some extent.