After touring the main temple, on the way back to the bungalow, Ghani remarked to Don that, evidenced by Baba's obvious happiness over some work accomplished and by having Ghani repeat Ho gaya , "Baba's last main work must be completed."
Baba asked what they were talking about and when he heard what Ghani had said, he remarked, "This is only the beginning. The end will take care of itself."
In the garden of the women's bungalow there was a small cottage for the gardener of the estate. Baba had special love for this gardener, often sending Goher to inquire if he needed anything. The man once told her, "No, the thakur [titled landowner] has given me everything; I am not in need of anything." By thakur, Goher thought the gardener meant the owner of the bungalow or his boss who must be seeing to his needs, and informed Baba accordingly. But hearing it, Baba just smiled, and explained to her and Mehera that the old man meant Krishna himself.
Once, the gardener asked Goher for a matchbox, which Baba sent. Daily, Baba mentioned this man to the companions, and he referred to him as Sant Mali — meaning the Saintly Gardener.
Returning from the underground rooms that day, Baba, along with the companions, went to see the gardener. Sant Mali smiled at them and joyously folded his hands in salutation.
Baba praised the man, "See, even in this bitter cold, he is sleeping on this broken cot in the open. He cooks for himself and has only one cooking pot. All year round, he eats only boiled rice with salt. Getting up at four in the morning, he begins repeating 'Sita-Ram, Sita-Ram.' He goes to the well for a bath every morning at four, and works in the garden the whole day. He needs nothing and is always happy. He delights in presenting me with five radishes daily. He desires nothing, because he is a saint. His only desire is for Thakur [Lord]; and for that, his Thakur [Baba] has come to visit him today."1
On the 6 th afternoon, Nilu questioned Baba, "What exactly do you mean by 'the New Life'?"
Baba replied, "The New Life is not [a form of] yoga; nor is it asceticism. It can never be cut and dry. The proper word for it in Sufism is ruidi , which means freedom from form and religion. If and when we get things to eat, we eat plentifully; if we do not get, we starve cheerfully. Whatever comes we enjoy or suffer happily. But our aim is aimlessness, our help is helplessness, our hope is hopelessness. The complete destruction of the Old Life is my New Life, which must be and will be 'wet' [joyful]."
Padri was still in the area, overseeing the work on the camel cart and the caravan.
On 7 December 1949, Baba asked, "Is it right that Padri should not be told anything about the progress of the New Life?"
The companions reminded Baba that he had told all concerned at Meherabad that the New Life would be an open book for all to read. There won't be any privacy or secrecy governing it, and the Arrangementwallas would be kept informed of the different stages and progress.
Baba then ordered Eruch to tell Padri all the details of the New Life thus far. Padri should also be instructed to stop in Bombay on his return journey and inform Meherjee and Nariman of the same. Meherjee and Nariman will relate the information to the women mandali staying with them. Padri should go to Poona and do likewise with Papa, who will tell the Baba House, Gadekar and Ghani families. However, Padri is not to inform Eruch of any news of the Old Life people and affairs.
Gaya Prasad Khare and his son Dr. Khare came at 5 P.M. and offered Baba the white horse in bhiksha on behalf of Dr. Khare's mother. Baba accepted it by taking the reins of the horse and then sending it to the companions.2
A discussion was held with the companions on 8 December 1949 about the begging and food arrangements. Ghani remarked, "Baba, I cannot help feeling about the atmosphere prevailing in the meeting: You have all along been saying that 'I am now on your level,' but I don't feel that level or equality. The meeting of the companions with you in their midst seems to me a conference of mice and rats, with the cat presiding over the deliberations! All seem to nod and acquiesce with what you say, lest any slip or misadventure may prove their undoing."
Baba offered to let Ghani take full responsibility for organizing the begging program in any way he liked, but the companions voted to continue with the program as Baba had outlined.
The meeting ended by Baba declaring, "I gave you all a chance and you did not take it. I was not at all displeased. I meant what I said; I was serious when I made the offer. I would really have been happy if Ghani, with the help of you all, had taken up the problem of begging for food. Hereafter, I won't have any murmurs or grumblings from any of you. Now that you have missed the chance, I may perhaps 'draw the sword' [become stricter]. I don't promise."
Baba spent twelve days in Sarnath. During this period, he discussed with the companions the foot journey from Sarnath to Hardwar, and it was decided that the baggage should be sent north to Manjri Mafi by cargo train.
Baba stated, "The Rs.1,000 we received from Nath and Khare in exchange for the clothes and trunks have already been spent. We now need an additional Rs.300 to 400 for the freight charges. From where are we going to get that amount?"
After a while, Baba mentioned his solution: "Be ready to sell your watches so that we can meet this expense."
So every man, resigned in his mind to thinking he was taking another step further toward final "air–weight," took off his watch and placed it before Baba.
Footnotes
- 1.The gardener was a simple, humble man with saintly qualities, not a sixth-plane pir.
- 2.Ghani mentions in his diary that the horse was named Kumas, but it was never called this.