On their way back to Rishikesh, they noticed a yogi traversing toward Laxman Jhula (bridge). In a most painfully slow manner, he was prostrating himself completely face-down on the ground after every step he took — it is known as sashtang namaskar. He was naked, and his body was covered with dirt and sweat. Baba offered him his obeisance, placing his head on the yogi's feet.
Afterwards, Baba and the men returned to Motichur by bus at 6:30 that evening, and had their simple dinner of dal and rice or chapatis.
At one point, Baba explained that he was "contacting each holy man only once, not twice, and with this one physical contact he would bestow such a gift unto them which they would not have gained after centuries of penance and austerities."
Again, on the morning of 10 March 1950 at 7:15 A.M., Baba, with the four companions, Gustadji, Baidul, Pendu and Eruch, proceeded by bus to Rishikesh, where he trekked for almost five hours and contacted 135 holy men — bowing down to different saints, sadhus and mahatmas. He and the companions returned by bus to Motichur at two o'clock that afternoon. Every sojourn was proving to be more and more trying.
On the following afternoon, accompanied by Pendu, Baba returned to Manjri Mafi at half past noon to see the women and men companions staying there. Don came that day from Dehra Dun.
Baba was happy to see him and reassured him, "Don't worry in the least about earning money. If patients come, well and good; if they do not, don't be anxious about it. Don't economize regarding your food; eat well, and keep healthy and fit."
Keki Nalavala was given the work of bringing patients to Don. He once brought his wife and children for an examination, but Baba asked Don not to take any fee from him. Next time, Nalavala brought an elderly poor woman for treatment. Whatever Don spent on her, Nalavala only paid him a fourth of the expense.
Don had opened his practice ostensibly to support the companions but, instead of earning, he was losing money. Whatever afflicted persons he accepted, he would attend to thoroughly. He cured several supposedly incurable patients — but at his own expense!
On the 10th, Don wrote a letter to Elizabeth Patterson in America, in which he stated:
As far as Baba's New Life goes, not one of us (companions) can make head nor tail of it.