And now I have not a pie [cent]. Therefore, money can both be useful and destructive, but for the spiritual aspirants who have no connection with the Perfect Master, complete renunciation is absolutely necessary.
Different Masters have different methods. Sai Baba, who was Perfection personified, adopted a different method of collecting money. Whosoever entered his darbar was asked to give all the money he had in his pocket. And all this money was distributed the same evening to others, mostly to Barra Baba, who was sitting by his side all day long and who was very, very fat. Sometimes, Sai Baba would not allow a person to keep any money in his purse, even for the return railway fare. Those who had faith in him never faltered, never doubted; but those who had no faith could not understand his method.
Once Upasni Maharaj, who was there in the temple and who at that time never ate food or even drank water, was asked by someone why Sai Baba collected money and distributed it the same evening, and why the lion's share went to Barra Baba. Upasni Maharaj replied that Sai Baba collected dirt from all people and accumulated it in the stomach of Barra Baba, who had a very huge belly.1 He said people did not understand the method, and were unnecessarily doubtful about such collection of money by Sai Baba.
Now, during that same period in Poona, Babajan, the spiritual Emperor, had quite a different method. Those who have seen this God-Woman know that she sat under a tree without any shed. She was very old and very beautiful too. But during the whole of winter and summer, all day and night, she kept wide awake. Only from 4:00 to 5:00 A.M. she used to lie under the same tree. I had deputed Gustadji to sit by her side all night. He noticed that when anyone came there with the intention of offering money, she would take a burning stick from the fire and run after him! Naturally, the man would run away. This was her rivaj [method] regarding money.
So at Shirdi, Sai Baba asked for money and at the same time Babajan at Poona used to drive away anyone who came to offer money! Both were Perfect, but such was the difference in their method of work.
I feel happy today, because I had the occasion to remember these three Perfect Masters who were internally and deeply connected with me and who are now lodged in me. Those who love me should join me in my salutation to these Perfect Ones.
Footnotes
- 1.On one occasion, Eruch asked about Baba's accepting money, and Baba replied, "Would you ever give shit to the one you loved? You would naturally want to give something nice. From a worldly point of view, money is everything; but to me it is shit. I accept it from those I love to cleanse them." On another occasion, Baba explained to Eruch that the real power of money was in spending it well, not in saving it.