Some of the mandali ask why Baba is not establishing some sort of ashram at one place instead of building them and pulling them down so often — because I am beyond all these things. I have no permanent ashram. Every individual heart of my lovers is my ashram. When we have money, we have something for my work. So many years have passed in this way. All these years, how money has flowed through my hands! There is no miracle with me like yogis who take out a couple of lakhs from under their seat!
Sometimes when needed, I ask money from Meherjee or Nariman. Sometimes, I ask in a roundabout way, like Narayan Maharaj did. Sometimes, it comes automatically without my asking for it. Someone, at times, places a lump sum at my feet. Sometimes, I refuse to accept it, in spite of earnest requests from the givers themselves. Not a single property is in my name today — not even Meherabad and Pimpalgaon. I have kept only my final resting place in my name.
Once [in 1927], there was a big establishment here full of boys, families, mandali, dharamshalas, a dispensary. All used to work. Everything was then dismantled and shifted to Toka. I was fasting there. At that time, three wonderful things happened. Poor people from Ahmednagar would come to Toka to receive rations of foodstuffs from the stores, and the mandali used to supply them. Many times, I have undertaken fasts. One of the mandali [Pleader] was locked up in a room for three years, taking only milk. He was not to stir out of the room, read, write or speak with anyone. I myself used to remain for two to three months on only water. At Toka, I fasted for 51 days. After it was over, I started taking orange juice for days, and the boys of the ashram were happy that it was over. They wanted to carry me in a palanquin dressed as Krishna. My intestines were delicate, and I was thin. In spite of that, I had to keep a cheerful face. Why? Because of my being the Avatar! But for two months, the pain in my stomach troubled me much [from being carried in the palanquin].
One Jain came to see me in Toka. He told me he wanted to realize God. I asked if he would do what I told him. He replied he was willing to lay his head at my feet. I asked, would he pay Rs.10,000 for the upkeep of those with me, especially the boys. He brought forth excuses. I told him, "You say you are prepared to lay down your life at my feet, but you cannot pay Rs.10,000!"