Baba then spoke about the five Perfect Masters and their individual characteristics, and narrated this incident from the early Meherabad days:
In those days, Gustadji was in charge of the storeroom and used to distribute rations to the poor. Many poor persons from Ahmednagar and surrounding villages came, and they were all given grain.
An old man from Ahmednagar would come regularly and tell me: "Baba, I wish to lay everything of mine at your feet."
I replied, "So far, I have not come across a single individual with your type of dedication! It is wonderful!"
I asked him how many children he had. "Seven, and a wife!" he said.
I asked, "What will you dedicate to me? Have you any money?"
He answered, "I have no money, but I am dedicating my whole family at your feet. Please take care of us."
I laughed much at his reply. I had no idea of such dedication! He showed me a new type of dedication.
Referring to promises, Baba remarked: "From ages past, I have been giving and breaking promises; but I tell you truthfully that up to now not a single promise has been broken!"
Baba remarked jokingly, "Was Deo Kain is whispering in my ear that it is enough for today, and so I should leave for Meherazad at 5:00 P.M."
Everyone laughed, and Baba called a recess for ten minutes. When the group had reentered the hall, bhajans were sung for some time, after which Baba said:
Tomorrow, I will speak to you for five minutes and tell you about the gift of love. I am going to test who has understood love. I will see who is bold enough to deserve this gift. It matters not if what I am going to tell you to do, you are unable to do. If you feel you are not worthy of receiving it, do not worry. If you are not courageous enough, then how can I be so when I am in every one of you! Still, there is one remedy. At the time of death, if you remember me, you will come to me.
Gaya Prasad Khare said, "If we are conscious at the time, we can take your name."
Baba explained:
To have the consciousness of remembrance at that time, you should begin by remembering me from now on! I am taking my own name continuously. Similarly, you, too, should take my name constantly every moment. If you cannot do it while living, at least remember to take it at your dying moment! For you, this is the only remedy to free yourselves from all your bindings.