Finding Waman Subnis standing against the wall, Baba asked, "Why are you standing? Didn't you sleep last night?"
On his answering that he had slept well, Baba revealed to the gathering some information about him: "Subnis has been in my contact since the days of the Prem Ashram. He was an athlete, quite strong then, and one of the night watchmen near the boys. He would attend to their needs, going to sleep after they retired and getting up before they had awakened. I myself used to keep my eye on him to see if he slept. He was watching the children and I was watching him. I used to go around the dormitory of the boys, adjusting their blankets if I found a boy uncovered. I was like a mother to them."
Baba embraced those men who had not slept and then explained about fasting:
Those who have come here for sahavas need not fast. Pendu goes mad while arranging a special diet or fruit juice for those fasting. When I am the Ancient One, what is the use of fasting in my presence? When you go home, follow your routine. What is required is not a fast of the body, but of the mind. Starve your mind, not your stomach.
If you cannot love me, there is another alternative. Try to serve others selflessly. If you have not a grain of love, do not worry. Do selfless service. I am in all and serving others is serving me. Selfless service is quite a common term these days. What is its meaning? Suppose Waman Subnis has children. He earns for them and looks after them, their welfare, health and education. He has a good amount of money. There are other children also, out in the street, poor, starving, naked. If Subnis considers them as his own and bestows the same care as he does upon his own children, then he would be said to be doing selfless service. The meaning of selflessness is that there should be no selfish motive. Neither should there be any thought of name, fame or a desire for spiritual progress.
As long as your self is present, selfless service is impossible. There should not be a trace of the self. But this is impossible. It is impossible to check such thoughts. Never mind. Try your best to render what service you can without trying to think of your own self, which will be service to me.