One day Baba told Harry, "I used to walk so fast, the mandali had to run after me."
Harry responded, "Well, Baba, they still run after you!"
Kenmore had also suggested a stationary bicycle for Baba to use, and one was procured from the Military Hospital and set up in a corner of mandali hall. Baba would pedal on it for several minutes each day, although the pedaling gave him much pain. Kenmore feared that there was little of the natural fluid left in Baba's hip joint, and instead of moving smoothly, it was grating against the bone.
Although Kenmore did his best to alleviate Baba's pain, the adjustments did not help much. One day he looked quite despondent, and Baba asked him the reason. He said, "Namdeo's love even made the stone image of Vithal [Vishnu] accept food from his hands, but, although I do my best and am daily praying sincerely to you [for the pain to be less], you don't listen! It makes me think that I have no love for you."1
Baba replied, "There is no 'will' in Vithal's statue, but here you have to keep my will. I have taken upon myself this pain; it is for the good of mankind. When the objective is achieved, the pain will automatically go. I am giving you the chance of treating me so that you can serve me, which you do wholeheartedly. I express my appreciation to you, and this is my reply to your prayers."
"Had I come in June, all these complications would not have set in," Kenmore said in frustration. "And had my trip been delayed by a few months, I would not have been able to help at all."
Baba explained, "My accident is no 'accident.' You did not come before because I had to suffer."
Baba told him to do his best to treat him and leave the results to him, as Baba's burden was Universal. Kenmore had Baba's close company during this time, and though blind, his heart could feel and thus "see" what Baba was — love incarnate.
Another person who had been feeling depressed during that period was Eruch, who felt himself partially responsible for Baba's physical suffering.
On one occasion soon after the accident, Baba asked him, "Why do you look so sad?"
"You know the reason," Eruch replied.
Baba assured him, "Don't be sad. You will see me walking. One day I will definitely walk."
Eruch had little hope despite Baba's assurance, and continued to feel sick at heart whenever he saw Baba in pain.
Later Baba corrected him, "What makes you so presumptuous to think you are the cause of my pain? Who are you?"
"I was the driver," Eruch said. "It is but natural for me to feel this way."
Footnotes
- 1.Namdeo's devotion to Vithal was so great, it is said, that the statue he worshiped would come alive during his devotions.