Baba reserved the right to take away a "good" card from any player in exchange for his "bad" one, and to transfer a player or players from one side to another with their cards.
“”For instance, Baba would ask, "Who has the ace of clubs? Come on, give it to me. Take this one ..." and so forth.
Thus Baba's side usually won, and immediately afterwards his partners would loudly shout, "Rub your noses, rub your noses!" at the losers.
An atmosphere of merriment and laughter prevailed from the beginning of the game to the end, and players of both sides were equally enthusiastic. When it came to rubbing their noses before Baba, the losers considered themselves fortunate. Occasionally, Baba would fling the cards away suddenly and demand another shuffling and dealing; or, at times, he would suddenly get up and leave, stopping the play in the middle of a hand.
To those playing cards with him, Baba has remarked at various times:
“”You will never find anyone playing such a game as this anywhere in the world. Through it, my Universal work is done and my burden is lightened. You will not be able to understand the hidden meaning, the mystery of it. But how lucky you are that God is playing with you! And you have the chance of rubbing your noses before him! Without letting your minds wander and thinking of other things, you play seriously, which pleases me. There is absolutely nothing — no stuff I tell you! — in all the worldly matters that you give so much importance to!
Kumar would keep Baba amused with his farfetched, so-called "true" tales. At one point, Baidul was told to speak only in English for one month. Since he barely spoke the language, this led to other humorous moments. When a mouse came to his room, he described it as a "boy rat." When his wrist throbbed, he told Goher there was a "pumping" pain.
Once at this time, during a game of cards, Baba explained:
“”All action from you, as individuals or isolated points in consciousness stationed on different levels and planes, is limited in expression and result. For instance, a nod of your head in reply to different questions serves as a reply indicating different activities and moods. I might ask: "Did you eat? Did you sleep? Did you cry? Are you happy?" and each time you will nod your head signifying either yes or no. But each nod expresses and conveys only one thing at a time.
Contrary to that, each and every action of the Avatar or a Sadguru gives rise to manifold actions on different planes of consciousness. Each movement of mine is unlimited in its action and reaction, expression and result. If I do any action on the gross plane, immediately its effect automatically creates varied actions on different planes. One nod of my head gives rise to a wave of innumerable actions and reactions simultaneously on all planes of consciousness.
It is similar to a switch in a factory that is connected to so many machines, the lights, et cetera. So many things get started with one pull of the switch, without much effort.
For that reason, in Sufi literature the Sadguru is called a "Qutub" which literally means pivot or axis. Thus, the Qutub is the axis around which everything in creation revolves, and since he is the center of everything, everything is equidistant from him on every plane. He is like the hub of a wheel around which all the Universal work, resulting from his physical movements, automatically goes on.
Thus, by this game of cards and checkers and by all my other activities, varied effects are produced on all planes, and my universal work goes on automatically without my being required to exert any special effort.
Also in this respect, Baba mentioned that the Avatar and Sadgurus are "Unlimited" and for their Universal work they employ limitless means on occasions. For this reason, one should never imitate their actions, but simply do as they advise.
Friday, 22 August 1958, marked the end of the first 40-day period of Baba's seclusion and work (with Nilkanthwala and Kaikobad), which Baba stated was done 100 percent satisfactorily. On 25 August, from his seclusion, Baba sent this telegram to some of his lovers, which was distributed as a Life Circular six days later:
“”Circumstances during these three months will put to test both the love and faith of my lovers. So try your best to keep a firm hold on my daaman. Do not talk ill of others, and try not to think ill of others. Remember my instructions about not going to Meherabad or Meherazad, and not corresponding with me or with anyone in Meherabad or Meherazad.
