He later rebuked the other men for their inattention to Ramjoo, saying, "You all still possess too much selfishness. When this goes away, thoughtlessness will also leave you and you will be helpful to others in their suffering. Abandon your selfish thoughts and live for others."
Because of Rustom's extravagance and the mandali's lack of care toward Ramjoo, Baba threatened to move to Happy Valley with Nervous. Ramjoo pleaded with him that he could not remain at Meherabad in his absence without proper medical care. Baba asked him to go either to Rustom's house or to the local hospital. Ramjoo preferred the former but added that it would be better if he were sent home. Baba then said he would cancel going to Happy Valley on condition that someone agree to manage things in the Post Office (Home Manager) and another to supervise the labor work. Padri chose the latter, but no one came forward to handle the domestic affairs. Finally Rustom agreed to it. Then Gustadji said he would become the manager, so Rustom was freed of this responsibility. Baba approved of the new arrangement.
Baba had warned the men about the difficulties of living with a Master, and voiced his concern about the difficulties of living at Meherabad with him. Discoursing that same evening, he remarked:
Maya [illusion] always does its best to attract everyone toward it, and it is a stumbling block in the path of Truth. The reason of its so doing is that it understands that once a person reaches the Truth, maya becomes his handmaiden. Maya rolls beneath the feet of a Realized One; its powers conquer a man stuck in ignorance, but the Man of Knowledge rules it!
The Hindu mandali celebrated Hanuman's birthday on Saturday, 19 April 1924.1 When the program was over, Gulmai and Rustom arrived with the arti materials. Their late arrival upset Baba, who complained, "Why did you bother to come at all?" Rustom explained that they had had a flat tire on the way. Baba accepted this reason, and then distributed the sweets. He also extended the Hanuman celebration another hour, thus enabling the mandali "time to digest" the prasad.
After dinner, Baba gathered the men outside the Jhopdi and inquired about the activities of the day. He asked Masaji if there was any leftover food. Masaji replied affirmatively. Baba asked the Hindu cook, Chowdhary, who replied, "At times there is, but I never throw it away. I share it with Kondiram."
Footnotes
- 1.Hanuman is considered one of the greatest of Lord Ram's disciples.