Baba concluded, "Although you are faultless, still you are at fault — but I will free all of you from your weaknesses. So always listen to me and remember to carry out whatever I say."
On 25 April more construction began to extend the stone-floor verandah of Baba's Jhopdi and to build a private bathroom for him. Mehera's horse Sufi also arrived at Meherabad that day. The horse was pure white and very beautiful. A section of the Mess Quarters was converted into a stable where the horse was kept. Although quite handsome, Sufi proved to have a devil of a spirit! Soon after he was brought, Baba applied vermilion to his forehead and sat on him for a minute. When Baba honored her horse in this manner, the men mandali realized the Master's unique love for Mehera.
A wandering sanyasi (ascetic) once showed up at Meherabad during this period. He had heard of Meher Baba and desired the Master's darshan. A typical sadhu, he affected long matted hair and a beard, and his body was smeared with ashes.1 He was dressed in the traditional ochre robe.
Baba asked him, "Who are you? Where do you come from and where are you going?"
The sanyasi, with evident pride, listed all the places of pilgrimage he had visited and said he had now come to Meherabad.
Baba asked, "Now what?"
"I have come to have your darshan," the sanyasi replied.
"Then?"
"From here I will go to Girnar."
"Go further and wander throughout Mount Abu."
"I will proceed further and continue visiting holy places."
"Then what?
I will continue roaming as I have been doing."
"For how long?" Baba asked.
The sadhu replied, "Until I find my Master. Once the Master's grace descends, I will be free!"
"When will that happen?"
"Whenever it is destined."
Baba said, "Everyone is destined to realize God in the end, but no one has any idea of it. Everyone goes his own way."
"What are we to do then?" pleaded the sanyasi.
"Become dedicated to a guru."
"Such a One is not found or seen!"
"Your eyes are to blame! The Master is everywhere. He is to be searched for and recognized."
Footnotes
- 1.Sadhus cover their body with ashes as a symbol of death and regeneration.