Much later, as Baba promised, Chhagan's family regained their lost wealth, although by that time Chhagan had joined Meher Baba's mandali and was detached from such material desires.
One day another Hindu, named Moreshwar Ramchandra Dhakephalkar, 24, went to Meherabad to observe the activities there. He was a friend of Pandoba, who was teaching in the school. Dhake , as he was called, was a teacher in Ahmednagar, and Pandoba had told Baba about him.1
Baba asked Dhake if he would work in the Hazrat Babajan School as a teacher.
In reply, Dhake joked, "If you pay me Rs.300 per month and allow me to have the day off on all Hindu holidays. And if you do not abuse or beat me, for I am not interested in spiritual advancement."
To Dhake's amazement, Meher Baba accepted all these conditions. At the time, Dhake was only earning a salary of Rs.60 per month in Ahmednagar. Dhake then told Baba that he would come after a fortnight.
Baba agreed and added, "What harm is there if you derive spiritual gain by serving here?"
Dhake replied, "None, but I am not coming here for that." He left Baba without even bowing or folding his hands in respect, thinking to himself, "How can an Irani be a saint? What can an Irani teach a Hindu? What does this Zoroastrian know of spirituality? No religion in the world can compare to Hinduism!"
Dhake moved to Meherabad two weeks later.
It was a Sunday and Baba reminded him, "Today is a holiday, so you should not start work until tomorrow."
Dhake was highly impressed and thought: "Meher Baba remembered our agreement. He is keeping his promise. My ideas about him were wrong." Though appointed as a teacher, Dhake became a disciple as the desire to accept Meher Baba as his Master was awakened in his heart.
On Sunday, 19 April 1925, another "new recruit", B. S. Waman, joined the community. "I am tired of a worldly life," Waman told Baba, "and wish to experience divinity."
Baba permitted him to stay at Meherabad and instructed him to fast on water for seven days and remain secluded in the school.
Waman began the fast, but after four days his condition weakened and Baba canceled the order. Instead, he was appointed as a teacher, and Baba began calling him Kisan Master [as in schoolmaster].
Footnotes
- 1.Dhake is pronounced DA-kay.