In the evening Baba asked him, "Did you carry out my instructions?"
Confident, Vishnu replied that he had done so. But on inquiry, Baba learned that Chanji had tutored the boy for only one hour. Baba then scolded Vishnu, "You made a grave mistake in following my order."
Vishnu protested that it was not in fact his mistake but Chanji's. This upset Baba and he ordered Kisan to strike him (Baba) with a cane three times for Vishnu's error. The Master's order had to be obeyed, and though Kisan was hesitant, he struck Baba's outstretched palms with the cane three times.
Meanwhile, Vishnu stood speechless. He was aghast by what he witnessed. It became too much for him to endure and he ran away, wandering about, and weeping like someone gone mad. He could not control his emotions. Baba and Arjun ran after him, and it took them a long time to catch him and bring him back. Baba consoled Vishnu until he calmed down.
During this period at Meherabad, none of the mandali were chastised or beaten by Baba as much as Vishnu. Although Vishnu was a teacher, Baba would punish and humiliate him before his students. Even when another teacher was at fault, Vishnu would be the target of Baba's criticism.
The Meherabad school had two types of teachers. Those who had surrendered to Meher Baba and were part of the Master's circle did not receive any payment. The others were those who received a salary and taught because it was their job. However, because of Baba's presence, they, too, began loving him and in the end became his disciples. If one of his teachers were absent, Baba himself would take the class and teach the boys. On occasion, he also supervised the examinations of the boys.
On the night of 18 May, Baba asked the mandali, "Do I need anything?"
Some replied, "No, you don't. Everything is contained in you." Others did not know what to say.
Baba explained, "If I need anything, if I want anything, and if I require anything, then it is only love and nothing else!"
The next day, Baba asked Chhagan a question. But when Chhagan failed to give an immediate reply, Baba actually fell at his feet remarking, "Henceforth, don't do any work. Simply eat, drink, and loll about the place."
Like Vishnu the day before, for a few moments Chhagan was taken aback and stunned that the Master would bow at his feet.