They prevented anyone else from touching their drinking water. On the morning of 26 September, there was a decision among the other mandali to make one arrangement for everyone's drinking water and do away with such distinctions. But the Brahmins were not ready to accept such a proposal. With the possibility of having only one water facility for all, the Brahmin students were prepared to return home. So Baba gathered all together and asked them to explain their points of view.
A long argument followed and a vote was taken on whether to make the change or to let things stand as they were. The vote was a tie, 28 votes for and 28 votes against the change. Everyone then turned to Baba and he cast the deciding vote in favor of the orthodox Hindus to continue with separate arrangements. He stated:
Those who place obstacles in the way of the poor and destitute of other castes, and compel them to go against their faith, should not emphasize only the question of drinking water. It is not just a matter of drinking water; we should be on an equal footing in all respects — food, dress, religious beliefs, et cetera — if we really want to consider ourselves unprejudiced. All should eat together at one place without regard to caste, Brahmin or Untouchable. This issue should be banished once and for all.
All should wear kafnis of gunny sack and do away with the external symbols of their respective religions. Let the Parsis give up their sadra-kusti, the Hindus their janeu [sacred thread] and the Muslims their beards. If you wish to bring about an improvement it should be complete in all respects. Otherwise it is not good to take undue advantage of the helplessness of those poor people who have thrown themselves on our mercy.
So for this reason, forego this experiment of change and let things continue as they are at present. To bring about the awareness of unity among all people is simply beyond human effort. It will come at its proper time by Powers which are beyond humanity. Such a change can never be brought about through humanity's efforts.
Age saw that Baba's beautiful exposition deepened the Hindu mandali's understanding and the light of awareness of the oneness of God began to burn in their hearts.
Later that day, Baba asked the mandali to solve the following riddle: "What does a God-realized person have in common with each of these: a materialist, an animal, an atheist, a child and an idiot?"