Rustom asked, "That is all true but what will the world say about you and your actions for closing everything down so abruptly and leaving all in the lurch — most particularly the destitutes and needy, whose hopes rest on you and your support?"
Baba commented:
The world will have much to say about the abrupt closing of all these charitable institutions. Worldly people will say that it was no good of me to have closed them, leaving the poor, the destitute, and other dependents in a condition of helplessness. But the people of the world have little idea why I did all this on such a grand scale only to close it down so abruptly. But to us Sadgurus this "opening and closing" is a game, though there is a great significance in it. These institutions, as you are all aware, were of no particular use to me. I only used them as a means for promoting the spiritual advancement and giving a push to a number of men of the circle who deserved and were prepared for it. My object and purpose is now fulfilled, and so I have closed them.
For instance, do you know how this bell is made? First of all, a clay or earthen mold is prepared, and then the oxide of brass in liquid form is poured into it. When the liquid oxide cools and solidifies, the brass bell, now fully prepared, is drawn out and the clay mold is either broken or thrown away, as it is no longer required. The purpose for which this clay mold had been prepared was to give the required and proper shape to the bell. And when the bell itself is completed, of what further use is this mold?
In the same way, my working in Meherabad with these institutions of charity was only a means of carrying out my plans to give salvation and a spiritual push to some persons, which purpose being served, I closed all these charitable institutions. What do the world and its people understand of this spiritual working? They mistake this earthen mold for the bell itself, that is, they take the means for the original. And thus they consider my maintaining these institutions — which are only the means — as my real original mission and duty, which is not the case.
The real and main duty of a Sadguru is to burn up and destroy all the sanskaras of his devotees and bhaktas.