If all people were to follow atheism, there would not be any progress on the road to Truth. But being inwardly a disbeliever and outwardly showing oneself to be a believer is the lowest form of hypocrisy. The belief that is gained through intellectual knowledge given by one who is Realized is devoid of any hypocrisy, and such a belief is a help in advancing toward the Goal.
Throughout his life, Baba was rigorously hygienic and keenly observant that all his personal things be kept clean and in order. On 30 November, Baba was served tea from a kettle that was not properly soldered. Baba was furious about it. He had the tea thrown away and reprimanded the mandali at length:
You must always be extremely careful about cleanliness in all matters, especially about my food and drink. For me, cleanliness and uncleanliness are the same and make no difference, but one or the other should be observed perfectly. If you want me to remain clean, then you should pay the greatest possible attention in keeping my food, water, and clothes thoroughly clean. Otherwise, if I start appearing dirty, I will be so dirty that people would think twice before approaching me! I can live in the filthiest ways, in totally unhygienic surroundings, which you people would never be able to do. So remember this.
Five more of the mandali arrived at Lonavla that day. After dinner, Baba played cards with the mandali, and the losers were made to do several deep knee bends in quick succession.
On Wednesday, 1 December 1926, Rustom arrived in Lonavla with the twelve remaining children of the school and the rest of the Meherabad residents. The next day, however, the students were sent back to Ahmednagar with Nisal. Baba directed Nisal to look after them as if they were his own. Nisal was to be their guardian so they could continue their education at boarding schools in Ahmednagar. Baba informed Nisal that he would bear all the necessary expenses and directed him to contact the parents to make certain they agreed.
That night, Ghani's brother, Abdur Rehman, entertained Baba and the group with his fine singing.
Arjun fell critically ill during the stay at Lonavla and was taken to Dr. Bhiwalkar's nursing home. Baba visited him there and urged the doctor to spare nothing in treating him. Bhiwalkar, knowing Arjun's deep love for the Master, began wholeheartedly looking after him.