Baba wished the newspaper advertisements for the institution redrafted, as he did not wish the emphasis to be on the philanthropic, material benefits the students would receive but rather on their "spiritual training."
He said, "Neither worldly learning nor the ideal of universal love has any importance."
He then clarified what he meant, "I want to impart spiritual education which is obtained without any study; I will make the school the medium for this."
Baba continued to give spiritual explanations to the mandali and visitors, sometimes for hours at a time. "Baba never fails to hold the mandali spellbound with such explanations," one of the mandali wrote. On 13 March, Baba sat chatting with the mandali until late at night under a moonlit sky. Chanji noted, "Many in the mandali found the silvery cool atmosphere to be unusually peaceful and soothing."
Madari, a pet dog which had been sent to Baba by Upasni Maharaj, would often be found sitting by Baba's seat. When the gong was struck for lunch, Madari would be the first to come running, and during the singing of the evening arti, it would also be present. But at night on 14 March, while Baba was seated near the dhuni with the mandali listening to Hafiz being read by Ardeshir, the dog suddenly ran out into the road and dashed against the rear wheel of a passing motor trolley. He died instantly and was buried in Baba's presence.
Baba later revealed to the mandali, "Madari was very lucky. He will be born as a human being in his next form."
The loud gong was not only rung to announce meals, but would also be struck to summon the mandali whenever Baba wished. He would often call them during the day, and they would have to stop everything and go to him at once.
On occasion, Baba would announce, "Tonight I want a skit. M Make sure it's funny."
Or sometimes he would summon them to play cricket, soccer, or atya-patya.
A wandering sanyasi youth named Narayan had been staying under a tree in Meherabad for the previous two weeks, reciting the name of God according to Baba's instructions. He was eager for God-realization, and Baba assured him that if he obeyed him, he would attain it. On 16 March, as Narayan was eating lunch, he overheard the men mandali's conversation in the adjoining room. One of them was grumbling, "Drinking our own blood for the past five years has not shown us even a glimpse of God! How can that sanyasi expect to experience God within six months? He will have to learn the hard way."