Cricket matches were organized, and singing and dramatic performances provided entertainment. (Pendu and Padri did a humorous pantomime of someone being hypnotized.) The boys played tennis on the new court.
On Tuesday, 25 October 1927, Baba went with the boys and mandali on a picnic to a place two miles from Arangaon. Tea was served there and Baba relaxed by playing chess with Chanji. Gulmai arrived and invited Baba and all to Khushru Quarters for dinner in the evening.
The next morning, Baba was bathed at 9:30 A.M. In the evening a kirtan singer performed; afterward fireworks were lit and a play was enacted.
On 2 November, Bobo and Mani, who had come for a few days during Diwali, returned to Poona, and Ghani left for Lonavla with Tyebali. That day Baba ordered all the boys not to speak with anyone except their teachers — and with them only during classes. From that day, Borker began giving lectures to the students. A special seat was arranged for him and an umbrella was held over his head. Borker lectured in his usual pompous tone and manner, and amenities such as fruit and special meals were provided him.
This special treatment was an example of the Master's leela (game). At times, Baba would treat a person in the respectful manner in which the individual wished to be treated, making sure that his ego was not bruised. In fact, Baba would often encourage such persons and build up their egos. Yet he would also gradually create situations whereby the persons concerned would automatically be made aware of their expanding conceit — and an onslaught upon the ego would then begin.
This happened in the case of Borker. For some time his pride and self-respect prospered, but then after a month of his lectures, Angal Pleader was appointed to take his place. Angal was the opposite type of person — quiet, humble, and unassuming. Observing him, Borker gradually became reserved and less egotistical. At the back of it all was Baba, steadily guiding both men onto the Path, but in different ways. Borker, too, eventually became humble and was rewarded with rays of enlightenment.
On 3 November, Gulabsha was again sent to Nasik, this time with a message for Goma Ganesh (a former teacher) who had invited Baba to attend a religious conference there.1
Sailor delivered several crates of textbooks for the students, which Baba kept beside his seat on Meherabad Hill.
Footnotes
- 1.Gulabsha returned on 19 November 1927.