DISCOURSES & TALKS BY MEHER BABA

 

SPIRITUAL  CHARGEMAN

 

 

 

12th July, 1929

 

Baba called the mandali to the kitchen verandah and explained that the man was the spiritual chargeman of the area:

 

 

My next real work in this journey starts from today. As you are aware, all my movements and such journeys in particular have some significance. This journey may be compared to a personal inspection tour of state by a king to see how his work is progressing at different places.

 

 

When I was on a walk this evening, a man on duty here gave up his charge to me in a very peculiar way. We saw a man who looked like a sadhu, wearing only a langoti, coming straight toward us from the opposite direction. When he passed us, he gave me a flower, folded his hands to me, turned and walked straight back from where he had come. Neither while coming to us, nor while going away, did he look forward, backward or sideways, but he walked with his eyes straight ahead without minding anything in the surroundings. His eyes were very bright like Ramakrishna Paramhansa's [the Sadguru of Calcutta].

 

 

is men such as he who really know me. And they do their entrusted duties lovingly and pleasingly. Such a life is worth living. On the other hand, there are hundreds who come to me with their hundreds of worldly problems. They do not really "come" to me, but keep their distance by harboring their thousands of desires.

 

 

It was quite a peculiar sight to see, as those who were with me will tell you: this thin, feeble, cracked-looking man coming straight ahead toward us, making a reverential bow, then giving me a flower and walking straight back without so much as glancing sideways. It was a sight. And stranger to see was that after the man disappeared, everyone who noticed us, Hindu and Muslim alike, would also fold their hands to us!

 

 

So my work now begins, and I once again warn you all to have your langoti tied tight for 24 hours — i.e., to gird your loins and be ready to carry out all my orders fully. Stick to me during this journey until the end, for no one can tell what will happen. You know I work according to my lahar [whim]. I am as strict as I am mild, and who knows what my whim will do or where my fancy will lead us! So once again I caution you to keep your langoti tight [obey me] for the next 24 hours. Otherwise, not only will you get a thrashing, but I will, too! Believe me; what I am telling you is true.

 

 

Don't ask why. There is a reason. You know well how much love I had for [Aga] Ali at first. I actually gave a party to all at Meherabad when he returned for the first time. I kept him so near me for a certain period. Then I gave him up — kept him far from me for a long time and actually did not see him for many days. Recently, I have kept him quite close to me. Now again, from today, I am keeping him aloof and am not even touching him. There is a reason for this, of course. But let that be as it may and listen to what I am telling you.

 

 

You all should not talk to him [Aga Ali]; do not even look at him and do not touch him. He is a very good boy if he is in a good mood, and a very bad boy if he loses his temper.