THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

30THE GOD-MANMeher Baba gave this warning: 'If anyone of these written orders is intentionally broken, Ishall lock myself in my room, and during my self-imposed solitary confinement, which maylast for a number of days, I shall not take any food.' Thus, he would punish himself.Another order was that none should read or write without Baba's permission, whether in theManzil or outside. If a disciple happened to read a signboard while passing through a street,he was considered to have broken this order! If a disciple wished to write a letter to anyone,he had to obtain Baba's permission, and the letter had to be shown to Baba when written.Should a disciple receive a letter, he had to take it first to Baba, who seldom gave permissionfor the letter to be read until he had first read it.All orders had to be carried out promptly. If Baba called when a disciple was shaving, hehad to stop and go as he was; he had to go even if taking a bath. Some orders appeared to haveno meaning. For example, three disciples were told that whenever they were free from workthey were to sit close by him, A on Baba's right hand, B on his left, and C opposite him.Whatever the place or circumstances, even if travelling by train, they were required to carryout this order.Even though an order seemed to make the disciple ridiculous, it had to be obeyed withoutquestion. One order was that no disciple should talk with anyone who was not of the partyliving in the Manzil. The following further rules were made after the party was established:1. The floor of every room should be scrubbed by its occupants at least once daily.2. As far as possible, everyone should enter the hall or the first floor and thediningroom in bare feet.3. Without putting on wooden sandals, none should go into any water-closet.4. None should enter any room other than his own without the permission of one ofits occupants.5. Whenever the bell is tolled, all must assemble in the dining-room.6. No one should exchange food or clothes with another.7. Everybody should do full justice to his meals.8. At the end of meals, everybody should remove his plates.9. All should eat and drink in the posture of seating.10. When anybody gets ill, he must as early as possible acquaint the Master with it.11. Off duty, when anybody goes out, he should not take his purse with him.12. While out on duty not more than two annas (2d.) should be spent on refreshment.