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

THE FIRST TEN YEARS 3113. None should lay violent hands on another, even in self-defence. Wrestling andboxing are strictly prohibited.14. Under no circumstances should anyone tell a lie or make use of violent language.15. Unless and until the Master's permission is secured, none should visit his relationsor friends.16. Without the Master's permission none should leave the Manzil even for a while.17. Shaving and hair-cutting are allowed only on Thursdays and Sundays in themornmgs.18. None should complain to the Master about another's breach of any of the Master'sorders, except in specified cases.All were required to retire at 9 p.m. and to get up at 4 a.m. It was one of the strictest ordersthat everyone should have a cold bath between four and five in the morning. These detailedorders to those who are near him have been characteristic of Baba to the present day, which iswhy I mention the matter at such length.Baba occasionally ordered one or more of the party to fast for a day or two. Those who had tofast were not exempt from work; on the contrary they were given more work. Sometimes theywere ordered to feed others, especially blind or lame beggars, whom they had to bring to theManzil from various localities. On one occasion Baba ordered those who had to fast to find atleast two hundred beggars for the purpose of feeding and clothing them. There is no dearth ofbeggars in Bombay; but Baba did not want the able-bodied, only those who were disabled, whichmade the task more difficult, for it was not always easy to induce them to go to the Manzil. Whenthe two hundred beggars were brought they were fed, clothed, and bathed. Baba himself took partin serving them, garlanding some of them before their departure, to the astonishment of hisdisciples and the bewilderment of the beggars. On another occasion, when the entire party waskept on water only, no less than eight hundred beggars, able-bodied as well as disabled, were fedand clothed.He occasionally went to the other extreme and compelled some disciples to overeat. On oneoccasion, at dinner-time, he selected half a dozen members of his party and commanded themto sit near him, when he served sweetmeats, chocolates, afterwards fresh and dried fruits -everything in liberal quantities. Their appetites were fully