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

354 THE GOD-MAN19 June he received 160 poor people, placing his head on the feet of each and as usual giving them money.Writing at this time Francis Brabazon said in a letter:The great mast Neelkanth, the same who said that there will be a terrible catastrophe and people will beroaming about like wild beasts, has been brought down from Rishikesh in the foothills of the Himalayasby Kumar. He is housed a little way from here, in an empty house owned by a Poona devotee. Kumar andBaidul are his attendants. Dear Baidul is nearly a mast himself now. Baba took some of us round to seeNeelkanth. He was naked (he never puts on any clothes in the winter at Rishikesh where there are heavysnowfalls). He has a very beautiful body, quite plump, and although his hair and beard are shot with grey,his skin is smooth and bright as on a child. His hair and beard are long and well-kept. He took no notice ofour entrance. We were only allowed to stay a minute and then sent out. Baba stayed with him about halfan hour.He added that a Sanskrit research scholar, attached to Deccan College, where Baba attended as a youth,had been coming regularly, and one day sat down among the assembly when someone started reciting inSanskrit some frivolous verses to Baba. After a few moments he rose, bowed before Baba and left. Thenext morning after greeting Baba, he sat down as usual, when Baba asked him why he had left abruptlythe previous day, he replied that he had some work to do. The following conversation then took place:Baba: Did you feel disturbed because of the recitation?Scholar: No, I was not disturbed, nothing like that. I left because I had to bid goodbyeto some guests.Baba: Did you feel hurt because of the recitation, feeling it was an insult to Sanskrit?Scholar: I didn't like it but that was not why I left.Baba: Even if you felt it was an insult to the language you should not be affected. I am God, and Iam insulted every moment.Scholar: I am trying to learn to tolerate things that are not to my taste.Baba gave him a few words of encouragement, and later the scholar said, 'Ah Baba must really love me,otherwise he would not have taken the trouble to correct me'.