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

54 THE GOD-MANOn 23 July he worked as Baba's personal attendant for a day in the absence of one of theregular attendants, and on the 27th of the month died. He had contracted a slight wound on hisleg only a few days before, but in spite of prompt medical treatment the limb became septic.On the 26th Baba was at his bedside, and said that Nelhams would be completely free of allpain by the following morning! The last remains of this first European devotee were givenburial in the Christian graveyard at Ahmednagar.Baba did not take any food or drink that day, but did his normal duties as usual. During theusual after-supper divine discussion that evening Baba was understood to have conveyed 'Bydying, Nelhams has done away with his gross body, but his mind is still living, and very soonthis mind will take another suitable gross medium and again come into contact with me.Those souls who are liberated have their egoistic minds annihilated, while those who takebirth again retain their minds, and those souls who after liberation return to normalconsciousness have universal minds.'About a month later a Hindu young man of nineteen years of age appeared in a very peculiarstate. He understood some words, but besides smiling broadly could not otherwise expresshimself. Baba at first glanced at him, led him to the hospital, arranged for his stay, and askedthose in charge to look after him as ifhe were a patient with an unsound mind. He added, 'He isnot mad, but a spiritually advanced person dazed on the path; he is in the third plane'. He wasgiven in charge of a member of the mandali, who was instructed to look after the young man'sdaily needs, which he did for years. After some time he began to be known as Mustan (the overpowered).There was not much change in him afterwards. Physically he became leaner, andmentally seemed to have gained a very slight addition to his intelligence, being able to understandmore words, and at times tried to talk. To the observer he seemed a strange automaton. Ask himwith signs to clasp his hands, and he kept on doing so until asked to stop! Similarly if a ball weregiven to him and he started playing with it, he went on playing for hours and had to be stopped.Generally he was quiet and inoffensive, but at times became angry when his fragile body seemedcharged with energy: men four times Mustan's weight found it difficult to keep him in hand. Hedied on 12 February 1935. This man may be regarded as the first of the masts with whom Babawas soon to do much work.After another month there was another interesting addition to the company. One evening aMahratha of twenty-three years of age