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

68 THE GOD-MANfood, housing, and clothing. His object in establishing the school was to give the boys thebenefit of close contact with himself, and to mould their characters in an ideal form. Hetherefore wanted teachers whose one aim was to serve his spiritual ends, and to pay them, hesaid, would nullify their service from a spiritual point of view. Service for money was notspiritual service, he said. This was argued about by the mandali, it being thought that goodteaching could not be got in such a way, and Baba appeared to acquiesce in their viewpoint.One day in February a party of Indian Christians paid a visit to Baba to enlist his sympathyand help in opening a new missionary college at Ahmednagar. After some talk Baba abruptlyasked them if they were Christians. Of course they were, was the reply. 'What was thecommand of Jesus?' asked he. 'Was it not to leave all and follow him?' To this the visitorsassented. 'Have you done that?' asked Baba. 'Have you given up lust and greed?' At this thevisitors appeared uncomfortable, though obviously impressed. They then left, asking him tovisit them at their institution in the city.A few days before his birthday Baba instructed one of the company to collect together fromthe neighbouring villages one hundred and fifty diseased and disabled persons, particularlythose suffering from skin complaints, for him to bathe, clothe, and feed on that day. When hewas told that it might not be possible to find one hundred and fifty such people in the time heagreed that the number could be made up with poor boys. On 18 February Baba's thirty-thirdbirthday was celebrated. The camp was gaily decorated, and Baba himself served the mandaliwith a special breakfast at six o'clock of rava (a sweet dish) and tea with milk. Visitors beganto appear at seven. Baba's ceremonial bath was at nine o'clock, and an hour later there was aspiritual discourse by one of the devotees.At the end of the discourse the cradle ceremony took place: a small decorated cradlecontaining the portraits of Baba, Babajan, and Upasni Maharaj was swung in tum by allpresent, while a special prayer was sung and flowers were thrown on the cradle. Baba thentook his seat under a tree by the roadside and distributed rava and sweetmeats to the boys andgirls of the school. After the meal at midday there was singing and other music, and late in theafternoon a singer from Bombay entertained the company. At five-thirty there was apalanquin procession; but Baba refused to sit in the palanquin and walked beside it, hisphotograph being put inside. The procession went out of the camp and proceeded up the hill;there Baba sat down and the ladies recited a special prayer. After which the ladies returned totheir own quarters,