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

THE FIRST TEN YEARS 73"Spiritual aspirants should get up very early. If you get up late, there is not much differencebetween you and the worldly-minded. The early hours of the morning-from three to six-are bestfor meditation. Five or six hours' sleep are quite sufficient for you. Those whom I have asked tomeditate regularly must go to bed at nine and get up at three o'clock."THE MEHER ASHRAMAfter several months' discussion it was at last decided to open a boarding school for boys atMeherabad to be known as the Meher Ashram, with the object of providing ideal secular andspiritual education. The boys were to have no contact with anyone outside or with the mandaliexcept those appointed to take charge of the ashram. Rustomji was put in charge. Baba saidthat he wanted boys of all classes and creeds, and that the education imparted would prove astep towards the political salvation of India. Thus, besides spiritual progress, there would bematerial advancement. One aim of the teaching would be that the boys should have noprejudice against any particular religion, which is the cause of much strife. Baba went on to saythat some Indian leaders who advocate nationalism make fine speeches but lack toleration.On 1 May 1927, the Meher Ashram was opened in temporary premises on the outskirts ofArangaon. No attempt was made to organize anything beyond a ceremony typical ofIndianvillage life. There was a procession headed by Baba, and the various village bands played theirfavourite tunes. A prayer was recited, and all were served with sweets and tea. The school wasremoved on 30 June to Meherabad in the premises on the hill. Ten boys were the first admitted:four Brahmins, three Mahars (untouchables), and three Mahrathas. They were provided with plainround black caps, khaki shirts and drawers, sandals, and a tweed coat: each had a steel trunk,towel, handkerchiefs, blanket, rugs, bedspread, and pillow. The meals provided were: breakfast,tea and wheatbread; dinner, dal rice and a vegetable dish; supper, two vegetable dishes andwheatbread. Baba spent two hours at the school every day, inspecting the work that was done.On 17 July a Persian section of the school was opened with fourteen boys from Persia: twoMuslims and twelve Zoroastrians. From September onwards Baba spent more time at theschool, and classes for spiritual teaching were started. He began to join the boys at play andfrequently took meals with them. On 2 November he made an order that the boys were not tospeak to anyone apart from themselves and