THE MAD ASHRAM — Part 1

 
Of all phases of Shri Baba's activities ... the Ashram for the insane and mad at Meherabad, stands out in bold relief and possesses a significance of its own.... Baba, whatever activity he initiates, he does so with a set purpose and that is nothing but the achievement of some spiritual end. Baba aims and plans nothing short of this. The humanitarian aspect of such a work is only secondary and which more or less provides a training ground for his disciples.

Like many other sporadic manifestations of Baba's spiritual activities on the material plane, the Mad Ashram, too has never been advertised. Naturally very few are aware of its existence and the idea behind it. It behoves us, therefore, to give the world a little insight into the working conditions of the above Ashram and its raison-d'etre. It may interest a few and amuse a good many to know why the institution has been started and how it is managed. The 'why' is the spiritual object thereof and will be discussed later on in this article.

Suffice it to say, the Mad Ashram at Meherabad has very little in common with institutions of its kind in the world. Baba has ordered it to be run on a plan peculiarly his own. The inmates, about forty of them at the moment, are cared for and served by some of the seasoned disciples of Shri Baba. They are under strict instructions to treat their charges like normal human beings.