THERE WAS NO ESCAPE

 
When the meeting was ending, Baba turned to Murli Kale and, before everyone, praised him for his consistently exemplary behavior in conforming with the conditions of the New Life. From among all the companions, Baba stated that Murli alone had managed to remain cheerful throughout all the ups and down faced so far. Baba folded his hands to Murli as a salaam in recognition of his merits. The meeting ended at eleven o'clock that morning, and Baba departed.

The men agreed that Murli had indeed managed to fulfill the New Life conditions. Once, when they had been traveling by bus, Baba told the companions to get down and come by the next bus, which they did. At the bus stand Murli saw his sister. In obedience to the conditions, he turned his face and walked away without speaking to her. The next day, he received a telegram that his sister had died; even then he kept up a cheerful appearance.

According to the conditions, Eruch was doing his utmost to fully carry out Baba's behests by being alert and cautious in obeying Baba's orders. But not a single day would pass without some unavoidable mishap in the daily management of household affairs, and Eruch would have to submit himself to Baba's severe criticism and scolding on one pretext or another.

Eruch would always placidly admit his faults, and so one day Baba threatened him, "I will throw up my hands with you and everything if you do not stop mechanically saying it was your fault and asking for forgiveness!" Despite Eruch's admitting to his own alleged mistakes, Baba was annoyed by this even more, and Eruch was blamed again. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't! There was no escape.

In this path, a two-edged sword hangs over the heads of those for whom the Master has special love. Following in his path leads one to the edge of his blade, and only experience can convey what this ultimately means.