ENDURANCE

 
This story takes place after Baba's second accident on 2nd December 1956. Baba started living nine months of the year at Meherazad and three months in Pune. Baba appointed Kaka Baria as the manager of Meherazad. From the New Life onwards, he would always stay there, even if Baba moved to other places.

There were four dogs at Meherazad: one belonging to Mehera, called Mastan, another belonging to Mani, called Peter, and two belonging to Kaka. Baba gave Aloba the duty of taking Mastan for a one-hour walk, Peter for an hour, and then Kaka's two dogs for another one-hour walk. This meant that Aloba had to walk the dogs for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.

Kaka was in charge of seeing whether Aloba did his duty or not. After making the tea for the men Mandali, Aloba would take Mastan for a walk. Kaka would watch to see whether Aloba walked Mastan for the complete hour or not. Then Aloba would take Peter, and again Kaka would watch the time. Aloba was very particular in giving a full hour walk to Mastan and Peter.

But when he took Kaka's two dogs, he was not so careful. Kaka would watch the time, and if Aloba brought Kaka's dogs back after 50 minutes, Kaka would say, "You have walked the dogs for only 50 minutes. Walk the two dogs again and come back after half an hour."

So Kaka would penalise Aloba because he did not do his duty fully. Kaka was the manager. Even if Aloba walked the dogs for one minute less than the full hour, Kaka would send Aloba out again to walk the dogs for another half an hour. This went on for six months, and then Kaka's dogs were sent to Meherabad.

But poor Aloba still had to continue taking the other two dogs for a walk. He also had to make tea for the men Mandali in the morning and in the afternoon. Kaka would serve food only once a day. He would give less food to Aloba, which was not honest on his part, but Aloba did not say anything. He would keep quiet. After six months, Aloba felt fed up with his duty, but he did not say anything. Baba, of course, knew what he was feeling.

One day in Mandali Hall, the following took place.

Eruch was reading correspondence. Baba looked at Kaka and said, "Do you understand English? Aloba, teach Kaka English!"

Kaka had been to the West many times with Baba: America, France, England, Italy and Spain. He knew English better than Aloba. Aloba was very, very happy that the tables had been turned!

As soon as Baba left Mandali Hall, Aloba went to Kaka in his room and told him, "Keep ten exercise books and pen and pencil ready."

Kaka, knowing this was Baba's order, did not say anything. He kept everything ready. At lunchtime, Kaka realised his dishonesty in not serving Aloba sufficient portions of food and started to do so.

After lunch, the lessons began. Aloba wrote the alphabet in Kaka's exercise book and told Kaka, "Write ten times."

Kaka did not say anything but wrote the alphabet ten times. Aloba would walk in front of his room and see whether Kaka was writing or not. After writing the alphabet ten times, he would show the exercise book to Aloba. Aloba would say, "Your handwriting is not good! Write 50 times!"

Poor Kaka could not say a word because this was Baba's order. He would go on writing the alphabet. At this time, this was the only work Kaka had. But writing the alphabet 50 times became 100 times. This went on for six months. The entire time, Kaka did not say a word. While the lessons were going on, Kaka did not come to Mandali Hall, and Baba did not call him.

After six months, one day, all of a sudden, Baba asked, "Where is Kaka? I have not seen him for a long time."

"He is writing the alphabet and doing nothing else," Eruch replied. "He has no time even for lunch. He has no time for anything. He eats hurriedly and goes back to writing the alphabet: ABCD..."

Baba laughed and called Kaka and Aloba.

They both came, and Baba told Aloba, "Stop teaching Kaka English from today onwards."

And He said to Kaka, "I am pleased with you. Now every day you come to Mandali Hall and sit here, because it is My order."

Look how both Aloba and Kaka obeyed Baba. Both were undergoing difficult situations. But neither said anything. They complained to no one. They put up with the difficulties quietly. They endured, and endurance is very necessary on the spiritual path.

To do what you like has no meaning whatsoever. But to do what you don't like, and to quietly bear it, creates inner strength. That strength is used to defeat the false self.

Both Aloba and Kaka were strong men and had strong characters. It would have been very easy for either of them to boldly express their false self in this situation. But they both knew that Baba wanted them to undergo this situation, and so they kept quiet, swallowing their difficulties because it pleased their Beloved.