The year of 1953 passed by in this way. Dadubhai, Chaganbhai and Harmanbhai had accompanied Bapa on his first trip to Kenya in 1953. At that time Chaganbhai was also seeking a suitor for his daughter Purnima. Bapa assisted him in this search and Purnima was married. In January/February of 1954, they all returned from Africa and the Agri Orient business was in turmoil. Hence we were all very anxious about the situation. Bapa was going to come to Bombay in June but Dadubhai asked him to delay his visit for a month. Thus Bapa arrived on 27th July 1954. Dadubhai had gone to Delhi to secure a contract. Whilst he was away the government quite unexpectedly filed a case against the Agri Orient. This was a criminal case for 24 lakh Rs.
When we went to meet Dadubhai at the airport, he informed us that he had managed to secure a contract for 10,000 tonnes. We told him that all four of us had been summoned to appear at the police station the next day at 10.00 a.m. The government had filed a criminal case against all four directors of the Agri Orient.
At this time Bapa was staying at Kapodvadi in Bombay, having done Bapa’s darshan, the four of us went to the police station in a first class, luxurious car as though we were part of a wedding procession. When we arrived the police officer told us that we were under arrest, to be held under custody and could not go home unless we were bailed out. We could only be released on bail, which was set at 2 lakh Rs each. We all emptied our pockets, gave our wallets and money to Lakshman driver, and sent him home.
Who could possibly afford to pay the bail of 2 lakh Rs for each of us? If such a guarantor could be found, he would need to have such collateral in the first place. Hence Chaganbhai and Chandrakantbhai went into town in search of someone willing to bail us out. Kantibhai and I sat on a bench outside the police headquarters whilst Dadubhai and Randé tried to bargain with the police officers. Kantibhai and I agreed that only two of us needed to be bailed out and we would stay in jail. In any case, all we could do now was pray for God’s help and it was immaterial whether we prayed at home or in jail. Dadubhai and Randé were organising for a lawyer to defend us and took the case to a Magistrate.
The Magistrate listened to everything Dadubhai had to say and he must have been inspired by Maharaj because he ordered that all four of us be released on a bail of Rs. 15,000 each. Dadubhai’s friend Ratanchand Bafna had recently bought a house for Rs. 75,000 which he pledged as collateral and we were released. It was 5.00 p.m. when we were released and we went straight to Kapodvadi for Bapa’s darshan. As Bapa had instigated this whole incident, he had also ensured our peace and tranquillity of mind. We returned with our heads held high with dignity.
Before leaving for the police station, I had called Sonaba aside and said “Ba, we have been summoned to appear at the police station by the government and may have to go to jail so take this Rs 10,000 which will be useful”.
As this was a criminal case, the government had ordered our bank accounts to be frozen and no one would be able to withdraw any money from it. We did not have other savings stashed elsewhere or other investments. All that we owned was in the bank account!
When we reached home that night we found a newspaper at Sonaba’s house (Tardev No. 8) in which an article had been published in large, bold letters regarding our case. There was an article about the four of us. In just 24 hours, we had become famous in the whole of Bombay, Gujarat, and Kathiyavad. Wherever satsangis / devotees heard the news, they were alarmed and came flocking to help Dadubhai.
Bapa had always taken Dadubhai with him wherever he went on his travels in India and abroad, hence all the satsangis of Gujarat and Africa knew Dadubhai very well and regarded him highly. Since this calamity had befallen Dadubhai, they all wanted to help. Wherever Bapa went he would ask all the satsangis to do Japyagna and pray for Dadubhai. On the day of the case, we went to visit Bapa at Kapodvadi as soon as we were released. Bapa said “Dadubhai, give a sermon”. Dadubhai obeyed Bapa’s command and gave a religious discourse as though nothing had happened.
Swami Bapa was such a great sakshat swami swaroop who was totally beyond imagination. Bapa was the driving force behind this incident. Actually the case would really have been filed in June but as Bapa was not going to come to Kapodvadi until July, he had delayed it by one month and then dropped the bombshell. Although he created this situation, he granted us unlimited peace and patience so that we could bear the burden of this unexpected calamity. The four of us went to Kapodvadi as if nothing had happened. Then we returned home to No. 8 Sonawala Buildings and handed the newspaper to Jyotiben which contained the famous headlines:-
FOUR DIRECTORS ARE ARRESTED
We firmly believed that Bapa was the all-doing, all-motivating and all-inspiring force in our lives. “Das na dushman hari kadi hoi nahi, jém karta hashé tém theek aj karta hashé” – (meaning that God would not do anything to harm his humble devotees, whatever he does, he does only for their well being). My firm belief was that although I could not understand Bapa’s actions at this time, Bapa would never harm his children. I told myself that I belonged to Bapa; I was a part of Him and He was my soul. If a case had been filed, Jogi had filed it upon himself, why should it concern me? I am known to only a limited number of people whereas Jogi is known to thousands and if He is not worried about His reputation, why should I be worried about mine? In this way my peace and tranquillity were maintained.
After the case had been filed, my visits to the office were purely routine; as the company had ceased trading, there was no business to attend to. We were losing money. We already had a bank overdraft of Rs. 66,000 and any income received was taken by the bank to reduce the overdraft. On top of this the bank would not allow us to borrow any more money until this overdraft had been repaid in full. A couple of days later, on 28th July 1954, I was sitting at the Agri Offices when I was inspired by Bapa to write an essay in which I wrote the following:
“Yogi has started a Ras, anyone who would like to take part is welcome. The only condition is that there shouldn’t be a thread of cloth on his or her body. One should be absolutely naked. Just as Lord Krishna asked the Gopis whilst they bathed in the river. This means that one should discard all egoistic ideas held by oneself and being atma, take part in the Ras. If one acts as the atma then one can truly enjoy and appreciate this experience.”
Expenses were escalating and as there was no income we had to beg and borrow. Eventually even the gold jewellery had to be sold to meet the expenses. We had immense support from the ladies of our families who gave up their gold jewellery without any reservations. Even when Kantibhai was experiencing financial hardship, Ba had not contemplated selling the jewellery. Now she sent Jyotiben to Virsad to fetch the jewellery, which was buried, and bring it back to Bombay. Ba and I took the gold to a jewellers to be sold and watched it being melted in front of our eyes. We witnessed this event as though Bapa was dissolving the egos hidden in some corner of our being. Ever since I returned from Africa, Dadubhai, Kantibhai, Ba, Jyotiben , Taraben and I had experienced that Bapa had begun to expose our egos and pride, and was dissolving them. When I arrived, there had been an article in the “Patidar” magazine regarding Dadubhai and Jyotiben. Ba read this article and showed it to Kantibhai; she was quite distressed by it. Now, Kaka, Kantibhai, Randé and I were involved in a criminal court case where we had to give our fingerprints. This disclosed even the slightest amount of ego still present in any corner of my being. Oh Bapa! How great you are. Having lifted me to the peaks of heaven (experiencing sakshatkar), providing me with wealth and finally with a single blow to my reputation you brought me crashing down to earth. These were fatal blows, which I endured light-heartedly. Ever since the case started, the whole satsang was sympathetic towards us. They would all pray for us and would plead with Bapa saying that Dadubhai should not have to be tried for this case. Bapa would urge them to do japyagna but he who had instigated this event would not repudiate. He carried on inducing circumstances and events, which would expose everyone’s weak points.
We had borrowed Rs. 40,000 from Fatnani Saheb and had given him a post-dated cheque for it. As the date approached, we requested him not to present it to the bank as the bank would not honour it but he became angry and would not believe us. I accompanied him to the bank where he presented his cheque and the bank clerk refused to honour it. He asked the clerk to tell him what our bank balance was. The clerk replied that this was confidential information, which could not be divulged. However, Fatnani Saheb had noticed a figure of Rs. 66,000 (not realising this was an overdraft). He accused me of lying about the balance and argued with me. He returned to the office and argued with Kaka, Maganbhai and myself stating that we would not give the money back even though we had it. How could we explain?
At that time I became slightly hurt and thought “Bapa, how could you do this? Inflicting a burn on an existing blister?” I regained my composure within a few moments. Bapa had started this intense battle of washing away my sins and I would allow it to continue. Maganbhai and I went to Kapodvadi where Maganbhai narrated the whole incident to Bapa telling him that Fatnani Saheb was very angry with Babubhai. Bapa said “Babubhai is like Janak Videhi. Nothing will touch him”. Maganbhai said “Bapa why are you doing this?” to which Bapa replied “Maharaj is doing everything, what can I do?” Then we met Bapa in private in his room. We had debts to pay, the bank would not lend us any money and we needed money to hire lawyers for the case. Maganbhai suggested to Bapa that we borrow Rs. 40,000 from the temple at Gondal and this was sent for. This was truly our biggest mistake, which was only realised later. No matter what happens, one should never borrow money from a temple and be indebted to it. Bapa allowed this to happen, but only our hearts and minds appreciated the suffering we endured through satsangis’ insults regarding the debt to the temple. Bapa highlighted our lack of understanding through this experience .
Sitting with Bapa in his private room we asked him “Bapa, you are omniscient and you know that we sincerely believe that you are God. If you have even the slightest doubt about the depth of our conviction and then please tell us now. Do we have any other desires than to please you or to do your service?” To this Bapa replied “No, none”. “Then why this case?” I asked. With a gesture of his hand Bapa replied, “Ghana nu ghanu kaadhvu ché – the intention is to alleviate so many from so much impurity”. My belief, that Bapa was totally responsible for all of this was reinforced and I considered it an honour that Bapa counted me as his own and gave me this opportunity to serve him. I thought “Bapa I am yours. Do whatever you will. I will serve you without any reservations”.
Dadubhai said to Bapa “Bapa in a case such as this we need to hire reputable lawyers but they are very expensive. A lawyer will charge Rs. 1,000 for handling the case for just one day. When we went for advice we were charged Rs. 150 for only three minutes and Rs. 50 extra for every additional minute thereafter”. Bapa replied “Just hire a cheap, humble lawyer. Hath halavta javu ané hath halavta avu. Tamé nirdosh cho” – meaning you should go to court quite fearlessly and without hesitation. You are innocent.
From our experiences of that time I know just how difficult it is to believe and act according to His words. We did hire an experienced lawyer and somehow managed to pay for his services. It is at these times that I really appreciate the greatness of Lakshmanbapa as a mukta. I respect him because when he was in jail he had resorted only to japyagna and prayers and did not seek help from lawyers etc. Even though we were considered as staunch believers of Bapa as God incarnate and highly regarded as His bhaktas, we were unable to rely totally on His help, but instead resorted to other methods like employing lawyers to fight our case and spending money in doing so. Bapa allowed the case to continue until we had realised our mistake and surrendered our fate to Him. The date for the trial was adjourned so many times that it hung over our heads like a guillotine. The case loomed over us from 1954 until 1961, when it was finally heard. One important lesson that was learned from this was that whatever happened we should only do japyagna, relying totally on Bapa whilst continuing in His service. Without any anxieties, do whatever He inspires. Nothing will be ruined and the results will be spiritually optimum for all those involved. In this way, each and every event was motivated by Bapa, who had begun to purify each and every particle of my being to make it as pure as distilled water. Bapa was determined to achieve this.
In 1955, I became ill and although I was confined to bed for six months, my inner peace and patience did not waver. Just as I had maintained inner equanimity through Bapa’s grace during the case, it did not even cross my mind that I should request Bapa to return my good health in order that I may continue in His service. I had full support from my friends in doing His seva. I am totally surrendered to Bapa and He owns this body. He has every right to use it in any way He wishes. The name may be mine but the body and the soul are His. It was with this attitude that I had attended the High Court during the trial. Having eaten a heavy meal, I would sit at the back of the Court and doze off. The police officer would nudge me, indicating that one should not fall asleep in court while the court is in session! And even now during my illness Bapa was testing me to my limits and my inner being still remained placid.
Bapa was using Kaka’s case and Pappa’s illness as the instruments to inspire the whole samaj, who were in sympathy with us, to pray for us. All the devotees began to pray for us with intense fervour. When devotees arrived from Africa we would meet them and bring them back to Tardev where they were looked after as though we were looking after Bapa. Since we had helped them in their times of need and hardship they had become very attached to us. Thus when the case came up, which was a major calamity in the view of the world – but to us it was an opportunity to serve Bapa in His way – everyone began to pray intensely. Using our names, Bapa provided the opportunity of serving the samaj. I was convinced that, whatever happened regarding the case or my illness, my inner peace would not be affected or disturbed and I would think, “Bapa how great is your glory. You have utilised us in such a manner, providing us with this opportunity to serve you which has also resulted in the purification of every particle of our worldly being”.
Bapa now began to purge the following: –
naam name/reputation
naat caste
jaat race
vasna desires
swabhav intrinsic characteristics
lok worldly opinion
bhog lust/desire
déha physical body
paksh bias
The first thing Bapa attacked was lok – our reputation and status in society during the case and the episode regarding Jyotiben. Since 1952, in the name of Jyotiben, who was being used by Bapa in this incident and who herself was not at all affected by it, proved that she was free of lok. But those who were affected by these incidents would have to introspect and overcome them, and only then Bapa would allow them to progress to the next stage in their sadhnas. In the case of those who did not have the strength to do this and became hurt, Bapa would temporarily stop the process. He would nurture them giving them strength and re-start the process but Bapa would not concede until he was certain that this stage had been overcome. For example – Pride. Before I was in the satsang my family obligations were important to me and it was my major concern that our family honour and reputation be maintained. With that in mind I had gone to Africa to earn enough money to pay back whatever we owed. We, both Dadubhai and I, worked hard for this goal. Sarabhai was of the opinion that “charity begins at home” i.e. that one should fulfil one’s obligations first and then attempt to help others. With Bapa’s grace the events regarding Jyotiben and the case had worked towards purifying this vice. He had made me immune from my pride.
A similar incident occurred in Karamsad when I was there in 1955 or 1956. Chunibhai’s daughter was getting married and as he was not able to attend, Dadubhai instructed me to preside over the marriage ceremony. At that time I had become so attached to Bapa that I could not bear to part from Him. Bapa and his devotees were the most important people in my life and I lived only to serve them. Hence, my relatives held a lower priority in my life; and since 1952 I had almost severed all contact with them. The only true entities were dham, dhami and mukto (Akshardham, Bapa and His devotees). Everything else was false.
I wrote to Bapa stating the following, “I have to go to preside over a wedding as an uncle for someone from my previous life. Please protect me because I feel that it is only my body which is carrying out these duties. My mind is totally engrossed in you. Hence, I will not be able to make any reasonable decisions in these worldly matters in this state of mind”. Bapa kindly sent Maganbhai and Hakakhachar with me to Karamsad where I went feeling totally like a robot. I took part in all the wedding festivities but completely absent-mindedly. During the ceremonies I would be criticised for my behaviour, but I would not argue. How could I make them understand my predicament? I was going through a phase which was totally irrational but how would these people from Karamsad understand? Only those from Bombay understood. After the ceremonies were over, I would sit with Maganbhai and Hakakhachar engaging in religious discourses.
The next day, after the wedding party had departed, Bapa arrived with just as many youths. I had to make arrangements for them at the temple so I hired a person to clean the temple thoroughly whilst I went around the town asking for people to lend me mattresses.
Bapa arrived and the lifeless Babubhai became alive. I hired a chef who prepared delicious meals which I served with great joy in my heart. During the wedding I had seemed lifeless and had been acting like a robot; now when the satsangis had arrived, I was full of energy and my bhabhi was totally lifeless! Saying she was very tired she went to sleep. Bapa had sent Kashiba and Gangaba who took over and helped. Bapa requested me to accompany him to the temple at Vartal.
We hired a small mini-bus, Bapa and some haribhakto got in. As there was no room I waited outside. Bapa said “Babubhai, aren’t you coming?” I said that there was not enough room. Bapa said “come we shall all squeeze in together “. We reached Vartal and went to the sacred reservoir Gomti where we anointed ourselves with the holy waters. Then Bapa took me with Him to the temple for darshan of the deities. In the third section of the temple there is a great idol of Maharaj. Bapa took me there and said, “This is a very powerful idol. When Maharaj returned to His eternal abode, and Rampratapbhai (Maharaj’s older brother) was very upset, Maharaj appeared to him from the image and said I have not gone. I am here in this image and consoled him”. I was in the presence of Bapa whom I considered to be the pratyaksh brahmswaroop and that was more important to me, although I was aware of the glory of the idol of Maharaj.
Then we returned to Karamsad. Standing outside the temple I asked Bapa “Now that the Agri Orient has been dissolved, what should I do?” Bapa said “Engage yourself in the work of the satsang”. I asked “In what type of clothing? Saffron or white?” Bapa replied “Wear white and live in Bombay”. He also told me to go to Bombay on the Sauvrastra Mail Express and to meet Him at the temple at arti time. When I met Bapa at arti time he asked “You have had darshan of the idol at Vartal, have you not?” I replied “Yes – you took me there yourself, and I did it’s darshan”. Bapa said “You must meditate upon that idol, it is very powerful.- it is my intention that you experience sakshatkar”. I replied “Bapa, having you in my life is sakshatkar itself – now I have no desire for any other darshan. Your darshan is the highest attainment”. Bapa said “Yes, that is quite true”. Bapa was testing my conviction that He was the pratyaksh brahmswaroop and whether I lived according to His inspiration. I returned to Bombay and Dadubhai accompanied Bapa on his travels. It was Bapa’s mission to purify the chitta. Hence He raised such circumstances which would ensure that no harm came to anyone whilst He dissolved the deeply embedded entities of pride, ego, affections in the chitta and replaced them with purified intentions to serve Him. These two processes are known as “juna prarabdha dhoi nakhi, nava ubha na thai” – this means to wash away the old sins and ensure that new ones do not take root. This was Bapa’s way of protecting His devotees and ensuring their spiritual welfare. Currently there are santos, benos and yuvakos, who are spiritually equivalent to Bapa and are continuing the work that he began.
In Karamsad I went around like a robot without any feelings or affections for any of my relatives. Mind you, it seems to me that part of my soul must have been purified in my previous life preventing me from getting too attached to my neighbours, friends and relatives. I never had any worldly love or affection for anyone but pride had developed in me due to my close associations with Dada and there was no alternative but to purify this part of me! Just as Maharaj has written in Vachnamrut G. III 30 that one should be totally indifferent and nonchalant to worldly desires, that was my state at the time when I attended the marriage of Chunibhai’s daughter in Karamsad. I had gone there purely under the instruction of Dadubhai and I was certain that the lok within me had been dissolved.
However, in 1955 I realised that there must still have remained some particle of lok, some awareness of my reputation and pride, which Bapa could not tolerate. During 1954/55 there was a parayan at Charnsad and at that time the government was seeking to value our property to hold as collateral for the court case of 24 lakh Rs. Dadubhai asked me and Chaganbhai to go to Karamsad and speak to the head of the village (chief) who handled our property affairs. We were to tell him to state a higher value for our property when the government officers came to ask him. Chaganbhai and I went to see Bapa. Bapa gave us His blessings by saying “Jav dunko maro” and indicated His approval.
We reached Anand, hired a taxi to go to Karamsad and went directly to the chief’s house. At that time he was out so we waited and the two of us being very intellectual, were thinking of ways in which to put our proposal to him. We could not think how we could ask him to inflate the value of our house, farms etc. which needed to be mortgaged without telling him about our impending court case. The thinking of the villagers at the time was such that they did not care what people did with their wealth outside of the village. All that mattered was the wealth accumulated inside the village and that it was treasured. It was more important that a person protected his forefather’s wealth and property and was considered to be worthy in character rather than if he had progressed in career or business outside the village. The villager would be of the opinion that although we had prospered and were travelling around the world in aeroplanes, if we had not done anything for the village what use was it to them? This was their basic thinking, so how could we put our proposal to the chief? We tried to think of a way, but failed. Finally, as in the case of the sickness certificate in Kolapur, I turned to Bapa for help. It seemed as if Bapa was arranging circumstances whereby this knowledge would become firm in my mind, my buddhi became tired and I started doing Japyagna, then the chief arrived. We were praying and before we could say anything Bapa must have taken over and the chief was saying, “Just four days ago, the tax collector and the district officer were here asking about the value of the property owned by Dadubhai Nathabhai Patel and Babubhai Nathabhai Patel. I wasn’t at home, so they asked a few people, made a fuss and finally made an evaluation. I realise that when you have large contracts you have to give guarantees but if you had told me in advance, I would have been here to make sure that they went away with favourable impressions”. We realised what must have happened and quickly agreed saying that we needed to secure a large business contract and required to have our property valued for collateral. Thus, we managed to keep our reputation and still hold our heads high by concealing the truth; this was lok.
At the time of the above incident in Karamsad, I felt that Bapa had known all along that the tax inspector had already visited the chief four days ago yet He still allowed us to go to Karamsad for this realisation. Why had he consented and given his blessings? Such thoughts were going through my mind when we were at Chaganbhai’s friend’s house in Anand. I was deeply hurt but within a few seconds I realised that this was Bapa’s last test for me regarding lok, caste, reputation etc. In my mind I was determined to pass this test and so I told myself “I am not Babubhai Patel, I am the atma (soul)” and became cheerful again.
Then we returned to Charnsad, Chaganbhai told Bapa everything that had happened and added “Bapa, I hope you will not humiliate me in Anand in the way that Dadubhai and Babubhai had been in their village.” Bapa just replied “No … we would not do that to you.” A similar incident happened when Bapa had come to Karamsad at the time of Chunibhai’s daughter’s wedding. Bapa was staying at the temple and was on His way to see a relative of Dayabhai Vallabhbhai (of Badharan). To get to this person’s house one would have to pass right through the centre of Karamsad and past the library as he lived on the far side of Karamsad. Bapa asked me to accompany Him on this padhramni. So we set off, Bapa, santos, Ranchodbhai and I. Bapa instructed us to chant the Swaminarayan mantra (dhoon) and clap our hands simultaneously. Immediately a thought crossed my mind that people from the Patel community will be sitting outside the library and how would it look when I walk past them clapping and chanting in this manner? They are not even satsangis. However, within seconds I told myself “I am atma, I am akshar” and continued to follow Bapa’s instructions regardless of what others may think of me. This was the final test of lok within me and if I had failed, or had been insincere then Bapa would have had to recreate similar situations to test me until I did pass.
My esteemed sadhak friends, when Bapa instigates circumstances to test you in order to alleviate you from inherent vices, use any knowledge (gnan), thought or other means to try and pass these tests with full marks. Remember my experiences and with enthusiasm strive to pass the test at any cost. Try your utmost to support Bapa and he will surely grant you the strength needed to fight against your own doubts. You may wonder what the world will say? – But that is all in your imagination. I had feared what everyone would think of us walking through the centre clapping and chanting, but that same day the chief asked me if I would take Bapa to his house for a padhramni. It had been in my imagination that there would be an adverse reaction. Hence, never judge any situation in lauvkik or alauvkik terms and do not let anything interfere in supporting Bapa. This will ensure that you pass the test first time round and Bapa will not have to repeat the process.
Another fact which is of spiritual importance is that all the events which have occurred in my life, i.e. the court case, my illness, appearances in court, incident in Karamsad, incident regarding Jyoti and Lalita, incident at 4c Tardev, incident with Vakil Swami, incident at Sarangpur Temple, and the incident of segregation – all the major incidents were instigated by Bapa who was the pratyaksh brahmswaroop and it was His quest (sankalp) to create a samaj of superhumans controlled by brahm which has continued to this day. When Bapa was in human form He strived for this and now (when He is not here), His quest continues through His successors – santos, benos, yuvakos and ékantik grahastos. In all such incidences where one experiences fear or anxiety, worries of public opinion or reputation (lok), likes or dislikes and one feels that everything will be destroyed beyond repair or one is praised and given lots of honour, all these incidents have been deliberately arranged by Bapa. These incidents will only affect those who need to be affected. They will be affected in a variety of ways; the incident may make them happy or sad, it may cause them to have likes or dislikes, making them feel desolated or elevated or proud of their achievements “Kaisa Hum hai! Kaisa mainé kiya!”
Those who have no requirement to be tested in this manner are not affected by such incidents. They are not even aware of such incidences. This is something I have noted on several occasions:
1. Jyotiben’s name was used but did not affect her in the least. Only those whose lok had not been purified were affected by this incident.
2. During the case those who insisted that the Agri Orient should resume its business had failed in their conviction towards Bapa. Whereas although I was thoroughly involved, I was not affected and believed that the company was only a means to an end for Bapa, so I would attend the trial fearlessly and cheerfully. Bapa had said, “It is our intention to alleviate so many from so much impurity” – and as such it truly affected only those with impurities who introspected accordingly.
When the case was filed by the government, we prayed 24 hours a day continuously for four months. As a result the case was discharged. But we had probably not learnt the spiritual lesson from it and Bapa re-initiated it and it was prolonged. We should not have even considered continuing with the business but should have been totally devoted to Bapa and the satsang. Bapa wanted us to make this decision ourselves and apply it in our lives. Hence whilst we prayed, the case would subside and as soon as we got involved in the business it was would rear its ugly head again. Neither side would give in – Bapa would not relent and neither would we. The case which had been filed continued until we were no longer able to do business and it was not until 1967 when the Agri Orient business was reduced to ashes, which were sprinkled in the river Ganges – when Bapa let the whole matter rest. How glorious is God and great His devotees. Unique and unparalleled. Both independent and each doing whatever they consider to be correct. Eventually Bapa wins – he purifies the devotees’ emotive minds until they are no longer able to do anything but Serve Him.
Up until now, no other God has made His devotees’ sadhnas so playful and easy. Bapa used a playful method granting His devotees independence, allowing them to enjoy worldly desires. But He would then instigate circumstances which would not allow them any satisfaction or gratification. Eventually they would come round to Bapa’s way of life and His wishes and only then would He relent. In 1960 when Bapa and Dadubhai were in Aden, he said “Dadubhai, you should not be engrossed in business but should only engross yourself in the work of the satsang”. Dadubhai replied “Bapa – there are fifteen members in the household. We need the money for the bare necessities such as food.” Bapa said “How much would you need?”. Dadubhai replied “Rs 1,500” Bapa said, “Don’t worry, you will have the money but from now on you must devote all your time to the satsang”. And we can see that those who devoted themselves to Bapa and Bapa’s service have not felt any inadequacies in their lives but in the beginning it is always difficult to have trust.