WASHING BABA'S HAIR

 
One day, when Sarosh, Meherjee, John Bass, and I were with Baba in the house in Scarsdale, Baba had all four of us participate in washing his hair. We were in a sort of hallway, in which there was a table with a large wash basin and pitcher of water.

My part in the procedure was to take the basin after Baba's washed hair was rinsed, go outside through a nearby door, and throw the water out in the yard. Baba himself told me to do this. When I got outside with the basin, I noticed that there were a few of Baba's hairs floating in the water, and this put me in a dilemma.

My first thought was to pick out the hairs, but then I recalled that Baba said, "Throw this out." Now it became a matter of total obedience. Perhaps this was a test, I thought. I had no time to deliberate, so I just threw it all out.

Although one person could have easily washed Baba's hair, I felt that this was one of Baba's ways of giving us an opportunity, especially John and myself, to share in a personal and intimate activity with him. In his own loving way, Baba drew us closer to him and made us feel that we were a part of his family.