. . . "After breakfast Baba wished to listen to the Qawwali* music, which we played on the gramophone.

. . . "After Baba's return from Khuldabad, where He stayed less than a week, a mast was brought over from Kolhapur for a day or two and Baba was in a very happy mood, as He always is when working with a good mast. He told us how the mast was very advanced, quite oblivious of his body, which was healthy and sweet-smelling in spite of the fact that he hadn't had a bath for years! Baba said it was the masts' all-consuming love for God which sustained them, and that their love was so wonderful, even Vivekananda envied it. This mast lives in Kolhapur, is tallish, and his habitual place is a little stone alcove, in which he curls up uncomfortably, for he scarcely fits in. In the hot summer months the stone gets too hot to touch, but he lies in there oblivious to the discomfort and happy. As is characteristic of many masts, he has a bundle which he always keeps with him and in which he puts anything and everything that is given him. The first time, Baba contacted him in his native place, sending one of the Mandali to call him out of his niche, but the mast wouldn't budge. Then Baidul, the Mandali concerned, had a brain-wave; he went there and brought the bundle out, walking swiftly towards Baba. The mast came out at once and followed after the bundle. Now since that first contact he is always very happy and willing to come to Baba.

. . . "A common characteristic of the masts we have seen, so far, is the beauty of their eyes (or perhaps I should say in their eyes)—all their ragged, unkempt and odd appearance cannot entirely hide the beauty that smolders within . . . ”

. . . "The latest news about Baba's activities is that He is busy with preparations to retire from His present life of retirement too. His "sittings" with the Mandali members get fewer and fewer. Ramjoo said "He sits with us occasionally and we are being prepared to miss Him for days together."

“From March 22 Baba is expected to begin retiring from his present life of retirement too. This will either be intense physical activity or extreme inactivity...

*Usually the works of great Sufi poets set to music.