TO SUMMARIZE MANZIL-E-MEEM: Prior to the ten-month stay in Bombay, Meher Baba’s relationship with the mandali had been one that exists between good friends. Those who acknowledged him to be their Master or Guru were unaware of the significance and absolute necessity of obedience to all his orders. In Manzil-e-Meem, this relationship completely changed. The mandali were made to be aware that Meher Baba was their Lord and Master, thereby establishing the relationship that exists between any spiritually perfect God-Conscious Master and his disciples. In different ways, the mandali learned the paramount importance of obeying Meher Baba’s instructions. He would constantly impress upon them how important it was to obey his every command – no matter how insignificant it might appear.
In matters of spirituality, too, Meher Baba had imparted much esoteric wisdom. The mandali were now not only dreaming of finding the ancient spirituality hidden in the Himalayas, but knew a fresh dispensation of spiritual life and truth was embodied in Meher Baba. The fire of enthusiasm inside them had been ignited, urging them to venture the ascent beyond the Himalayas! Through discourses, the Master had outlined the inner path and divine love, explaining the wisdom of both Hindu mysticism (Vedanta) and Islamic Sufism, and the mandali each day had become more enlightened – united in spirit with every religion.
In Manzil-e-Meem, they had also accepted being away from their homes and thus remained detached from their families. They were given the opportunity of living with men of different religions and communities – something none of them had ever done before. In Meher Baba’s camaraderie, they were inspired to shed their various individual differences, prejudices and respective likes and dislikes, for the general benefit and welfare of all. During this phase of their discipleship, Meher Baba prepared the mandali for future strenuous training which would not have been possible without having spent these preliminary months living with him in Manzil-e-Meem.
Leaving memories behind, Meher Baba and the remaining thirteen men left Manzil-e-Meem on the night of April 19th (1923) for Ahmednagar. The train was crowded and their compartment was packed with luggage and other passengers. Amidst this bustle, strangers did not recognize who was in their presence, and the mandali did not realize his purpose; yet our Age observed:
O Ahmednagar! None of the mandali had any idea they were on their way to a land
which was to become the ever-flowing spring of mercy. Although it appeared barren and deserted,
its hidden waters would quench mankind’s inner thirst!
Lord Meher, Original ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 2, 499 – 501.