On June 2nd, (1928) the day before leaving Meherabad, Baba met privately with Minoo Pohowala. As Minoo was in the habit of going to one saint after another, Baba pointedly explained to him:
When you sink a well, you first select a spot before beginning the drilling. But if you stop drilling halfway and start anew at a different spot, you will never find water and all your labors will be wasted. But if you keep drilling at one spot, you will surely find water one day. A spirit of fortitude is required. If you are easily disappointed and keep trying at different places, you will never succeed.
Similarly, if you continue running from one saint or Sadguru to another, you will never gain anything. Stick firmly to only one Master and carry out his wishes. Dig, dig and keep on digging, and one day you will get the water of Realization.
That day, Baba also had a private meeting with Savak Kotwal. Although just twenty five years old, Kotwal was a genuine seeker and had previously contacted Upasni Maharaj, Narayan Maharaj and Hazrat Babajan. He came to see Meher Baba because someone in Poona had told him that the Irani Guru at Arangaon was the chief disciple of Babajan. Kotwal opened his heart to Baba and revealed, “I desire God-Realization in this birth.”
Baba replied, “Either long for God or for the world – you cannot have both! It has never happened before and it will never happen in the future.”
Kotwal wanted God, but at the same time he was married and wished to stay with his family. Baba encouraged him, “I know how much you want to tread the spiritual path and I will see that you enter it. You will make rapid progress toward that goal and you will eventually be completely swayed toward it.” Baba instructed Kotwal to visit him every weekend. This satisfied Kotwal and from that time on, the longing to be one of Baba’s resident mandali was aroused in him.
Savak Kotwal had had the darshan of Upasni Maharaj on many occasions. Once in Bombay, when Kotwal’s turn came to bow down, Maharaj gave him a hard slap and scolded him, “You are ruining my whole work and your own as well.” Deeply distressed, Kotwal resolved never to go back to him. When he was departing, however, one of Maharaj’s disciples came running with this message from him, “Don’t worry. I only slapped you because I have work of a special character to fulfill.”
Even after meeting Meher Baba, Kotwal continued to visit gurus, sadhus and other holy men – one in particular was named Jiyagi Baba. When Kotwal next visited, Meher Baba informed him, “Jiyagi Baba has not even reached the atmosphere of the spiritual world. Leave him alone. Those who know the Emperor have no need to bow before the palace guards in order to gain entrance.”
Baba did, however, instruct Kotwal to contact the great saint Tipu Baba in Bombay and convey to him this seemingly simple message: “The Emperor has sent me.”
When Kotwal did so, Tipu Baba, who seldom spoke to anyone, immediately replied, “Say Allah ho akbar; Allah ho akbar – God is great; no one is great but God! I give these blessings. Go now. The task is successfully completed.”
Later Baba told Kotwal to visit Tipu Baba often, but he was not to meet any other holy man. On one such visit, Kotwal brought a framed photograph of Meher Baba and asked permission to hang it in Tipu Baba’s room, and the saint agreed. When Kotwal had hung the photograph, Tipu Baba exclaimed,
“The whole world exists on Meher Baba’s name!”
Lord Meher, Bhau Kalchuri, Original Publication, Vol. 3, pp. 1050 – 1052.