The story of Baba climbing a ladder onto a roof seems strange. What was the deeper meaning behind this event, particularly concerning his payment to the ladder-man?

The incident of Sai Baba climbing a ladder, as detailed in Chapter 19, is a profound lesson disguised as a seemingly strange act. While he climbed onto Radhakrishnabai's roof to mysteriously cure her high malarial fever, the key teaching came afterward. Despite his own physical weakness, he insisted on paying the man who brought the ladder two rupees. When questioned, Baba explicitly stated, "One should not take the burden of anyone's labor for free, not even a bit." He taught that one must recognize the effort of others and compensate them fairly, making it a rule for life not to take free labor. The true, deeper secret of why he performed the act in that specific way remains a mystery known only to him, but the practical lesson on conduct is clear.