Those present were asked to share with the absent ones the essence of all that passed at the meeting that day. Baba stated:

"`It is good for you to have come when I called you; it is both good and bad for me to have done so. Those whom I have not invited for the occasion are likely to be upset for more than one reason when you tell them, as I want you to do, all that you have seen and heard today...

"At the September meeting in Meherabad I had said that I would not be seeing any one again ... yet now I have sent for you, asked you to come without disclosing to anyone why and where you were going. Some areas and centers are represented by more than one person amongst you, while others are represented by just one, and yet many others by none! At first I thought of sending for all con­cerned, but that was not found to be practicable for many reasons, avoidable and unavoidable. On the other hand mere circularizing of the Instructions was not enough . . . you must carry my message and emphasize the importance underlying my words at this juncture of crisis for me . . . give the widest possible publicity to my instructions through printed translations in your regional vernaculars...

"Those who live with me, as well as those who live for me in spite of being away from me, each have individual faults and weaknesses but they have no equals, I know... they need not necessarily know.... they have been following me all these years through thick and thin... I don't mind saying that if I were in their place I might not have been able to stand what they have stood so splendidly so far...

"It is also a fact that it is I who have been helping them to stick to me ... the time is drawing near when they will have to maintain their hold on my daaman* on their own . . . I want none to leave me, but if one and all were now to give me up I would not mind at all For those who choose to remain with me and near me there is the possibility of greater hardships and even lack of day-to-day provisions after the period of my retirement ... I will not at all be displeased with those who feel they've had enough of a life of obedience and from May or August 1st choose to live a life of

*garment