Mehera and Mani, realizing the strain of this long seclusion and fast for Baba, had taken the opportunity to think out some surprise for him when the seclusion and fast ended. Amidst all her other work, this effort on Mani’s part was really her chef d'oeure. It was a puppet show. Figures and dialogue were all her own creation. In the early stages she must have had difficulty with one of the puppets, for she wrote to Norina:

“I was going to ask you to come yesterday and tell me the marionette episode, but I was so desperately busy with the puppets especially the wretched woman puppet (whose bust I could not get straight) so best thing would be for you to come when you would like for if I wait till I have time, I might have to wait goodness knows how long! I am wondering if I will be able to practice the movements of the puppets long enough to be good at it before showing it on the 1st of August when Baba comes! If I can move the fingers as efficiently and quickly as Banjo wags his tail!”

Perhaps one day you all will enjoy the puppets, for Mani writes that she has both puppets, music and dialogue, all intact. Needless to say, Baba enjoyed it immensely, and we had no idea of the “bombshell" awaiting us all later in the day. This performance with Baba in our midst was literally adding the “sweet” to the "bitter," a very favorite device of Baba's. In short, Baba told us briefly what he had decided during his seclusion. We are prepared for changes. Seclusions always meant a new phase in Baba's changing activities. However, we were totally unprepared for the New Life phase. It was fortunate perhaps that it had such a numbing effect on us all, or we could not have carried on as we did.

Baba had decided to close all ashrams, dispose of all their contents and relinquish all properties in India. The majority of those living with Baba at the time were to be sent back into the world to work. A few disciples would form his "chosen companions" to accompany him in the New Life starting October, 1949. Those agreeing to the severe conditions of the New Life (hence called "yes-wallas") had to be prepared to look upon themselves as already dead in the sense that the dead have no desires, concerns, attachments, questions or even provisions for the morrow.

No time was wasted! The very next day the ashram on the hill was buzzing with activity. Packing and sorting, packing and sorting in preparation to leave for good our home for the last 15 years or more. We cast