By giving up hope entirely and carrying out his orders we would be sharing his new life . . . “All the trouble was from hoping . . . where there was no hope, there can follow no disappointment.” Has this a message for us now?

Each and every one had to make his own decision regarding whether to stay with Baba under the new conditions or to leave him. A meeting was called for this purpose on August 31st, 1949 (for men only). We, the women mandali, having been given four choices, chose to leave everything in Baba's hands, and do as he directed. I quote Baba's message in full:

"I forgive each and every disciple, devotee, and follower, all his weaknesses up to date, and any disobedience on his part up till now. And, on behalf of myself, I forgive myself for any pain, injustice, or wrong that I may have done any of them.

"I want you all who receive this Circular to understand once and for all that I am 100% serious about this New Life. Although you have stood by me faithfully and lovingly all these past years, with perfect faith and sincerity in spite of receiving nothing from me, and although you all might be prepared to lay down your lives for me, yet there is the possibility that your and my habits of understanding and misunderstanding each other during the last so many years, might mislead you into not taking this most seriously.

"Therefore I want you all to go through this Circular word by word most carefully before you decide. It would be best if you accompany me and abide by all orders and conditions 100% thoroughly. But although your faith, love and service for me have been greater than mine would have been for my own Master, yet these conditions might prove your undoing. So unless you are ready to live the life of complete satyanashi* and absolute obedience it would be better to stay behind and obey instructions that will be given to you. But all this is by way of statement of facts and confessions. The decision is entirely to be made by you and you alone. May God give you the required strength.

"I want you to understand that I will not deliberately do anything that will force those that go with me to leave me. I shall also, to some extent, be helpful to you in the beginning in certain ways—which must not make you relax your resolution to abide by your oath 100%.

*“hopelessness” and / or “self-annihilation”