Eventually all the conditions will be applied 100% to all who come with me and I shall abide fully by my oath.

"Between now (this day of decision) and 15th October, I will overcome the momentum of my past activities by concentrating and intensifying my work of masts, poor, seclusion and fast, for which no record should be kept, except the boys' activities which will end September 7th.

"During this period you can ask me anything you like, so long as it does not affect the Circular and your decision. From today until 15th October I will live the usual life that I have been living all along."

This message was sent to the West in October, just before Baba started on the New Life:

"Baba ends the old life of multifarious activities, and, with a few companions, begins his NEW LIFE of complete renunciation and absolute helplessness from 16th October, 1949. Although Baba's and his companions' NEW LIFE will be known to everyone and their whereabouts will be no secret, no one should try to see Baba or his companions for any reason whatsoever as Baba will not see any of them, nor allow his companions to do so.—By order of Baba."

With one or two exceptions all decided to go with Baba wherever his New Life would take him and to lead the new order of life with all its severe conditions filling four long pages. From a large number of "yes-wallas," Baba chose only sixteen to accompany him “on the road" in the New Life. The rest remained behind, but following 100% Baba's orders for them. The "yes-wallas" were of three kinds, those who went with Baba, those who remained behind and a third group known as the arrangement-wallas, whom Baba specially asked to remain behind to take on the responsibility of certain of the women disciples left behind.

The four periods of training for the "Companions" of the New Life for the first two and one-half months included physical labor, begging,—Langoti (wearing only a loin cloth), the "gypsy" life, and then would begin the "endless New Life of hopelessness in real earnest."

The New Life began on October 16th, 1949, when Baba and his 16 companions and four of the women mandali, Mehera, Mani, Meheru and Goher, left Pimpalgaon, taking with them the barest minimum of necessities as outlined by Baba. A small caravan-like vehicle was later