There were those in the West who truly desired to share in the "Song of the New Life," as witness this letter from E. C., written to several group heads at the time, dated February 27, 1950, New York City:

"Dear―:

"N. has just telephoned me to say good-bye and to tell me that she thinks we who have known Baba must not be selfish and keep to ourselves the crumbs of wisdom or enlightenment that we may have gained through our association with him, and that we ought to give to others what we can . . . I feel that her reproach is justified in my case and I have for some time had it in my mind to put forward a suggestion.

"My suggestion is that as many of the group as care to, should select from Baba's 'Song of the New Life,' a word or phrase that most appeals to them, and meditate on it and then write down in a short essay the thoughts that crystallized during their meditation . . . I suggest that each essay be unsigned and anonymous . . . In this way we would all share each others thoughts . . . Also by meditating first and then taking the trouble to set down the resultant thoughts in writing, our ideas would gain in clarity . . .

“One of the things that I, as a newcomer to the mystical life, have had to learn, is that meditation by itself is not enough; meditation is not complete until it has found expression in action. In this way a circuit is formed and the ideas contacted on the inner planes are brought down into the concrete mind which no matter how imperfectly, translates them into direct action in the physical world.

"I shall start right away to compose my little essay and when it is written, I shall offer it to the group as an expression of my sincere and spontaneous desire to participate in the group life with what I have to give—'a poor thing, but mine own.’”

We gather from Dr. Ghani's notes in New Life Circular No. 2, that, the period from October 16th to December 1949 was mostly devoted to the help and training promised by Baba for undergoing the New Life phases of labor, begging, etc. The stay at Belgaum of twenty-three days was mostly occupied with training in labor. The stay at Benares and Sarnath for 16 days and 11 days respectively was devoted to begging and included langoti life. The journey to Jaunpur, a distance of 38 miles, gave the experience of gypsy life."

Sarnath, north of Benares, is a place closely connected with Gautama