then asked them to approach him one by one, and he placed and pressed his head on the feet of each in turn. There were further prayers. Baba then asked Nilu and Donkin to read portions of ‘The Song Celestial' or 'Bhagavad Gita.'"

The Song of the New Life and the New Life prayer brought the function to a close. Lunch followed, Baba personally serving first the Mast and then the Companions. After lunch began Baba's work with the Mast, mad and poor. Baba did not partake of food all day, only liquids. Next morning at 9 he ate food only after begging it.

In September, 1950, came a further change in the New Life Phase. Baba issued Circular 17 which began:

“. . . Baba has now tried to live the New Life for nearly one year, but it has not been found possible to live it as he wished. Nevertheless, Baba feels that from October 16th, 1950, God will give him courage and strength to live it as he wishes.

“For this reason Baba has motioned to free his life-long servant-companions on October 16th, 1950, in order to give them a chance to revise their decisions as to whether they will continue the New Life with him. These servant-companions most therefore take stock of their experiences during the past year before they make any fresh decision. If, after the most diligent searching of their hearts, they choose to stay with Baba in his New Life, some of them will accompany him for a few months on a tour for work with Masts and poor, and some will remain at Mahabaleshwar to look after the women."

Accordingly on October 16th, Baba stepped back into the "Old Life" for a few hours at Mahabaleshwar, inviting many of the Old Life disciples to be with him for those few hours. He said:

'Today I stepped back into my Old Life for a few hours. I am very happy to see you all, you who are my Old Life Disciples and devotees, and I feel deeply the love that you have for me. I want you all, as also those who are absent today, to know that my Love for my Old Life Disciples and devotees is unbounded.

"On October 16th, 1949, I adapted my New Life. Today, exactly one year after I set out with my Companions, I have to say that the principles my New Life could not be lived up to in the spirit that I desired. My