For the remaining part of the day (until 10:00 A.M. the following day), he would observe a stricter fast, not even taking water. He had directed that one member of the Western group fast with him in the same manner each day, and they too alternately began observing the fast in the following way:
10 A.M. — Lunch 12 Noon — Orange juice 1 P.M. — Tea, toast and honey 2 P.M. — Water
The Westerners, with Adi Sr. and Chanji, left Nasik early in the morning on Friday, 22 January for their third visit to Meherabad. Baba was waiting for them there.
During their visit, Baba told them, "Pure love is the beginning and ending of everything. When only one desire remains, Love manifests in full glory — because only in the Divine Beloved is love infinite purity. When lover and the Beloved are One, that is the end and the beginning."
The group had come in three cars: Garrett drove one of the cars and Adi Sr. and Elizabeth the other two. At the end of the visit, Baba instructed them to stay together for the return trip to Nasik and specifically directed that Garrett drive the same route. But on the way back, Garrett nevertheless took a different route, saying Padri had recommended it, and lost his way after some distance. When he ran out of gas, he became frightened. It was a deserted road and he had no idea how to get back to Nasik. It was getting dark and he called on Baba from the bottom of his heart. Then, a car came from the opposite direction. The driver supplied him with some gasoline and told him how to get back on to the main road. He returned to the retreat late at night and realized what happens if one goes against the Master's wish. The others were worried and were about to send an ambulance to look for them.
Baba arrived in Nasik on Friday, 29 January 1937 at 8:00 P.M. The next afternoon, he held a meeting at which he stated he wished to discuss "a matter of great importance":
Take all that I say seriously. It is vital. I have not yet started to work on you. I wanted to see how everything went on here during the first month. Now, today, certain things have to be decided. Be honest in your replies.
During the past month that you have been living here together, there has not been the harmony among you that I had hoped to see. As things stand at present, I cannot carry out the work I intend doing. Either you must live harmoniously together and help me in my work, or the ashram must be disbanded and I will have to do my work alone.