Eruch and his family left Ahmednagar for Nasik and then Nagpur, where Eruch continued his education.
Meetings discussing the future of the ashram continued throughout the next week whenever Baba was with the Westerners in Nasik. One morning Jean Adriel went to Baba and asked that Norina be relieved of her duties as manager. Baba called Norina and made Jean repeat all her complaints before her. He explained that he wanted Norina to be the manager, but Jean kept insisting Ruano would be better.
Norina asked Baba to ask everyone's opinion after lunch. A meeting was called in Elizabeth and Norina's room. All were asked to give their honest opinion. Different opinions and other complaints were voiced, except by Will, Mary and Elizabeth who seemed always satisfied. Thus, everyone's feelings were expressed and the air was cleared, and in the end Baba gave in to Jean's request and rearranged the household affairs. Ruano became the manager and Norina handled the budget.
But Jean had forgotten that Baba had once emphasized to them, "No new suggestions."
These changes seemed to foretell the imminent breaking up and closing of the entire ashram. On a previous occasion, Baba had explained to them:
Do not get disheartened or alarmed when adversity, calamity or misfortunes pour upon you. Thank God, for thereby He has given you the opportunity of acquiring forbearance and fortitude. One who has acquired the power of bearing with adversity can easily enter upon the spiritual path.
Do not get angry, but be pleased with him who backbites you, for he thereby renders service to you by diminishing the load of your sanskaras. Also, pity him for thereby he makes his load of sanskaras more burdensome.
Do not criticize. The habit of criticizing our fellow beings is a bad one. At the back of it often lies self-righteousness, conceit and a false sense of superiority. Sometimes it indicates envy or a desire for retaliation.
At the end of one of their meetings, all were asked to cast their vote.
Afterward Baba humorously remarked, "The reactions are satisfactory. But Elizabeth is either dead or has attained Perfection, since she does not seem to have reacted in any way!"
One day, when all were seated around Baba, he turned to Malcolm and directed him to give each a sheet of paper and a pen.
Baba then instructed, "Write down anything that comes to your mind."