Sadashiv Patil arrived from Poona at eight o'clock that morning and joined the companions. Since there was no proper kitchen, meals were arranged from a restaurant until everyone felt settled and could begin cooking.
In the afternoon Baba again declared, "If the training period turns out to be successful, our life of hopelessness will be the envy of gods!"
Explaining his statement, he clarified, "Up to now life, so to say, has been of pain and suffering, which nobody could be said to enjoy. In 1950, life will be still more acutely painful, but this pain you will enjoy. This enjoyment of pain will in itself constitute a challenge to God."
Then he concluded, "I cannot say anything more, and truly speaking, nothing is clear and definite. I have only a hazy picture of things to come. Think what you may."
Adi Sr. pressed Baba to explain what he meant by enjoyment of pain.
In reply, Baba dictated this simile, "It is similar to when one suffering from an itch feels pain while scratching, and yet this painful scratching gives a pleasurable sensation. This is an example to give you an idea of what I mean by the enjoyment of suffering."
Baba then directed all to bathe and change clothes, and hand over to him the clothes they had worn while starting out from Ahmednagar. Those having the duty of cleaning utensils and filling water pots, however, were permitted to use these extra clothes until the 25th of October.
On Saturday, 22 October 1949, Baba assigned general duties to the companions — cleaning vessels, fetching water, keeping things clean, washing clothes, et cetera. Baba himself participated in the tedious chores.
The women, too, were having to cope without servants.
Referring to them, Baba stated, "These four women, by working cooperatively like menials in doing work they have never done before, are faithfully living the New Life.
"Even Mehera is working like a servant — sweeping floors, washing, dusting — doing things I have never before permitted her to do."
The duties assigned to each were of a tentative nature, as Baba explained, "Final duties will be assigned after three days, on the 25th of October — the day on which the training period begins."
In the afternoon Baba discussed the pros and cons of completing the training period at Belgaum. After a long, drawn-out discussion, the following circular to the Arrangementwalas and those concerned was dictated: