A fifteen-minute interval was given for all to relax and stretch their legs. When all were back in the hall, Baba gave a discourse on Manonash — annihilation of the mind — which was continued the following day. After a number of points were revealed, he stopped, indicating that it was time for lunch.
He remarked, "The fact remains that, for good or bad, I am definitely going to take this God-determined Step."
After a short pause, he added, "It will be for the best, because at 3:30 this morning, God revealed to me that I was going to regain the state of Meher Baba in the Old Life. There is a 99 percent possibility of my dropping the body, but there also being one percent possibility of attaining success in my resolve, I definitely hope for the 100 percent result!"
Baba concluded by stating: "When we meet again this afternoon, all those who want to may decide to go with me. But after hearing your decisions, I shall finally decide for myself as to who will go with me and who will not. Arrangementwalas should not offer to go with me, because they have to carry out the arrangements to the end."
Then, with a sweeping glance at the several grave faces before him, Baba joked, "For God's sake, don't all of you decide to join me on the assumption that I will say no to all of you!"
Everyone had a good laugh and then dispersed for lunch.
After lunch, they gathered again to give their personal decisions.
Baba cautioned: "This period of four months concerns me, and those who might be thinking over offering themselves to accompany me should not consider the question as a question of merely going with me for so many months, or just accompanying me on a tour."
Out of the over 70 men present in the meeting, only 21 offered to go with Baba. Baba spent nearly two hours discussing it, asking about their family matters, household affairs, and so forth.1 Nilu was ill and hence could not go; Don preferred to remain in Hyderabad; Kaka still suffered a heart condition; and Baba instructed Vishnu to stay behind to look after the women.
Baba observed:
It is a fact that each one of you who has offered to join me means it seriously, and I feel very happy at the readiness with which you have decided to go with me. I want everyone to feel equally happy at my own decision about each one of you, whatever that decision may be.
Footnotes
- 1.The men who offered to accompany Baba were: Babadas, Baidul, Chari, Daulat Singh, Eruch, Gadekar, Goma Ganesh, Gustadji, Kaikobad, Kaka Baria, Kishan Singh, Minoo Kharas, Nana Kher, Pankhraj, Pendu, Pritam Singh, Pukar, Sailor Mama, Sripat Sahai, Todi Singh and Was Deo Kain.