"In such a case, you may as well ask what one should do if one falls ill, or if one has to go to the toilet at twelve midnight! It is difficult. When I say you must not remember me during the 24 hours of the day, it is extremely difficult. Definitely you will remember me!" Baba replied.
Srivastava said, "But you should not scatter thorns!" — meaning, create difficulties.
"Why should I scatter thorns?" Baba asked. "The only thing is that you must be alert during the remaining 24 hours [after the midnight repetition]."
Srivastava commented, "You will make us fail, Baba!"
Niranjan Singh added, "Last time, when my friend Harichand Singh came for your darshan, you told him to take your name for five minutes every midnight. Afterwards, he told me that to take Baba's name for five minutes at some specific time was hard, but to do it for the whole day was easy for him."
Baba replied, "How difficult it is to remain alert for 24 hours! You have only to take my name 14 times one night and 28 times the next; and on top of that, to be cautious not to remember me for the rest of the time. If anyone is able to obey this, he will get the gift of love!"
This statement surprised the sahavas group, and Baba explained:
In the spiritual path, outward renunciation is not necessary. Be in the world and do your duty by those near and dear to you. But there should be no attachment. To lessen it, my name should always be taken now and then. If this is not possible, at least take it before going to bed and getting up in the morning. Bewail not calamity, but try to put up with it calmly, surrendering to my wish.
There is no use renouncing the world, your wife, your children and property. Renunciation of the mind is what is required. Don't starve your stomach, starve your mind! You take your mind with you in [external] renunciation, and constantly have thoughts of your family, wealth, and so forth.
I will take three or four of the mandali with me from the 15th of February, leaving the rest behind. I will leave all thoughts behind too — of the mandali, of you and others.
Baba asked Daulat Singh to read a favorite verse from the Granth Saheb (Sikh's holy book).
He sang a few lines about "the Highest of the High, the Lord," and Baba beamed, "It affords me great pleasure to hear this."