They all fail, one after the other, for one reason or the other.
Hence it is that I say, Stand firm! Stick to your guru and to the cause of Truth alone. Do not change like weather cocks [vanes]. Boldly face the opposition of the whole world while upholding and sticking to your guru. Do not leave, whatever may be the odds you face. The force of maya is indeed very, very great, at times irresistible even for great heroes and hardened soldiers for Truth. But stand firm like a rock, letting the strongest winds of difficulty blow past without affecting you. For remember, he who intends to get himself established in this line and who is sincerely desirous of advancement has to experience hardships at every step. For instance, if one wishes to surrender himself to a guru, he encounters difficulties from the very beginning coming at him from his own family and society.
If he manages to overcome that, then another difficulty arises — monetary or financial problems, if not for him personally, then for his family or dependents. If that problem is circumvented, a third difficulty is ready and waiting for him in the form of physical difficulties that disable and dishearten him. And so it continues. Only those who have created within themselves a general dislike or apathy towards all material maya can withstand all these obstacles. And yet, they are where they are, with Truth and Realization a very, very long way off. Simply to think of the extraordinary trials that the guru subjects you to would make even the staunchest among them run away.
About Chhagan, Baba remarked,
Chhagan was quite firm, resolute, and determined to stick to me, renouncing all else. But he actually disobeyed and broke a series of my orders specially given to him, that he should go to his family and wife in advance, before the wedding party arrived at the destination. Thus he creditably stood all the trials and tests that I intentionally subjected him to. But, in spite of his firm will and intention to stick to me, under pressure from his wife's family, he gave in at last — for whatever reason, good or bad. That should not be. He must stick to one word, one attitude, one aim — even if the whole world opposes him.
I have been cautioning the mandali to take a firm decision either to stay with me or not to stay, and Chhagan decided to remain with me — leaving everything.