THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE NEW LIFE 171"It is all the more surprising that those of you who should know and understand best keep onasking questions that betray a very poor appreciation of the full implications of the nature ofthe New Life. The other day Chhagan asked me if he should accompany me or adopt thealternative? Ghani also could not help saying that I will nibhav him (help him to stick to me).The fact is that I shall not be responsible for anyone. I shall bear no responsibility even forGustadji, although he will be the only one whom I shall try to keep with me because UpasniMaharaj had transferred him to me, but that will also depend upon the fact that Gustadji willcontinue to listen to me, otherwise there will be goodbye also for him."In the course of further discussions Baba pointed to his injured fingers in the sling, and said,'This, plus my complete silence and the things I have to do, can better be left to yourimagination than described. If later on, the other arm is paralyzed it would mean that I shouldbe almost helpless physically. In that case, those who remain with me may have to live andsubsist on water only, because according to one of the conditions when food is received orobtained by anyone, it is to be brought to me, and cannot be eaten unless I distribute itmyself.' Later, Baba said that no one below and above the ages of twenty-five and sixty wouldhave any place in the new programme. As the days went by, the field of the prospectivecompanions of Baba in the New Life began to be narrowed more and more. Instead ofextending a general invitation, Baba later said that the conditions would be posted only tothose persons whom he would select. When the list of those who had in the past given anundertaking to follow Baba's instructions at the cost of their lives was gone through by himonly thirty-two names were selected out of a total of 1,200.On 25 August, Baba gave special attention to the women on the hill. Some of the menmandali were called and he informed them as follows:"It was left for me to decide about the women, unlike the men mandali who are to decide forthemselves. We first decided that no one from the mandali was to stay at Meherabad or up onthe hill. I have since made an exception about lower Meherabad. A few of the men mandaliare to stay there for one year and some ofthem can also stay there permanent1y. Now some ofthe women are to stay on the hill. Before giving my decision, I allowed the ladies to give metheir own suggestions, one of which was that Kaikobad's family and Mansari be allowed tostay. I approved of the idea and these five persons may now stay subject to the understanding:(1) Not to expect ever to see or meet me