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

174 THE GOD-MANweaknesses, and any disobedience on his part up till now. And on behalf of myself I forgivemyself for any pain, injustice, or wrong that I may have do ne any of them."I want you all to understand once and for all that lam completely serious about this NewLife. Although you have stood by me faithfully and lovingly all these past years, with perfectfaith and sincerity in spite of receiving nothing from me, and although you all might beprepared to lay down your lives for me, yet there is the possibility that your and my habit ofunderstanding and misunderstanding each other during the last so many years might misleadyou into not taking this most seriously. Therefore I want you all to go through this circularword by word most carefully before you decide. It would be best if you accompany me andabide by all orders and conditions completely. But although your faith, love and service forme have been greater than mine would have been for my own Master, yet these conditionsmight prove your undoing. So unless you are ready to live the life of complete satyanashi andabsolute obedience, it would be better to stay behind and obey instructions that will be givento you. But all this is by way of statement of facts and confessions. The decision is entirely tobe ma de by you and you alone. May God give you the required strength."I want you to understand that I will not deliberately do anything that will force those that gowith me to leave me. I shall also, to some extent, make you relax your resolution to abide byyour oath one hundred per cent. Eventually all the conditions will be applied one hundred percent to all who come with me, and I shall abide fully by my oath."Between now (this day of decision) and 15 October, I will overcome the momentum of mypast activities by concentrating and intensifying my work of masts, poor, sec1usion and fast,for which no record should be kept, except the men's activities, which will end on 7September."During this period you can ask me anything you like, so long as it does not affect thecircular and your decision."From today until the 15 October I will live the usual life that I have been living."The mandali and others were then allowed to take their meal though Baba said he would noteat until he had the replies from each of the recipients of the conditions.Within three hours, all the decisions were in Baba's hands; there were many surprises. Babaexpressed surprise at the 'No' given by