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

THE NEW LIFE 177An explanation of what was to be do ne during the next two months was then given by Babaand the duties of each were defined:"The period from 16 to 26 October will be that of relaxation; 25 October to 20 December atBelgaum will be the period of training; 21 to 31 December will be a vacuum period. From 1January 1950 onward will be a hundred per cent hopelessness and helplessness, which eventhe gods will envy."It was decided to stay there for two days, Baba being in a good mood, sitting with thecompanions most of the time, joking and gesticulating with them. On the second morningBaba said he had slept soundly except that he had been awakened by someone violent1yknocking on the door. He got up, but as he was sleeping on an improvised bed on the diningtable, he fell and had a severe shaking. Eruch and he could not discover how the disturbancehad occurred.Then they walked from Supa to Ghodnadi, a distance of sixteen miles, where Baba gaye theorder that because of the rain the journey to Belgaum would be made by bus. They reachedBelgaum, at a suburb called Thalakwadi, where they arrived in the afternoon of 20 October.Accommodation was in hutments on land that had been dedicated to Baba, which he hadpreviously ordered to be transferred back to the original owner.As usual, the earlier programme was changed. Baba decided that they should stay only until20 November when the training would be mainly physical labour, afterwards continued atBenares, where it would comprise begging until 10 December, the last period of training untilthe end of the year taking place on the way to Hardwar. On the morning of 25 October Babaca11ed the companions to ask each individually to say what difficulties if any they werehaving. Adi then dec1ared with some heat that he had his doubts about Baba's intentions. Atthis Baba gave them all the opportunity to reconsider whether to go on or return. 'God knows',he said, 'I had even to tell Mehera yesterday for the last time that she at least, of all people,should keep happy and cheerful under the most extreme and trying circumstances.' He wenton to say, 'the moods and irritability of my most intimate friends and companions will compelme to discard them. Before you decide for the last time, I will first help you with yourdifficulties. I will try to satisfy you, and then you can make up your minds.' He then turnedsuddenly to Daulat Singh and asked him to slap his (Baba's) face. Daulat Singh did sounhesitatingly and Baba was pleased that he had not failed him. He then told all to standbefore him and he touched