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

THE NEW LIFE 183them to don their clothes and each to hand to him the paper containing the prayer when heshook hands warmly. His face wore a great glow of happiness. Outside he called upon themto say loudly seven time Ho-gaya (finished), Baba joining in by lifting up his right hand.They left on 12 December; before doing so, as they were short of money, Baba suggestedthey all except Don, Pendu and Adi, should surrender their wrist watches to be sold, whichwas done. They started out on foot, except for the women, and must have presented a strangecavalcade, even in India, but no ne of the questions asked by the crowds that gathered in thevillages and towns through which they passed, were answered, except that they were on theirway to Hardwar. Some of the animals gave a great deal of trouble. After the first day, Dr.Ghani was ordered to ride with the driver on the women's caravan, because of his health; tooffset that privilege he was made, with a companion, to beg at every halting place in thenearby town or village.Jaunpur (about thirty-six miles from Benares) was reached on the evening of 15 Decemberwhere stay was made at a place called Kai Bagh, two miles from the town. The cows andcamel were disposed of, because of the difficulties they caused. On 18 December Baba putbefore the men the question of devoting to the needs of the New Life the 1,000 rupees leftwith Meherjee by him for each on their return; anyone who did not wish to do so could leaveat once "faultlessly." All without exception agreed. At this Baba re-defined the begginginstructions: without asking for any particular kind of food they could request and persuade,even by spiritual or moral talks, but were not to suggest they possessed any spiritual merit,and no mention was to be made of Baba; they could beg from acquaintances; cotton andwoolen clothing could be accepted, but not money, shoes, hats, pens, watches, jewels, etc.; noanimal was to be accepted; fuel, accommodation and conveyance to be accepted if offered,but not be asked for.When some visitors came for darshan, having knowledge of Baba, he turned away, saying,'I am pleased to have your darshan.' One morning Baba told the companions that just as it wassaid that after death there is a period of a few days before the spirit get established in its newsphere, so with them there would be a vacuum between the old life and the new. This periodwould be between 22 and 31 December, when begging would be suspended and there couldbe complete relaxation.They left on 22 December by train arriving at Moradabad, where they stayed at a placecalled Ram-leela. There they were in some