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

THE NEW LIFE 191The day before the seclusion, Baba decided that the proposed visit to the West was notpossible. He gave detailed instructions to the servant-companions.The seclusion started with fasting for seven days and for the next thirty-three days takingone meal a day only. At the end of the first forty days Baba made a statement to the effect thatthe main work, which was very crucial and important, had been achieved. The remainingsixty days would not be very difficult and he would adjust his activities and place of workaccording to his convenience. He gave a warning that between 10 and 30 June 'God will outof his infinite wisdom and grace make me take a step which will bring about anextraordinarily revolutionary change in my life ... and all those directly or indirectlyconnected with me'. In a later 'elucidation' he said that he was totally unaware of the nature ofthe step he would be made to take. He would know what it was by the first week in June. Hewould then declare what it was that 'God will definitely determine within me', and from thatday until 16 October would be a time of preparation, the step being taken then.The old life disciples and devotees were called to Hyderabad (Deccan) from 21 Juneonwards, and on 28 June the following declaration was read out by Dr. Ghani:"In the presence of God, and bearing in my heart all the Perfect Ones of all times as witness,I declare that, by the help and will of God, I will definitely take the step of Annihilation on 16October of this year. God helped me to do the seclusion work of the 100 days to my entiresatisfaction, and I feel absolutely confident that God will help me to attain to the old lifeMeherababa state by 16 February 1952, and to manifest universally."I want every one of you present here as witness to this declaration to fast for twenty-fourhours on tea and water, on 16 October, beginning from 8 o'clock in the morning of that day."Following the Declaration a Corollary, 'What God has determined', was also read by Dr.Ghani. The step, said Baba, was that of complete mental annihilation, and that he would 'inthe natural course of events be facing physical annihilation as well, without my actuallyseeking i!. He warned everyone of what might happen if he did not attain this mentalannihilation and he might still be alive. That, he said, 'would mean the end of all. Then, Ishould free everyone from having any direct connection with me, leaving it to them to leadany kind of life