Passages were then read aloud from the Bible, Quran, Avesta and Gita. The passage BABA chose from the Bible was the Crucifixion of Jesus, from the Gospel of St. Matthew. The Ceremony concluded with a prayer read by Dr. Ghani, according to a dictation by BABA, which said, "May GOD help BABA to definitely make this step, so that from October 16th, 1949, when he enters the New Life, there will be no turning back."

This was the first prayer for 'help' ever heard from BABA during the last twenty-eight years, and the Mandali said they were so taken aback and confused that not one of them could think of or dare say "Amen."

This aspect of the New Life in which BABA laid emphasis on his state of Perfect Humility, as the Servant of all, together with his intensive seeking of GOD as Truth through the achievement of Manonash, combined with his utter helplessness, weakness, and reliance on GOD, is very difficult to understand. Temporarily BABA renounced his divine state with its attributes of Infinite Power, Knowledge and Bliss and would work no miracles on himself. I can only get a glimpse of the truth in the parallel of Jesus' forty days of temptation and fast in the wilderness, when, He too, endured utter helplessness, weakness and humiliation and yet did not use His divine powers to perform any miracle for himself.

As I see it, BABA'S apparent 'step-down' to the human level, his vicarious sanctification and his "Strength made perfect in weakness," can only be understood if taken as part of GOD's plan, working through him, for the Spiritual Awakening and liberation of all mankind.

BABA was away from Pimpalgaon for the two years of his New Life work, and only returned, unexpected by all, to Pimpalgaon, for its closing phase of the four months' Manonash Seclusion and Fast, October, 1951-February, 1952. Several of his disciples were called from their work to Pimpalgaon, including myself, who had been teaching in High School in Bombay .

BABA may have intended sitting again on Tembi Hill, for when we arrived in October, at Pimpalgaon, BABA was already in seclusion on the hill. But the weather was not good and BABA found it impractical for his work. So, the cabins were removed from the summit, brought down piece by piece, and within the remarkably short period of forty-eight hours, stood ready for occupation alongside the Mandali quarters. Meher BABA then had placed in the four corners of his cabin, the symbols of the four great religions. The cabin with its surrounding compound was completely