to their respective old places where they were to continue the New Life as Baba's New Life Companions. Certain restrictions followed. This group could have no further contact with Baba and the Companions living with him. Plan II: Donkin, Kaka and Gustadji were to settle down at Dehra Dun or anywhere else they liked, and continue the New Life as Baba's Companions, with certain restrictions. This group could contact Baba and those Companions with him at any time. Plan III: Nilu, Pendu, Baidul, Ali Akbar, Eruch, Vishnu, Pater and Murti were to continue to live with Baba in the New Life as heretofore as his Companions.

For those in Plan III there were no less than 34 conditions to be observed by the Companions. But whichever plan the Companions were in, Baba made one point clear to all: “ . . . you must take it as an absolute and unqualified certainty that you will not receive even the slightest spiritual or material benefit or indeed any benefit whatsoever. On the contrary, you must be prepared for every kind of disappointment and adversity.”

Those in Plan II took on jobs of various kinds, some in Delhi, making ghee (clarified butter) and selling it. I don't know how successful they were! We can be certain that those with Baba did their utmost to please and obey him, but even they did not fathom the New Life and its meaning. The following is from a letter from Donkin at Dehra Dun with Baba, March 10, 1950:

"As far as Baba's New life goes, not one of us (New Life Companions) can make head nor tail of it. Even the '3rd-plan' people now with Baba do not expect to be there long and Baba has openly told them that he does not want them with Him. It is all a mystery, a mystery and again a mystery, and very difficult both for those who are with Baba and those away from Him.

I went into Plan B, (taking a temporary job), since that is what I felt Baba wanted me to do; but whether it is a frightful waste of money I really don't know. Also I don't know, as you can realize, how long Baba will let me keep at it (practicing medicine in Debra Dhun), whether for a month, a year or a lifetime . . .

"As far as Baba Himself goes, He is as adorable as ever . . . "

Baba with his companions settled in Manjri Maffi, Dehra Dun, a beautiful