And we too must believe it!

It is clear as we follow this New Life phase, that the life of complete Santayan (surrenderance) was to be practiced all the time in daily life, not in retirement or retreat. No slipping away into some "untroubled sphere," a mere escape. These men, in the New Life, had shown their great love for Baba by their decision to join him, and Baba knows that anyone who loves him must be active for him.

And now we must pass to the third and final stage which covered the last four months of the period under review.

On the 27-28 of June, 1951, Baba called a large and important gathering to Hyderabad, at which time he declared the "God-Ordained Step" he would take on the following October 16th, 1951. A summary of this Declaration, which was read aloud on the morning of June 28th, was sent to the West through Dr. Donkin, as follows:

"In the presence of God, and bearing in my heart all the Perfect Ones of all times as witnesses, I declare that by the help and will of God I shall definitely take a step on October 16th of this year that will result, if God so wills it, in my attaining the old-life Meher Baba sate by February, 1952 and in my manifesting myself universally."

Donkin added, "We all stood during the solemn moments when the Declaration was read aloud and Baba told us that we also were the witnesses to it."

At this meeting, with the exception of "Arrangement-wallas" and some of the Servants who were given responsibilities to fulfill and not given the option to join Baba, twenty-one persons offered to join. Ultimately, Baba decided to take Eruch, Pendu, Gustadji and Baidul with him for four months from October 16th, 1951, onwards. Two were taken for three months only― Minoo Kharas and Dr. Dowlat Singh.

All those who were present and witnessed the Declaration were asked to fast for 24 hours on tea and water beginning from 8 a.m. on October