In the garden of Ram Leela Maidan, Ram himself was enacting his leela (divine game), but none was aware of his presence and the pilgrimage caravan staying there. Playing out his divine game, the Avatar was in disguise as a Gypsy and Pilgrim. On Saturday, December 31st, 1949, Baba, joined by the companions, offered the following prayer:
Today is the last day of the two and a half months’ period of promised help. I ask the most merciful God for forgiveness for myself and my companions for any conscious or unconscious, big or small mistakes committed by me and my companions toward each other or toward the spirit of the conditions of the New Life and the oath pertaining thereto during these two and a half months.
I forgive my companions wholeheartedly for any misbehavior toward me and ask my companions to wholeheartedly pardon me for any ill treatment that I might have given to them. I ask the All-powerful God to give us strength to live the New Life one hundred percent according to the conditions and the oaths, the New Life that begins from tomorrow the 1st of January, 1950.
Baba then observed, explaining: “After full consideration and keeping the conditions of the New Life and our oaths perfectly in sight, I have decided that without promising anything, I will try to overlook unconscious mistakes – small or large. But I will never condone any small or large mistakes consciously committed.
“I will not forgive any mistake that radically goes against the spirit of the conditions, and under no circumstances will there be any compromise.
“I will be Brother and Friend in every respect, except in absolute obedience to my orders. We, who stick to the conditions one hundred percent, sink or swim together.”
Lord Meher, Original ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 10, p. 3531.