To another, who informed Baba that she was a Christian, Baba said, "You merely follow Jesus, but don't love him. You should love him also."
Although the Watsons were staying in a London Hotel, they did not come to see Baba. Evidently, after leaving East Challacombe, Thomas Watson was having second thoughts about Baba. Charles Purdom telephoned him, requesting him to write a letter to the American Consul stating that Baba and his "attendants" were going to America to visit Watson and other friends. Meredith inquired if he and Baba could stay at Watson's apartment, but Watson replied that they had no extra room.
Watson's understanding proved limited and his devotion short-lived. He had a positive initial reaction upon meeting Baba, but later he became indifferent. Watson recorded in his diary at this time:
Is this worship of a man good? Does not Baba block the path of his worshipers toward realization of God, just as a church dogma does? ... The worship the people there [East Challacombe] gave Baba revolts me. I certainly have no worship for him nor do I feel any good influence from him.
Although Meredith and Meher Baba have been in London this last week I have not had the least desire to see them. I feel I have got from them all they can give me. I must work out my salvation in my own way.
The thought comes to me this morning why Shri Meher Baba repelled me. It was because I sincerely or instinctively saw he was beckoning me to a path leading to Illumination that was not mine — not the right path for me to follow.
I must follow my own!
As mentioned, Charles Purdom wrote articles in Everyman magazine about Baba, such as "The Perfect Master" and "The Need for a Teacher," and by reading these, more people came to know of Meher Baba.1
One of Purdom's friends came to see Baba on 26 September 1931 and said, "After reading the articles in Everyman , I felt I must see you. It was not a superficial thought; I was inspired to see you."
Baba expressed his pleasure at meeting him and observed:
It is not within the bounds of the intellect to judge spiritual perfection or to enter the realms of One who has attained perfection. This can only be achieved through love — surpassing the intellect. This love is born only in the pure heart of a real lover of God.
Footnotes
- 1.Chanji took copies of the articles with him to give to those who were curious about Baba, such as fellow steamship passengers, immigration officials, and others. Purdom later wrote two biographies of Meher Baba: the first was titled The Perfect Master and the second The God-Man. Although Purdom's wife Lillian remained skeptical for many years to come, she also had Baba's darshan in 1931.