I have never met a human being who gives such certainty of inner light so easily, so purely and as naturally as Baba. I was an utter stranger to him, but the first two words he gave me told of my lifelong besetting weakness. I was with him for 35 minutes only and I did not ask him to heal me. Nevertheless, I had gotten to him with difficulty that evening, as I was suffering from asthma which had unexpectedly attacked me a few weeks before and threatened to ruin my work. I was a sick woman indeed.
That night when I got home and went to bed, I was awakened out of a deep sleep by a strong, indescribably beautiful eastern perfume in my room. I sat on the floor and experienced the presence of Meher Baba. I can describe it only as an almost frightening sense of power in the room. It seemed that the hands of a surgeon were operating on my lungs, spine and other parts of my body. All the time I was conscious of the terrific power in its greatness, which had got inside my bones and tissues, changing my body as I sat there.
Maud had other strange sensations and the next day went to see Baba to describe her experiences.
When she began, Baba stopped her, remarking, "I know. I know I have helped you."
After this experience her condition greatly improved.
One person later wrote: "Yes, Chanji, I do agree that once having met Baba, it seems as if the whole of one's life had been leading up to that minute. [As if] he had been guiding us through the clouds and storms safely so that we could meet him."
On another occasion, an elderly man Mr. Audrey came with his wife and child to Russell Road for Baba's blessing. He was a lover of philosophy and a kindhearted person whom Baba liked. Baba took Audrey's son on his lap and kissed him. Seeing this, Audrey's heart filled with love. Though he tried to check his emotions, tears fell from his eyes.
Consoling him, Baba explained, "The study of book knowledge and philosophy merely satisfies the intellect, but it is not all. The real thing is to think of God, to feel God and to experience God. Actual feeling, perception and experience should be gained, for these are real. Intellectual conviction is the first step, and faith is born from it, but there should be continuous progress."