By his first interview he has known me clearly and surely enough not to be confused. He should rest assured that I will come back and speak, and stay to make all mankind realize, by actual experience, the One Infinite Self which is in all.1
Two women, Dorothy Norris and her friend Juliana De Taverna had previously come to Harmon. Both came again to see Baba at the Astor Hotel on Wednesday, 25 November 1931. Juliana had been unemployed and on this occasion acknowledged that Baba's words were coming true about her being offered a job. Dorothy, in turn, commented that she was inwardly experiencing Baba's help also. Her anxiety had left her and she had now come to gain something further from Baba, saying that she felt dry.
"Very good," Baba dictated. "But before filling a cup, it is necessary that it be emptied. Your luck is such that you have only to sit by me quietly for that."
She did and left happy.
The wife of a prominent real estate broker, Ten Broek Terhune, met Baba that day along with a young artist and writer, John O'Hara Cosgrave, to whom Baba gave a lengthy explanation about evolution.
Leopold Stokowski, 49, the well-known conductor of the New York Symphony, also came to meet Baba that day. The following is their conversation:
Stokowski asked Baba, "How can unity be brought about between East and West, especially when the conditions prevailing are quite contrary?"
Baba dictated, "Reconciliation is possible and can be achieved. It can and will be done. I will do it. It is the internal that matters, not the external. If the soul is Illumined through the experience of Reality, everything is in harmony, no matter what the surroundings. However diverse the conditions may be, everything is seen and experienced as one."
"I thought so," Stokowski said. "I have asked many people the same question, but none could satisfy me as your clear-cut answer has."
"It is not a matter of thought or feeling. I know and do!" Baba replied.
"Is outward beauty necessary for the inner?" Stokowski asked.
"From your standpoint as an artist, you are right. You see all that is outwardly beautiful in nature and, through it, the internal. It is good, but once the inner perception is gained, external beauty or ugliness does not matter. All is alike.
"You are a good soul. You will do good work in the future. You will inspire others through your music. I will help you spiritually and you will feel my help."
Footnotes
- 1.After receiving this message, Norwood sent a reply which indicated that his understanding was limited. Chanji noted in his diary (November 1931): "Dr. Norwood's attitude — rather misunderstanding. Others too." Baba then said he would do his work "in a different way." Robert Norwood died in September 1932, ten months after meeting Baba.