A week later, the woman invited Norina to tea. She opened the door to her apartment, and for once, Norina noticed that her friend had not been drinking. The woman immediately disclosed her determination to change her life. "I do not drink anymore, nor will I ever do so again. I was a fool! I have wasted the better part of my life and energy. I cannot hate anymore, either. I am sorry to have given so much suffering to my mother. I now love her and will devote my life to her happiness." No mention was made of Baba, but Norina knew that his glance had penetrated this woman's dark mind and had lifted it out of the clouds to a new and better life.
On Monday, 23 May 1932, Baba and the mandali were driven to the Harmon Retreat where he was received with heartfelt joy by Malcolm and Jean Schloss. Meanwhile Quentin stayed in Manhattan to arrange the train tickets and other traveling details to California. (He was also instructed to purchase a ticket to India for Ghani.)
Some time before, Malcolm and Jean had been informed that Baba would be staying in Harmon with a few persons for a full year, and Jean had planned for his accommodations. But she was advised that as long as she had no definite commitment from Baba, she should make no permanent arrangements. Instead of a year, Baba stayed just two days, thus giving his American lovers a practical exercise in maintaining their flexibility!
In Harmon, a representative from the Paramount Film Company approached Baba with a request for a message to the world. Baba allowed himself to be filmed again, as Malcolm read out part of the message given at the Stokeses'.
Baba then dictated on the board, "I give my love and blessing to the people of America."
Soon after, the film was relayed by Paramount Newsreel throughout the world.
About 20 people came to see Baba at Harmon, including Josephine Grabau, her mother Mary Antin, Anita, Milo Shattuck and Grace Mann.1 Each evening Beheram would perform on the sitar and Josephine would dance and compose heartrending poems for Baba.
Howard H. Inches also came to Harmon for a few days. Inches was an actor who had appeared on Broadway. He recalled, "I was brought up and presented to this man with the large, brown eyes and queer lamb's skin coat — a new prophet on the horizon of burning America. I was captivated by the purity of the life of this temporary colony [at Harmon] worshiping at the feet of Baba, and soon I was a regular member."2
Malcolm Schloss was also a poet who wrote in praise of Meher Baba.3 The following poem, "Song of The Master", captures the feeling of the transcendence of materialism, which is an aspect of Meher Baba's manifestation and mission to the world:
Footnotes
- 1.The birth control advocate Margaret Sanger had been contacted by Malcolm and wrote an appreciative letter that she would very much like to meet Meher Baba, since she lived not far from Harmon and had missed him on his first visit. But it is not known whether she ever did. (Archive Letter, 933.)
- 2.Brother, Heal Thyself, Howard Inches, Phoenix Press, 1938, p.44. Howard Inches became interested in vitamins, nutrition and exercise, and later became a sort of "fitness guru." He lectured and wrote several books on these topics.
- 3.Malcolm Schloss wrote three books of poetry dedicated to Baba, titled The Infinite Glory (1945), Processional of Joy (1946) and Ways to Attain the Supreme Reality (1952).