That evening, Aiyangar's children gathered around Baba, who played with them.
Overhearing someone whisper that he (Baba) was fond of children, Baba spelled out, "Yes, because I am but a child. Only after becoming a child did I find It . Not until one becomes a child, can one achieve the slightest spiritual experience. Once one becomes a child, one enjoys the bliss! Nothing worries him — [neither] thoughts, words or actions."
"What is the cause of ignorance?" someone asked.
"The cause of an individual's ignorance is the result of the evolutionary impressions; and for the collective ignorance [of humanity], the cause is the outcome of the very first Existence.
"All is infinite. In Self-Realization, there is no finite. But as long as you are not individually free from the duality, duality exists. The substratum of all this is love. Love is the one and only thing. Devoid of love, everything is miserable. Love is God and everything that is Real. Lust is perverted love; so it is unreal."
"Is this your message to us?"
"Yes. This is my message to you and to the whole world, also."
After a communal meal, Baba retired for the night at 10:00 P.M.
Meher Baba's 40th birthday was celebrated on Sunday, 18 February 1934, with great éclat. Programs of arti, bhajan singing and darshan began at 7:00 A.M. A few private interviews were granted during the midday interval and again from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M., after a recital by a professional singer. A large public meeting under the chairmanship of Dewan Bahadur J. Venkatanarayana Naidu was held that evening with many speeches delivered about Baba's life and message.
Rustom read out a message dictated by Baba for the occasion. It read in part:
The reason for my coming here all the way from one end of the country to the other to participate personally in your celebrations is your love, which has irresistibly drawn me to you. Love is a mighty force; it not only enables one to put the ideal of selfless service into practice but would transform one into God.
After dinner, Baba agreed to appear at a smaller function held at George Town, where a person from the Arya Samaj (an ultra-nationalistic Hindu organization) spoke to the gathering about Baba.
Sampath Aiyangar had two daughters, Lakshmi and Janaky. At Lakshmi's suggestion, Baba was dressed as Lord Shiva and his photograph was taken. Janaky then wished for Baba to dress as Lord Krishna and then as Christ and Prophet Muhammad. Baba fulfilled the wishes of both devotees and all were extremely happy in his midst.