Rano smoked Lucky Strike and Chesterfield cigarettes when she came to Nasik, but she was careful never to smoke in Baba's presence. One day Baba came along just as she was finishing a cigarette. She quickly put it out and said, "Baba, this was my last cigarette." Baba looked very pleased and gave her an embrace. Rano surprised herself when she made this remark, since Baba had not asked her to quit (and other disciples, such as Padri, Adi Sr. and Pendu, smoked).
The next day Garrett offered Rano some Chesterfields. Rano groaned, "I've given my word to Baba to quit smoking. What kind of disciple would I be if I couldn't do this much? Why couldn't you have come along a day earlier?" Rano later said she never missed smoking except when she was painting or taking a break to reflect on her work.
Baba would ask each individual about their morning meditation and encourage them to take it seriously.
On Sunday, 17 January 1937, he remarked, "I want you to be gay, lighthearted and humorous, but I also want you to be serious about certain points, especially about meditation. Constant prayer and selfless service are both vital in turning the mind away from worldly things and directing it toward spirituality."
Each person would meditate alone in his or her room upon rising in the morning. Once Baba surprised Rano by coming into the room as she was meditating. He caught her dozing and instructed her to keep a photograph of him in front of her and concentrate on it. During the meditation hour, Baba directed that there must be absolute quiet in the compound.
"External silence helps the inner silence," he said, "and only in internal silence is Baba found. In profound inner silence."
Baba gave each individual instructions in regard to meditation. He directed Malcolm not to tell anyone but him what he saw or heard during meditation. Malcolm asked if he should interrupt his meditation to write down anything which came to him while meditating.
"No," Baba replied, "What you see, once you begin seeing in this way, you will never forget. You will know what you are and where you are going. You will be like a rock — you will know where you stand."
On 18 January, Garrett presented Baba with his introductory editorial for the magazine. Baba liked it so much, he read it twice, and commented that he liked, not only the style, but the gradual way in which Garrett had introduced Baba's name and spiritual status.