One day, when some mishap occurred, Baba looked at her sharply and repeated, "Don't argue!" gesturing for her to button her lip.
Rano replied, "But I'm not arguing, Baba. I'm simply explaining it to you."
This upset Baba even more. Frustrated, Rano bitterly complained, "There is no use in my staying with you since you are always displeased with me."
Baba replied, "I won't let you go, and will never let you go!"
Baba never did let Rano leave, and of all the Western women who were to come, she was the only one whom Baba kept in India, and who stayed with him until the last — but it was never easy.
Discussions continued in Panchgani about establishing a center for Baba. Norina, who had been to Mysore and Bangalore, wished an elaborate Universal Spiritual Center to be established. One day she was talking with Elizabeth about the possibility of relocating in either Mysore, Bangalore, Hyderabad or Panchgani. Norina's grand visions did not appeal to Elizabeth's more practical nature. Elizabeth tried to point out the difficulties involved and flaws in Norina's plans, but Norina was not to be dissuaded.
Once, when they were discussing the issue, Baba called them.
He allowed them to continue their argument in his presence, and then said, "You are both in the right, but Norina has got to go a little slower, and Elizabeth has got to try to move a little faster." Looking at both with a smile, he added, "Now both embrace."
On another occasion, when there was a quarrel between two women, Baba intervened and stated:
Love and forget. This is the only thing that matters, and it pays. Almost all of you are weak. By weak, I mean taken up with desires. Anger is weakness, pride is weakness, and so on. If a mother found her child weak, she would love it all the more. So all love more.
Don't you remember what I told you in Nasik? Learn to say, "Janay-doe [Let it go]." Give up wanting the last word. Give up all wants and be happy. But you must try consciously.
Now be happy. I forgive you all, but continue trying.
Meals always seemed to be a sharp point of contention, especially now that there were both Easterners and Westerners living together, sharing the same fare. Indian food was too spicy for the Westerners, and Western cooking too insipid for the Indian palate.