Believe me when I say that the real happiness which lies in store for you is well worth the present suffering and struggle. The greater the capacity to love, the greater the pangs of separation are felt, not only by those living physically apart from the Beloved, but equally by those living near. In fact, the feeling of separation is greatly intensified when living close physically, while not having the conscious experience of union and oneness. The curtain I purposely drew hides this experience to enable you to do my work. You know the work I do is all for my circle. But each of you, to play your part, must take it seriously, and to finish the work each came to do. Love, work, and obey me.
My work at present is heavy, apart from the Universal work for the upliftment of all, I have the work of the center, which entails much work and time. I supervise personally every detail, although allotting to each person that particular side of the work to which each is suited. The center is to be on a very large scale, consisting of many different sections, but all under my one guidance.
On Thursday, 2 November 1939, the center's publicity committee held an open meeting in Mysore to inform the public about Baba's work, and to invite them to the foundation-laying ceremony in December. Norina, Deshmukh, Jal Kerawalla and Ghani spoke at the gathering.
A second gathering was held on the evening of the 6th in the Bangalore Town Hall. Deshmukh, Ghani and Norina, along with Nadine Tolstoy, gave lectures.
Before the meeting Baba remarked to Deshmukh, "I won't let it be a total success. I'll make sure there is 50 percent opposition and 50 percent sympathy!"
A third meeting was held at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore on 9 November. The Nobel Prize winning Indian physicist Dr. C. V. Raman chaired the gathering. Deshmukh gave a stirring speech on the question of science versus spirituality. Norina and Nadine then spoke about their experiences of being with Meher Baba. Deshmukh had been so logical and convincing, and Norina and Nadine so sincere, that Raman was impressed with the depth of their feelings, in spite of himself.
Afterwards, in his remarks, Raman observed:
I have never been a believer in personalities as such, although I have read the life of Buddha, Christ, et cetera, and have great respect and reverence for them. Yet, when I visited the ruins of Benares and other places of pilgrimage, I could not help but allow the atmosphere of those places to touch and inspire me.