On the morning of the 20th of April, Baba and the group landed at New York's Idlewild (JFK) Airport, where Elizabeth, Margaret, Delia, Ruano and Don met them. They stayed for the day at the Hotel Statler, across the street from Penn Station.1 Since it was a Sunday, most of the restaurants were closed, so they had to be content with going to an Indian restaurant, the Ceylon India Inn, on W. 49th St.2 Goher was feeling indisposed, but Baba told her to try to eat something anyway.
John Bass of New York met Baba for five minutes at this time. He later recalled:
I felt such great divinity in Baba's presence. I don't know how to describe it. It is something I have never felt before or afterwards: the feeling of Baba's terrific power and energy. At the same time a certain peace permeated me, so that I remarked to Elizabeth, who was outside the room at the time, "But, Elizabeth, Baba is tremendous, magnificent!" Elizabeth replied, "Yes, Baba is what he is."
Baba and the women left New York by train from Penn Station at midnight for Florence, South Carolina, accompanied by Elizabeth, Margaret, Delia and Ruano; Don was also with them. No one was supposed to see Baba off, but Filis Frederick and Adele Wolkin could not resist and had gone to the station and hidden behind some large pillars on the third floor balcony to catch a glimpse of him. Although they were far away, Baba smiled and waved at Filis and Adele, spelling on his board, "Filadele," their new nickname.
Reaching Florence, on the morning of 21 April, Baba and the group left by car for Myrtle Beach. Norina was waiting for Baba at his house at the Center. Because of recent heart trouble, she had been unable to travel to New York.
Norina and Elizabeth had put their heart and soul into preparing everything on the Center according to Baba's instructions. Baba acknowledged their deep devotion and service.
Embracing Norina lovingly, he stated to the group, "I am quite pleased with everything you have done for me — with this house, the splendid view of the lake and ocean, the surroundings. It is all as I wanted it to be.
"I am so happy to be here, and most of all I am deeply touched with the love and devotion shown by both Elizabeth and Norina throughout the past years in preparing such a unique spot for my work and comfort. No detail, no expense has been spared to carry out my wishes, and all as a labor of love — love direct from the heart. And as such I accept the gift."
Footnotes
- 1.The hotel is now known by its original name, Hotel Pennsylvania.
- 2.The Ceylon India Inn (now known as Bombay Masala restaurant) was purportedly the oldest Indian restaurant in America. It had served as a veritable South Asian community center during the 1920s and 1930s. Its proprietor, K. Y. Kira, welcomed both Muslims and Hindus. Kira was a Buddhist and hosted annual celebrations of Lord Buddha's birthday at his restaurant.