At one point, Elizabeth asked, "How can you help them when they pass by so quickly?"
Baba answered, "If they linger longer, the mind begins to work, and I want to touch the heart."
Filis Frederick, who was standing at one of the entrances to the Barn handing out a printed message of Baba's about his silence, miracles, et cetera, recalled: "After meeting Baba, many were weeping, dazed, unaware of their surroundings."
Almost 1,000 people had been invited, including a number from the local black community. Those present noticed that whenever a black visitor entered the Barn, Baba always rose from his seat and went to greet them. One black woman who met Baba for the first time on this occasion was Beryl Williams of New York.
Beryl had first heard of Baba in November 1951 from Filis, who was a close friend. She invited Beryl to Carnegie Hall to hear Norina deliver a lecture on Baba titled "Divine Love is the Solution." Beryl, who had always had an inclination toward spirituality, was attracted by Norina's talk. The audience had been informed that Baba was to come to the West in the spring, and if they wished to be notified they should leave their name and address, which Beryl did.
The following is Beryl Williams' description of her first meeting with Baba:
Delia opened the door for me and said, "Baba, this is Beryl." As I hesitated at the entrance, Baba rose from his chair and stood with outstretched open arms to me. The next thing I knew I was weeping my heart out on that beloved shoulder at the joy of having found my home at last. Baba left no room for doubt as to where I belonged in his welcome ... I received the unmistakable impression that it was Baba who had drawn me to him in his own way, particularly when in the course of the interview, he suddenly turned to Adi and spelled out on the board, "It was worth it," while I happily nodded and babbled foolishly.
After giving me some personal instructions of what he wanted me to do, Baba looked deep into my heart before enjoining on me the simple command, "Leave everything to me — leave it to me." So simple, but oh how difficult for a willful nature. Yet I felt a great burden lifted from my heart, which until that moment I had been unaware of even carrying. I knew then what it was to be at peace with one's self.