But Tom had never had a special interest in religion or spirituality. One day Dorothy told him she was going to meet Meher Baba the next morning. Out of curiosity, Tom accompanied her. He was a freelance journalist and enjoyed meeting people. "I went to meet Baba as I might have gone to meet a writer, sculptor or politician," Tom related. The following is his account of their meeting:
We waited in the corridor for some time, and I thought this is a very strange bunch of characters assembled here, quite a lot of odd fish. In the course of time, Dorothy and I were called in together. My memory is of a very commonplace room, the sort where business managers meet their traveling salesmen in order to show their samples for the new season and discuss their wares. But, instead of commercial salesmen, there was a row of Indian faces and, in the corner, was this middle-aged man, very striking in appearance, in a white robe, seated on a couch with one leg up, because his leg was in plaster [an elastic bandage].
He welcomed us and told Dorothy to sit opposite him. I was beckoned to sit beside him. I sat there.
Baba immediately turned to Dorothy and asked, "Why have you come?"
She tried to answer but simply could not speak, and almost became hysterical with the effort. She managed to blurt out, "Baba ... I ... cannot speak!"
Baba stated, "Neither do I."
"Yes, but you do not speak because you do not want to. I want to but can't."
Baba looked at her closely and then threw up his hands (which Dorothy took to mean she lived too much in her head).
He looked at her very sweetly, took her hand and told her, "I will help you."
Baba then turned to Tom, who had been watching this scene, relapsing into his role as a journalist who is always on the outside of things looking in, never personally involved. He was fascinated by the spectacle, yet very concerned for Dorothy.
Baba looked at him with a piercing gaze and asked, "And why have you come here?"
When Baba stated this, instead of sitting on the outside, Tom suddenly felt drawn into the picture. He further recalled:
I said the first thing that came into my head: "I only wanted to see you." Baba flung up his arms, as though this was the most wonderful response anyone could give, of profound spiritual significance.