During the course of conversation that day (17 June) Eruch informed Baba that two devotees from saint Anandamayi Ma had come for his darshan the previous day.
"What did you tell them?" Baba asked.
"I informed them that Baba is seeing no one these days, but they could have his darshan from a distance. Also, that presently Baba is fasting."
Baba replied, "Fasting is no great thing. Now the time has come when you should understand me better. My fast relates to my work, and is not with a view to achieve any self-importance. So many persons fast daily. Hunger-strikes are a daily news feature in the papers. So, of what significance is a fast? And here, Kishan Singh has been making a big noise about the fact that I am on a fast!"
Annoyed, Baba turned to Kishan and declared, "Go and tell people that Baba is fasting as a penance! ... Penance for himself, for his lovers, for those who cry out for my mercy and, in short, penance for the whole world!"
Eruch's friend Jal Kapadia came to see Baba. After some personal matters were discussed, Jal desired to perform Baba's arti.
"I am fed up with arti, bhajan and worship!" Baba told him. "I only derive joy by bowing down to masts, saints, walis and the poor; and for that purpose, I descend on this plane. The angels do my worship; I worship the world!"
Going to Sant Mangat Ram's ashram on Thursday, 18 June 1953, at 3:00 P.M., accompanied by Eruch and Baidul, Baba touched the saint's feet and immediately left.
He stated, "Mangat Ram is a genuine seeker. He is really a saint, as he seeks wholeheartedly. He is anemic, yet eats only four ounces daily."
Once outside, Baba sent Eruch back to the saint to tell him that it was, in fact, Meher Baba who had bowed to him.
Mangat Ram told Eruch, "The world is full of cruelty and wickedness, and Baba should save mankind from its effects and results."
In reply, Baba commented to Eruch, "Now, even the saints are feeling disgusted!"
When they returned to their bungalow, a discussion arose about those who claimed to be the Avatar.
Baba made these remarks: "It is true that many in the world today declare themselves as the Avatar. Every follower and devotee calls his teacher Avatar. There are 75 in the world who claim this highest spiritual status, but only one is real! Of the rest, half are under self-delusion, the other half are bogus pretenders."