Recently in Satara, Kaikobad wept. He told me: "I understand your divinity. Why do you ask me to put my hand on your head? I realize what you are. I see you as God Personified and have experiences of it. How [bad] I feel about this!" I told him to obey me implicitly. This is the only thing required. If you are asked to kick me, you should do it sincerely. This is my order.
Kaikobad has to go on and on, to continue on the Path. He sees glimpses of me, and though it is no delusion, it is not Union either, which is much higher. I do not know anything about what Kaikobad experiences. Suppose Kaikobad is now sleeping in a dark room. Suddenly, whenever he wishes, he says, the whole room is full of light. It is not my miracle. I myself cannot do it. I know one thing: I am everywhere and in everything. But I cannot do this. Kaikobad sees me in that light. Even the brilliance of the sun is as nothing compared to the light in the room. Kaikobad says it is my grace that he sees all that. But I say it is his faith and love which produce it. We shall see about God-realization.
Thirumala Rao's legs had become stiff from sitting on the stone floor.
Observing his movements of discomfort, Baba remarked, "If some of you feel like stretching your legs, don't feel shy about doing it because you are in front of me. We are all in sahavas. If you behave quite freely here, I will be pleased. I wish you to be in my company without any reserve, so be free and not cramped."
Thirumala Rao stretched out his legs and so did others, amidst a relaxing atmosphere and laughter.
Baba next recounted his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi on board the steamship SS Rajputana , when Baba was on his way to England in 1931:
When I was on my way to the West for the first time, Gandhi was on the same boat. For three days, he came to my cabin regularly and stayed upwards of two hours at a time. I was using the alphabet board then. Mahadev Desai used to accompany him but would remain outside the cabin. Gandhi's heart was incomparable; it was pure gold. When he came I would make him sit beside me. He would go on asking questions and I would answer them.