At this point, Baba seemed anxious to leave, and indicated people were waiting for him inside. The reporter asked one more question: "Will you break your silence of 31 years during your present trip to the United States?"
Baba answered: "No, no. When I was in India, I decided to go into seclusion for one year. I had this news circulated to all my lovers. This trip is an interval of one month in my seclusion. When I return to India I will resume my seclusion. There are five more months until it is completed. After my seclusion, whenever I think fit, I shall break my silence."
"But not in this country?"
"No."
"Are you India's present Mahatma Gandhi?"
"I am not concerned with politics. Gandhi was a good soul. He loved me very much. Adi Irani will tell you the details about this. It is a question that has been asked repeatedly and he knows my answer. The fact is that Gandhi loved me very much. He met me three times. Mr. Irani will give you the whole account."
Baba wished to end the conference at this point, and some of the reporters remonstrated. One asked, "Is there any truth in the reincarnation theory as mentioned in [The Search for] Bridey Murphy ?"1
Baba indicated, "You will find the answer to that question in my book God Speaks. It gives every detail about the evolution of consciousness, reincarnation, the involution of consciousness and then the final experience of Union with God."
As a parting question a reporter asked, "How many followers does Baba have all over the world?"
Eruch replied, "We have never counted Baba's followers, but in India, especially in the state of Andhra in the south, practically every household knows Baba and loves Baba, and even the children there sing songs in praise of Baba. It is impossible to give any definite number of followers."
Baba gestured, "How can one say any definite number of followers? Can you tell me the number of hairs on my head?"
Baba and the mandali then made their exit, and at 12:30 had their lunch.
In the afternoon of 23 July, at about 2:45 P.M., Baba greeted newcomers or those who had already met him, one by one in the interview room. Many stood about after their interview unable to leave. Some had tears running down their cheeks.
Footnotes
- 1.The Search for Bridey Murphy was a bestselling book at the time, recounting the supposed "memory" under hypnosis of a woman's past incarnation as Bridey Murphy, a 19th-century Irishwoman.