She later recalled:
For some reason, I felt Baba drew me to look at him. I don't know how to explain that feeling. The look of love in his eyes was so strong and so powerful that had I not been seated, it would have knocked me down. I knew at that moment that he loved me in a way that was greater than all the love from all of my friends and family combined. The look was so powerful that it was like a bolt; and yet, it was so soft and warm. That love sustained me for years. I knew then, without a doubt, that Baba loves everybody. No matter who they are — how terrible they are, how simple they are, the worst murderers — he loves them. This love was so great that my healing began then.
Sparke Lukes had married Will Belote the previous year but they had not been able to have children. "I do want children," she told Baba, "Can't I have one or two?"
Baba looked surprised and said, "Yes, as the Avatar, I can grant your wish. But normally, almost never, one asks me for this sort of thing — or for riches or to solve a problem or something of the sort. Inner progress, yes progress towards the realization of Truth and the reality of God, yes But because you love me so much, so totally, I will grant your wish."
He added, "You are not scheduled in this lifetime, your karma is not to have children, but because of your love for me and your surrenderance I will grant you your wish. But I also point out to you, you cannot imagine the millions and millions and millions of adjustments I have to make in the lives of other persons to accommodate your wish."
Baba also explained to the group, "Your karma has been with you since your origin as a drop-soul. I can change your karma; I can eliminate a karmic problem. But why should I do things for which I ultimately am responsible for the laws? Because of my love for you, I will take on occasion your karma from your head and lower it to your shoulders [lessen its burden], but I will not eliminate it nor cancel it."1
In the afternoon at 2:30 P.M., eleven of Margaret's group of young ballet dancers performed in the Barn. Two years before, when a few of them had performed for Baba, they had come unprepared. Now they had put together a program beforehand and brought music and rudimentary costumes. They asked if they could remove the surface of wax on the Barn floor if they promised to replace it, and Baba allowed it. One dancer said they would like to use most of the space, so Baba permitted them to keep only two rows of chairs for himself and those unable to stand to watch the performance.
In the Barn, Baba was seated on a satin pillow wearing a pink coat. He gestured for people to make way to allow Jane Haynes to sit beside him.
Casually, he remarked to her, "You know Baba is very sensitive to sore throats. People stay near me, but I catch colds easily."
Jane had a chronic throat problem, which was worse during that period. Afraid that she would infect Baba, she scooted away as fast as she could. But no sooner had she done so, seemingly out of nowhere came a viselike grip. She felt an iron arm around her, and she was snapped back next to Baba. Jane was amazed for two reasons: Baba's suffering and frail and broken body were so evident — and yet his grip was so powerful! Secondly, no human being could have reached the distance Baba did; she had been too far away.
Don Stevens announced the program, saying, "Baba, your words have a deep effect on us. We know there is no yesterday and no tomorrow, and we are giving this performance for you in the Eternal Now!"
Footnotes
- 1.Sparkie later remarried and had a son.