Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
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Baba called Irwin Luck to stand on one side of him and Edward on the other.
He remarked, "These are the Luck brothers. They have come a great distance to be with me for a very short time. They had to overcome many obstacles to come to be with me. They crossed continents and did everything they could to be here. Such love must be rewarded." He repeated, "Such love must be rewarded."
Baba told Bhikubhai (Meelan Studio photographer) to take a photograph. Baba asked Irwin and Edward how they had come to India. Irwin began to narrate all the things they had done to earn the money. Baba did not respond. Irwin then realized he had made a big mistake by not saying, "It was your will, Baba," as he had done the past year when asked the same question.
Baba related to the audience, "All of them coming from so far for such a short time, not knowing if they were going to get anything when they did arrive, this touches me very much. It is a test of the daring of the lover to come so far when he is uncertain if he will even get to actually see the Beloved."
Kenmore interjected, "You know, Baba, it is no distance for us and no great cost for us Americans. I feel some who have walked 1,000 miles to get here for the one hour have much more daring."
Narsing Qawaal continued the musical entertainment as Baba distributed prasad to all. Prakashwati Sharma also sang, and Dr. Moorty, Pukar and Sripat Sahai presented a skit ("Death and Back to Life") about a Baba lover who died out of frustration because Baba had not come to his place for darshan in spite of his repeated prayers.
Baba was only to give darshan for an hour, but he extended the session until 6:00 P.M., stating, "This is the most important day of the two weeks that I have allowed people to come to me."
Irwin was told to hold a pillow over Baba's feet so that no one would touch them. Edward volunteered to take over after some time, but Baba had only instructed Irwin to hold it.
While the two brothers were seated at his feet, Baba began making circular motions near his head and pointing with two fingers at them. Irwin looked at him and wondered what it meant. "Baba wouldn't be saying that we are crazy?" he asked himself.