As I approached the room it appeared dimly lighted and I was vaguely aware that men were seated on carpets facing toward my left. I entered and turned in the direction of their gaze. Meher Baba was seated in an armchair. He was radiating. His eyes shone like glistening silver. He was beside himself with joy at seeing me. In an instant he swept away the surreal revelations of his holiness in me and, now, again, as I stood before him, renewed and more intense waves of grief and despair descended upon me. In this state, disconnected from rationality, I knelt before him, placing my forehead upon his knees, and wept. He caressed my head as he moaned softly, reaching deeply into me across immense barriers, touching me spiritually, mending my sorrow and creating union with me.
Timeless moments passed. Then, all at once, my eyes fell upon an extraordinary lacework on the hem of his sleeve; a labor of love, undoubtedly created by one of his women devotees. It was the fineness of this craftsmanship which brought me now, into the moment.
Baba asked Tom, "Have you read God Speaks ?"
Tom answered, "Yes, Baba, I have read it three times."
"Can you sum up for me in a nutshell the essence of God Speaks ?"
"The whole of creation exists so that the Soul can find its way back to you." Baba beamed and made the sign of perfection with his right hand.
Baba asked Tom what kind of work he did. Tom longed to be a full-time artist, but he answered, "I'm supposed to be a teacher, but education is very bad in America."
Baba nodded and said, "You will know what you have to do upon your return home."
Tom had been smoking hashish for three years, and Baba asked him about it and said, "It is best if you don't smoke [hashish] again. Smoking is very bad for you. It is harmful mentally, physically and spiritually."
(Later, on the opening morning of the gathering, Baba repeated to Tom, "If you continue to smoke hashish it will be your end. There will be nothing I can do for you then.")
Baba began expounding on the nature of his love, stating at the end, "You have to love so much that all this world you see around you becomes completely unreal."