Baba inquired about the work at the centers in America. He then said:
In Andhra, there are about 72 centers. All my lovers from places all over India want to come to me here. If by some miracle I were to change their circumstances, the population of Poona would be doubled! My lovers are very poor; they love me and compete with one another to work for my cause. In spite of their circumstances, if one prints a calendar, another prints a larger one. If one feeds 100 poor, another feeds 1,000, and so on.
The condition of my lovers in Hamirpur is very different. When I went to a village there years ago [1952] in a car, the villagers had never seen a car before. They had to improvise a road. They joined hearts and hands and tried to give me all the conveniences they thought of — such as oil lamps, an improvised bed, a hot bath. They had seen these things done at the Meherabad Sahavas. When they saw me for the first time in their village, they were overwhelmed. They are all so poor — all over the district — and yet so rich in my love. They feel that the statue of me which they erected a year ago is not a statue; it is Baba himself! This is what is meant by having Baba as one's constant companion. That is why their love always makes me very happy.
At one point, a discussion occurred about similar idolatrous representations of Baba. At the end, Purdom said, "Baba, smash the idols!" Baba merely smiled. Such things were an expression of love and hence not to be rejected.
The Westerners then adjourned to their hotels for lunch. The Luck brothers were the last to leave the room. Lingering at the door, Edward Luck said, "Why don't we ask Baba for his bliss?"
Irwin Luck thought, "We could ask him to be the dust at his feet."
Baba was alone in the hall. The Luck brothers went back inside and sat on chairs on either side of him. Baba was in the middle, not looking at either one. All of a sudden, he reached out to them and motioned them to come to him.
"What is it?" he asked.
Irwin said, "Baba, I would like to become as dust at your feet." Edward said the same.