Suddenly, there he was! Sitting on his bed, unclothed from the waist up, beaming — the Emperor of emperors. What occurred then I shall never forget — a great loosening, a shaking from within. I am not given to visions, or "seeing things," or hallucinations, but on beholding his form, what I saw was his resplendent face at the center of an effulgence so brilliant, of a light so complete in its all-encompassing radiance, that tears blurred my vision in rivers of delight. There was no way I could stop it. The light was so brilliant, it was like looking into the sun, and so tears naturally had to flow. Here he was, the One who in his compassion had granted this speck of his imagination a glimpse of the Sun!
Baba gestured, "I am happy to see you. You look tired and dusty. Take a hot bath and before sundown I want you to read a certain section of God Speaks [regarding fana and baqa ]. It must be before the sun sets. Have a good dinner and get a good night's sleep. I will see you in the morning."
Robert nodded, as he was in fact "speechless before his silence." Eruch led him back to the men's side, where he did as Baba instructed and spent the night on Baba's cot in the Blue Bus.
Robert was present in the hall with the mandali the following morning, Wednesday, 17 November 1965, when Baba entered. He stood and Baba smiled at him and gestured for him to be seated. Slowly, Baba walked the length of the hall three times, his hand resting lightly on Francis' arm. As Baba passed Baidul, he tugged on his beard and patted Pendu's cheeks, and then sat in his blue armchair in the corner. Dreyfuss was seated directly opposite him on the floor, the other men mandali in their usual places against the wall.