Baba's fragrance was exquisite. At first I thought that he had special exotic colognes, but later I was told that Baba's fragrance was his own natural smell.
Jim sat at his feet and Baba asked him, "Do you know Richard Alpert?"
Jim said, "I know of him but I don't know him personally."
"He has just written me a letter in which he has promised to stop taking LSD. I am happy that Richard is going to stop taking drugs. You too should not take drugs."
Jim had himself decided to stop taking drugs about eight months prior to meeting Baba, though he hadn't mentioned this. When Baba referred to drugs, Jim later recollected:
I knew at that moment that my soul was transparent to Baba and that he could see all my activities, my strengths and my weaknesses, without my having to tell him. However, I felt bathed in his love as if it supported me. I knew that I could entrust my soul to Baba. And this feeling of being able to trust Baba gave me great sustenance.
Next, Baba asked, "Did you see Robert Dreyfuss before you left America?"
"No," Jim said, "I didn't," and he explained that he had left before Robert returned.
Baba asked about Diana, "Where is she now?"
Jim said, "She returned to her work in South India."
Baba said, "That's good, but you are far more fortunate."
Baba then asked, "Have you read Stay With God by Francis Brabazon?"
When Jim replied that he hadn't, Baba asked him to turn around to meet Francis who was sitting at the back of the room with the other mandali. Baba introduced them and told Jim to read Stay With God .
At one point during the interview when Jim was looking at Eruch as he translated Baba's gestures, Baba said, "Look at me, not at him."
By this time, Jim was getting somewhat impatient: