Availing himself of this unique opportunity, on 17 September 1967 Louis van Gasteren arrived in Bombay with his two assistants (who worked with him at Spectrum Films in Amsterdam): cameraman Jan de Bont, 24, and soundman Peter Brugman, 21. They were met by Jalbhai in Poona and brought to Meherazad on Tuesday, 19 September, at 9:00 A.M. Adi and Sarosh were also present. Baba had stated that he would give the filmmaker just five minutes of his time but, instead, van Gasteren's meeting with Baba lasted 40 minutes.
Van Gasteren had been disturbed by news reports of a young American who died after jumping out of a window under the influence of LSD. He interviewed the boy's parents and also had filmed LSD proponent Timothy Leary in Millbrook, New York that past August. Baba's warning about the dangers of LSD had been conveyed to Leary, but Leary had continued to take the drug. When Leary was asked about his negative reaction to Meher Baba's warning against using drugs, he commented to van Gasteren, "Baba is God and I am learning how, too. My way of discovering my divinity is a little different from Baba's — but he tells me: 'Don't worry, Timothy, be happy.' "
Baba asked van Gasteren about LSD, marijuana and other drugs, and the full-length film he intended to make.
At one point, Baba explained: "I am alone even when surrounded by thousands of people, because I see only myself in them all. As for you, if you were in the Himalayas you would not be alone even there, because thousands of thoughts and desires would be your constant companions."
Baba also said: "I suffer for humanity. I am suffering. When I break my silence, I will free humanity from suffering."
Van Gasteren told Baba of his wife's eagerness for his darshan, but because she was indisposed she had not been able to come.
Baba assured him, "When you came, you did not know me. Now you have had my embrace. You have come closer. You will gradually know who I am."
Van Gasteren was highly impressed on meeting Baba, and Baba too seemed very pleased to see him. Louis happily remarked, "Baba's smile contains everything! There is a current of joy flowing from it. I had come intending to shoot only a few hundred feet of film of Baba, but now I am determined to take as much footage as I can for the world to know Baba through this film."