He explained, "Some portion of the suffering I will have to take upon myself. Some will be spent in false propaganda and in the twisting of facts about me. Some will be expended in little strifes and sufferings here and there."

These comforting words were a consolation to his lovers. They had no idea yet that, in any event, the whole burden of humanity's suffering fell on Baba's slender shoulders, as he possessed universal mind. Kimco said, "Baba, please turn the major part of the suffering into opposition against you and expend the remaining amount some other way."

Baba smiled, and the lovers did not in fact know that hostilities had already started. In the London papers, much had been written about Baba's greatness. But could that satisfy Baba? No, some criticism and antagonism must be there to strengthen the love of his lovers, the foundation of which he had already dug. Within an hour of their talk, Kitty Davy received a letter from her father saying that scandalous, unpleasant reports had appeared about Baba in some of the London newspapers which he thought needed to be repudiated. It was Paul Brunton who, provoked by K. J. Dastur, had published some erroneous articles about Baba in the John Bull magazine which had a dubious reputation for exposing frauds. In a slandering manner, Brunton wrote that Meher Baba owned a movie theater and motor garage, used to own a toddy shop and kept hired women companions.

Hearing this, Baba consoled them, "Don't worry. It is a good thing. It is an aspect of my game and I am happy to face this situation. This opposition has been deliberately created by me to give a greater force and effect to my work in the West, and to the spiritual earthquake and upheaval that is also to take place. But what I wish of you is to not pay the slightest attention to it.

"My mandali know me and my game; so they remain unaffected. But I tell you all that you should not get upset in the least. Just moments ago you were telling me to distribute a major portion of my suffering through the display of open antagonism toward me, and now that it has happened, you have already begun worrying. Do not be disturbed by it. It is my own play and I know who is responsible for it."

Margaret Craske asked, "Baba, will you tell us who has done it? In the newspapers, there is no mention of who has written the article."

Baba smiled, spelling out to her: