"The obstacles to illumination are certain mental tendencies and desires connected with egoism which, in the East, are called 'sanskaras'. The sum total of these tendencies and desires creates the illusion of a separate self at war or isolated from other selves. Evolution, or the fall into matter, made the nation of such a separate self necessary — otherwise spiritual consciousness could never be attained in the flesh.

In the beginning, before evolution began, we were united with the Source of All and a consequent conscious longing to return to it through a succession of lives and forms. The conscious return to the Source during physical incarnation only became possible when consciousness became equilibrated in gross matter.

"America represents the vanguard and the synthesis of the white races and hence forms the best foundation for the spiritual upheaval I will bring about in the near future. America has tremendous energy, but most of this energy is misdirected. I intend to divert it into spiritual and creative channels.

"I am now going to California for few days. From there 1 must go to the Ear East for one day for spiritual reasons; but I will be back in California by the end of June and then I will speak on June 29th. But if I should be delayed, I will return on July 12th and speak on July 13th.

"When I speak, there will be many proofs of my spiritual power and of my ability to bestow Illumination.

"People will then realize that Truth, which is the Source of all Love and Existence, rules supreme in all departments of life. My work and aims are intensely practical. It is not practical to overemphasize the material at the cost of the spiritual. It is not practical to have spiritual ideals without putting them into practice. But to realize the ideal in daily life, to give a beautiful and adequate form to the living spirit, to make brotherhood a fact — not merely a theory as at present — this is being practical in the truest sense of the word.

My work will arouse both great enthusiasm and a certain amount of opposition. That is inevitable. But spiritual work is strengthened by opposition, and so it will be with mine. It is like shooting an arrow from a bow. The more you pull the bow-string towards you, the swifter the arrow speeds to its goal."

"I was immensely impressed by some of the Negro people who came to see Baba, especially by one woman who asked him to help her race.

"The following day, May 23rd, Baba left for Harmon-on-the-Hudson, where a retreat had been established during his first visit to America. The house and