A word spoken in love is balm to the tired feet. You come to Prasanthi Nilayam, by road, rail or bus; you walk into the garden, exhausted and eager. I ask from the verandah, ‘O, when did you arrive?’ Others may doubt, why is Baba asking this question? Does he not know? Surely, he must be knowing all about him and us. Why then this query? But you, to whom this question is put, you are elated that ‘Baba spoke to me, as soon as I walked in!’ I seek to give you joy and so, though I know, I ask such questions; if I do not ask, but keep quiet, you feel forlorn and frustrated, don’t you?

You know that I am asking you, not for the sake of the answer which I am already aware of, but for the sake of the satisfaction my words give you. So also, I may ask, ‘How are you?’ though I know that you are well and that is why you could come or that you are unwell and that is the very reason that has brought you to me! This is the Maya shakti, the spirit that charms; if it speaks, if it casts its eye, if it does something, we derive pleasure thereby! It is Yoga maya,which makes you happy when I accost you or talk to you or do something to you. (SSS Vol. 10, p. 48)