London, 15 May 1988. On the occasion of the 96th birth anniversary of Yogiji Maharaj, local women devotees had prepared a huge birthday cake. The cake was displayed before Thakorji and Yogiji Maharaj during the celebration assembly, following which some youths offered the cake to the deities before taking it to Swamishri. "Bapa! Please cut the cake," they beckoned. "It's Yogi Bapa's birthday today."

With joy writ over his face, as if drenched with memories of his late Guru, Swamishri ceremoniously cut the cake with care. Then turning round, he instructed, "Offer it to Thakorji."

"But Bapa," Upendra revealed, "We've already offered it to Thakorji."

"The cake's just been cut. When did you offer it?"

"Just before you cut it..."

Swamishri's subsequent statement is worthy of contemplation. "Can Thakorji possibly eat a whole unsliced cake like this? Now that it has been cut, arrange the pieces in a dish and re-offer it to Maharaj."

Only after this was done, did Swamishri accept a small piece of the cake before distributing the remainder. It is on such occasions that the finer shades of Swamishri's devotion become eviden