LOVE STREET LAMP POST 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Qtr 1997

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Spring, 1997

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The Single-Most Important Baba Work We Can Do Right Now

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Say The Darndest Things? Well, we have been reading on the Baba listserv (on the Internet) some amazing things said by the current crop of Baba children. They show an incredible awareness and love for Baba—from the age of two in some cases!

Send us some Baba profundities that your little treasure has surprised you with.

Looking at your LampPost you can see how the magazine has taken on an extremely professional appearance and content under David’s expert hand. Along with more professionalism comes more expense. He spends a lot of time and money getting scans of the photographs made. It is our dream to have a scanner of our own, so he can do this work at home.

(That way, after a hard day’s work, he can come home and put in another six hours in his own office!)

This magazine is the result of countless hours of work by many people, and it represents their love and dedication. In particular, we are deeply indebted to our Sufi friend who gives us this beautiful quality by printing it on a huge Xerox Docutech. To you all, we say thank you.

Your work, in the Beloved’s name, gives pleasure to over a thousand people in all the far-flung corners of America and the world.

hundred extra copies, So if you know of anybody who would like a copy, ask them : to contact us.

Thanks to your generosity, the Mani memorial issue has recouped its costs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we have enough in the newly established Love Street LampPost bank account to carry us to the end of the year, when we will once Jai Baba to you all. : again ask for your heartfelt contributions and donations. But please feel free, should The issue has been a long time the spirit move you, or if you didn’t send coming! As David will tell you, circum in your donation after receiving the stances conspired to make a December October-December issue, to send a check issue impossible, and the April issue was any time! You may now make it out to The held up to enable us to give you the Love Street LampPost, and don’t forget to Mansari story. Then just as we were going note our new address. to press, we received word that Jane We will be introducing a new feature in Haynes too hadjoined Baba. More delay as our July issue—Humor for Huma. Since we scrambled to bring you what informa Baba so dearly loved ajoke and frequently tion we could. But I do believe that when asked those around Him to tell Him a good you have read the last page you will feel it one, we decided to have a page especially has been well worth the wait. for His entertainment. So please send us No less than three of Beloved Baba’s your favorite jokes—a joke that you could treasured mandali have written expressly see yourself standing in front of Baba and for the LampPost. Since they wanted their telling Him face to face. thoughts to reach the widest possible Remember Art Linkleter’s book, Kids audience, we have printed up a few

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Photograph Credits Page cover 7 pages 8 10 11 12 15

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17 19 20 21 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 39 40 41 42 43 44 47 back cover *available as a -

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Photographer or Owner Raosaheb Dma Snow Marc Brutus

Location & Date Meherabad, 1927 Meherabode; 1997 Meherabode; Easter, 1997 .

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Dma Snow Meherabad; 1996 from Meher Baba and His Mandali, by Naosherwan Anzar ©1979 Naosherwan Anzar Judy Ernst Meherabad, 1979 Dave Lowman Meherabad, 1987 Win Coates; ©Susan White Meherabad Mario Zavala Pilgrim Pines, 1987 Ted Judson Miniature model placed at Meherabad, 1996 Beth Ganz Dma Snow Meherazad, 1996 Beth Ganz Linda Zavala L.A. Center, 1989 Beth Ganz Sita Schwertner-Rupe 1997 Arnavaz Dadachanji Ashiana Linda Zavala Charlie Morton’s house; 1986 Mike Casetta Art Center in Meherabad, I 996 Panday Studio Panday Studio Nancy Wall Meherazad, 1996 Mario Zavala Meherana, 1994 Melan Studio Charles Mills oil painting* colored litograph from the Book Store; approx. 14 x 12, $26.

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From David McNeely: I have a declaration to make. We missed the winter issue of the Love Street LampPost and it was entirely my fault. I was simply too over-committed to make any progress on it. Worse, I was too selfish to even conceive that someone else might also enjoy the privilege of working on it.

My experience of putting together the Mani issue was so deeply rewarding, I felt so much of Baba’s Grace throughout the process, I simply did not want to give it up! I convinced Dma that these were special times: that moving to the new Center, and my involvement in securing the conditional use permit and occupancy, obligated me to more time-critical priorities. And unfortunately for you all, she bought it! Dma—who has the greatest commitment to everything she does and will lose sleep and earnings to serve Baba—allowed me to cause her the greatest of stresses by missing deadlines!

I pray, Baba, that all our readers will feel so rewarded by the contents of this issue that they will overlook the long delay in receiving it.

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A publication of the Avatar Meher Baha Center of Southe.

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Cov eStreetjamjPosb welcome

features:

The Love Street LampPost is dedicated with love to Avatar Meher Baba. Its primary pur pose is to contribute to a sense of community

Meherabode L.A. Is Getting Centered!

among all His lovers by providing a place for sharing His remembrance. All the members of

Jeff Maguire

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Moving Day

David McNeely

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Letter from Meherabode

Donna Sanders

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Dr.Anne

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Mansari

the Baba family are invited to contribute to this feast of Love.

Your stories, photos, art work, poetry, letters, articles, and humor are all actively solicited. We seek expres sions of Baba’s message of Love & Truth.

Please submit your text on computer disks if possible (in any software format) ; typewritten copy on white paper is also acceptable. Be sure to clearly identify all submissions and credit every quote or reference.

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Mansari Joins Her Beloved Mansari

Janaki

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Poem

Mansari

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Mansari’s Special Disease

Mansari

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What Could Mansari Reply?

BalNatu

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Tea With Mansari Mansari in the Earlier Years

Sophie Ernst

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JudyErnst

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Thursday, September 4, 1996

James Cox

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Mansari’s Pyre

JamesCox

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Jane Haynes Cables from India

submissions, subscriptions, donations:

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Love Street LampPost Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California 1214 South Van Ness Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90019—3520 213 731—3737 or BABABOOKS @ AOL.COM

mandali

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Beloved Baba’s Jane

Adele Wolkin

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Thank You Jane

Kaye Panicke

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Jane Haynes

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Meheru Irani, Bhau Kalchuri & Committee

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“Baba Wants to See You”

Archives & Museum Project

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Circular No. 2

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Special Guests Travel to Meherabad to Help Plan Conservation Building

deadlines: for the January March April June July September October December —

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issue: issue: issue: issue:

November 15th February 15th May 15th August 15th

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Dma Snow

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A Sweet Responsibility; A Special Privelege

Nancy Wall

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Lynne Berry

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A Note from our Trust-Walli Share in the Treasure

Adele Wolkin

TIps for Preserving Your Precious Baba Treasures

Love Street Bookstore: Dma Snow (at the addresses above) 310 837—6419 between 7:00 & 11:00pm 310 839—BABA (2222) 24 hour fax BABABOOKS @ AOL.COM

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special features Baba’s Filis Knots Meher Baba’s Warnings About the Occult an interview with Arnavaz N. Dadachanji

credits: editors: copy editor: design & layout: distribution:

Dot Lesnik

The Single-Most Important Work We Can Do

Dma Snow & David McNeely Clea Sucoff & Dma Snow David McNeely Clea Sucoff & Harry Thomas

We Are All One On Caring

quarterly in January April July andctober All contents © I 996 Avatar Meher Bab4Denter of Southern California All quotations dfvatar Meher Baba or books ©AMBPT India -

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Lynn Maguire

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Filis Frederick

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NancyWall

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Bhau Kaichuri

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Meheru

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departments: Editors’ Page

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Step Inside the Love Street Bookstore

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reviews: Meher Wine Li’ht on RunninR Water

Katherine Wiederhold

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James Wilson

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by Jeff Maguire

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was the key that some thought Baba might never turn but, as you read this, the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southem California has completed the purchase of more than an acre of land in the centrally-located mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles. The site, a retreat-like gated compound, features a large meeting space for up to 1 50, a kitchen, bookstore space, kids’ play area, separate storage buildings and on-site parking for 30-40 cars. And that’s not all: stroll through some trees, past a goldfish pond and an aviary, and you come to a glassdomed, marble-floored chapel with a

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pair of reading rooms on either side of it.

Some of us, when we first heard about the place, couldn’t help but be skeptical. Over the years we’d looked at so many potential sites; places that were embraced by some, scorned by others, and ultimately, always re jected.

Bobby Manonash had made a regular routine of New Center jokes.

In one of them, the answer was “After three-quarters of the world is de stroyed. The question was When will the L.A. Baba group be able to find an affordable permanent site?”

Another answer: Beyond imagination “

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and conception;” the question: “What are the odds we’ll find a permanent site in our lifetime?”

So yes, we may have been less than enthusiastic as we drove out to look at the site, but once there.. Oh Baba!

“It feels like Meherabad, said one visitor.

“It looks like Mandali Hall, said another.

It reminds me of Guruprasad.

“It has an atmosphere like Myrtle Beach You step inside and you can’t believe you’re in L.A.” Perhaps Adele Wolkin summed it up best, “Now, this is a Baba Center.”

Pris Haffenden was reminded of a .

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note Baba’s beloved sister Mani had written to her back in ‘92, when the rejection of a potential center had resulted in some discord. “Baba loves to play hide and seek, Mani wrote.

“The new center will pop up in front of you, then all hearts will sing out, ‘This is the place! Jai Baba.”

The place first popped up in front of Donna Sanders who spotted it in some real estate listings and brought it to the attention of the Board of Directors. Since then, all hearts have been singing out in praise of the site.

On December 7th, the membership of the L.A. group voted unanimously (but for two noes) to proceed with the purchase.

Donatons came in from all over the globe to help raise the $380,000 purchase price. Incredulous that an acre of L.A. would be available at this price, one of our members exclaimed, “Baba is giving us this place on a veritable silver platter.”

Indeed. A few years back, mem bers of our Long Range Planning Committee sat down to define our Dream Center, without regard for economic or geographic reality. Some

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scoffed at this excercise as a waste of time, yet the new property almost exactly fulfills the “dream” they laid out through that process. “Itjust goes to show you; Baba really is in control,”

said a member.

The fund-raising effort was suc cessful enough that our mortgage i now less than what we were paying in rent at the old place, which is a good thing since there’s a great deal of work to be done and much of it will be costly. Fortunately, there have been very hard-working zealots eager for a taste of mastery in servitude: Dma Snow and Lynn Maguire have headed the gardening detail; Tamara Mark led a highly artistic cleaning crew; and Nancy Merwan and others have been kept busy decorating.

Meanwhile, Donna Sanders contin ues to work tirelessly. She and David McNeely are spearheading the effort to secure a zoning variance and occu pancy permit.

In retrospect, the Beloved’s handi work is clearly visible and we can see how the years of hard work, and even the controversies and difficulties, have laid the groundwork for us to finally own and run a large Center. We are grateful to Baba and to all who helped do the work and raise the money to make the dream come true.

Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai!

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ight in the morning to eight in the evening was the day’s program—a long day de voted to moving out of the old and into the new. More than fifty people came from all over to help make a new home for Baba. It was so wonderful to walk from one room to another, from one building to another, and everywhere clusters of people joyously working together. Shirin Lorkalantari brought a wonderful noontime feast: hot soup and fresh french bread and trays of cheese, meats, and garnishes.

So as some continued to work, others would sit in small groups and enjoy a quiet meal together. By the end of the day, books were on the shelves, the office was operational, the kitchen was organized, used, and cleaned, and of course many photos and paintings of Baba adorned our walls. As things quieted down, we even took time to watch a video taken in Meherabad in the early ‘70s. Finally, the work concluded with a celebratory pizza generously provided by Lynn Maguire and Fred Stankus.

Although some of us had thought it would be a lot of work which might require the traditional pizza reward, in fact, the whole day became a celebration, and the true “reward” was a most beautiful arti in the chapel, with a Mehera-full moon lighting the room through the domed skylight.

With the domed ceiling, the windows on three walls, the marble floor, Baba’s chair, and most of all the presence of Baba, the feeling for all of us was remarkably like being in the Samadhi.

Perhaps most importantly, the center during the course of this day became “ours” to all of us who were there. One person said, Isn’t this wonderful? It’s like we are all a family moving into a home ! And because “

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the home is Baba’s, that family feeling which already pervades has the qualities we recognize from being in Meherabad : all-embracing, inclusive, and restorative. The harmony was joyous!

If I may be personal, this was one of the best days of my life. After almost everyone had left, I spent some time walking from room to room feeling the simplest of Jai Baba’s laughing in my heart. I sat for a while in what will become our meeting hall, :;.ii and I was sure it was Baba’s Silence Into the new: which was lingering there.

Clive Adams Morton move Baba’s chair Charlie & I know with the deepest of convic into new center, Meherabode our tions that this place is Baba’s. Everything is Baba’s of course, but that is not what this is. This is personally December 5 1996 Baba’s, the way Meherabad and Myrtle Beach are Baba’s. That we could Beloved Avatar Meher Baba ki Jail acquire such a place as this so perfectly tailored to our needs (and that : My dearest Beloved Baba’s dear ones in L.A., the generosity of our larger commu I am extremely happy to hear that you are now having a new center which nity nearly exploded to make it appears to me to be a most beautiful site. And though in the city, it appears to be possible!) should be miracle enough secluded from the city. for any skeptical mind. But more I have seen the map of the site. And it appears to be a very suitable and ideal significantly, His presence is there for site. If the site is procured I believe Beloved Avatar Meher Baba will be very very all of us to partake. It kisses you when :: pleased. you simply enter the gates. On one of The problem of payments is there. And I believe that if the residents of my first visits there, I arrived feeling Lunatic Asylum put their heart for this project, Beloved Baba will definitely help very harried, very crowded inside with : them to procure this site. And I know every resident of Lunatic Asylum will do stresses on every level, resenting even his or her best to put maximum efforts to have it. the necessity of interrupting my day’s : May Beloved Avatar Meher Baba help His dear ones to get His Home in L. A. plan to attend to some matter. and so that all these lunatics may get the throats of nightingales and sing His glory in leaving a short while later with : His Home in L.A. everything internal cleaned, and space With all love and Jai Baba to you. magically restored. I certainly had not brought Baba with me, but He left with In His Love, me ! In other words, His presence is not there because we have collected Bhau with love in our hearts and called Him to us. I think this is different. I believe [note: Lunatic Asylum is Bhau’s definition of “L.A.,” which of course then allows His presence precedes us. It is there to him to call all of us who live here lunatics—affectionately, we believe. In fact, : give to us whenever we come. : sometimes when he is in a more formal mood, he calls us lunatics in Baba s Thank you Baba.

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Letter from Meherabode The winner of the egg-toss, Behzad Partovi

by Donna Sanders

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ongratulations and wel come! Your love, given with such focus for so many years, has made it possible to move into this lovely place provided by our Beloved. We purchased this circa 1913 fixer as is, for about $40,000 under the appraised value and $64,000 under the listed price. So now begins

splash in the waterfall. Answer the phones, answer the mail, begin to build a better archives. Bring light bulbs, paper towels, put up outdoor lights. Check the bulletin boards for newjobs that you can take on and complete. Maybe baby-sit the movie crews who will occasionally rent our parking.

The number of hours you are willing to be here to greet visitors as a docent will be the number of hours the beautiful gates will be open for all.

Some of the neighbors have started to drop by, too. One woman said she took her little niece for a walk and the girl led her right to the gate. So they came in, fed the fish, browsed in the bookstore. She was happy that such a serene place was only a street away from her. After she’d been there for some time, I noticed there was writing on her T-shirt and pants: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy. She promised to come back.

The beauty of our paradox is this: while we do the gritty work, sharing our skills and learning new ones (and bumping up against each other’s The Love Street Book Store in its new location working egos) we get to keep waking up into new the fixing. For our conditional use and dreams. I think occupancy permits, we’ll need to this pleases satisfy the city building codes by Him—at least it seismic retrofitting, re-roofing, rewir makes Him laugh. And ing, re-plumbing, creating handi capped access, and building four new when we look bathrooms—the hard realities of up from our hammers hitting nails, debris flying all tasks, asking over, carpentry, paint, polish. We’ll what’s next, we can see deeper need so much help from everyone: I. please keep those pledges and loving and deeper through the deeds flowing!

To see why so many people say this illusion to find place has the flavor of India and joy because we Myrtle Beach, come hang out and feel are not dreamit, and do some work. Our center is a ing alone. cultural monument because of the When I see His architecture of the Milbank Mansion chair and sadra Vesta Partovi hunting Easter eggs in our bamboo forest .: (from which our land was divided), in this new place I m but the Cultural Heritage Commission ::---could never have imagined the reminded: the significance the carriage and garden master Dreamer, the Awakener, is at here for four or five hours, once a houses would one day have. Baba’s home. He always has been. month, week, or everyday? Come sadra and chair seem to fit so well garden, room, hang set the reading up : Jai Baba! here. out in the aviary, watch the birds

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People have been asking what days the center will be open. Let’s make it a day retreat center, as well as a meeting place, where people can come to learn more and more, and still yet more about the Beloved.

Mehernoush Lorkalantari, the volunteer coordinator, is asking for people to act as docents. Can you be

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From the archives ofone of our members, an article published in our center newsletter dated

January, 1979:

Permanent Site of the Center

by Ken Havens The Board of Directors has ap proved the formation of an ad-hoc Lois Jones and Mia Campagna committee for the purpose of adminis tering the search for a permanent site of the center.

The acquisition of a permanent site would mean that we would own property rather than pay rent. It is understood that Baba doesn’t need this, but we do. And Baba willing, it will be. It is felt that it would help the Baba community of Southern California strengthen relations and aid the future work in our community. And it will be a start to promote service for the commu nity at large.

The proposal pre Our hosts for the Easter sented stipulated that the celebration, Gigi Driessen and site chosen should be a Fred Stankus consolidated effort of all Baba lovers in Southern California. In order to best serve our community, the loca tion will be in Los Angeles County. note: at the close of course, the firstjob we have is escrow, we were able to raise funds. The center has started to put down a total of the fund for a permanent site with toward the $245,000 $2,000. Our immediate effort is to purchase! concentrate on ways to build an adequate fund for at least a down payment. The pot luck on December was our first permanent site fund-

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raiser. Attended by approximately forty Baba lovers, we made about $80.

Let us know if you have ideas for fund-raisers!

Meanwhile, we can all be on the look-out for possible locations. A form describing all pertinent details will be made available.

There are many questions concerning what will be done with this new center location. What we have and how it will develop depends on you, dear Baba lover. This gives us a chance to work together.

Jai Baba!

What’s in a Name?

Some years back, Lynn Maguire asked Bhau to suggest a name for our new center. Lynn conveyed Bhau’s choice, “Meher Abode, to Dma Snow, who thought she heard only one word.

Dma then asked Meheru and Arnavaz how they liked blending both “Meher” and Mehera” together as “Meherabode. They agreed—it has a nice ring. “

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Bryan West and Will David

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Sunday, l2January 1997 Beloved Baba has taken unto HimselfHis dear Mansari, who served as a beacon ofHis light on Meherabad Hill for manyyears and is now merged into the Sun. Avatar Meher Baba ki Jail —Eruch, Bhau and all Meherazad men and women mandali

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Mansari Joins Her Beloved

by Dr. Anne Meherabad, 24 January 1997

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eloved Baba took Mani Desai to Himself at 7:40 on the morning of January 1 2, 1 997. She was better known as Mansari since Baba changed her name when she came to live in His ashram.

Mansari had been ill since early November, with abdominal pain and a low-grade fever that slowly increased.

A sonogram revealed masses in her liver, and blood tests indicated a severe infection. She did not respond to various treatments. By late Novem ber she had lost her appetite, but would still get up in the morning and spend the day in her chair. Gradually she grew weaker, and on December 7th she announced she was giving her chair sutti, meaning a holiday.

Mansari had repeatedly said over the years that she did not want to go _o hospital, so we honoured her request and she passed her final days on Meherabad Hill, where she had lived since 1949 by Baba’s order.

Several Meherabad residents and pilgrims volunteered to be her atten dants throughout the long days and nights. Mansari continued to enjoy visitors, perking up to speak with Nana Kher each morning, with Jangle Master at tea time each afternoon, and with numerous pilgrims before and after Arti. Children especially seemed to be attracted to her bedside. But with every day that passed, Mansari would spend more and more time asleep.

I am knocking at the door ofthe Perfect One why should I cry?” . ., . .

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A Baba-lover surgeon performed an aspiration biopsy at her bedside. The first report was inconclusive, but the final report revealed that the masses

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in her liver were metastases from a cancer of the digestive tract. At that point, there was no possibility of a curative treatment, so we continued to care for her in her room.

Mansari often quoted some of the 900 couplets of Kabir that she had learned by heart after Baba left for the New Life. Baba used to call Mansari

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tion. “I am knocking at the door of the Perfect One, why should I cry?” she would often say. Also, “Those tyrants have imprisoned me. How can I find Your lane?” Once her caregiver told her, Mansari, you are in Baba’s hands. She replied, “No, my head is at His feet.”

Mansari always remembered that everything happening was her Master’s will. She used to say in the beginning of her illness, “Baba is the root cause of all this mischief, be sure, be sure.”

And on the afternoon of January 1 ith, her attendants noted that Mansari woke several times from her sleep smiling and saying, “He is so beautiful, so beautiful. At about 4:00 that “

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“Those tyrants have imprisoned me.

2 How can I find Your lane

Kabir ni cheii, meaning “disciple of Kabir. Mansari had been proud of her excellent memory, but during her last years she had to see it fade. Yet even to the end, she still remembered some of Kabir’s couplets. We would often see her hand moving to check the meter of a line she was trying to recapture.

Once she had recalled the whole verse, she would repeat it a few times in Hindi and then translate it into English for our benefit. Through the lines she would quote, we could see her growing acceptance of her condi “

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afternoon she lost consciousness. She was surrounded by several close friends and a stream of well-wishers who sang and chanted Baba’s name for several hours. During the night she became conscious for a few minutes.

She seemed to be repeating Baba’s name.

At 7:00 a.m. on January 12th, Baba’s prayers were recited and Arti was sung in her room, followed by the continual chanting of Baba’s name.

Mansari breathed her last peacefully at 7:40 that morning. It had drizzled in the night, and the morning air had an especially vibrant quality. In Mansari’s room an immense peace could be felt. Oceanic peace. She was finally freed from this small body. She was finally with the One to whom she had given her heart. Despite the emaciation of the disease, Mansari looked beautiful and strong. After she was bathed and dressed in the sari in which she had wished to be cremated,

Meherabad residents, pilgrims, and also villagers, who held her in great esteem, filed by her bed in her spartan room to pay their respects.

In the afternoon, all Baba’s men and women Mandali came from Meherazad to say a final farewell.

Meheru remarked to all those present And on the afternoon ofJanuary 1 1 th, her attendants noted that Mansari woke several times from her sleep smiling and saying, “He is so beautiful, so beautiful.”

that Mansari was a tiny sparrow as well as an eagle. Mansari’s body had been carried on a stretcher from her room and placed near Baba’s gadi under the tin shed. Baba’s gadi had always been very special to Mansari.

Before Baba departed for the New Life, Mansari had asked that His seat be kept there so she could continue to take Baba’s darshan everyday. And

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much later, when Mansari’s legs could no longer carry her all the way to Baba’s Samadhi, this is where she would come and bow down. So we gathered there to say our good-byes.

Songs of earlier times were sung such as Urn narno, Meher Baba and Meher Raj. It was a beautiful, magical mo ment on Meherabad Hill, when one felt carried back in time, sitting under the tin shed with the women Mandali around Beloved Baba. Dear Mansari had been part of this Hill for so many years ! What special memories she is taking with her from these days of the women’s ashram...

Then it was time to depart, and Mansari’s body was carried on the stretcher to the Samadhi for a last darshan and then down the hill. She had a beautiful cremation, with the Baba lovers from Bombay and Poona singing all her favourite Indian songs.

The atmosphere was of a softjoy. The day on which Mansari finally joined her Beloved was the anniversary of the day Baba asked that the Dhuni be

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lit on the 1 2th of each month— January 12, 1941. Mansari had always shown special reverence for the Dhuni, perhaps because she had come to Baba through His Dhuni ash that cured her terrible skin disease. At sunset, as Mansari’s funeral pyre continued to burn, Baba’s Dhuni was lit more flames to bid farewell to Mansari, the woman who had not been -

“Baba is the root cause ofall this mischiel be sure, be sure.”

afraid to come live near the fire of the Avatar. on the morning of the third day after the cremation, Mansari’s ashes were collected. They will be kept on Meherabad Hill until they are interred near Baba’s Samadhi, as He had previously instructed.

Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai!

Mansari Poem

by Janaki Tucson, Arizona

by Mansari I loved her always-sparkling eyes which sometimes could also be quite fiery. She was many things to many people—vivacious, fiery, strong-willed, determined. Generous, humorous and as soft as butter if someone had a problem. While her face had become lined in her later years—to me she was very youthful as she was always ready to try or learn anything new.

She would tell children to say Baba’s name five times when they went to bed at night, and before their feet touched the floor in the morning to get out of bed, to say Baba’s name five times again. One July I remember five boys about 8—10 years old would have contests with each other to see if each of them would remember to do this

while in the Meher Pilgrim Center— which of course kept them ll remem bering. She was always available— seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., no matter how tired or ill she was. Sometimes she would be truly exhausted, maybe right after Amartithi or when she had not had a nap for a few days or when experiencing a cold—which she got frequently—but she would never stop people from seeing her, or even close her door. A few times when I tried to close her door (when she would be taking a nap on one of those ex hausted days) she would wake up and weakly say, Leave it open—they have all come so far and for Baba.” “

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transribed from a video

by Laurie Brook

You know, you know... you might be knowing about the New Scheme of Savings Of course not commission, Of course not partnership, Anti not even investment But count, count, count or say, Baba, Baba, Baba And fill up your account in the Universal Bank with Baba, Baba, Baba.

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iviansari s Special Disease This story is from a conversation in the early 1 970s. It is reprinted from the newsletter ofthe Northern Califor nia Baba group, with permission, and with gratitude.

by Mansari

S

ometimes I say that I sat in the train and I came to ‘Nagar, and I came to Baba!

But now, the real thing—how I came to Baba. I was born in Bombay and lived there for 1 5 years. My aunt raised me because she loved me and she had no children. My parents used to stay in Navsari.

Until the age of 5 years, I was very healthy—skinny, but still very healthy. Then I got an awful skin disease, on the feet and on the hands. jt spread from my feet up to my knees, and from my hands up to the elbows. The rest of the body and face was completely intact, but where the disease was I was scarred, I thought for life. My dear aunt took utmost care to cure me, and every medicine was tried but failed. When I was 1 2 years old, somebody suggested a skin specialist, so I was taken there by Kaikobad Dastur, a close family friend and the one I liked and trusted most.

When that doctor saw me, he said, “Really, I don’t know why the other doctors didn’t cure her. It’s a very simple case. Well, the poor doctor tried his best, for months, but he could not cure me. He tried everything. He gave me 75 injections in one day! But it did not work at all, and at last he had to say, I’m very sorry to say that this child has to suffer for the rest of her life, because I have never seen such an obstinate disease. I heard that, and since by nature I’m obstinate, this just added to my obstinacy. I decided not to go to any more doctors and concluded that all

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Hill to Lower Meherabad. I was doctors were hypocrites. From then on, whenever my aunt would suggest a : standing in a queue when I saw Him. doctor, I would refuse.

At that time there were no restrictions In 1925 my aunt died so, naturally, ; on visiting Meherabad, and many I had to go to my parents. My father lovers used to come for Darshan, for had been following Baba for two years an interview or for advice. I saw Baba at that time, so my parents tried to : coming out of the rickshaw. From the beginning I took Baba as a great 7”___ personality, but not more. I did not consider Him even a saint or a perfect To this day I don t know how master, so the idea of His being God orwhy butlcried Ialmost was very far away. I saw Baba as I saw sobbed I cried like a child any ordinary person but, for &X and I went to Baba with tears.

Kaikobad’s sake, I folded my hands.

Baba asked me why I was Baba went in the room and started crying I said I don t know giving Darshan and interviews. I was just standing there, and then my turn came. Baba was in the old bungalow, persuade me to go to Baba. They said, with a small window, and He peeked “Baba will cure you. I was so dis through and beckoned me to come. I gusted, I said, “When all doctors fail, was undoing the lace of my shoe and, what will your Baba do?” I refused to just for half a second, I stared at Baba. take go. So they wrote to Kaikobad to To this day I don’t know how or why, me to Baba because he followed Meher but I cried. I almost sobbed. I cried Baba too. At that time, if I would listen like a child, and I went to Baba with to anyone, I would listen to Kaikobad. tears. Baba asked me why I was He was very kind to us, very kind. He crying. I said, “I don’t know. I had wrote to me to come to Bombay and Baba’s Darshan and I stood, sobbing.

Then Kaikobad told Him everything go on a picnic to ‘Nagar, saying that I would be pleased to see Baba. about me and my disease. Baba said, Kaikobad wrote, “I promise that I “For that you are crying?” I said, “No, won’t say anything about your disease I don’t know. Then He asked me to Baba. If it pleased Kaikobad I felt I again, “Tell Me your complaint. Tell could do it, as long as he was not going Me what you suffered with your to say anything to Baba. disease, in your own words. But I Then I came here, to Ahmednagar. could not. Then He dictated on the At eight o’clock I saw Baba for the first board, “Don’t worry, it will go perma time. He was in the rickshaw (the one nently. He signed the message to now in the Meherabad museum) and emphasize it—”Baba. I read the ! board, I heard Him, but I had been was being drawn, probably by the prem ashram boys, from Meherabad i told the same by so many doctors. “

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too late. Now I began to pray in my When the interview was finished, Baba mind, every second, Baba, give it gave me a little dhuni ash in a bottle back to me. I wanted to see Baba and told me to take a pinch in the personally so I could make the matter mouth before tea in the morning while clear, because I was too shy to write saying “Baba. I said, “Yes, Baba.” and I didn’t want anyone else to read All my obstinacy was washed out. I went back to Navsari and I started : the letter.

For months I had to wait, but after taking the ashes. For one month, : some months my disease came back without any hope, Ijust took them. in a small form, and I was happy. I Then, to my amazement, I was completely cured. Even my scars vanished. I was so happy to be out of the clutches of the disease that immediately my view ofBabajumped from “great personality” to “God, because only God could have done that. I began to love Baba, and I had much, much respect for Him. I wrote a letter to Baba thanking Him, and He got Chanji to write to me, “Baba is glad to receive your letter, but He says He hasn’t done anything. Your faith and love have done the work.

At that time He might have been aware of my faith and love, but I felt that I had not, at that time, had such faith.

Then, for a few months, I was very happy, very, very happy.

Kaikobad used to come to Baba often, and he wrote to me, telling me about Baba’s moods, how He cracked ajoke and everything. After months, he wrote a letter to me about how happy he was to be with Baba and how could not hide it. My Baba-lover happy Baba appeared, but the last line relatives saw it, understood the story, in the letter was, This time I saw on and said that they would tell Baba. I Baba the disease that you had. That line made me completely upset, so didn’t want that, so I said that I would upset that I could not put my mind on tell Baba and no one should interfere. anything, and the very second I read Then, again, I was waiting and waiting that line I hated myself. I said to to see Baba, and one day Kaikobad’s myself, “If I had not gone to Baba, and letter came, saying that Baba was if I had stuck to my obstinacy this coming to Bombay on His way to Iran.

I immediately dropped everything and wouldn’t have happened, but now it is “

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went to Bombay. Kaikobad saw me and said, “A relapse? We will tell Baba. Again, I said that I would tell Baba and he should not.

The next day we went to Baba for Darshan, and Kaikobad told Baba that the disease had relapsed. Baba ap peared very indifferent, and said, “Try some sulphur. My whole mind was on how to speak to Baba directly about it, but there were too many people, and I was too shy.

After Darshan, we left.

That same day, at four o’clock, feeling inspired, I went the few blocks from Kaikobad’s house to where Baba was staying. Baba was sitting with 25 or 30 boys, playing caroms. He gestured, “Why did you come? You were already here in the morning. So I said, “Yes, Baba, I came.”

He said “OK, sit down. Do you know how to play caroms?” Isaid, “No, Baba. Then He said, “why did you come, then?

Is there anything to say?’

I said, “Yes, Baba. “Then say it now, He said. “No, Baba, I said, “I want to talk to You privately. He beckoned Chanji to come to the inner room with the alphabet board. I then said, forcefully, “I have nothing to hear from you Baba, I have things to say.

And I don’t want Chanji, either!”

Baba took the alphabet board and called me. He was sitting on a couch, spinning His board. He asked me, Say what you want to say.”

I said everything, and stopped. He said, “Are you mad? You are mad.

Who could do that? Who could take anybody’s disease on their person?” I said, “Baba, any ordinary human being could not, but God can and You are God. He said, You are stark mad. I didn’t say anything. He said, “Let it be as it is now. I said, “Baba, “

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You know my plight. I cannot be happy at all until You just give it back to me. He didn’t say anything right away. “Then what to do?” He asked.

“That is up to You, I said. Then He said, “I have one result. Would you like it?” I said, “How do I know Baba?

What is it?” He said, “Neither you nor I would suffer. Would you like it?” I said, “Yes, Baba, I would like it very much. I liked it, but I felt that Baba was getting rid of me, like getting rid of an obstinate child by promising it a piece of chocolate. So I said, “Baba I like it but it doesn’t appeal to me here, and I pointed to my heart. He said, Give your hand to me, and slapped my hand in the gesture for a promise. He looked at me and said, Is it all right now? I felt that it would be OK. I knew that He would keep the promise, but still I said, “Now Baba, stick to that please, OK?” Baba said, “Didn’t I promise you?” Then He clapped, called all the boys into the room and Baba asked them, “Have you. ever seen a mad woman?” They said, No, and Baba pointed to me and said, See, she is stark mad. I laughed over that for months. I was completely cured, and have remained cured up till now.

I came to live with Baba permanently in 1936. One day He asked me, “How long did you suffer with that disease?” I said, 14 years. Baba said, •.: 1 4 years? That is the time-honored period for a penance. And suffering is very good. It brought you to me.

Then He asked me all sorts of queslions about the medical procedures and asked, “Why didn’t the doctors cure you?” “I don’t know, Baba,” I said Then He said Science is ad vancing by leaps and bounds, but what did they accomplish? It was my key to draw you to me. That’s why they didn’t cure you. Now you are with Me, so be happy. He did this because this mulish person would not have come, perhaps, but here I am.

What Could Mansari Reply?

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by Bal Natu outside in the grass that had grown happened that in October, around.

1949, before Baba set out for Exhausted she lay down on her His New Life, He visited Upper bed and fell asleep. But about 2:00 Meherabad. During the few hours that am. she woke to see Baba sitting at He was there, He conveyed to the end of her bed. He was intently Mansari, “Wherever I may go (physi looking at her throat, but not at her cally) I am definitely here (on the Hill) face. She wanted to speak to Him but always. Remember this well. He also found that she could not. From then gave her some staves and told her that until 5 :00 am. she saw Baba at the she should use them to break the head foot of her bed each time she woke of “anyone” who came at night. up. She even rubbed her eyes to make Mansari replied, “When you are here, sure that she wasn’t dreaming, but who would dare to come? Baba did Baba’s expression and position did not not answer, but simply repeated the change. In the end she saw His figure instruction.

Ten months later Mansari was : slowly fade away.

For the next eleven nights a staying in the outer part of the “cage strange thing happened: each night room” on Meherabad Hill. One day in she would come across another cobra August, 1950, when she was going into of the same size, perhaps the mate of her room she had a strange feeling the one that was killed. It seemed to that someone was inside. After enterMansari that the snake was seeking ing she checked the inner and outer revenge. This frightened her to such rooms with her small lantern. Finding an extent that on the twelfth day she nothing she went to bed. About stood before Baba’s picture and midnight, however, she was disturbed sincerely prayed to Him, “Baba, it is in her sleep by the feeling that sometoo much for me to bear any longer. thing was at the base of her neck— something cold and soft like a piece of : Either the cobra should kill me or I should beat it to death. To Mansari’s rubber. Half awake she brushed it surprise, from that day onward the aside and went back to sleep. mate did not appear again. later she A little woke up with the Mansari told Baba the entire story same feeling. She got out of bed ; after the completion of His in detail thinking that there was a gecko (a He asked her if anyNew life when small lizard) in her blanket. When she had happened to her thing special shook it out something dropped to the she finished, When during that time. floor. She lit the lantern and found Are convinced you Baba gestured, that it was a small cobra! about earlier now of what I told you Frightened, she went inside and got my being here always?” What could a short stick from the firewood and Mansari reply? Her facial expression started beating the cobra, but the portrayed that she was more than snake eluded her attack and began to convinced. climb up her cot. Mansari had totally forgotten about the long staves Baba Glimpses ofthe God-Man, had given her, and with that short pp. 145-146 ©1982AMBPPCT stick her frantic chase continued. At last she killed the cobra and threw it

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When I was two, and actually I don’t remember it, but it has been told and retold to me, especially by Mansari, so that I feel as though I I remember it.

I would often play with Mansari in her kitchen, where we would make “tea” with my plastic tea set and play imaginary games. There is a photograph from this time showing Mansari and me facing each othei, over my plastic tea set.

Mansari has a very interested expression on her face, eyebrows raised over her round spectacles.

I’m wearing a green dress and my

by Sophie Ernst

arms are sheathed in plastic bangles, making me look like a little Indian child.

As the story goes, one day Mansari and I were playing house. I was the mother and Mansari was the rebellious, recalcitrant daughter. Busy in the kitchen, I gave Mansari her meal.

Holding up the plastic bowl, probably filled with water, Mansari asked in a child-like voice, “What is this?” I replied, “Pig chutney!”

“Oh Baba! Mansari exclaimed and collapsed into a fit of giggles, “No, no Mother, I don’t like pig chutney! Don’t make me eat it!”

Over the years, whenever I re turned to Meherabad, Mansari would “

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remind me of the pig chutney, always laughing and slapping her leg as she rocked back and forth in her chair. Often she would re enact her part in the scenario, refusing again to eat the wonderful pig chutney.

One year I bought ajar of jam in the bazaar, soaked off the label and made a new label, declaring thejam “PIG CHUTNEY.” I pre sented it to Mansari, who laughed and laughed. This time she ate the pig chutney. I continued to give herjars of pseudo pig chutney every time I was at Meherabad, and it became our little joke.

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Mansari in the Earlier Years

by Judy Ernst

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was October, 1 972. At that time, just about the only things growing at Meherabad were the trees lining the path up the hill, and the bougainvilla growing next to the tomb. It was a barren landscape, made beautiful by the play of light off the spare lines of earth and stone and the changing patterns of clouds in a huge expanse of blue sky. Surprising the eye in the midst of this natural simplicity was a small building with a white-domed top, and a large struc ture topped with a tower. That is what greeted the eye of the visitor to Meherabad in the early ‘70s. Just as the visual landscape had such a powerful impact on the eye, the tomb had a profound impact on the soul.

But there was a third element at that time which added to this mix of impressions—the presence of a small, elderly woman who lived on the hill.

Mansari’s presence as a resident caretaker on the hill was so much a part of the experience back then that it is impossible to remember being a pilgrim in the ‘70s without having a vivid memory of her.

Now that Meherabad is “flourishing,” as its name promised, it is hard to remember how stark it was in the early ‘70s. While Meherazad conveyed to us the gentle sweetness of Baba’s residence, Meherabad reminded us that much of Baba’s life was spent working in harsh conditions, with the mandali living under a strict regimen.

Mansari, at upper Meherabad, and Padri, at lower Meherabad, embodied for us that discipline. Early in the morning, Mansari would arrive at the

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show up, having carried water up the hill, and they would chat together in Marathi, with Mansari providing a partial translation.

While Mansari was a living re minder of Baba’s work at Meherabad, she was more than that to us. She was also the kindly grandmother who thought we were all a bit crazy, but nevertheless took us into her heart as Mansari was also the kindly “Baba’s Kids. Most of us at that time JandflotheF who thought we were so alienated from life and so were all a bit crazy. but desperately looking for something nevertheless took us into her real; imagine our delight to sit with heart as Baba s Kids tiny, elderly Indian woman as she this $‘ served us tea and treats, with birds “d’ hopping on the floor and flying around her kitchen, and told us stories about fully place the morning’s flowers after arti. At night, as it became dark, she the Avatar of the Age. To sit with Mansari and talk about Baba was like would arrive at the tomb with a experiencing the essence of lantern (before electricity arrived), Meherabad—feeling a light-hearted joy motioning us to go in when it was time for evening arti to begin. After in the presence of the Avatar, but always underscored by the gravity of arti she enjoyed sitting as people sang His work and power. Always ready songs to Baba, or perhaps told a story. with a joke or funny story, she was Sometimes the mood would be somber, sometimes we would all sit just as quick to bring the conversation and giggle for half an hour. She had a : back to its serious side, conveying her strict, but simple schedule, which unending awe at the miracle of the included fasting one day a week, but Avatar’s incarnation as Meher Baba.

When I got back home to Oregon in she always would have tea for us at 3:00 in the afternoon and allow time the spring of 1973, after my first trip, I for chatting. Her day seemed to be sent Mansari a postcard, a beautiful Oregon river landscape, with an filled with chores, and those who inscription which read, “The Perfect happened to wander over by her kitchen would often be brought into a Place. A while later I got the card back with a letter from Mansari. She chore—perhaps being shown how had pasted a little photo of Baba in the they used to grind grain on the stone grinding wheel across from her house, sky, and written, “Now it is the Perfect Place!” or allowed to help make the chalk designs around Baba’s gadi before holidays. Her servant, Deo, would

tomb, often with a scarf around her head against the chill of the morning, opening the tomb with a big key. She would supervise the cleaning of the tomb in the morning, designating which of us would help with which task, and allowing one of us to care-

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Postings from the Internet by James Cox Thursday, September 4, 1996 Yesterday morning Mansari took the long walk to the Samadhi, first time in months (climbing Mt. Everest, as she puts it) She wanted to see the preparations for Mani’s interment, and perhaps where her own ashes will finally also get parked. I think it may have been the first time she has seen Mehera’s finished tomb, and those of the other four women mandali to Mehera’s right.

Mani’s crypt is ready, it has been beautifully painted on the inside with a floral motif over a pink ground, and the final preparations are being made for the 8th. The crypt is small, about 9” x 9” x 1 2, and we joked with Mansari that hers would be much

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smaller, because she is so small. She laughed and pointed to an upsidedown gamela, and said, That much is enough for me. Mansari’s hearing and energy continue to improve since her heart attack about 1 8 months ago, and it has been reallyjoyful to see her bounce back.

Later on in her room, she talked about how she had come to stay with Baba in 1938, how He had told her to stay on Meherabad Hill, and not even come to Meherazad unless He called her. When He called, she would walk the distance in her slippers, and come back the same day. She told about how, sometimes, when Baba didn’t call her, she would cry, and when Baba “

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Mansari with a Shirin and Betty Lc

would see her, He would ask, What is this? Only women cry. These are just glass beads. The ones you hold inside become the real pearls.”

And she also told a story about her uncle Sorabji, the writer in her family that first came into contact with Baba.

She said there were many, many pictures of Baba on Sorabji’s wall, and sometimes, to tease him, they would say, Uncle, here are a couple of empty inches, can’t you squeeze in another one?”

And Sorabji would tell them with a smile, “Children, you laugh, but one day, you will also know.” “

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ansari’s pyre was down to a few coals this morning when I left Meherabad for Pune, and there were half a dozen people sitting around the ghat, talking in the crisp morning air. The smoke had been bluish, like Mani’s.

Yesterday her rosecovered body was carried out of her room at about 3:30p.m., when the Meherazad mandali arrived, and was placed next to Baba’s Gadi, the reclining chair on which He used to sit outside her room under the tin shed. Arti was performed, and various people sang, taking turns paying their last respects. At about 4:30 p.m. she was carried down the hill on a stretcher, and the serpentine line of His lovers followed behind for half a kilometer, dozens of old and new friends taking turns carrying the stretcher shoulder high as the proces sion slowly made it’s way to the cremation ground below.

We brought over 2,000 roses, and they were placed throughout the wood, the fire being lit about 5 p.m., just as two carloads of Mansari’s friends and relatives arrived from Bombay. As usual, songs were sung as the flames leaped through the babul and roses, and the atmosphere was light and happy. Mansari died on Dhuni day, so yesterday there were two fires into the night.

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This morning Jal Dastoor rode with me to Pune, and he told me that she once mentioned to him that all of the women staying with Baba loved Him so much that there was quite a bit of jealousy and vying for Baba’s attention. And on occasion they would do things to each other out of that jealousy; Mansari confessed that she herself had been one of them.

One of Mansari’s favourite things was to ask if we had ever tried toddy, the somewhat-fermented juice from a type of coconut palm found in India. Baba’s father had sold toddy in his Pune shop, and Baba had also worked there in his early years.

Mansari was fond of telling about picnics in Navsari when she was a girl. where they would go bumping in a bullock cart, eat open-fire fried fish, and drink toddy for an outing. She would mimic the jarring motion of the bullock cart, and tell us what we were missing. I assured her that one day I actually would get some toddy and try it. Well, until now, despite travelling around India for 25 years, I had never tasted toddy, but tonight, sitting in my friend’s flat in Pune, someone has given me a bottle, and I’m finally drinking it, sort of a final goodbye to Mansari, as I write this last account of her friendship. . .

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Beloved Baba’s Jane

Cables from India

by Adele Wolkin

Our deep loss is dear Jane’s deep gain, for she has reached the Goal. What a life, what a journey, to have walked with confident stride ever holding tight the hand of Avatar Meher Baba, the Lord of Love!

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Thank you Jane

Avatar Meher Baba ki Jal —Meherazad men and women mandali Bhau and Khorshed

by Kaye Panicke

To Board of Directors Meher Spiritual Center

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Meherazad mandali salute dearest Jane and her life of wholehearted love, dedication, t’ service and surrender to Beloved Avatar Meher Baba, her precious Lord and Master. Faithful cornpanion to dear Elikit and a pillar of Baba 5 Home in the West Jane shone as one of the bright stars in Meher Babas Western sky In her thirty years of love and care for Meher Spiritual Genter Baba Lovers and the surrounding cammurntysbe touched countless hearts offles with her graciousness ;aIärm and warmth Above all herexample of one who gave her all for Baba should remain an inspiration to all those who serve at His Center Our hearts go out to dear Wendy Charles John Diane and all her family who have been so united with her in Baba s Love as well as to her wider Baba family

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I went to Myrtle Beach yesterday as I had heard that sometimes people were being allowed in to say goodbye to Jane; however, there was a sign on the door posted by the family saying that there would be no visitors on Thursday. So I simply stood outside several yards away for a very long time in the brilliant sunshine and crisp air waiting to feel connected to dearest Jane. I would say that Baba’s Presence was palpable and that the entire atmosphere felt very natural and beautiful with the birds and bright green shrubbery. My sadness at losing Jane seemed to dissipate in the whisperings that her leaving to go to Him for the ultimate life and healing was not awful but wonderful. Thank you Baba and thank you Jane for a life lived in the utmost desire to do His will and show His love. His Hand has always been on you.

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urely Avatar Meher Baba’s Nazar is fixed on His Jane Barry Haynes throughout her illness and passing, in her home in the Meher Spiritual Center.

We rejoice with her, as we recall that it is now 1997, and forty years ago, in 1957, Jane made her first visit to the Center as a visitor with the actress friend who first inspired her interest in Baba. Soon after the death of Norma Matchabelli in 1957, Eliza beth Patterson’s closest associate and valued friend in service to Baba, Jane gradually took on the role of a most faithful co-worker to both Elizabeth and Kitty. It was after Elizabeth’s demise, in December of 1980, that Jane began serving as the president of Meher Center. She served for fourteen years until her resignation in Decem ber of 1994. Since that time she has been designated as President Emeri tus.

Following is a wire sent on 21 February 1996: Beloved Baba s Jane, How close you are to the Beloved!

How uniquely beautifulyour discipleship in Him andyour closeness to Mani! He is indeed carrying us on His Back when we seem to be at a standstill! Our Beloved always is the remedy for all our ills, as you know better than most. Our sincerest loving prayers in our Beloved God-Man Christ.

—Adele Wolkin and the L.A. Baba Group

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“Baba Wants to See 1iou

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by Jane Haynes Monday, May 19, 1958 We had been told that no one was many letters from Elizabeth about to come to the Center on that first Jane—and His beautiful eyes twinkled day. Early in the morning the tele as He teased her. Elizabeth mentioned phone rang in Happy House. Elizabeth an ailment of mine and asked if there said, Meher Baba wants to see you. I should be an operation. “Not now,” protested, in my ignorance, “But I Baba said. “Not at this time.” have to post bond for my theatre” (we Then He asked, Have you eaten, were to open in four weeks’ time).

Jane? With a sweet smile He turned Elizabeth said quietly, “When Baba to me. I felt myself blushing because calls, Jane, that is the time to come.” all the way up to the Center I had Something in her voice penetrated to been thinking, “I expect the food will my inner being. I went directly to the be very good—Elizabeth said it is Center. (Baba had said that the being catered by Mrs. Houston at the children were to go to school as Driftwood! Though I was veiled, I usual.) I entered the Lagoon Cabin knew even then that He knew my with Elizabeth. There I saw Meher every thought.

Baba seated, wearing a white garment I was seated in the Original and a lovely pinkjacket. There were Kitchen only a few moments when impressions of stillness, beauty, and Kitty came running in to say, “Baba peace. Baba gestured for me to sit asks you to come and be beside Him beside Him. when the New York group arrives.”

I Suddenly, to my surprise, I heard Upon reaching the Lagoon Cabin, myself saying, “You look so well. They Baba gestured for me to sit close told me that You have not been well.” beside Him. I did so, and watched as Baba was silent; He looked past me the people approached Him. Some and then gestured with His beautiful were smiling, some wept, some knelt hands (and Adi, His disciple, spoke), before Him—each one received a “No one, no one, no one understands : tender embrace.

My suffering. There was sadness in A black youngish woman came His eyes. forward. I recognized her as someone In a little while, Baba seeing me I had seen at FredElla’s [Fred and Ella look with wonder at Him, said, “Do ; Winterfeldt] in New York. Her name, I not look at this form, Jane. This is not learned later, was Beryl Williams.

Baba. And then, How long does Jane When Baba embraced her, He put her stay, Elizabeth?” She replied, “Only face on one side of His own in a tender half of your stay Baba, due to the gesture. Then He placed her face on theatre opening. (Of course as it the other side of His own, and He turned out, I was to stay until the last ; turned His head and glanced at me. A moment.) gentle glance, but also a deep and Beloved Baba then said to me, “Do penetrating gaze. It seemed to me the not think of the theatre while you are first time that He had held my eyes in here. Think only of Me. I will see to that direct way. That was all. Yet I it. He then said that He had had so know now that at that moment “

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Beloved Baba lifted my ignorance and my prejudice. Black people had been close to me in growing up in the South, but in the role of servants. In time to come I was to have dear Beryl as my dear and loving friend—to feel a oneness with her that can only be a spiritual bond placed by Baba. He was to propel me years later into service work with His black children and families. But on this first day, I simply felt the sweetness of His Glance.

At the close of the time with the New York lovers, we were alone with Him. Baba asked His Elizabeth. “What is Jane thinking?” She replied,”I do not know, Baba, but she has not taken her eyes from You. Beloved Baba asked for the children—He had said that they were to remain in their school classes; I told Him that, and He nodded, and said that He would call them. He looked so very beautiful. It is not possible to say in words. One knew, even when veiled from His Glory, that never had there been a Being like this One. One was at ease; time simply dissolved. There was only this moment—this Now. His Beauty was inexpressible, and the peace in one’s heart indescribable. Yet I was still to discoverjust who Meher Baba really is.

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Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai!

Excerpted from the journals of Jane Barry Haynes, Letters ofLove for Meher Baba, the Ancient One, edited by Jane Barry Haynes (MyrtieBeach: EliNor Publications, forthcoming 1997), copyright 1 997 by EliNor Publications Used by Permission.

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Archives and Museum Project Circular No. 2 by Meheru R. Irani Bhau Kaichuri

In this second circular from the Trust’s Archives and Museum Commit-

and the members of the

tee we greet you all, Baba’s dear ones

Avatar Meher Baba Trust Archives and Museum Committee

of East and West: Jai Beloved Meher Baba!

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hrough a continuing series of circulars we plan to update you on the progress of the project first described in our ciycular sent out in May 1 996 and published in many Baba newsletters.

Since then our hearts and attention were turned to the care of our dearest Mani. Though we rejoice in her Reunion with her Beloved Lord and brother and in her triumph of a life led totally for Him, we greatly miss her companionship, her humour and her wisdom. We feel fortunate that this endeavour to preserve and share the precious items connected with Beloved Baba was initiated and devel oped under her personal guidance.

During the time of her illness we felt our minds greatly distanced from all other work at hand. But Mani’s last letter dictated as Chairman of the Trust, at such a delicate time in her health, concerned this project and showed us more clearly than anything else could how strong her dedication was to Baba’s cause and how signifi cant this work.

The final design for the Conserva tion Building at Meherabad, as per floor plans [shown on page following this article] is now complete and has

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been approved by the Conservation Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. USA; the detailed working drawings are finished; and the Trust is ready to invite tenders and select a building contractor.

The design of the approximately 5,000 sq. ft. two storey brick building is based on the principle of a thermos bottle, or a ‘box within a box’ which minimizes changes in temperature and humidity without using airconditioning. The storage and work rooms are all surrounded by an insulating corridor, and the roof is double-layered, which separates these important areas from the building exterior, so as to protect the precious collection from the extremes of our harsh climate. The corridor also contains the main utility ducts and pipes for safer operation and servic ing.

The lower floor, which is more protected, has a large storage room for the most fragile items, with an adjoining treatment room. Maintenance rooms are also on this floor. The upper floor has another large storage room, a smaller one for films, video and audio ,

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tapes, treatment rooms and offices, including a central computer room. In the entrance area are meeting and maintenance rooms, a receiving area and a visitor area. There is one main entrance, with two additional fire escape exits. A staircase and service elevator provide access between the two floors. The attractive design of the building’s exterior has been given detailed attention to ensure that it harmonizes and blends with the surrounding landscape.

To achieve the best conditions possible for the preservation and cataloguing of Baba’s precious belongings, as well as the numerous docu ments, photos and films associated with His life, special care has been given to incorporate archive and museum standards in all aspects of the building’s design and construction.

This not only includes the building materials used, but all the necessary specifications for security, lighting, dust and pest control, fire and flood prevention, and stabilization of temperature and humidity. The building is designed to carry a much greater load per square foot than usual, since cupboards containing

Photo is of a model representing the new facilities

papers are very heavy. This will also construction costs of Rs. 85 lakhs ensure that the building will be (approximately US $240,000) and sufficiently flexible to meet changing because of this we are forced to delay needs in the future. These standards breaking ground. It is imperative that substantially increase the cost of the construction should start as soon as building, but they are intended to possible, not only so that precious protect the precious items housed Baba-articles be better housed, but within for as long a time as possible. also because of spiraling costs of both Since the last circular some Baba labour and materials here. lovers, concerned about the future The concerted help of Baba lovers safety of Baba treasures in their all over the world is urgently needed keeping, have asked if they can send now for this tremendous undertaking. them here or bequeath them in their It is only with your full support and wills. This building will not only be a help that this project can be com facility for caring for the existing Trust pleted. As we said in our first circular, collection, but provision has been “Baba’s world-wide family has the made to accommodate Baba treasures opportunity to participate in this from those who feel prompted to give effort in a significant way through or leave them to the Trust for safedonations. Donations are in a real guarding and sharing with future sense the bricks and mortar that will : shelter this precious legacy for the generations.

This is the time when funds are future.” essential to start construction of the It is, however, vitally important Conservation Building. We send our that this project not diminish regular loving appreciation to those of you Trust funds as these are needed as who have responded to our first letter always for the running of the Trust by sending donations. So far donations Estate and its other activities. We ask for this project, so close to the heart that your special donations for the of Meherabad and the Baba world, Conservation Building be identified as have provided only a small part of such and that these donations be what is necessary to meet projected given without affecting any regular .

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donations that you might already be giving.

Whatever you can afford to give, whether much or little, will be most welcome and your deep desire to help much appreciated. Cheques or bank drafts for this special project may be sent directly to the Trust, made out to “Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, with a covering note specifying that it be used for “the Corpus for the Archival and Museum Building and Facilities.”

This is a Baba-given opportunity in which one and all are encouraged to participate. Only with all of you joining in and helping to whatever extent you can, according to your : situation, will we be able to fulfill this momentous work in the service of the Avatar of the Age. “

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Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai! Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust Post Bag No. 3 1 King’s Road Ahmednagar 4 1 4 001 M.S., India ,

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please note: the ground floor plan has not been reproduced here due to lack of space; please feel free to call us if you would like to see a copy. —ed.

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Special Guests Travel to Meherabad to Help Plan Conservation Building

by Dot Lesnik

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tremendous amount of research and effort by many individuals has gone into the planning of the Conservation Building at Meherabad. One event in particular that was a major contribu tion to the project is told by the wonderful story of how Vince Wilcox and Joan Bacharach traveled to India to offer their help.

Vince Wilcox is the Director of the Museum Support Center of the Smithsonian Institution, the halfmillion square-foot storage facility for the many Smithsonian Museum collections. I first met him during a trip to Washington DC with Sheila Krynski in the spring of 1995. Our trip was sponsored by Sheriar Foundation for the purpose of learning more about archive preservation work through meetings with experts at various museums and archives. Because of my involvement with archive preservation for the past few years, I had spoken with Vince several times on the phone and was looking forward to finally meeting him.

During a morning spent at the Museum Support Center, we not only had an in-depth tour of this extraordi nary facility, but learned a great deal about Vince’s approach and his attitude towards the work of collec tions management. He shared with us his background and experience with

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It twly astonished cveone involved that this knowl edgeable pair of experts would take time away from their busy professional schedules get on a plane andgo hf way around the world to a ,lace thefd never been in order to help a small group ofpeople

Native American collections, expressing his belief that the spiritual aspects of a collection can be accommodated and enhanced when designing a place to house them. His view that preserv ing the feeling of things is as impor tant as preserving the things themselves was our first intimation that Vince had a special connection to the preservation of items associated withY Meher Baba. He responded very enthusiastically when we described the efforts being made in India to protect and preserve Meher Baba’s precious belongings When hearing that plans to construct an archive storage building there had just begun, he said straight away that he’d be most happy to advise and help in any way he could.

So began the exciting long-distance dialogue between Vince Wilcox and Ted Judson—the building’s architect at herabad—duriflg which designs, drawings and questions were sent back and forth via FAX and e-mail for review and comment. At some point in this process, it became clear that for Vince to understand more about the storage requirements of the collection in India it was vital that he see the site, and acquire first-hand information about the collection itself and the environmental conditions in that part of India. A visit to India would also allow him to meet in

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O3@tc person with the Archive and Museum Committee—Bhau, Meheru, Merwan and Falu— who were embarking on the immense task of trying to preserve for posterity, as well as for contempo rary humanity, the personal articles and records associated with Meher Baba’s life and advent.

The invitation was offered and accepted. After a whirlwind of planning and orientation, Vince’s trip was scheduled to coincide with mine in August of 1 995 Within a year of our first conversations, much to his astonishment and delight, he was on his way to India with his wife, Joan Bacharach. She is the Museum Registrar for the National Park Ser vice, which is responsible for millions of cultural objects, natural history collections, and archival collections at over 300 museum sites in this coun try. Because of her own extensive experience with the maintenance of collections, it was wonderful that she was accompanying Vince to help with the building project at Meherabad.

It’s hard to describe the collective excitement and anticipation as the day of their arrival in Bombay ap proached. It truly astonished everyone involved that this knowledgeable pair of experts would take time away from their busy professional schedules, get on a plane, and go half way around the world to a place they’d never been in order to help a small group of people, most of whom they had never met before.

Their first two days in India were pleasantly spent resting, getting acclimated, and becoming acquainted with the place and the people they had come so far to assist. What followed during the next two weeks was nothing short of remarkable.

There were daily work sessions, in which the committee and others involved were guided by Vince and Joan through the intense and detailed process of finalizing a design for the Conservation Building. Much of this concerned determining the size and usage of the different rooms that were to be included. It also involved learning more about the optimum condi .

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tions required for the preservation of items to be housed within the building. [Climate control and some of the other important issues that were discussed are described in the Archive and Museum Committee’s Circular No. 2, preceding this article.]

Vince and Joan focused a lot of attention on the principles of stabili

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narily thorough. They thought that the collections were in very good condition, and that the committee had : been doing the right thing and should continue with the kind of care they’d been giving.

Although the focus of their visit was work, Vince and Joan had time for fun as well: listening to Eruch tell Baba stories in Mandali Hall, chatting with Mansari in her kitchen, excur sions into the bazaar and neighboring villages, and a trip to the Ajanta and Ellora caves. One of the highlights was a memorable last night in Bombay before their departure, amidst the lights and noisy festivities of the Ganesh festival—quite a spectacular send-off! In every detail of their visit, there was a truly pervasive feeling of Baba personally hosting these two very special first-time guests to His home. Most poignant and touching was their response to the people they met—Mani and all the other Mandali in particular—and their enjoyment of and receptiveness towards everything new they encountered at Meherabad and Meherazad.

When asked about their time in India, Vince and Joan still find it hard BabasSandals to put their feelings into words. They can only say that it was perhaps the most profound experience they have ever had. The love they felt at zation, providing support, preventing Meherabad and Meherazad is still damage, and protecting objects, and fresh and alive, and although they do : not consider themselves to be followexplained how these goals could be : ers of Meher Baba, He has clearly incorporated into the features of the structure itself. They showed the touched their hearts. committee how to take their own Vince and Joan continue an active intuitive ideas about the care of this interest and involvement with the unique collection and translate them archive work in India. They gener into a building. ously contribute professional advice on a variety of archive and preserva The work sessions were quite animated and inspired, with support tion topics, as well as offer ongoing and encouragement being given by assistance with the building project at Vince and Joan at every step of the every phase of its development. Their help has been invaluable and is greatly way. They had a genuine and immedi appreciated. Their gracious response ate ease with everyone, and a deep respect and appreciation for how close is that it has been a real pleasure for this project was to the hearts of all them and an opportunity they trea involved. In commenting on the care sure. of Baba treasures they were shown, they said they felt that the preserva tion efforts so far had been extraordi :

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The Single-most Important Work We Can Do Right Now

by Dma Snow

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his never-before-seen and not-likely-to-be-seen-again photo of the Mandali first sprang from the fertile fund-raising brain of Wendy Ward. She suggested I ask the Mandali to pose for the photo so that we could use it as a fund-raiser for our new center. They all very graciously acceded to my request, so two days before I left India (October 1 996) I took the photo, had it devel oped at the one-hour photo shop (in Ahmednagar! Can you believe it?), then took it back to Meherazad and ,

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prevailed upon them all to sign it.

Back in L.A. I had it framed, and at our auction it went for $1,100!

Then the idea came to also use it to help raise funds for the Archive building, which has become a priority for the Trust—Meheru tells us it is the single-most important Baba work we can do right now. I ran our idea by Meheru and Bhau to see if they would mind our method of raising money.

They said if the LampPost can manage it, and inspire people all over the world to give to the Archive project,

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then we could go ahead with it.

So before framing the photo with all the signatures, I had a photo taken of it for sale to you all. Remember there is but one original and you are buying the copy. We feel an affordable donation is $25 After covering the cost of the photo and mailing expense, $20 of each and every sale will go to the Trust to help with the Archive project. Orders will he handled through the Love Street Book Store, and you’ll find our address and phone number on the title page. .

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A Sweet Responsibility; A Special Privilege

by Nancy Wall

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hen I heard of the plan to build an archival and conservation building in Meherabad, I was delighted. Those of us who have come to love Meher Baba during the past few decades have had an opportunity to see many of the precious items that He used or wore—in the museum in upper Meherabad, in Bab&s house in Myrtle Beach, at His room in Poona. Some of us have been given a hair of Baba’s or a photo He touched. And all of us who have visited Meherabad and Meherazad have had the tremen dous gift of getting to know Baba’s close mandali. But sometimes I thought about the throngs of people who will come to love Baba in the future, when the mandali are no longer physically present, and wondered how the treasures would be preserved so that they would be available for these later lovers to see.

This is the first Avataric Advent in which technology makes it possible to preserve all the price-

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less items connected with the Avatar.

The process of preserving Baba’s belongings began long before experts in conservation were called in to help, starting with the extreme care Mehera and the other mandali took in the storing of everything connected with Baba. I was particularly touched to hear that Mehera had, intuitively, done everything correctly from an archival standpoint in her careful packing away of Baba’s clothing. This news surprised me for only a moment, though. Of course Mehera, who lived onlyto please her Beloved Baba, would have known exactly what to do.

Now all these precious items can be more fully protected, safe in a

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building immune to the effects of extreme ternperatures, fluctu ating humidity, and abundant insect life.

And all of us who have enjoyed so much of what Mani called “the tangible connection to His physi cal Advent” now have an opportu nity to help make the archival and conservation building become a reality in the near future, ensuring that tangible connection for generations to come. I see my role in this effort as both a sweet responsibility and a very special privilege.

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A note from our Trust-walli

by Lynne Berry you’ve been thinking that sometime you’d like to make a love-donation to the Trust, today may be the perfect time.

The Avatar Meher Baba Trust runs a first-rate school, provides medical care for villagers and maintains Baba’s tomb-shrine and Trust properties.

There are also beneficiaries of the Trust whose living expenses are covered by donations from Baba-lovers. All of these worthy projects were specified by Baba Himself, in the Trust Deed.

Many of the Trust’s charitable projects and outreach projects are carried out by Eastern and Western volunteers. Some projects, however, require the assistance of paid Indian workers, and as India raises its standard of living, the cost of materials and labor is on the rise also.

Now this new opportunity presents itself. Lovedonations are also need for the exciting new project that involves the preservation of articles used and touched by Baba—the precious treasures that mean so much to all of us. Contributions for the archives project will have long-lasting value indeed!

If this type of service appeals to you, please make your check payable to “Friends of Meher Baba Trust, and send it to:

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Our dear Adele Wolkin

Share in the Treasure

by Adele Wolkin Grow old along with me!

The bestisyet to be.

The last of life for which the first was made Youth shows but half; trust God, see all, nor be afraid.

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—Robert Browning j\n idea was born with the repeated echoing within me of these lines I feel an inner need to open up an evening each week, or every other week, at my home, for a joyful sharing of letters, cables and other less-known or not-known writings, messages and beautiful photos of Baba, many touched by the Avatar.

Please write and/or phone me when you have a free evening or afternoon for generally two hours—any day of the week, even weekends. Please give your suggested time in advance of course—a week or several days ahead.

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JaiBaba!

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Lynne Berry 267 Hanover Dr. Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Please note what port’ion of your donation is for the Trust, and/or for Archives. Jai Baba. .

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Adele Wolkin 7 1 4 A South Pacific Coast Hwy Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310 540-8404

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3’® The following has been prepared by the Archives and Museum Committee of the Avatar Meher Baba PP C. Trust, Ahmednagar India, in response to queries:

Tips for Preserving Your Precious Baba Treasures

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uite a number of dear ones from our Baba family have been asking us what they can do t are for the precious items of Beloved Baba’s that have been entrusted to them. An invaluable pointer is this: what is good for people is usually not good for these items.

For instance, while people like light and air, things don’t—light and air damage them and shorten their life. Light and extremes of temperature and humidity are harmful to precious items, as are dust, pollution, mold and pests. Even ordinary handling will cause damage that may not be evident for some years.

So to prolong the life of any Baba treasure that you may possess—such as a sadra, a handkerchief, a strand of Beloved Baba’s hair, a letter or book with His signature, or a photo touched

by Him—you need to find a way of keeping it safe from damage and loss h Crown embroidered for Baba even as you enjoy the fragrance of Baba’s presence that it imparts.

Here are some simple guidelines: . .

Be very conscious of security and Make sure that each treasure has a keep your treasure in a safe place. label that includes the words “Avatar Make sure your close ones know in Meher Baba” In the case of a cloth writing what to do with it if anything item, Baba’s name can be embroidered or written with India ink on a well: should happen to you. If you are uncertain of the continuity of its care washed pure cotton cloth ribbon. This and safety, you can bequeath it to can be very gently tacked on to the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public item in a place where it won’t be seen Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India, if you wish to display it. If this is thus ensuring its availability for impossible, then a tag of a neutral and posterity. durable material can be tied onto the .

Avoid unnecessary handling of item. Otherwise, keep it in a safe treasures. Handling causes microcontainer that is clearly labeled. Don’t scopic damage and leaves chemicals directly embroider or write on the from your skin on them that will item itself, don’t use glue directly on accelerate the aging process. any item, nor permanently attach .

Keep treasures away from sunlight anything to it. .

Be sure to record a brief history of : and artificial light as much as possible.

For example, make sure to cover any the article, since if this history is see-through display case or cabinet forgotten, those who come after you with a dark cloth when it is not being will have no way of knowing the viewed. treasure’s worth. This written history .

Keep precious articles away from should be carefully stored in reference windows and doors where climatic to the treasure.

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changes in temperature and humidity are more extreme. Don’t store your treasures in attics or basements. Bear in mind that artificial lights are sources of heat, and shouldn’t be focused directly on your treasures.

• Be sure articles are safe from dust, pests and polluted air. Particularly at risk from insect attack are wool and : silk items, and Beloved Baba’s hair and nails. The best way to protect your treasure is to keep it in a closed : container, such as a cupboard, trunk, acid-free box, stainless steel or glass container, or specially-made display case. Always line the container with well-washed cotton cloth, acid-free !. tissue paper, or Reemay to provide added support and protection. Be careful with plastic bags—many plastic products contain harmful chemicals that will damage your treasures.

I Acid-free paper and Mylar (which are available from stationers) are the best protection for precious letters and photos. Make sure your framed photos are matted with acid-free cardboard and protected with UV glass. If you have a photo album, make sure it is archivally safe. .

Garments and other cloth items which are folded should be supported inside the creases with archivally safe i padding—polyester batting, wellwashed, unbleached cotton muslin, acid-free tissue paper or Reemay—so that the creases don’t become perma nent. .

Be sure to periodically examine each item carefully to make sure that no unexpected problem has arisen. .

Don’t attempt to wash, clean or restore any treasure yourself. If you feel your treasure needs attention, show it to a museum professional.

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For further guidance on the protection and preservation of your Baba treasures, or for help with any of the above points, you may contact: The Archives and Museum Committee, Avatar Meher Baba Trust, Ahmednagar, India; or Dot Lesnik, 265 Patterson Drive, Briarcliffe Acies, Myrtle Beach SC 29572, USA, tel. (803)272-6868. ,

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Meher’s Wine CD Review by Katherine Wiederhold Mehers Wine Wins Prestigious California “Liquid Poetry” Award for 1997.

A new CD amazed the judges and swept festival awards. The CD is an especial tribute to Mr. Meher Baba, the founding father of this family-owned and -operated Winery.

Mr. Baba and his little sister, Mani Cover of Meher’s Wine S. Irani worked side by side and hand in hand crushing the grapes themselves for this advent’s brew. As the story goes... them From the Wine ofMeher, written Baba’s Song ofthe New Life! Their Age after age, the olden corks are high soprano sincerity and deep bass

by Bhau Kaichuri. A great Brown Bird pulled from the ancient barrels of the named Bob joined the flock with news. obedience from two birds supported Beloved’s heart and creation is re He announced proudly that He Has the solo Ronling with the vow to Stay freshed. New life, renewed hope and Come to Live Within Our Hearts and With God. The Masters could not spirit ignite the inner music of each the Brown Bob Bird was so overjoyed ignore the Beloved Mr. Baba’s lovers. human heart. The Wine Steward he put music to his news for the three They returned the Grand Old Ancient serves His humanity glasses of hot red minstrel birds to sing. And as they One to earth. Mr. Baba’s sister rejoiced lava flowing from His heart. He serves sang, one bird was moved to a gospel that her God-Brother was with her soothing whites as rivers of sweetness theme to pronounce his boyhood love again to squeeze grapes and fly kites from His grace. He serves a pinkish to Mr. Baba, and Yours Alone burst and feed little boy birds on her rosé from the fragrance of His being. : forth. A strange Hafiz bird with huge window sill.

He pours each one a favorite variety of wings like all Glory allowed the gents She took them hand in hand in intoxicant. select to from his hand 50 Poems ofHafiz. up the Hill, where Mr. Baba : One morning eons ago, three With his fledgling friend A.J. Arberry served everyone Fire Water Wine. sparrows turned their faces toward translating into English, the three This jazz-oriented private reserve is God. Their names were Darrell Rupe, mixed voices presented Divine Wine rare. The three only drink it as Fire on David Miotke, and Ron Greenstein.

Worship. Then what happened? Five the Hill.

They sang Mr. Baba’s Ghazal (circa Perfect Master birds flew down to So ends this tale of a CD dedicated 1 922) They did not rehearse and earth. They grabbed up Mr. Baba. to Mr. Baba’s little sister Mani for her their final recording was freshly Such a thing to occur! The three sing timeless love and dedication to His improvisational. Then the sparrows still of The Five Greatest Thieves. cause. When you purchase this CD, turned into owls and sang Baba Hu, a Devastated by the crime, the three Mr. Baba’s Perpetual Trust is strengthQ awali song. Their voices awoke Scott tried to appeal to the Masters by ened.

Makeig, who’s meditative mind taught perfect harmonic blend for their Mr. .

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Step inside...

Love Street Book Store

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by Dma Snow

Jai Baba & Welcome to all of our first-time visitors! I know there are many more of you thanks to the Mani memorial issue that caught so many eyes (and hearts).

Bookstore Tour

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think it is time we took a walk around the store and I point out some of our very best items that are languishing on our shelves due to lack of mention in these pages. When I first tell you about a new item, the re sponse is tremendous. we sell lots and lots. But then there are all the Aother wonderful tapes, books, videos, photos, jewelry, Baba trinkets etc., that unless you are actually in the store and looking at them, you forget, or don’t know about them.

Yes, we still have some of the beautiful Baba calendars for 1997.

They are a little larger than last year, and each date in the life of Meher Baba that has significance is mentioned. The top of the page has a photo of Baba, and the creator of these calendars, Christina Arazmo, has searched hard to find the more unusual, less well-known photos. She has also chosen some wonderful Baba sayings to go along with the photos.

The calendar has been reduced to $5.00, but call me as soon as you read this, because my supply will be very low and there are no more anywhere! [ See title page on how to reach me.]

Ramanujam has done us all a great service in writing a book called Much Love. It is a hardbound 605-page book that I call the Readers Digest of Baba books. The .

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table of contents alone is eight pages long! The book is divided into eight parts: the first, logging in at 273 pages, is a calendar of events in the life of Meher Baba from 25th February 1894 right up to 31st January 1969. Part 3 is all the prayers, part 5 covers all the important messages Baba gave us, part 6 lists all His declarations of Divinity. and so on. Much Love is very readable, and an excellent reference book—a very good value at just $20. book that makes a very beautiful gift, to yourself or a friend who loves either roses or poetry (or both) is called The Poetry ofRoses.

That most accomplished of artists, Carolyn Parker, grew her own roses (I hear her garden is a thing of wondrous beauty) cut them, arranged them, photographed them, chose famous poems to go along with them, designed the layout and dedicated the book to Baba, The Most Perfect Rose of All. We sell this hard-bound coffee-table book that looks like it should cost $35-$40 for only $20. nother art book is of a tale told by the Buddha: The Golden Goose King, retold and illustrated by Judith Ernst. It is 1 1 x 8 ½, hardbound, and beautiful. Judith is a superb artist and excels in Persian miniatures. The very colorful paint.

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ings herein are in the Indian style, many full-page. There is, of course, a moral to the story, and could be read to any of the up and coming Baba babies with full comprehension. In the foreword, Professor of Religious studies at the University of South Carolina, Carl Ernst, tells us that, “When viewed as narratives told by the Buddha, these stories also contain an aura of transcendence, the ‘taste of the dharma. One of the achievements of this version of The Golden Goose King is to transport us not merely into the timeless world of the tale, where the dream of the Queen of Benares leads to an encounter with the lumi nous and spiritual bird; this version also takes us to second-order reflec tion on the tale, as the primordial anticipation in a previous life of the self-sacrificing love of Ananda for the Buddha.”

Published by Parvardigar Press, we sellitfor $20. j\n important book (and one which was unfortunately omitted from our current catalogue) is Listen Humanity. This is a $14

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paperback narrated by Don Stevens from the words of Meher Baba, and for over 40 years it has been a favorite introductory book on the Avatar. It includes a lively narrative of a 4-week sahavas in 1955, and more than 100 pages of messages by Baba. e have tiny little books for $1 each that are a brief overview of the different religions titled Thus Spake Krishna; Mohammad; Buddha; Christ; Zarathustra; and the Vedas. hear drugs, especially LSD, eare making a comeback in campuses across the country. Baba had some very potent words to say in

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she wrote to me, “We just saw the a little book entitled God in a Pill. If video of Mani’s interment. Considering you know someone who might benefit the occasion and the situation— by this, its only $1.50.

Mitchell did a good job. Watching the itchell Rose, a Los Angeleno : video brought it all back. I remember who makes his living in the the singing of a bird—pouring its soul Hollywood film world, was in India out in full-throated abandon of when Mani joined Baba. With the exceptional sweetness. Immediately I Mandali’s permission, he videotaped thought of Mani as tho’ she was telling her interment; this video is now us how happy she was—so free and available for $ 1 4.00. Mitch tried to be unfettered to be with Baba and as unobtrusive as possible in deference to the Mandali’s and family’s : Mehera. The atmosphere of their presence was almost tangible. And the privacy, but you can see and hear the love coming from all gathered there various tributes given to Mani, and the just heightened the feeling of Baba’s order of the ceremonies. We sent a presence.” copy to Meheru and the mandali, and

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many of you have told us you wanted to frame the beautiful color photos of Mani that appeared in our Ocotber memorial issue, but did not want to cut up your magazine.

Well we have solved that problem for you: we had those same eight pages printed exactly as they appeared in the LampPost, but they are printed on one side only, ready for framing. So leave your magazine intact, and buy the complete set of photos for just $10.

could borrow it to have copies made as he knew it was not from Hermes, Meelan or Panday. While reading Gift of God that night, what should I see on page 1 25 but the very same photo. It was taken at Ashiana, the home of Arnavaz and Nariman in Bombay. I asked Arnavaz for permission to copy it and make it available to everyone who wanted it. Yes yes ! she ex claimed, “These photos of our Beloved should be there for everyone who wants one ! It sells for $ 1 2, as do all the other 8x10 and 9x12 photos.

most of the time. The first part was so spot-on for me, I couldn’t believe it!

I’ve had those conversations with myself. This is an absolutely delightful tape, so much fun to have. But more than that. .it is very profound.

What you first laugh at boomerangs back at you and packs a wallop as the truth of it hits. It is steeped in love for Baba. There is also a nicely produced booklet accompanying the tape. “Ah, I don’t need the booklet, you might think! Think again! Eruch was behind Michael all the way, egging him on, “You must write more” says Eruch! The words are so very good they bear Befittrng aforturuite s1âve carry out evenj command oft& 9vtaster reading over again, at your without any question ofwlly or wIat. own pace, as sometimes on the tape they whiz by so About what you hearfrom the 9v(astei iiever sag it is wroiuj, because, my fast there isn’t time for them to sink in. Michael Seal) t&fautt ties iii your own iiicapacitij to unéerstaiut5-&u. has himself a gem here, and I can’t imagine a one of I ant t1e stave oft& !7I?faster wIo ñas reteasedmefrom iqnoraiice. 144atyou who would not enjoy it weT my !7vlaster ifoes is oftite IiipjIest beiieflt to attcoiicem&L and, more than that, get a lot out of it. Buy it! The —9-[afiz tape is $ 1 0 and the booklet $6. wo books that are iht on Running Water is a not about Baba, but New Items collection of poems by Filis definitely belong in a spirituallyAs always, we have several new Frederick. Please see the review later centered library are Dark Night of the items to get excited about. in this issue Soul and The Sermon on the Mount by Wilson. $10.

James heriar Press has released two new audio A Garland —According to Vedanta. I have been tape, of new videos on Mani. These are ; Egos, is asked a tremendous perfor by many to stock them, so a talks given by her, recorded in Sep mance piece words about them are in order. by Michael Da As I few Costa. tember 1989. A delight to see and opened my first mail one The is

by St. John of the Cross day I found a tape hear, Mani talks about Doing All For from Michael.

I had tells in mystical theology, of heard his name and us, His Sake and Accepting His Way. before ten but that was all; I the steps to God. $8 didn’t know Both videos are about 30 minutes what Matchabelli told us that to expect—poetry, singing or Norma each and cost $15.00 apiece. what.

Sermon on the I had no time said Christ’s play it then Baba to so I bought hundreds of it in the very definitely an authen put car and Mount was played it as I black and white photos of Baba said drove Bible.

Many have to work the part of the next morning.

I tic was during my last visit to India, from both and deeper so surprised gained greater to hear what came they a from Meelan and Panday studios. We will be my speakers ! So entranced was I, and understanding of this sermon after featuring them throughout each issue. laughing so delightedly, that I studying the Eastern religions. missed I have only five of each photo, so my freeway exit!

You Vedanta is an ancient Indian philoso could not call when you see one you want, call me this poetry, even that teaches the oneness of life. though it comes with phy right away in case there are eight book, with within a all the words written lies us and, at the same out.

God other people who also want the same But the way Michael time, is everything we see. This speaks the words, photo. The one on the previous page it the aim of all the is every bit is as good, and utterly realization as has not been seen before. I noticed it is Prabhavananda professional, I Swami as have seen on teachings. the for the first time in the Main Hall at is major the cost stages famous actors author; by doing a the $9. the Pune Center. I asked one-man show! A Garland ofEgos is havejust received a new Ramakrishnan about it, and he said he CD from the acclaimed trio basically man having a conversation a wasn’t sure whence it came, but yes, I with his ego, with the ego triumphing of David Miotke, Ron Greenstein and “

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Darrell Lupe entitled Mehers Wine. It offers ten toasts to the Supreme Vintner, Avatar Meher Baba. This all came about, the liner notes tell us, when one July evening near the coast of Northern California, a bevy of the Beloved’s followers gathered together to celebrate their privilege of loving Him. Their meeting held an exciting atmosphere as three minstrel friends of many years recorded their musical offerings live. For those present at this gathering, thejoy, the humor of anecdotes between songs, and the buoyancy of spirit are now precious memories during a time when the Avatar’s beautiful sister was suffering through severe physical illness. It is to Manija Sheriar Irani, sister of humanity and God, that the July meeting and the fruition of it bottled in Mehers Wine is dedicated. [Kathy Wiederhold reviews the CD in this issue.] $15. e are now carrying a perfect reproduction of the three Hafiz quotes which hang in the Baba room adjacent to the Samadhi (the one where the Persian quote is in red, and the English translation is in black underneath) [The English transla tions are in the box on the previous page.] Our reproductions are printed on heavy cardstock, measure 16 x 20 and sell for $10.

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Shipping & Receiving & Giving

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do hope you all got your Christ mas gifts on time. It was a delight to play Santa for many of you, shipping directly to your friends. and then there was the husband and wife who both—unbeknownst to each other—e-mailed me for suggestions for gifts for the other!

I’m more than happy to play that role for you, so any time you want a gift for a Baba lover, just think of The Love Street Bookstore ! Please do allow us about three or four weeks for delivery (even though you may get it in one!) But if you need it for a special occasion, let me know the date by which it has to be there, and we’ll make it happen for you.

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From the inside cover: The original Ego piece was completed in I 979 and had its first reading at Meherazad, India. It was based on Meher Bab&s Dis courses on The Nature of the Ego and its Termination, so it was no wonder that many people identify with it. Eruch Jessawala was convinced it was about him, and he used to frequently play the tape of it in Mandali Hall to unsuspecting pilgrims.

Ego 11—the Sequel demonstrates a clear lack of spiritual progress...

JaiBaba to you all.

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Comments and Reflections

by James Wilson

Book Review: Light on Running Water A Collection of Poems by Filis Frederick Sometimes when I read a poem, a peculiar agitation wells up and I know I’ve started something not unlike an excavation of old ideas, insights, and experiences that I : cherish as self-defining. I get pensive and I block out my surroundings as I explore the poem for the keys to my own locked doors. This creates thirst rather than satisfaction.

The poem awakens memories, flashes a light into forgotten corners of life’s passages; it will even touch those intima cies too personal to express except through art and poetry. Such was my experience in reading Light on Running Water a collection of poems

by Filis Fredrick.

Dedicated to Avatar Meher Baba, these poems are a disciple’s reflection of her Master, an onion-layered manifesto of His presence within her.

But don’t expect to unravel the layers with one reading! Stay with them for a while. The light reflects off running water in ways that mesmerize and fascinate—the deep pools, the shal lows, the rapids, each sparkle with peace or turmoil or beauty in one color at daybreak and another color at sundown. So it is with Filis’s poems.

Her Masters Broken Silence resonates in its unmistakable beauty and truth; we can recognize it like the smell of roses; we can feel His Pres ence in that special way His closeones manifest His touch. .

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Gold lace!

Gold lace Falls over His face. A Gold lace universe.

Perhaps, in a manner of speaking, Illusion is pure grace.

This poem, like all of the poems, resides on a whole page, an appropriate galaxy for its mystery and paradox.

Gold, the alchemy symbol of that which endures and molds to all shapes, is formed into a lace, that which both covers and reveals simultaneously. This gold lace falls over His face. Mystery veiled yet revealed as well. God’s face “hid den” behind a gold-lace universe? Yet is not this illusion the chemistry for His grace and His form?

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Filis’s poems feel spontaneous, like shejust sat down at the breakfast table and jotted one down. They are worthy of many return visits. Her style is clear, not flowery or ornate, rather compact and efficient. One gets the suspi cion that she’s finished with all but the bare essentials so as not to miss the important moments— running water” being a metaphor for life. She has a riddler’s touch with her short poems that say volumes and cannot be pruned of even a single word. For example: “

In the vase of Silence One drop echoes More, more.

There is delight in these playful teasers, so remindful of Filis’s love __f maya, yet they also point to the heart and soul of the Master’s words that speak not to the mind, L to the deep thirst of the disciple’s longing.

The final poem suspends logic and understanding as it exhorts us to shout the final answer to the : very first question, ‘Who am I?” We are but children mouthing the words of the father; however, Filis assures us that we have hope for victory: -

Now boldly sigh God am I God am I— After all, a child’s cry In the distance seems invin cible.

Filis’s book has the glow of Meher Baba. Even the photograph on the cover by Goodwin Harding feels beautifully mysterious and entranc ing. Mary Lloyd Dugan compiled and edited these poems and wove them into segments titled God Man, Universe, Music, Journey, Awakening, and Ocean. The final result, sweetened by tiny illustrations from Will David, is a sumptuous offering of Filis’s discipleship in which she often pointed to the Divine Beloved in His game of knowing and loving.

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by Lynn Maguire

Filis Frederick and her longtime friend, Adele Wolkin, met Meher Baba in Myrtle Beach on Mother’s Day in 1952. Nine years earlier, Baba had caught hold of Filis’s heart when she first heard His name and now it forever belonged to Him. Even her name belonged to Him, for she had always been known as “Phyllis” before He spelled it His way on the alphabet board.

During that first meeting Baba told Filis, Inscribe these words in your heart: nothing is real but God; nothing matters but love for God.” In 1956, while visiting the Coit Tower in San Francisco, Baba turned to Filis and pointed south. Filis soon realized He meant Los Angeles.

In the early ‘60s she found herself in Manhat tan Beach (drawn by the letters “MB. “) working as a designer for Mattel Toys. She ran an ad in a counter-cultural paper, the Hollywood Free Press. It read: “Meher Baba Has A Message For You! She began gathering Baba’s “precious gems. Young people flocked to her door, eager to hear more about the Silent One. She patiently listened to stories of surfers searching for the cosmic wave; hippies looking for gurus; and flower children wanting a place in the universe.

She lovingly accepted us all and became our dear friend.

With her guidance, we opened our first Meher Baba bookstores in Venice and Hermosa Beach, attended the 1 969 Darshan and eventually landed in our present Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California. And through the years, Filis’ Monday night meetings in her home were always a joy.

We loved Fills for her wit, her humor, her artistic talent and her priceless gift of The Awakener magazine. But most of all, it was her love for us and her beautiful love for Meher Baba that touched our hearts.

Baba inspired Fills’ poetry. Her poems sing of His love, humor andjoy. One of Filis’ last re quests was that her poems be published. Maybe it’s no coincidence that her lovely collection of poems, Light On Running Water coincides with the purchase of our new center. Certainly, Filis is very happy.

Jai Baba, “Sweetheart. “

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Meher Baba’s Warnings About the Occult

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An Interview with Arnavaz N. Dadachanji —

by Nancy Wall

Arnavaz Dadachanji

your dear ones. Only beg me to accept you and permit you to lay down your As Baba has said, ‘7Vever beg life for me.” me to save your life or the lives Some fifteen years later this afyour dear ones. Only beg me woman came to my home for Baba’s to acceptyou andpermityou to darshan. She looked so frail and broken that I didn’t even recognize her. She implored Baba to save her.

Arnavaz: It is true that more and Baba very lovingly embraced her, but more Baba lovers have been coming to He told her she had taken upon Gift of a loved Baba God woman who me to ask what they can do to disen practices herself more than she could handle very much, but used occult tangle themselves from various kinds and therefore He couldn’t help her. the life of her husband. to save of occult practices, such as seeking her She would have to suffer the conse guided this woman, Someone gave help from the spirit world or trying to : quences of her actions. This woman to repeat instructions to mantras and develop psychic powers. Many have was suffering at least in part because Her follow. husband’s life was spared, also consulted other people who are of the heavy sanskaric load she was personality changed. but his whole involved in the occult. For instance, a carrying.

So although it is natural that they had Whereas once been very a common practice today is to consult should want to eliminate our own now we talking loving couple, he stopped “healers, people who use psychic suffering or the suffering of those we her and lived stranger in the to like a power to eliminate disease or pain. At of pain through love, the elimination she herself house.

And could stop not first the help given through occult serve as actually may psychic healing from becoming involved with further means may make a person feel better : of the path on the spiritual her practices.

When mother a block was my or happier. But there are great dangers ill aspirant. gravely with cancer, this woman involved. : came to our family, wanting to help This is not to say that those who extend my mother’s life. I told her N W: This brings up another question explore the occult do so simply out of for me. To what extent should we, as that mother whether my emphatically the desire for power. Some people Baba lovers, try to eliminate our pain or died was completely lived in Baba’s have the best of intentions and they beg and suffering?

As Baba has said, “Never hands. want only to help themselves or your life or the lives of me to save others. For example, I mentioned in .

N W: In Gift ofGod, Arnavaz, you wrote about the dangers of becoming involved in any way with the occult.

You’ve also told me that an increasing number of Baba lovers are asking you questions about this subject.

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he came to Baba and begged for forgiveness. Baba kept the man with Him for a while in the ashram, but because he had been able to revive the dead child, the man believed that he must have special powers and after some time he had the urge to use his powers again. One day, without even

Arnavaz: Well, certainly when we are in pain, it is reasonable to pursue whatever relief may be available through natural and practical means.

Doctors, psychiatrists, chiropractors, massage therapists, those who prac tice Chinese medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, allopathy, Ayurvedic medicine—all these I would call natural and practical. But healing through psychic powers is another matter altogether. In consulting those involved in occult practices for relief from suffering, we may actually add to our sanskaras and later bring about more suffering and pain. Baba wants to free us from suffering, but when we seek occult help, we are interfering with His work and creating further bindings for ourselves. And if we ourselves use occult means to help others, we take on the sanskaras of those we seek to help.

Arnavaz: Our contact with this man, Savak, came about in the early ‘30s, when we were quite new to Baba.

Later, of course, we would have had nothing to do with this man, but at the time we knew very little about spin-

N W: Arnavaz, you mentioned that the woman who used the occult to save her husband continued to use it even after he had been saved. Once a person starts using occult powers, is it difficult to stop?

Arnavaz: Let me tell you two stories about that. Once when Baba was giving darshan in different parts of India, a guru who had practiced occult powers came to Him. Baba gave this man darshan several times, and he became Baba’s disciple. Baba told him that he must give up his practice as a guru and no longer use the occult or Avatar Meher Baba allow people to bow down to him. He obeyed Baba for some time, but after a few years he returned to his old ways. tual matters. Although we loved Baba informing Baba, he simply disap He knew Baba was not pleased, and he very much, my mother and others in peared from the ashram. His ego had ceased all contact, never showing his the family thought that Savak must be overpowered him, and he returned to face to Baba again. a highly spiritual man. He could make his home and established his own The second story involves an only coins or flowers appear in his hands, following. His connection with Baba child who died. Naturally, the parents or a certain scent would suddenly fill were devastated, and a Baba lover who : was broken. So you see, once a person the room. He would give orders, and has experienced this kind of power, he was present put the dead child in his sometimes they would turn out to be becomes entangled in it and does not lap and sat all night, repeating Baba’s the same orders that Baba later gave want to give it up. name aloud. After several hours the us, so it is easy to see why Savak child was revived. When Baba heard impressed my family. I have to say, about this incident, He sent a telegram N W: Your family at one time had though, that I myself was never frequent contact with a man who had to the man saying that He was very attracted to him. Even though I certain powers. Can you tell me about displeased. The man felt terrible and :

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;:t thought he might be on a higher plane, I found him somehow repulsive. I understand now that Baba was keep— ing me away from this man, keeping me from getting involved with him in any way. And even though throughout my life I have seen numerous ex amples of people who were possessed by spirits and many kinds of black magic, I have always known that Baba would protect me from all of this, that I had nothing to fear as long as I held tightly to His damaan.

Baba’s Last Warning, given in July of 1968, contains specific orders for His lovers concerning involve— ment with such masters: It is important at this critical period of the Avataric Age to beware at all times of persons who lead others into belleving that they are saintly andpious and profess to possess supernatu ral powers. However pious such persons appear to be, a Baba lover must never mix such piety with the Divinity ofthe Ava tar!

A true Baba -lover m ust remember the repeated warning given to all Baba lovers time and again to stay away from persons who feel and assert that they are masters andsaints and possess powers to help human beings. His lovers and workers should never get involved with such persons and affairs, much less with perverted “helpers ofhumanity” who have no reverence or regard for the Perfect Masters and the Avatar ofthe Age. Beware ofthem who exploit spirituality to gain their selfish ends and dupe .

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others in the name ofSadgurus and the Avatar At the end of this warning Baba added the following note, originally given in February of 1966: Shun those masters who are like m ulti-coloured electric signs that flash on and off brightening the dark sky ofyour world and leavingyou in darkness again.

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N W: Aren’t there some people who have actually found Baba through occult means and come to follow Him?

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Arnavaz: It is true that Baba Himself has used such means as automatic writing, ouija boards, etc. to bring people to Him, but the fact that Baba has done something in no way gives us permission to do it. “Don’t do what I

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: do, He has told us. “Do what I tell you to do. When God comes as man, He works thorough everything in His creation, what we would call good and : what we would call bad. Baba said these were two sides of the same coin.

In the play of Maya, God keeps a balance between them. Why? We cannot know. Given our limited understanding, we cannot fathom the ways of God. We can only do what Baba asks of us and not worry about trying to understand His work.

Baba has been very clear about what He asks of us. For instance, the rules regarding appropriate behavior at His Center in Myrtle Beach contain this statement: “By Meher Baba’s directive, divining cards, ouija board, and the I Ching are not to be used at the Center.”

And anyone tempted to interpret that directive to mean that outside the Center it is airight to use such devices should think carefully about Baba’s statement given in Andhra on 1 March, 1954: ‘1 want my lovers and workers to know that there is no greater ‘Baba’s Centre’ than the heart of my lover.

Those who truly love me are my centres in the world. Let each ‘Baba lover,’ wherever he or she may be, be the ‘Baba’s Centre’ personified, radiating the eternal message of Love Divine, living a life of love, sacrifice and honesty.” “

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N W: I think it’s sometimes difficult for us to distinguish between what is occult and what is not. There are so

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many “New Age” practices from which sincere people seem to derive the same kinds of experience that we have had in our lives as Baba lovers that the whole issue can become very confus ing. How can we protect ourselves from getting involved in something best left alone?

Arnavaz: Irene Coneybeare, in the introduction to her book In Quest of Truth or How I Came to Meher Baba, gives a good and easy guideline to follow when she discusses the vast difference between mysticism and occultism. The mystic, she says, is simply searching for God and does not seek power, whereas the person who practices the occult is actually attempting to control the forces of nature. Occult power, she stresses, is safe only in the hands of a Master who will not misuse it—that even an advanced spiritual aspirant may incur great harm through practice of the occult, and she quotes the following from Baba’s Dis courses: “The introduction of an uncertain and uncal culable factor which the free exercise of occult power would involve, is bound to create much confusion and disturbance in the ordinary pursuits of man, who must be left to his own limitations, resources and possibilities for the equal and uninterrupted working out of the Law of Karma. She also talks about the undue importance that people often attribute to miracles, which have nothing to do with the spiritual path, and again she quotes Baba: “All miracles belong to the phenomenal world, which is the world of shadows. As phenomena, they are subject to change; and nothing that changes can have lasting value. Realization of the eternal Truth is an initiation into unchangeable Being which alone is the supreme

curse rather than a blessing ifhe is not spirituallyprepared for the adequate fulfillment ofthe new responsibility implied in the acquisi tion of the new powers. Even the slightest misuse ofoccultpower has a severe reaction and crea tes a binding for the soul. Sometimes it may retard the progress of the aspirant and may even lead to a considerable set-back.

Apart from the spiritual ruin which the novice may invite upon himselfthrough indiscrete use ofoccult power he is bound to be a source of incalculable harm to others over whom he has succeeded in wielding a formidable advantage.

Reality; and no acquaintance with the occult world or capacity to manipulate its forces can really amount to the realization of the Truth.”

On His birthday in 1965, Baba told those gathered in His love the following, also taken from His Discourses: There is nothing particularly spiritual about occult power as such.

Like any other m undane power or .

So when Baba lovers ask me about the occult, I tell them that whoever Baba has taken into His fold must do whatever Baba wants. Those who have not come to know and love Baba will act according to their sanskaras and destiny. But Baba has told His. lovers specifically not to get involved in the occult.

It is extremely foolish for Baba lovers to dabble in matters that Baba has told us to keep away from. He has warned us of the harm we may do not only to ourselves, but to others who seek our help. And He has shown us how to please Him. That means obeying Baba wholeheartedly, leaving His work entirely in His hands, and staying away from any attempt to work in realms we are not spiritually prepared to enter.

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scientific invention, it is capable of being used for good ends or bad. It gives immense scope for co-operative work on the higher planes, but this necessarily implies a spiritual pre : aredness to shoulder a special responsibility. : The novice may seek some occult powers and, within certain limits, even succeed in having them, but this new attainment will prove to be a ;

“I do not want anything else but the gift ofyour obedience.”

—Meher Baba ©1997 Meherazad Trust for Avatar Meher Baba

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By Bhau Kaichuri

Bhau Kaichuri

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eloved Avatar Meher Baba is the Compassionate Father.

He’s not only in everyone and everything but also He is everyone and everything. The Prayer He has dictated “You Alone Exist” makes it very clear that God is All-Pervading and He embraces all. He is in good and He is in bad too, and therefore He helps everyone.

We make illusory distinctions like good and bad, right and wrong, just and unjust, and these are all illusory distinctions. Reality is Reality and in the domain of Reality such illusory distinctions are not there.

For Beloved Avatar Meher Baba the sinners are His liabilities and the saints are His assets. And His business is to convert the liabilities into assets because He is Love and He is compas sion.

Therefore we who follow him should try to rise above these distinc tions of good and bad, right and

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wrong, just and unjust, etc. through His love.

Good is binding and bad is binding.

One is a gold chain and the other is an iron chain, but after all, the chain is there. Everyone is full of weaknesses.

If weaknesses are not there, one can be one with God. But generally it happens that no one looks after his own weaknesses but he finds out the weaknesses of others. And he goes on criticizing though he also has weaknesses. And it is therefore necessary for each one to look after his own weaknesses and correct them. But it does not happen.

When one has weaknesses and he hides his own weaknesses and justifies himself, this then becomes his greater weakness. Because when one justifies ones actions right or wrong, one does not keep any room in his heart for repentance by asking God for forgiveness. Really speaking, when one uses reason and justifies one’s actions

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Really speaking, when one uses reason andjustifles onec actions through reason, that is a great sin because one does not keep any room in one heart for Godc forgiveness.

through reason, that is a great sin because one does not keep any room in one’s heart for God’s forgiveness. He cannot ask His forgiveness because he feels justified.

For example, there was one homosexual and there was a hetero sexual. The heterosexual would always be with different girls. And one day when he saw the homosexual he said to him, I hate you because your deeds are unnatural. And the homo sexual said to him, “Your deeds are “

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i also unnatural because you go after many girls. You also commit lustful deeds. This is all unnatural. The heterosexual said, I am permitted by God and you are not. And the homo sexual said, Will you please show me the sanction? Where is your permit?”

And the heterosexual got angry and he abused the homosexual, saying, “I hate you ! I hate you ! You have no place in society. You cannot show your face to anyone. You commit sins.”

They were fighting and abusing each other. Then a wise person came and said, “Why do you fight, abuse and blame each other? We say that we love our Beloved Avatar Meher Baba— or God—and there is no hatred in this love. Where there is hatred there is no love; and when love is there one forgets the distinctions of good and bad, right and wrong, etc.

Therefore if we think that we are Baba lovers we should stop hating anyone, and we should feel the oneness in His love. If the feeling of oneness is there, there can never be any room for hatred.

Our Beloved Baba embraces saints and He also embraces the worst sinners, because in Reality He is them.

Therefore it is the duty of every Baba lover to try to love others and not to criticize others.

God is everyone, in fact we are one. Everyone’s false self keeps one away from God. The false self consists of pride, lust, anger, selfishness, greed, jealously, backbiting, etc, and these are all low desires. So long as these low desires are there and we maintain them we cannot love our Beloved God, Beloved Avatar Meher Baba. No one invites these weaknesses which are desires. They are the outcome of previous births. But when we have become a little bit aware of Reality, we must try to get rid of them through love for the Beloved. We should not remember the weaknesses. We should remember Him and love others, and we should keep away from hatred!

The desires of lust and anger are so firm that it is impossible for anyone to get rid of them. They can only be

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the telephone wires with each heart.

He has made each heart as a tele phone. He has fixed the telephone lines in such a way that if anyone does not remember Him and does not love Him and does not follow His wish, his voice—or rather, noise—does not reach Him. Only the voice of the heart can reach the Universal Telephone House where Beloved Baba hears that voice. And He does not hear the voice of the mind, as mind contains the garbage.

Therefore whatever we are, we are.

But if we remember Him and love Him and follow His Wish, we belong to Him and He belongs to us. We should have firm faith in Him, and He will take care of us, and He will make us clean.

Beloved Avatar Meher Beloved Baba has given a very good Baba has taken the example in this matter. He has ex responsibility for everyplained nicely how one can reach one. He has asked us to Him. For example, in a goods train :L. remember Him, to love there are many compartments atHim and to follow His tached with the engine. In one com wish, and He will take partment there is gold, in the next care ofail the weaknesses. there is silver, and next there is iron, and again in the next there is stinking garbage, and so forth. But when all the compartments are attached with the this garbage. Therefore Beloved Avatar engine, all the compartments go along with the engine and reach the destina Meher Baba has taken the responsibil ity to clean this garbage out of everytion. It does not happen as we might one. After dropping His physical body think that only the compartment of He is infinitely active in this cleaning : gold goes along with the engine and work because He has to Manifest, and the compartment of stinking garbage unless He takes the garbage out of remains at the station. All the com everyone He cannot Manifest. He has partments go along with the engine been doing this work since He has provided they are attached with the dropped His body, and it will last for engine. one hundred years when He will In a similar way, Beloved Baba is Manifest Universally. like an engine. Therefore whether we Therefore our duty is just to are virtuous or we are sinners it does remember Him and Love Him and to not make any difference provided we follow His Wish. This will be the first remain attached to Beloved Baba, step towards Him. If we take this first through His remembrance, love, and step, and let Him clean out the obedience to His Wish. He will take us garbage which we have and of which to the destination.

May Beloved Avatar Meher Baba we are not aware, He will take us thousands of steps towards the Divin help us all so that we may follow His ity. He will be pleased if we do not Wish and remember and love Him. We create obstructions in His work by should not blame, criticize, and make indulging in our low desires. distinctions in our fellow beings. We Beloved Baba has constructed a should love them and remain united.

Universal Telephone House during his physical lifetime. He has connected

wiped out through real love for God. If we go on finding faults in others and blaming others for their weaknesses, we cannot love our Beloved. Therefore it is hypocrisy that one does not take care of one’s own weaknesses and blames others for their weaknesses.

Beloved Avatar Meher Baba has taken the responsibility for everyone.

He has asked us to remember Him, to love Him and to follow His wish, and He will take care of all the weaknesses. In fact, we have collected innumerable unnatural impressions and these impressions are stinking garbage, but we have no awareness of

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mother who loves her baby does not spend her time just

loving it. In fact in the daily routine of

On Caring

caring for its needs day and night, being there for it, feeding it, changing its nappies, and all the things that go into bringing it up—there is often little time to dwell on how much she loves

by Meheru

her baby, except for a little fondling

Meherazad, India January, 1997

now and then. But it is her love that makes it ajoy for her to care for her

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child every hour of the day.

For us too, just loving Baba is not enough. With Him not physically here you can show your love for Him by doing the things that please Him. Baba has given us How to Love God to follow and the Prayer of Repentance to live by. By caring to do these things, by caring to live the way of life Baba desires of us, we can show our love for Him and truly love Him. For the mandali, we who lived with Baba and served His needs, it was not really us giving to Baba, it was Baba who was giving to us—giving us the wonderful privilege and opportunity to do His work. And it was from Mehera I learned, to some extent, the depth to which caring can go. She showed how much Baba was with her continuously, even in the everyday work at hand.

In her personal service to Baba I witnessed and still have the picture in my mind of her combing and brushing Baba’s hair everyday. Even if Baba was in a hurry Mehera would do it carefully and gently with a scarf draped around Baba’s shoulders and back so that not a single strand of His precious hair that came out in the combing or braiding would be lost. And then she’d tenderly tie a special coloured bow on the braid.

It was not only how Mehera cared for His beautiful form but how she cared for everything having to do with Baba that was so unforgettable. The

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thing special for Him —which showed that He was never absent from either their hearts or their thoughts.

From Baba’s hair and nails they would design lovely brooches in which they placed tiny photos of Baba. Even in that act, Mehera and Mani and the others would never cut up a photoWith awe I remembar the graph of Babajust for the sake of the care and love Baba poured head. That action, even on paper, was on each and all who came for distasteful and hurtful to them—it His darshan. When we say would have to be a photographjust of Baba gave darshan lie was His head, if that was what they : needed. trulygiving. He alonE: could fill each cup to overflbwing.

Being with Mehera I got to learn so many different ways, not only of working for Baba, but of doing it in a : special caring way. If we were sitting them. When we were going through at the table with Baba and a knife was Baba’s old clothes after He dropped pointing towards Him, immediately His body I felt the need of washing so : Mehera would notice it and have me many of them that had collected over turn it in another direction. It did not the years. While washing same of His matter whether I had placed it there short pants which were covered by the or not—why had I not seen it and sadra, I found a few of them had rectified the error? It was the same delicate lace stitched on the hem— with Baba’s photos—no pointed white on white ! I had never seen them instrument could be directed towards before and it brought tears.to my eyes them. For Baba we offer flowers symbolizing that for the Beloved our as I saw another aspect of Mehera’s love and caring for her Behwed. desire is to offer all that is best in us. : After Baba dropped His body I In the early days the women mandali had so few new chothes and began taking care of the drawing room by patching and repatchin they as Mehera wanted to do the dusting of would make their everyday wear last a : Baba’s photos in His room. Dusting long time. Yet, when Baba was traveleach photo Mehera would be with ling either in India or the \West, they Baba, remembering Him, talking with filled in their days making things for Him—lost in her reverie, as she gently Baba—a crown, a garland, or somestroked His picture with the softest of way she took care of His clothes: His coat, His sadra, etc. all were delicately handled and folded ust so and placedjust so. And when washing them I had to be so gentle with all of ,

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Meheru Driving With Meher Baba

silk dusters. Every photo of Baba was precious to her.

One day as I was dusting Baba’s photos in the hail, Mehera saw me blowing the dust off the frame of a lovely photo. This frame of shells had been made by Mehera herself. Imme diately she told me not to blow on Baba’s photo. I told her I was not blowing on the photo but on the frame as it was not possible to dust it off with the cloth. “Well, she said, “See that you cover Baba’s photo with a cloth before you blow on the frame. Baba had told me never to blow on His photo. The way in which she said this, I felt she was looking back on a episode that had occurred years ago, yet it was as clear in her mind as if Baba had told her but yesterday. That impressed me so deeply—how present Baba was with her at all times. And now for me it is such a gift to remem ber Mehera each time I need to blow “

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on any frame—which is daily!

Even on letterheads with Baba’s face or name stamped on them.

Mehera would carefully cut out and keep the image; be it of Baba, of Krishna, or Christ, etc. All the Avatars and the saints would be respected and their photos never crumpled up or thrown away in the trash basket nor allowed to inadvertently get underfoot.

I love to see you all wearing Baba buttons or tee shirts with Baba’s face on them, but when you do so you should always be aware of the honor.

They should help you to remember Baba and act in the way that is pleasing to Him. And when you wash the tee shirt, wash it separately and not with underwear or socks. Give Baba’s picture the respect it deserves, (Loving Baba is important and so is caring for Him.) Don’t throw the teeshirt down when you change it but place it gently and never leave it on

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the floor to get underfoot. Care should be taken of every form and image of the God man who walked the earth and served humanity. His image, His likeness, is always to be revered and respected.

Let your life be one of loving and caring not only for Baba but for your fellow beings and remember Baba is in them as He is in you. Caring for one another is important—it is caring for Baba. With awe I remember the care and love Baba poured on each and all who came for His darshan. When we say Baba gave darshan He was truly giving. He alone could fill each cup to overflowing. It is for us to give our cup such depth that it can hold as much as possible of the precious gift of love that ever flows from the font of love, and let it ever increase with our sharing of it with others.

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Painting of Meher Baba by Charlie Mills

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Editor’s Note

by Dma Snow JaiBaba toyou all So glad to be back on track with the July issue arriving on your doorstep inJuly.

Silence Day—July 10th— the one day of the year when it takes more than a small effort to remember our Beloved, serve Him and obey Him. For many years I told myself “Well, we have the option offasting or being silent.” At least, thatwas whatl had heard. Butifyou read the talkthat Mani and Eruch gave in Mandali Hall, theyleave no doubt that taking the easy wayoutis not an option! NowI look forward to Silence Day, and am dissapointed on the 11th when I have to start talking again. Baba told us that talking is a waste ofspiritual energy It is alo one ofthe mostphysicailyexhaustirig things you can do. One day I would like to hear the story ofhowJack Small, a lawyer won a court case on Silence Day! Closing arguments on a note pad? Now that is obedience. May your reading inspire you, and goodluck on the 10th.

My co-editor, David McNeelyis taking a break for this issue. Not that he is relaxing on the sands atWaikiki after thelasttwo beautiful issues, but he is over his head with handling the Sahavas and the thousand andonethings

that are attendanttoit.Tom Hartfrom Sausalito bravely stepped up to the plate to try his hand at design and layout. Tom works at Adobe, hencethegreatlookingphotos in this issue (they have top ofthe line scanners!) Manythanks to Tom, and the many 16 hour days he put in to create this magazine for you.

We areintroducing a new departmentwith this issue. While at the Pilgrim Center last October I was lucky enough to have Nick Principe as a constant table companion. He regaled us all with the most hilariousjokes that had been told to Baba by various and sundry lovers. Baba loved to be entertained, by dancing, singing and storytelling. Manya time ahapless lover was put on the spot as Baba commanded them “Tell me ajoke!” Well Nick told us what may very well have been the first time such a thing happened and how the traditiongot started. See page2l for Humor for Huma. (The catchy title is courtesy of Kathy Wiederhold.) Solets keep up the good humor and submityour favoritejoke, butlet itbe one that you know you would have told Baba had you the opportunity Another new section we have is composed ofthe gems that issue from the mouths ofour young children.The first words that my 3 year old daughter ever read were from the poster of Baba she had seen since birth “You and I are not We but One.” But from what we are hearing from our readers, their children are spontaneously saying the deepest ofBaba-isms thatjustleave the parents open mouthed! Who knows, the young ones oftoday could very definitely have been physically in Baba’s

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presence as late as the ‘50’s or ‘60’s. As Maul has told us, “Baba says once you have been with Him or any ofthe Avatars, you will al ways reincarnate rnto a familythat knows Him.” So send us your favorite stories from your own Baba babies.

Even while preparing thejuly magazine, we are still dealingwith thelast issue. So many ofthem are being returned bythe post office as “moved”, or “unable to deliver as addressed.”

Folks,this is addingto our financial burden tremendously! Sometimes the P0. throws your LampPost away,just sending us a xerox copy of the back page. I hate to think of Baba being thrown in the rubbish! Eitherwaythey charge us 50 cents.Then there is the $1.50 it costs to resend it first class, plus the original cost ofthe mailing. Out of a mailing list of around 800, when this happens with 30 or so addresses, it gets to be a very expensive proposition. Ifyou care enough to send in a donation for a year’s worth ofLampPosts, please remember to send us your change ofaddress before it happens.

Many of the stories in this issue were submitted over a year ago, but were not printed to make room for Maul, Mansari and J ane Haynes stories. Tom and I are happy to be able to finallybring them to you, and thank you to all who contributed. We look forward to receiving much more from you all. Remem ber, this is your magazine, you keep it alive with stories to entertain each other, but pri manly Our Beloved.

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AvatarMeher Baba kiJai!

Photograph Credits Page

Photographer or Owner

Front coverand27

Padri 40 Dma Snow Dick Duman 41 Meelan studio Panday studio 44 Panday studio Mehera 45 Donna Sanders Meelan studio 47 Tom Hart Bernard Bruford Back cover Diana LePage Reg Love Gallery ofthe Heart see page 38 Panday studio Cynthia Barrientos For more information see page 38 Wodin Dma Snow Patti Thorne Credit for photos in the previous issue on pages 27-28, 30, 32 goes to Bob Street rather than Dma Snow Beth Ganz. Credit for photo ofMansari on page 11 ofthe Winter-Spring issue goes to Roger Marc Brutus Siegel, dated, October, 1975, taken on Meherabad Hill, no doubt.

Dma Snow

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21 22 25 36 36 bottom right 39

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Photographer or Owner

Corrections

£ovcStreet,Camosb

A publication of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California

£ov c5treetJDamf1osb welcome The Love Street LampPost is dedièated with love to Avatar Meher Baba. Its primary purpose is to contribute to a sense of community among all His lovers by providing a place for sharing His remembrance. All the members of the Baba family are invited to contribute to this feast of Love.

Your stories, photos, art work, poetry, letters, articles, and humor are all activelysolicited. We seek expressions ofBaba’s message of Love andTruth.

Please submit your text on computer disks if possible (in any software format); typewritten copy on white paper is also acceptable. Be sure to clearly identify all submissions and credit every quote or reference.

submissIons, subscriptions, donations: Love Street LampPost Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California 1214 South Van Ness Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90019—3520 phone 213 731—3737

e-mail Bababooks@aol.com

features: Mani Irani, EruchJessawala, and Adi K. IranI Silence Poem byLiz Gaskin Silence Baba’s Eric Sotibakke Silence Human, Silence Divine MeherBaba So Simple That It Has Been DifficuitTo Grasp Meher Baba Despair Mehera Irani OnlyBaba HasThe AuthorityTo DoThat Michael D. Ivey Meher CD-ROM Project Elizabeth Gies Anne How Meher Baba Slept The LA. Sahavas Sky Emerson Wiseman Meher Babas Heart in the West LizGaskin We Went to Avatar’s Abode MeherBaba The Unerring Guide of Love JerryEdwards Meherabad Gets Wired!

Meher Baba Different Degrees oflntuitve Wisdom From an L.A. Times article Charles Haynes Georgann Erskirte Baba’s Christs Cradle MeherBaba Suffering of Real Alleviation Poem byDavid Raphaellsrael Meherabode Memory LarryPesta Letter from Larry Meher Baba Meher Baba’s Message for Youngsters

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special features: From the Mouths ofBaba Babes Humor for Hurna Shivaji,TheWarrior King Postings from the Internet Gallery ofthe Heart

Cynthia Barrientos NickPrincipe FrankBloise

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A collection ofphotographs and greeting cardswhich are available for purchase

deadlines for submissions: Mar issue Apr Jun issue Jul Sep issue Oct Dec issue

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November 15th February 15th May 15th Aug 15th

Love Street Bookstore: Dma Snow (at the addresses above) 310 837—6419 between 7:00 and l1:QOpm 310 839-BABA (2222) 24 hour fax or e-mail Bababooks@aol.com

Love Street Lamp Post: editors design & layout distribution

: Dma Snow : Thomas Hart : Clea Sucoff and Harry Thomas

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SundayBrunch with Craig Ruff How to Please Him

Pictorial Meher Baba

Archives &Museum Project: A Note from our Trust-Waili Ground-Breaking at Meherabad

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Lynne Berry WardParks

interview: Carl W. Ernst answers questions about The Unveiling ofSecrets

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departments: Editor’s Note Calendar ofEvents Center Report (A Letter from Meherabode) Step Inside the Love Street Bookstore

Mahoo GhorbanI Donna Sanders Dma Snow

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various reviewers

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DinaSnow

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Dma Snow

reviews: The Unveiling ofSecrets How Many Ljffimes

The 4 osb is published quarterly, trcetJ.’tiinjc2e J.ov 5 in January, April, July, and October. All contents © 1997, Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California. All quotations of Avatar Meher Baba or books, © AMBPPC’I India.

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through the LoveStrcctBookstore.

credits: Backcover Baba Sile,aranoil paintingbyDiana LePage. images: from DC Comics &ksrilnto ThMysteiyon page42 Copyrigbt 1996J.M. DeMatteis.

Ailotherwords, imagcs, and graphicsinthispthlicatianarepropertyofthcirrespectivecopyright holdersJinauthoñzed&plicationisprobibitedbylaw.

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Eruch and Mani on Silence Thefollowing is an edited transcription rom f a recording ofMani Irani and Eruch Jessawala in MandaliHall, Meherazad, in the 197O. We have edited the transcription to re move ‘the gritfrom the spinach, as Mani requested. Ifwe have changedany ofthe origi nal meaning, we askyourforgiveness. —Ed. “

RUCH: In the last years, Baba expressly wished that we should, under all circumstances, observe si lence on tenth ofJuly. People who are not properly informed don’t know whether we should observe silence, whether we should observe fast, or whether we should ignore the silence day.To them all I say that Baba’s wish was that tenth July must be observed as the

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day ofsilence by observing silence for twentyfour hours. It must begin at midnight ofthe ninth, and end midnight of the tenth, for twenty-four hours. It is best that we observe silence because it was His wish that we should observe silence.

MANI: But even ifitwere not His wish, expressly expressed as His wish, it is a gift we can give without being asked. If as nothing but homage to His love for us, which is why He observed silence. I think there should be no questions in the minds ofanyone, “Should we observe silence or not?” That is an oppor tunity that we should not let pass by.

ERUCH: That’s right.

MANI: Everylover ofBaba, to my mind, must observe tenthJuly as a silence day. You salute your Beloved by giving a rose. You

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would not call that a routine. You would not call that an ordinary thing. It is just an ex pression ofyour love, at least ofyour homage to the Lord who did that for our sake, not for His own sake... Ifthat little striving, that little effort, we cannot make on our own, and we must wait until he spells it out and says, “I want each of my lovers to observe silence,” then that is sad. We must give without being asked, although He has asked. He has ex pressed His wish. As Eruch says, on His last circular He gave no option, but that everybody observe silence. And that’s a very special day for every lover for whom Baba has done this. He has not done it for all, he has done it for each one. And ifwe cannot keep our lips shut for one day ofa year, then that’s bad.

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What do we do for Meher Baba? ’ sSilenc B

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Adi on Silence

Thefoiowing is an editedtranscrption of a recording ofAdi K Irani at the LA Sahavas in 197Z shall ask you a question: “What do we do for Meher Baba?” We accept him as Lord ofthe universe, as the Avatar ofthe age. Just to repeat these words, and there it is?

In one year, once, can you not observe si lence for twenty-four hours? It gives us His remembrance all day long. It makes it pos sible to withdraw all our thoughts. Thoughts may go on, but because the activity is not there, and we are not able to express our thoughts, it gives a rest, and you feel yourselfso much composed, and the whole day passes offin the thought ofMeher Baba.

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byLizGasn Baba is noisy.

It islwho am silem

When Babaspoke, Hesaida lot.

He was silentaboutallthatc not.

Shall we not do this once a year?

There may always be difficulties. Everybody has children, everybodyhas a house. But supposing an accident takes place and one has to go to the hospital, giving up one’s house and children. What does one do? One has to do it, because nature makes one do it. Baba is so loving that he never compels you to do anything. So, shall I take advantage and not [keep silence]? I should do something for him. And I think, really, that once in every year everyone must do it. As an alternative, fast doesn’t compensate the act ofyour silence at all.

World-chatter is mute, silent ofGod

When billions ofmy impressions depart, IwillhearHis Word in my heart.

Itc been singing there since time began, coveredup with my Big Bang.

A note from our Trust-walli

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Ifyou’ve been thinking that sometime you’d like to make a love-donation to the Trust, today may be the perfect time.

The Avatar Meher Baba Trust runs a first-rate school, provides medical care for villagers and maintains Baba’s tomb-shrine and Trust properties. There are also beneficiaries ofthe Trust whose living expenses are covered by dona tions from Baba-lovers.

All of these worthy projects were specified by Baba Himself in the Trust Deed. Many of the Trust’s charitable projects and outreach projects are carried out by Eastern and Western volunteers. Some projects, however, require the assistance of paid Indian workers, and as India raises its standard ofliving, the cost of materials and labor is on the rise also.

Now this new opportunity presents itself Love-donations are also need for the exciting new project that involves the preservation ofarticles used and touched by Baba the precious treasures that mean so much to all ofus. Contri butions for the archives project will have long-lasting value indeed!

Ifthis type ofservice appeals to you, please make your check payable to “Friends ofMeher Baba Trust,” and send to: Lynne Berry —

267 Hanover Dr. Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Please note what portion ofyour donation is for the Trust, and/or for Archives. —Jai Baba!

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Silence Human, Silence Divine by Eric Solibakke

hen in 1925 the Beloved announced His intention to become silent, He said “I must keep silence for some excessive spiritual work that will result when Babajan drops her body in the near future.” He painted a glum picture: “There will be religious hostilities, riots, wars and natural disasters” that shed the blood of millions.”Rivers ofblood will flow,” He said.

“I will dip my kerchiefin that river ofblood and tie it around myhead! Not until the world 2 cries out for God will I give up my When a listener protested that the world would be deprived ofHis wisdom teachings, He replied with a sublime declaration of His divine mission: “I have come not to teach, but to awaken!” 2 Q the morning ofJuly 10th, His world-sustaining silence began; it had been postponed a month, Mehera tells us, because Gulmai fell off a ladder. She was spraying a nest of lice-infested sparrows in the roofofthe Post Office where the women stayed. Fortunately she was not badly hurt, but the Beloved waited an additional 26 days before entering silence. Little did anyone imagine it would continue throughout the remainder ofthe advent, nearly 44 years.

First He wrote messages, using slate and chalk and then on Jan 1, 1927, He dropped writing, saying’All this depends on Babajan.”

4 Watching Him spell words by pointing to letters in newspapers, Vishnu devised the alphabet board which served as the Beloved’s medium for more than 25 years. In 1954 He put that aside too, communicating from then on by means of gestures of His own

creation and the spontaneous embodiment ofHis meanings.

In every advent the Avatar charges certain symbols with His infinite power, knowledge and bliss, Christ’s sacrificial Cross, Buddha’s meditative Wheel of Law. Meher Baba’s symbolmaywell be His human and divine Silence which resonates with the mystery ofHis profound identity. “Only in internal Silence is Baba found in profound inner Silence,” He said, referring to Himself “as I really am” in the mdivisible Oneness ofGod in the Beyond and Beyond-Beyond states.

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extent ofgood His silence is doing, itis possible to observe something of it. Attending the Beloved’s discourse in Australia in 1956,John A. Grant later wrote, “Baba’s communications were more eloquent because He did not speak, than had He spoken. Because as well as hearing the message spoken by one of his mandali, the listener could also see Baba’s marvelous hand and facial gestures, which slowed down the message. Because the message was given slowly and visually as well as orally, one had the opportunity of absorbing it more deeply.” 8 His discourse did not come into the world as mere sound; it came fully embodied, fully grounded, fully enacted in His physical form He became it! And even more so after He discarded the alphabet board.

Mehera reminds us poignantly how much His silence increased His suffering and contributed to His sense of helplessness.

“Baba’s nature was happy and cheerful. He loved to talk and to laugh and to sing, but after silence Baba could not say anything Baba had a fine sense of humor but if He wanted to be funny or to tease someone He would have to point to theletters on the board.

And by the time He had finished saying it, halfthe fun was lost Baba loved to laugh, but even that sound He denied Himself and held In 1941 when Upasni Maharaj told Him to give up his silence, saying “Now it is bringing too much suffering,” Baba said, “No, I have come to suffe; and My work is most important. I must finish 9 k.

In His last message on the alphabet —

‘My outwardsilence is no spiritual exercise’ He told us, ‘7t has been undertaken and maintainedsolelyfor the goodofothers.”

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Aspirants often practice silence as a spintual discipline, but the Avatar’s silence is of another sort. “My outward silence is no spintual exercise,” He told us, “It has been undertaken and maintained solely for the good of 6 Its purpose maypenhaps be implied in the Beloved’s enigmatic words: “Things that are real are given and received in silence.”

While it’s impossible for us to grasp the

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(K3 board, the Beloved comforted our fears of losing contact with Him by assuring us that, “Severance of external relations does not mean the termination ofintemal connections.

It was only for establishing the internal connections that the external contacts have been maintained till now. The time has now come for being bound in the chain ofinternal connections. Hence external contact is no longer necessary It is possible to establish the internal link by obeying Baba’s orders. I give you all My blessings for strengthening these internal links.” 10 His silence reduces our outer distractions and draws our attention inward toward that place in ourselves where His voice can be heard. “I am never silent. I speak eternally.

The voice that is heard deep within the soul the voice ofinspiration, of is My voice intuition, ofguidance. Through those who are receptive to this voice, I speak.” There withiove Hisvoice guides us in the direction of our own experience ofReal silence.

At the same time He challenges us to connect with His silence, He wears out our minds with denials and assertions, with promises to break His silence and apparent failures to do so. “Although I appear to be silent, I speak through you all. I am ever silent and everlastingly speaking, but the time has arrived when soon I will break this apparent silence, and then those who love 6 me will see my Real Self.”

The theme ofbreaking His silence is a never- ending saga from the earliest days onward.

Sometimes charming, sometimes incompre hensible andmysteiious, sometimes hilariously grandiose, but always His notification of intention to break His silence is clearly a labor of love on behalf of His lovers and those who would love Him. As a child Mani elicited a promise from her God-brother that He wouldn’t break His silence unless she were present.

Imagine how shocked she was to hear that He had sent out a circular announcing He was going to speak at a time when she was in school in Poona. She immediately penned a letter reminding Him ofHis promise, concluding, “So, eitherYou allowme to come andbewithYou when You breakYour Silence, orYou postpone the breaking ofYour Silence.” She added a PS, “I can come right now.” 12 He postponed.

Ramjoo tells how once in the early years Baba arranged to break His silence in the —

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presence ofseveral mandali members. They when He announced that. And there are even those who exhort the Beloved not to break hiked strenuously for several days to reach a His silence but rather to break our noise so we very remote location where Baba arranged may hear His silence. them in a circle with their backs toward Him In anycaseforailtime onJanuary3l, 1969, some 50 feet away. When He clapped, they He anchored His human and divine silence in were to turn and He would speak. He His Samadhi on Meherabad Hill after a lifetime clapped, they turned but nobody heard Him ofreassuring us all that anyone anywhere in the utter a sound. Questioned, He replied with worldwho establishes a genuine heart connection a question ofHis own, “Do you not know I withHimmayreceivethegreatest ofGod’s gifts: am always speaking?” 13 “Through endless time God’s greatest gift is Then there was the famous promise to 17 continuouslygiven in break His silence at the Hollywood Bowl!

During His visit to the USA in 1932, Baba distributed powerful spiritual discourses and messages which stoked the fires of interest inthe impendingbreaking ofHis silencein Callfornia. The idea ofdoing it in the Hollywood Bowl was in the air. It was at a luncheon date with Marie Dressler— shewas atthe height of popularity, co-starring in Charlie Chaplin’s films; she had received the Academy Award the year before. In a lighthearted mood, she told Baba she would like to take Him out in the woods and dance with Him, Key to quotes and sources: “And even ifyou want to speak a few words Baba anyone.” to me, I promise not to tell spelled out, “Before breaking my silence, it is essential for me to proceed to China. On LordMeher, Vol. Two, p. 731 1 my return, I wilibreak my silence onjuly 13 at LordMeber, Vol. Two, p. 732 2 the Hollywood Bowl.” 14 Immediately the arrangements started.

Mehera, p. 84 3 QuentinTodd organized newspaper coverage 4 Letc Go To Meberabad, p. 80 and aworldwide radio link. Fashionable ladies began preparing their God-Realization LoveAlone Prevails, p. 166 5 dresses on the basis of Quentin’s assurance that theywould realize Godwhen Baba spoke.

The Silent Master, p. 7 6 Years later in a video Delia DeLeon would MeherBaba Calling, p. 40 7 refer to her God-Realization dress, made for 15 the occasion. Kitty Davy had one also. At 8 Practical Spirituality, p 26 eleven o’clockthat night Baba and His group, Mehera, p. 235 9 including Quentin, sailed for Hawaii on the 55 Monterey. Two days after arrival in Ho10 Practical Spirituality, p. 216 nolulu, Baba sent Quentin back to California to alert everyone that He had 11 LoveAlone Prevails, p. 179 changed His mind and there would be no show 12 God-Brother, p. 126 in the Bowl.The Associated Press carried the story on July 13, 1932, under the headline 13 The God-Man, p. 413 6 “Silent Hindu Defers Radio alk.’

14 LordMeher, Vol. V p. 1661 So this is the Eternal Beloved’s conundrum which delights some and dismays others; each 15 LoveAlone Prevails, p. 94 lover must resolve it in the intimacy ofhis and her romance with the Divine. Again and 16 LordMebei 1W. V p 1661-1668 again over the years, the Beloved heralded 17 The God-Man, p. 346 His intention to break His silence, so often in fact and so sincerely that eventually we must begin to wonder what He meant —

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So Simple That It Has Been Difficult To Grasp by

Meher Baba

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ince arnvingrnAmerica, I have been asked many times what solution have I brought for the social problems now confronting you — what did I have to offer thatwould solve the problems ofunemployment, prohibition, crime, that would eliminate the strife between individuals and nations, and pour a healing balm of peace upon a troubled world.

The answer has been so simple that it has been difficult to grasp.

The root ofall our difficulties, individual and social, is self-interest. It is this, for example, which causes corruptible politicians to accept bribes and betray the interests ofthose whom they have been elected to serve; which causes bootleggers to break, for their own profit. alaw designed, whether wisely or not, to help the nation as awhole; which causes people to connive, for their own pleasure, at the breaking of that law thus causing disrespect for law in general, and increasing crime tremendously; which causes the exploitation ofthe great masses of humanityby individuals or groups ofindividuals seekingpersonalgain;whichimpedes the progress of civilization by shelving inventions which would contribute to the welfare of humanity at large, simply because their use would mean the scrapping ofpresent inferior equipment; which, when people are starving, causes the wanton destruction oflarge quantities of food, simply in order to maintain market prices; which causes the hoarding of large sums of gold, when the welfare of the world demands its circulation....

But the elimination of self-interest, even granting a sincere desire on the part ofthe individual to accomplish it, is not so easy, and is never completely achieved except by the aid ofa Perfect Master. For self-interest springs from a false idea of the true nature ofthe Self, and the idea must be eradicated, and the Truth expe

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rienced, before the elimination of selfinterest is possible.

I intend, when I speak, to reveal the One Supreme SeWwhichis in all.This accomplished, the idea ofthe Selfas a limited, separate entity will disappear, and with it will vanish self—interest....

THE GOD-MAN, C. B. Purdom, pp. 104-105 Copyright 1971 Meher Spiritual Center, Inc.

JaiBaba!

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Despair Nobody is utterly lost and nobody need despair. The knowledge that all have the same beginning and the same end, with life on earth a happy interlude,will go a long way in makingthe Brotherhood ofMan a reality on earth.

Meher Baba

— 1937 Meher Baba Calling

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only Baba Has The AuthorityTo Do That

by Mehera Irani

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hen Baba dropped His body, Mastan did not know at first what had happened.Then, one dayl sawhim come into the dining room, which he had never before done without first being called. He looked at Baba’s chair, and saw that Baba was not there. And very slowly he walked around and out ofthe dining room, and then lay down in the passageway with a very deep sigh. A few days later Mastan came to Baba’s bedroom alone, which, again, he never did without being called. As I watched he stopped by the foot ofBaba’s bed, and then very slowly walked in a complete circle around Baba’s bed. And then slowly left the room. He knew then what had happened, and he gradually gave up eating.

After that I had to hand feed Mastan his mutton, but unless I put it right down his throat he would spit it out. So Mastan got thinner and thinner.

It was now the end ofMarch 1969, and it was time for us to leave for Poona for the 1969 Darshan at Guruprasad. Mastan was left at Meherazad in the charge of a servant who loved him. Before I got in the car to leave I went up to Mastan and patted his head. “Baba,” I asked, “You will make it easy for him”, and taking Baba’s Name I said goodbye to Mastan.

That was the last time I saw him; in the middle ofApril Mastan died. He had been quite hearty before Baba dropped His body, but he missed Baba’s love, and he gave up his life. That is how faithftil to Baba Mastan was.

Baba had told us, “I will see that next birth Mastan takes a human form, and not just as an ordinary human being. He will be a very good soul who loves God.” So by Baba’s grace Mastan will skip all the in-between lives and will take birth as a God-loving person.

Only Baba has the authority to do that. And that shows Baba’s Love for Mastan.

MEHERA, pp. 237-238, Copyright 1989, AMBPPCT

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Meher Baba CD-ROM Project ,1’

by Michael D. Ivey

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he 300+ people who subscribe to the Meher Baba Listserv on the Internet, lovinglymaintainedbyJoe Stewart of Erie Community College, are referred to in various ways such as Listees, Listservants orjust plain subscribers.The common factors between all of us, ofcourse, are an abidinglove for Meher Baba and an interest in communicating with other Baba Lovers (BL’s).

The “Meher Baba CD Project” (I’ll use the term ‘Project’ since it has, as yet, no formal name) is a rare example ofspontaneous human combustion. It was a fire that broke out on the Mther Baba Listserv, beginning in February ‘97. The Project was the outcome of daily conversations in which one of us would say something like, “Baba said something to this effect, but I don’t remember exactly what the quote is or where I read it.” Statements like this were (and are) a regular occurrence among any grouping ofBL’s.

It is, ofcourse, now possible to put ALL the literature associated with Meher Baba on one single CD which can be “searched” in a split-second forwords, quotes, text fragments and subjects.

While responding to someone’s message aboutnotbeing able to find a certain quotation, I was bemoaning the fact that, in order to create a searchable compilation of all the Baba literature, it would take a person with a scanner and a LOT offree time or a veritable army of typists to input such a large body oftext. My next thought was, “Wait a minute, there are 300 ofus on this Listserv. We ARE an army of typists! Maybe WE could be the army oftypists that this project needs.” So, basi cally, I threw that thought out into the elec tronic pond which is the Listserv and waited to see what happened.

What happened was that people started affirming the ideas that (1) this is something that needs to be done and (2) that division oflabor among many BL’s is the only way to do it. And, the most impor tant reaction was that people started vol

unteering to be part ofsuch an effort.

One thing led to another. Nosh Anzar immediately said that he would donate the digital text(s) ofthree ofthe books and back issues of Glow to which he holds copyright.

Cynthia Shepard, a professional textbook editor, said that she would organize the compilation of works, proofreading and indexing of text.

Deepak Ramanthan, a graduate student at Syracuse Universit offered his expertise with search engines.Joe Stewart, facedwith consistent and escalating communication about the project, created a separate, Project Listserv.

There were many other small contributions, not theleast ofwhichbeingthose of each individual volunteer who has offered their own time and energyto the daunting task ofinputting some 80+ books by and about Meher Baba. At the time of writing, there are 47 volunteers working at their own pace in varying capacities.

Now that two months have passed, the Project has been given the “go-ahead” by the AMBPPCT’s copyright committee, Ann Conlon on behalfofMeher Spiritual Center andlraDieffichonbehaifofSufism Reoriented.

Ward Parks, who represents the Trust’s copyright committee, had the followingto say about the prospective Meher Baba CD:

“We feel, as you do, that advancing digi tal technologywillprovide a major avenue for the spreading of Beloved Baba’s name and message, which will eventually reach every nook and cranny ofthe world. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support your effort. At the same time, it is superlatively important to the Trust that the workbe done well. This CD-ROM publication, ifit eventuates, will represent (to the best ofmy knowledge) the first compilation ofbooks and messages by and about Avatar Meher Baba published through the computer media. He should be presented to the world in a way that honors and benefits Who He is.

For what might originally have been intended as a data resource for people who al readyknowBabawill over time most probably

become a major channel bywhich newcom ers find out about Him. The work should, therefore, “speak” to the greater humanity as it is turrnng to Him. Undoubtedly, the task is a large and challenging one. But ifyou and your associ ates are willing to take it on with all it entails, the Trust supports your effort. It is indeed a great opportunity for all concerned.”

Any description of the Project to date would be incomplete without mention ofthe people who have worked for years with this or similar concepts and “planted the seed” for the eventualinspiration ofthis current effort.

Those that come to mind are Lawrence Reiter, who talked about putting the text of Lord Meher on CD two or three years ago, Keith Gunn, who has been inputting text for some years with the faith that the way would eventually be cleared for such a project, and Gary Cook, who has carried the torch for a Meher Baba Encyclopedia on the Listserv for a good while. I’m sure there are others ofwhom I am not aware, so please forgive any omissions.

Inasmuch as the project is a long-term undertaking, it is still only in its infancy.

There is room for everyone who would like to contribute to the effort along the lines of text input (typing or scanning), proofreading, publishing and/or computer expertise.

Ifyouwould like tojoin the effort to help create the Meher Baba CD, please e-mail me at: mivey@imagin.net or call me at: (817) 834-2184 (eves. and weekends).

Jai Baba!

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How Meher Baba Slept

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I bought this photo from Meelan’s Studio in Pune, believing it to be a rare photo of the Avatar asleep. People have since told me it is actually Shireen Baba’s mother!

Dma —

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t night Meher Baba would always have one ofthe men mandali keep watch while he slept. The night watchman would sit right outside Baba’s room, making sure that no one disturbed Baba’s rest. Baba always gave the night watchman three orders not to move, not to make any noise, and to keep awake the whole night.

Once, one of the mandali named Bhau was keeping watch for Baba. Baba told him, “I’m tired today and not feelingwell. So please don’t make any noise. Don’t move, and keep awake.” Baba repeated the orders five or six times. Then he directed Bhau to close the windows, close the door, and go sit outside on the porch.

Bhau didn’t find it hard to stay awake or keep very quiet. But he did find it hard to sit like a statue for such a long time. Mosquitos kept buzzing around his face and biting him.

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But Baba’s order meant that he couldn’t even lift his hand to brush them away.

Usually, every fifteen minutes or so, Baba would clap his hands for Bhau to come see him. That would give Bhau a chance to move and stretch. But this particular night Baba didn’t clap for fifteen minutes. Halfan hour went by. Then another hour. Two hours. Still Baba didth clap. All the time, the mosquitos were biting and Bhau was becoming very stiff.

Finally after two and a half hours, Baba started snoring “This is my chance,” Bhau thought. “At least I can change the way I’m sitting in this chair.” Slowly Bhau started to lift his leg off the ground. Without making a sound, he moved it ever so slightly. At that moment, Baba clapped. Bhau went inside to Baba’s room. “Why did you move?” Baba asked him.

At first Bhau was so startled that he didn’t

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say a word. He thought to himself, “How did Baba know that I moved? The door and the windows were closed. I did not make any noise, and obviously Baba was sleeping.”

Baba knew what Bhau was thinking and said to him, “When I sleep, I can see the whole world. Can I not see you, who are so near to me?”

This was how Bhau learned that Baba’s sleep was not like yours or mine. Even when Baba was asleep and snoring, he always knew what was going on around him.

MERWAN, pp. 65-67 Copyright 1980 Anne Elizabeth Giles

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The L.A. Sahavas Meher Baba’s Heart in the West by Sky Emerson Wiseman

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has been nearly twenty years since I encountered Allan Cohen’s book The Mastery ofConsciousness in a Coronado, California bookstore. When I saw Baba’s photo and read His words in that bookl knew I had reached the culmination of a spiritual search that had commenced when I was a small child. At that time I was serving as gunnery officer aboard a United States N ãvy m an of-war. Fortunately, Beloved Baba’s infinite love and compassion reaches out to all, and plucks His lovers from some seemingly unlikely places.

In the first two years ofmy companionship with Baba I only had contact with a few of His lovers. Although these experiences were quite wonderful, I had no great interest in seeking out larger Baba groups. Actually, it was more than ‘no interest’ that was keeping me somewhat isolated. I was concerned that I would not be comfortable with groups of Babalovers and that my honeymoon with Baba would somehow come to an abrupt halt in any sort ofgroup atmosphere. My deepest fear was that the Baba community would be just like many ofthe religious groups that I had been exposed to earlier my life.

I had felt Baba’s Avatarhood intellectually and He had touched my heart deeply during those first two years, but I really had no idea what that meant in terms of His real work with human beings. I knew nothing of the Divine Wine that invariably flows when His lovers, a veritable cross section of humanity, come together for His Sahavas an intimate sharing oflove between the Beloved and His lovers. I knew nothing ofthe electric atmosphere -

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and intensity of a full scale gathering of Meher Baba’s dear ones. Needless to say, I was not at all prepared for my first encounter with the love feast and spiritual dynamite of the Southern California Silence Day Sahavas!

Not to say that these annual gatherings in the San Bernardino Mountains don’t provide opportunities for quiet contemplation and solitude, but emotional intensity, lively music, andjoyful camaraderie seem to me to be the recurring themes of this wonderful event. Just as the Hamipur District oflndia is often called ‘Meher Baba’s Heart’, because of the quality oflove that flows from His lovers in that region, I have come to thinkofthe L.A.

I often remember the words ofthe immortalHafiz ‘ffor one slight momentyou have thefortune to drown yoursefin the ocean ofLove, do not hesitate. That moment does not come ftequently. As soon as the Master says Drown’ do not hesitate.”

Sahavas as ‘Meher Baba’s Heart in the West.’

His lotus feet never walked the mountains of Southern CalifomiabutHe did make his mark in Hollywood! A deep heart quality radiates from His lovers there in Los Angeles, and that atmosphere permeates His Sahavas gathering at Pilgrim Pines.

I attended myfirst L.A. Sahavas in 1980, following myintroduction to the Los Angeles

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group. I found myselfin Los Angeles when my Navy ship received severe damage to its mdcstructible rubber sonar dome. The rupture of the sonar dome in heavy sea’s in the vicinity of San Nicolas Island off the Southern C alifornia coast was truly a bizarre occurrence but it brought my vessel into drydock in Long Beach Shipyard and prompted a two month stay in the Los Angeles Area. I had been appointed ship’s navigator by this time, and I remember bringing the vessel into port through an early morning fog. I had failed to drive my car to L.A. but Baba made sure I drove the ship. The time I spent with Filis Frederick, Adele Wolkin, Dana Field and so many others during my time in L.A. was a great blessing. Filis laughed when I first ar rived at her home for a Monday night meetingwith mytale ofthe unusual chain ofevents that had brought me to L.A. She smiled and said, ‘Oh, a million dollars damage to a ship means nothing to Baba if He can bring just one soul closer to Him.’ I conduded my stayin the City ofAngels feeling very much at home with Baba’s lovers, and particularly hooked on the loving energy ofHis Los Angeles followers. I had heard of the Sahavas and began makingplans to attend that next summer, and yet as the Sahavas weekend approached I was still a bit concerned about such a large gathering and didn’t really knowwhat to expect.

I waited until the last minute but finally packed my bag and headed north from San Diego. After atwo hour drive I began climbing towards the town of Oak Glen, passing through apple orchards along the way. At last —

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K3et I sawa smallsignhangingon atree—’MEHER BABA. As soon as I sawthat sign and set foot on the grounds ofPilgñm Pines all doubts faded into nothingness. As I strolled through the vibrant conifers and stately oaks I felt Baba’s loving embrace. All of my cares drifted somewhere up into the high canyon walls above Pilgrim Pines, the canyon that never fails to remind me of a grand cathedral magically sheltering the valley below.

Sometime during that first Sahavas I felt deeply that Meher Baba was the very same Christ I had known as a child, and I sensed a

ents not to make me go to church, but to stay home and think about Jesus. Here at the Sahavas I encountered that Jesus ofmy childhood.

Despite thejoy and clarity ofthose early days at Pilgrim Pines I had a difficult experience that first year when the special moment came for the traditional dhuni fire on the last Sahavas night. We all walked silently to the dhuni through the trees, with darkness beginning to envelope the camp. The dhuni was lit and it was a most magical moment.

The crackle ofthe first flames and the fragrance

(x:x3 within to be His. I have since realized that the Treasure that awaits me each and every moment through an inner surrender to the Beloved is symbolicallyrepresented by tossing a small stickin the dhuni flame. Over the years I have had the good fortune to approach the Beloved’s dhuni on many occasions at the Sahavas. I have never forgotten that first missed opportunity that ‘chance that was wasted,’ so poignantly phrased in ‘Begin the Beguine.’ I often remember the words of the immortal Haflz, “Iffor one slight moment you have the fortune to drown yourselfin the ocean —

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Sky and Shar appear wihn the wbte rL avepbctcqfthe 1996 LA Sahazias

very powerful connection with Baba as the Ancient One. It was the music ofthe Sahavas that evoked this connection. Years laterJane Haynes related to me that she spoke inwardly to Baba during one ofher first meetings with Him at the Meher Center, saying, ‘But it’s You!’ Baba had replied in her heart, ‘Yes Jane, it is I’. When Jane told me this storylrealizedthatl had averysimilar experience at my first L.A. Sahavas. I particularly enjoyed the singing at morning arti, and I remem her a powerful recognition that being there was an opportunity of incredible good fortune. I had often asked my par-

ofwood smoke, coupled with the radiant moon hanging over the valley below will be forever emblazoned in my mind’s eye. And yet when the opportunity came to approach the dhuni and bow to Beloved Baba’s sandals I let this rarechance slip awa)dhungbackinthe shadows, wanting so much to approach closer to Baba, but somehow afraid to partake ofthe Treasure that awaited. I continued towaitfor an impulse to go forward, but the moment passed. I had missed my chance. It was a very painful experience at the time. In retrospect I realized that Baba was simply drawing me closer, fanningthe flames oflove, igniting that longing

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ofLove, do not hesitate. That moment does not come frequently. As soon as the Master says ‘Drown’ do not hesitate...”

I didn’t have another chance to attend the Sahavas for three years, but was finally able to return in the summer of1993 after the death ofmy daughter, Ciera. Ciera’s lengthy struggle withleukemiabrought me even doser to Baba, and through that difficult period He taught me so much about His way ofworking.

Through Ciera’s briefbut intense life Baba gave an exquisite discourse on the nature of love. I came to the 1983 Sahavas on fire with love for Baba, thankful for the gift of Ciera,

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3t and deeply grateful for the opportunity to be amongst Hislovers once again. On dhuni night I was near the front ofthe line.

I didnt miss another L.A. Sahavas for six years, fouryears coming from San Diego, and twice making the long trip from New Mexico after moving to the Four Corners area in 1987.

Each year I counted the days before making that happyjourneyto be at His feet at Pilgrim Pines. So many wonderful guest speakers, musicians, and pilgrims touched my heart during these years. I couldn’t begin to name them all each one so special, and each playing a major role in my life with Beloved Baba. I also made a wonderful trip to Myrtle Beach and the long awaited trip to India during this period, but the spirit and energy ofBaba’s Sahavas in Southern California was the constant source of His grace that I anticipated. Departing the gathering at the end ofthe long weekend was often painful for me, but with the coming ofthe next Spring my excitement and anticipation would begin building once again. Upon myarrival at Pilgrim Pines memories always begin flowing as I walk those grounds anew, a reminder of the unfolding years with Baba.

One year, I couldn’t wait untilJuly. My longing for the Sahavas atmosphere got the best ofme. It was a chilly February afternoon and I was working on the Morongo Indian Reservation near Beaumont, about 20 miles from Pilgrim Pines. I realized thatl could make a quick trip up to Oak Glen before returning to San Diego at the end ofthe day. I arrived at the deserted camp with the usual anticipation, a cold wind blowing down offthe summit of San Gorgonio Mountain. I am one who often seeks solitude in nature to reflect on Meher Baba and His beautiful creation. Such solitude is readily found in the mountains and deserts of the west, and it is an experience that nourishes me in the deepest ofways. But the Pilgrim Pines camp, home of the L.A. Sahavas, and ‘Meher Baba’s Heart in the West,’ is not that sort ofplace for me. On that wintry daythere was no toddy shop; no music ringingthrough the camp; no hearty’Jai Baba’s’ reverberating among the trees. That day I learned the importance of seeing Baba’s radiant beauty in the eyes of His lovers. I learned that Baba’s lovers are His Sahavas Pilgrim Pines without His lovers left me verylonelythataftemoon. Ileftabit disheartened but all the more eager to return for the real Sahavas in the heat of summer.

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In 1991, I moved up to Montana, a place where I had felt Beloved Baba guiding me before I had ever heard His name. It is here in Montana that mylife with Baba has taken on the character ofa deep mountain pool, and it seems that more and more He is holding an ongoing Sahavas in my heart. With my wife Shar, daughters Mandi and Katie, and our wonderful animals we are living our lives on the “Baba frontier” ofsorts, witness to the unfolding ofHis manifestation in the glorious Montana sk But Montana is a long way from Southern California and until the summer of 1996 I had not been able to make it back to the Sahavas for five long years. Despite several lovelyvisits to His Myrtle Beach Center I still felt the call ofthe Silence Day Sahavas. Shar and I made the two dayjourney to Pilgrim Pines from Billings, Montana last summer.

This was Shar’s first Sahavas and spending the time with her made my own experience even more rewarding. It was my ‘best Sahavas ever,’ a statement I have truthfully made each year I have attended. As a late spring begins here in the high plains canyons ofMontana I filly expect to make the same statement again this year.The 1997 Sahavas is being billed as the best ever, a ‘reunion Sahavas’ highlighted by dear Bhau along with an incredible array of past guest speakers and musicians. With Julyfast approachingl’m beginning to develop a serious case of Sahavas fever!

I was not at all surprised to receive an e-mail just as I began writing this article.

A1lan Cohen is a confirmed guest for the 1997 Sahavas’. For me the Sahavas has always been marked by incredible synchronicit and I am never surprised by Baba’s Divine Game. It was Allan’s book that brought me into Baba’s orbit twenty years ago, and although I corresponded with himjust after readingThe Mastery of Consciousness I have never met him in person! Twentyyears with Baba and a reunion Sahavas! ‘Meher Baba’s Heart in the West’ is calling and I’ll soon be on my way!

The Unseen Playmate When children areplaying alone on the green, In comes theplaymate that never was seen.

When children are happy andlonely andgood, The Friend ofthe Children comes out ofthe wood Nobody heard him, andnobody saw, His is apicture you never could draw, But hec sure to be present, abroad or at home, When children are happy andplaying alone.

He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass, He sings when you tinkle the musicalglass; Wheneryou are happy andcannot tell why, The Friend ofthe Children is sure to be by!

He loves to be little, he hates to be big, ‘T is he that inhabits the caves thatyou dig; ‘Tis he when youplay withyour soldiers oftin That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win.

‘T is he, when at night yougo offtoyour bed, Bidsyou go to sleep and not troubleyour head; For wherever they’re lying, in cupboard orshe ‘T is he will take care ofyourplaythings himsef!

Avatar Meher Baba kiJai!

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From A CHILD’S GARDEN OF VERSES

by Robert Louis Stevenson

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We Went to Avatar’s Abode

by Liz Gaskin Avatar’s Abode, 1971 It was warm, afternoon, about three.

Francis askedwhat didlknow ofYour I said You were God. He offered tea.

We drank tea. Then he asked wouldllike to see Your Room ? I saidyes.

We went, leaving a benchperched on oil drums andpineapple boxes.

We went into Your Room.

Francis openedthe doors.

It was beautiful in there. Soft, andpiiows of satin, pale blue andpink, ever so soft.

Istoodon the spot. You hadbeen here, I was at Your Feet.

Ifril in a heap and cried.

You were here and You Are Here.

Jai Baba!

Francis Brabazon

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The Unerring Guide of Love

by Meher Baba

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he spiritual path is like climbing up to the mountain top through hills and dales and thorny woods and along steep and dangerous precipices. Ifthere is one thing which is most necessary for a safe and sure arrival at the top, it is love. All other qualities which are essential for the aspirants

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ofthe Highest can and must come to them ifthey faithfully follow the whispers of the unerring guide oflove.

Ifyoulose hold ofthe mantle ofthis guide, there is onlydespairin store foryou.The gateway to the highest state ofbeing One with God is firmly closed to all who do not have the

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courage to lose their separate existence in the restless fire ofdivine love.

LORD MEHER, Vol. Seven & Eight, Bhau Kaichuri, p. 2987, Copyright 1995 AMBPPCT

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From the Mouths ofBaba Babes Compiled by Cynthia Barrientos

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here are many times when simple wisdom comes to us from our children.

They have insights to God/Meher Baba that we may miss at first glance.

Perhaps their line to God is so direct because they have not yet been corrupted

by Maya. Here is a collection of quotes that demonstrate how many ofour young people are so clearly and closely connected to Meher Baba.

and a very nice man gave me candy.”

Years later, while watching a Baba video with me, Brett looked at Baba and said, “I know him. He’s the man that gave me candy.”

At the time that Brett told me the dream I had felt Baba’s presence.Watching the video, however was a sweet confirmation.

JaiBaba, Tern Zee

A Nice Dream

A Prayer Answered

In 1974 I had been reading about Baba for two years. My son Brett was five.

I had not discussed Baba with Brett. One morning Brett woke and while still in bed called me and said, “Mommie I had a nice dream.” “What did you dream?” I asked.

“I dreamed that I went far across the ocean

Late one night, as I lay crying myself to sleep, I prayed to God to please show me the way to Him. I was 9 years old.

I had been made to go live with my father, step mother and a world of child abuse. I was forced to go to a strange church, the third one in my short lifetime. I loved God

with all my heart and didn’t understand why so many people had so many different ways oflooking at God. They all said they were right and the others were wrong.

That night God answered myprayers. I felt a warmth come over me and I felt a pain in my chest that wasn’t unpleasant, but made me feel alive and filled me with the knowledge that this wasn’t all there was. That night I began my inward journey.

It was nine years later, while going for a job interview as an AuPair, that I first saw the picture. It was a beautiful portrait of a man.

He had long dark hair and moustache and a beautiful smile. I didn’t ask right away who the picture of the man was. I had my interview and fell in love with the people and the children. I got thejob immediately.

The children were a 4 year old girl and a 7 year old boy. Afterworking there for about a week and seeing that smiling face each day, I

CynthiaBarriento•s andson, Lee.

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couldn’t stand not knowing who He was any longer. I felt awkward asking the parents who the man was. Something inside me told me I should know this man. So, I asked the 4 year old girl. She told me in the sweetestvoice, that I can still hear today, “That’s Meher Baba, you know,Jesus, Krishna. .God.” That was it. All my questions and searching were over. I knew immediately that was who He was. There was no second guessing,I didn’tfeelthe needfor an explanation, it was pure and simple. I KNEW He was the ONE. And since I had asked God to show me the way to Him when I was only 9 years old, it seemed only appropriate that Baba would use the voice of a child to answer my prayer. Beloved Baba is always listening. . .

Life is Just a Dream

From,

This morning, myeightyear old son,Jake, called me into his room to tell me he had just written a song. It seems appropriate.

“Three Dreams and His Nazai or How I Brought a Baby to Bombay”

‘Lfè isjuse a dream, you cant deny it.

A dream ofdeath andpain, you can’t deny it, itcjust a dream.

These little dreams thatyou have at night are nothing compared to the dream you are having right now.

Whenyouplayyou thinkyou areplaying, but actuallyyou are in dreamland.

Never deny it, itcjust a dream.” harold Jamison

January, 1990 One night, we were at the Pilgaim Center as Bhaugavehisweekly talk Iwas inthe dininghall listening attentively when I suddenly heard a bloodcurdling scream it was Clara! I ran out to the women’s side. Clara not quite three had been in the years old at the time her mom was While mom. bathroom with her ofa can of had gotten hold in thejohn, Clara her eyes! into bug spray and shot thejuice an old Anne Someone ran for Doctor I scooped friend and the doc in charge while Clara up into my arms. I rocked her and swayed her, crooned her and bounced her.

Always in tune with her feelings, I knew how to lead her quickly away from a feeling of trauma. Whatever else would happen, I knew the worst enemywould be the feeling offear, ofchaos. We gracefully rocked together to Baba.

When Anne arrived, things had calmed down abit. Anne did some doctorthings, which helped a lot. Then she suggested flushing out Clara’s eyes. It wasnt absolutely necessary, but it might be a good idea, she said. Trusting to Baba and my intuition, I said “No”, rather than traumatize Clara more, and we rocked off away from the crowd which had gathered around her.

Suddenly at the end of the verandah, rocking her gentlyin my arms in the beautiftd Meherabad stillness, listening closely, I hear Clara’s tinyvoice. “I love you”, she says sweetly.

I am so deeplytouched, surprised, moved—you cannotimagine. Ilookdown ather and say”Ilove you too sweetheart.”

At this, Clara cocks her head, looks me straight in the eye, and says pointedly, “I wasn’t talking toyou! I was talking to Baba!” Not surprisingly, that made me feel even better than when I thought she was talking to me! . . .

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Vivian Torres

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The Ancient One Longing for Baba’s Words

So, she is now reading Discourses. After that I’ll give her God Speaks! Why not!!?

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES EH? Even though the Discourses are not all Baba’s direct words, at least they are repre sentative ofHis teachings. She is loving them!

When my daughter was about 6 years old (19 years ago), I tookher to the Center at Myrtle Beach. She kept pleading with me to let her into the Lagoon Cabin, which I was very hesitant about because she was a real chatterbox. Finally, itwas empty and I agreed.

I stayed outside. In a while she came out. I was standing about 15 feet from the door. She strode down the path, stopped in front of me, arms akimbo, looking very angry and said, “Mama, why didn’t you tell me Baba used to be Jesus?”

Several months later this same child started talking about Krishna. I knew I hadn’t said anything to her about Krishna, and became curious. So, one day, I asked her who this Krishna person was that she was talking about. She looked at me and said, “Oh, he’s part ofBaba” in a tone that made it clear she was sure I was entirely ignorant not to know that.

Anonymous

Cynthia Shepard

My 13 year old daughter has been haying a very tough time as a result ofa move by our family to a new town last year (experi encing loss offriends and depression etc.) Recertly, she said she wanted to read more Baba books. She’s read the children’s stories in the past, about Baba and the animals etc.

I said to her, “I’ll pick out one that has nice stories in it.”

She immediately replied, “I’m not interested in stories ABOUT Baba. I want to read what Baba said Himself, His teachings!”

...

© Tony Paterniti, 1996

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(K3et Three Moments with a Four Year Old 1) My son, Lee, and 1 were talking about Amartithi. When I told him we were get— ting together with folks tonight, he replied “Let’s get together and help Meher Baba get up so he can fly up into the sky! After He’s gone another Meher Baba will come.

He will talk with His heart. Next time he’ll have a haircut. .We’ll call Him ‘Haircut Meher Baba!”

I asked if that will be soon or in a long time... “A LONG LONG time!” .

“Oh, yeah. He sure does. .1 suppose I’m asking for help for me.” I said.

He nodded and returned to play in the other room. .

3) One afternoon, Lee had done something unacceptable and was in a “time out”. As he sat in his special place, he looked over at his photo ofMeher Baba, at the foot ofhis bed.

He then burst into song at full volume: the strength of God is the Power “Oh, the that rules world...” byWard Parks.

He was letting me knowwho the REAL “Head” ofour house is...

Cynthia Barrientos

2) One morning I received a disturbing phone call. After hanging up I started speaking aloud, to Meher Baba. My prayer went something such as this: “Please pay special attention to so and so...”

Lee walked in the room and said, “Mama, what are you doing?”

“Praying.” I replied.

“WHY?” he continued.

“Because there is someone I’m concerned about and I’d like Baba to watch over him.” I explained.

“Doesn’t He do that all the time, ANY— WAY, Mama?” he respondedwith confidence.

God, Christ, and Love When my grandaughter was less than two and had very few words in her vocabulary she picked up a book from under newspapers piled high, brought it to me and said “Meher Baba.” I thought I was hearing things. Again she went through the news papers and brought out another Baba Book and said “Meher Baba.”

When her father came to pick her up she pointed to pictures ofChrist, Buddha, and

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Krishna and said “he is Baba, Baba, Baba.”

I had pictures but never spoke much to them about Baba because ofrespect for their beliefwhich is very different from mine.

Years later a second child I was holding lunged almost out of my arms at a picture of Baba. The older child was upset and said Mom and Dad won’t like that. This youngest child longs for me to read to her prayer books I have had from high school. She loves to talk about God, Christ, and Love. She has done that from the time she was 3 and is 9 now. They have had Baba dreams.

When three, one told me she brought an arm full of Roses to Baba. I was in India at the time and was bringing lots of beautiful flowers to the tomb and Roses were my favorite. I feel Baba works in ways far beyond our understanding. I totally trust His love will awaken them to who He is some day.

Marie Rhodes

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See also, page 43 for L

Meher Baba Messagefir Youngsters.

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The artist is Leela Dunn, who drew this picture ofBaba when she was 8 years old.

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Meherabad Gets Wired!

For the Digital Age many ofyou know, computers have been used successfully at Meherabad and Meherazad for a number ofyears. The AMB Trust office in Ahmednagar now also wants to computerize their offices since the work load has increased tremendously. Ofprime consideration is coordination ofall computers and software so that programs and information are easily interchangeable. Bhau Kaichuri, chairman of Al\/IBPPCT has asked me to coordinate this effort. After discussions with all involved at Meherabad, the Trust office, and then Meherazad, a plan was made. Contributions are need to make it work.

The plan calls for the following:

A

A.Computers for the accounting office:Two IBM-compatible 486’s which should be linked with a LocalArea Network (LAN). Two terminals will also be required.

USES: .

Accounting/ledger programs: The day book and receipt books could be computerized so that donations could be totaled and summarized by account heads. The Amartithi donations and deposit registers could be made more efficient. The salaries/honoraria (which has been in operation at Meherabad for two years) could also be implemented at the trust office so that leave, amount earned, etc. for each employee could be found quickly. .

Amartithi registration and Amartithi mailings. .

Wordstar or Microsoft Word can be used as the word processor. A database can be created using a program such as FoxPro. .

These computers will be programmed and operated by Indian personnel. Training will be made available for AMB Trust office personnel in Ahmednagar.

B. Printer for these accounting programs: It should have a large carriage for printing the wide accounting ledger pages.

C. Computers for Bhauji’s office: Two IBM-compatible laptops, Mac PowerBooks or portable computers with batter re-charger.

D. Printers for Bhauji’s office:Two inkjet printers.

E. Computer for Architect CAD-E program at Meherabad: This software has been obtained and requires a PowerMac to run it.

F. Equipment to archive Trust records: Eric Nadel has a computer and scanner which he is starting to use for this purpose. He needs a large capacity hard disk (preferably 2 gigabytes) to use with this equipment.

G. Computers for Meher Nazar children: Two PowerBookMac’s or IBM-compatible portables.

We will need $10,000 in funding and/or equipment. It is more economical to buy the computers in India than to purchase them here and import them because ofthe high import duty Please make checks payable to AMBPPCT orJerry Edwards and indicate that they are for the Trust Computer Fund.

Send checks to: Jerry Edwards 44 Birch Lane, Briarciffe Acres Myrtle Beach, SC 29572-5602 Ifyou prefer to send checks directly to India, you may do so but please let me know and tell me how much for budgeting purposes. The status ofthe find will be reported via listserv periodically.

Anyone interested in finding out more about this, please contactJerry Edwards at the address above or by email: J erryCool@aol.com The Meher English School computer curriculum is up and operatingwith three IBM-compatible computers, an inkjet printer (purchased in India) and a teacher. Classes are well attended and students are enthusiastic. Plans are to add more computers.

I will return to Meherabad near the end ofSeptember ‘97, Baba willing. More to followlater.

In HIS service,

Jerry Edwards

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We thought this painting* by Wodin exemplified just how much Baba loved a good joke. Entitled Baba and the Dancing Bears, Wodin was inspired to paint it thusly after seeing a movie of the twins, Rustom & Sorab, dressed as chorus girls, high kicking it on stage. Baba was laughing so hard, He was holding His sides, and

tears were streaming down His face. *(On sale at the Bookstore, a coloredphotograph, aprox 12 x 10, $46.)

Humor for by

Huma

Nick Principe

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the summer of 1976 I had the great good fortune to be able to spend an aw fullot oftime withJallrani, Baba’s brother.

Over the two months that I was in India, I was able to meet with him many times in Poona, andJal entertained tremendouslywith his very sweet disposition. His sense of hu mor was irrepressible. As I lookback on it now, I realize that he really lived at least from what I could see that part ofBaba’s admo nition to take life lightly and to take God seriously. I asked Jal at one point why the jokes? Jal relayed this story to me: —

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It seems that in the days of Manzil-e Meem Babawas still talking at the time Hewould invariablyget the men up at strange —

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hours in the middle ofthe night and take them out on some walking tour, either up to Lonavia, to ‘Nagar or to wherever Baba would have them go. Often times itwould be two or three o’clock in the morning, and Baba would get them up and hurrythem quicidywithoutwash ing or tea.Theywere to go and walkwith Baba on thesejourneys.Theywere ver very diffi cult, very difficult, and Baba stressed that everybodywas to keep the mood and to keep cheerful. On one ofthese walking tours, the men were particularly grumbling (especially Pendu) and having a very difficult time because there was no tea. Baba wouldn’t let them have tea. So Baba calledjal aside.Theywaiked over away from the rest ofthe men and Baba, in sort ofa tone ofa conspirator toldJal to say something to cheer everybody up because everybodywas in such a bad mood.

As theyrejoined the group,Jal wondered how to do this. Then itjust sort ofspontane ously came to him. He said, “Baba” (or “Merwan” I guess, for at the time they were still perhaps calling Baba “Merwan”), I have a confession to make to you.”

Now this was also an excuse to call the march to a also Baba had all the men stop.

Baba said, “Yes, what is it?”

AndJal said, “I have a confession to make to you, Baba. I’ve stolen something.”

“My brother? My own brother? How

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could you steal something?”

“But Baba, it wasn’t completely my fault.

It was your fault.”

Baba said, “How could it be? Why are you blaming me for your stealing?”

“Well Baba, You gave me an order and the onlyway that I could fulfill the order was ifl stole something. Ijust had to, so therefore You share the responsibility” Baba said, “Explain such a thing.”

AndJal said, “Baba, you knowlast week, when I was ill and went to the doctor.”

And Baba said, “Yes, yes, I remember.”

“And You told me to always follow the instructions ofthe doctor.”

“Yes, yes. So what does that have to do with stealing?”

“Well yesterday, when we stopped for tea, I stole two spoons from the restaurant.”

Baba said, “I don’t understand. I don’t understand. Why is this?”

“Well Baba, when the doctor gave me medicine, he told me to take two spoons with breakfast.”

So with that the men all had agoodkugh, and the spirits were lifted and the journey continued. Jal told us that from that point on, Babawouldwant him to telljokes and to dneer everybody up. That was one ofhis functions with Baba.

This is, to the best ofmy recollection, an accurate retelling of the story as told by Jal Irani to me in the National Hotel in Poona in the summer of 1976.

As an interesting little aside, sister Mani told me not too long ago, perhaps within the last two or three years, thatJal kept up a lifelong correspondence with the actor Boris Karloff. When Jal was with Baba in Hollywood in the first trip in the ‘30’s, Boris Karloff was one ofthe actors with whom Baba made contact. It seems that Boris Karloffwas particularly struckwithJal’s humor because Boris Karloffprided himselfon the factthat he could control himselfin such a way that no one could make him laugh. Jaiwas indeed able to make him laugh, and Boris Karloffkept that in such high regard that right through their lifetimes they kept up a correspondence.

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Shivaji The Warrior King

by Frank Bloise

In whatfar-offcountry, upon what obscure day Iknow not now, Seated in the gloom ofsome Mahratta mountain-wood 0 King Shivaji, brow like a hghtnzngflash Lzghtzng thy This thought descended, ‘7nto one virtuous rule, this divided broken, distracted India, Ishail bind.”

—

Rabindranath Tagore

D

uring 1921, a statue ofthe great soldier Shivaji was inaugurated in a main square ofPoona. One day, during a stroll through the dty Meher Baba explained that for certain spiritual work there occur in varying ce nturies two typ e s of Avataric incarnations major and minor. He then revealed his past minor incarnation as the great soldier ofthe Deccan: “In a past lifetime, I was Shivaji.UntilrecentlytheBñfishhaveleftnothing undonetodetractfi-om Shih±allYetthey have nowhad a statue unveiledbythe Prince of Wales lastyear in ShaniwarWada, Poona, when I am present in this form.”

Glancing at the men present, He said, “You were aliwith me atthetime ofShivaji. Behramji was Afzal Khan, the Mughal general, who was killed by Shivaji. Sadashiv Patel was Taraji Malsoore, the man who gave his life for Shivaji.”

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In Maharashtra state, people have great reverence and love for Shivaji and these statements further consolidated the earlydisciples’ faith in Meher Baba’s greatness.

After he revealed this, the men talked of it among themselves for days. Later in private, he explained to Adi K. Irani that he had been

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Statue ofShivaji in Ahmednagar

Shivaji’s wife. (P.356, LORD MEHER The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba, Vol.11) Shivaji Bhosle was born in 1627 in the fort at Shivneri, 40 miles north of Pune. At the age ofl6 he took an oath at fortTorna to make the land free. Shivaji further expressed his supreme confidence that it was God’s will that this mission should succeed. This was the start of his lifelong struggle against Moghals and other Muslim powers. By 1647 Shivaji had captured two forts and had complete charge of Pune. There fol— lowed an uneasy truce between Shivaji and his Mussulman neighbors.

During theyear 1649, while this thstrustl pause continued, Shivaji met the poet Tukaram and the Sadguru Ramdas.

The local cults ofthe Mahratha country had been connected with the birth ofMarathi literature and the awakening ofa national consciousness. These cults were centered around Pandharpur where Krishna was worshipped.

A succession ofSaints and poets, living and teaching there, had made the place holy. The new Marathi literature became a voice for an

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awakened consciousness ofrace and religion.

Tukaram, whose poems are still sung in every Maratha village, was the son ofa gro cer. As a child he was drawn towards a spiritual life. When he was still young his father died and he was left with the family shop to manage. He had neither a liking nor an ability for business. He was too shyto collect debts. Whenever he had any money he gave it away to charity. Eventually, penniless and starving, he took a pilgrim’s staff and wandered into the hills, composing the songs that have made him famous. One day a minstrel recited one of Tukaram’s poems to Shivaji, who was so moved by it that he sent a messenger begging Tukaram to come and make a homewith him, promising him wealth and comfort.Tukaram repliedwith a poem: ‘Prince, your torches, umbrellas ofstate and richly-caparisoned horses, your pomp and splendor andking ways are notfor me. I have fledfrom the world andyou would entice me back. Ah. Let me be alone, solitary, in silence. You promise me robes ofstate and a palace. These would be wasted on me. Forests and meadows are my dwellings. Moss-green rocks are my couch. The sky above me is my cloak.”

(:x:x3t When Shivaji heard this heleft his camp and wandered alone over the rolling hills of the Maratha plateau till he found Tukaram.

He fell at his feet. He tore offhis clothes and put on the rags of an ascetic and sat humbly and in silence beside the poet. Neither spoke.

And here Shivaji’s followers found their mas ter after a long and anxious search. They begged him to return to his camp. He would not listen to them. In despair they sent word to Shivaji’s mother asking her to help bring him to his senses. Jijabai came and upbraided her son. He had encouraged his followers to rebel against the Muhammadan and now he was abandoning them. There were many saints in Hindu India, but only one man with the destiny of Shivaji; the Hindu cause now needed heroes and armies rather than minstrels and hermits. SorrowfullyShivaji acknowledged thejustice ofher arguments and returned with his followers. He did not seeTukaram again, who died that same year. But for the rest of his life he remained in close contact with Ramdas, Tukaram’s saintly contemporary whom he also met in 1649.

Ramdas acted on his inclination toward asceticism early in life. Heleft home to avoid an earlymarriage, and spent most ofhis youth vis iting, on foot, the shrines oflndia. He finally settled down in a temple ofRama, near Satara.

He had a reputation for performing miracles, even as a child, and his temple home became a center ofpilgrimage.

The message and mission ofRamdas can be summed up in the meaningful phrase ‘Maharashtra Dharma’. His work contained that mixture ofrealism and intuition which is so characteristic ofMaharashtra through the ages. In fact his Das-Bodha with Tukaram’s Gatha or Book ofSongs and theJnaneshwari can be looked upon as the ‘Triple Veda’ of Maharashtra down to this day. Their appeal is both to the head and heart.They are written in a form closer to rhythmical prose than verse.

Buttheyare allembodiments ofSatyam-Sivam Sundaram ‘Truth, Purity Beaut’The truth mustbe experienced, andtheyhad experienced it andcouldindicateitforothersto experience.

When Shivaji heard ofRamdas he wrote to him. Ramdas likeTukaram, answered him with a poem. But unlike Tukaram who sang the praises of obscurity, Ramdas acclaimed Shivaji as the new hero-king who would free the Hindus. With the poem he sent a present ofearth, pebbles and horse-dung. Shivaji was sittingwith his motherwhen this unusual gift —

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arrived. Jijbai indignantly stared at Ramdas’ present and asked ifthis was a proper thing to send a gentleman. Shivaji, after a moments thought, responded, “It is a symbol and a prophesy. The earth means that I shall conquer all this land. The pebbles are the fortresses with which I shall hold it, and the horse-dung signifies my cavalry for which I shall become famous.”

Shivaji keptin close contactwith Ramdas, seeking his advice on matters ofgovernment, administration and policy. At the height of his powers he visited Ramdas and, bowing before him, gave him a document which was a deed bestowing on the master all his kingdom.

Ramdas said, “I acceptthe gift onbehalfofGod. Take backyour kingdom and rule in His name.

Govern, notas anunfètteredautocrat buthumbly as the deputy ofheaven.”

To mark his reverence for Ramdas’ cult, Shivaji requested that his followers greet each other with the salutation “Ram,” a practice which continues to this day.

In spite of the crusade like character which Ramdas’ blessing gave to Shivaji’s long struggle, he became recognized for his lack of religious animosity or intolerance. Even his enemies remarked on his extreme respect for Mussulman priests, for mosques and for the Koran. The Muslim historian Khafi Khan, who cannot mention Shivaji in his chronicle without adding epithets of vulgar abuse, nevertheless acknowledges that Shivaji never entered a conquered town without taking measures to safeguard the mosques from damage; Whenever a Koran came into his possession he treated it with the same respect as ifit had been one ofthe sacred texts ofhis own faith.

In 1657, Shivaji started his first campaign against the Adilshahi by plundering a large booty in Ahmednagar. Adilshahi sent Afzul Khan to destroy Shivaji. Afzul Khan knew that Shivaji’s army, which was much smaller than his own, wouldbe unable to fight him on open land. He tried alithetricks he could think ofto make him fight on the plains, but Shivaji would not be outmaneuvered. He convinced Khan that he was very much afraid of him and requested to meet him at a place near Vai ( 100 miles south ofPune) whichwas awooded, mountainous region, ideal for the success of his army. Khan still had plans to kill him in the meeting and Shivaji knew it. Ultimately itwas Khanwhowas killed, andhis unsuspecting army was completed vanquished by Shivaji. After

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this, Shivaji continued to win battles and spread his reach to Panhala near Kolhapur.

Meanwhile, Prince Aurangzcb, Viceroy ofthe Deccan during the reign ofShahJahan, was troubled by Shivaji’s rise to power. It was clear that local Muslim powers were unable to stop him. So he sent a huge army, led by Mirzaraje Jaisingh to defeat Shivaji (1666).

J aising’s armywas much stronger than Shivaji’s and soon he lost most ofhis important forts.

Realizing that he was fighting alosing battle, he signed a treaty with Mirza and agreed to serve Aurangzeb. Hewentto Deihiwith lVlirza to meet Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb humiliated Shivaji and put him under house arrest. It seemed likely that Shivaji would be killed

by Aurangzeb. Under this threat, Shivaji hatched a clever plot to escape and disap peared to the south.

After this Shivaji slowly regained his lost tertitory By 1673, he had control over most of western Maharashtra and made Raigad (150 miles southwest ofPune) his capital. He was enthroned as a sovereign king in 1673. By 1680, the year ofShivaji’s death, almost all of the Deccan belonged to his kingdom. Hehad developed an efficient administration and a powerful army. He also encouraged a spirit of independence among ihe Marathas that enabled them to withstand attempts to conquer them for 150 years.

The secret of Shivaji’s success was in motivating the people to sacrifice for the establishment of a free Hindu State and not for the sake of an individual king or chieftain. He transformed the idea ofpersonal loyaltyto some particular chieftain into one of loyalty to the entire nation and its liberty.

Shivaji’s achievements against all odds are legendary and he holds a place of the highest honor in Maratha history.

Indira Gandhi said: “I think Shivaji ranks’s among the greatest men of the world.

Since we were a slave country, our great men have been somewhat played down in world history. Had the same person been born in a European country, he would have been praised to the skies and known everywhere. It would have been said that he had illumined the world.”

That was lftforHis nextAdvent!

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Different Degrees oflntuitive Wisdom by Meher Baba he fret and fury of immediate responses to the changing situations of earthly life is replaced in life after death by a more leisurely mood, freed from the urgency ofimmediately needed actions.

All the experiences ofthe earthly career are now available for reflection in a form more vivid than is possible through memory in earthly life. The shots of earthly life have all been taken on the cinematic film of the mind, and it is now time to study the origi nal earthly life through the magnified projections ofthe filmed record on the screen of subjectivized consciousness.

Thus the hell state and the heaven state become instrumental in the assimilation of experiences acquired in the earthly phase; and the individualized soul can start its next incarnation in a physical body with all the athantages of digested experience. The les sons learned by the soul through such stocktaking and reflection are confirmed in the mentalbody by the power oftheir magnified suffering or happiness. They become, for the next incarnation, an integralpart ofthe intui tive makeup ofactive consciousness, without in any way involving detailed revival of the individual events ofthe previous incarnation.

The truths absorbed by the mind in the life after death become in the next incarnation a part ofinborn wisdom. Developed intuition is consolidated and compressed understanding, distilled through a multitude of diverse experiences gathered in previous lives.

Different souls start with different de grees ofintuitive wisdom as their initial capi tal for the experiments and adventures of their earthly careers.This intuition may seem to have been the product ofpast experiences, thus adding to the equipment ofthe psyche; but it is more truly an unfoldment of what was aireadylatent in the individualized soul.

From this deeper point ofview, the experi ences of earthly life as well as the reflec tive and consolidating processes they are subjected to in life after death are merely instrumental in graduallyreleasing to the sir-

face the intuitive wisdom already latent in the soul from the verybeginning of creation.

As is true ofthe earthly career and its experi ences, the states ofhell and heaven in the life after death are also integral parts ofand mcidents in that journey of the individualized soul, which is ultimately meant to reach the Source ofall things.

DISCOURSES, pp. 311-312 Copyright 1987 AMBPPCT

Charles Haynes Speaks to Schools in L.A. (Excerptfrom an article in the L.A. Times Dec., 1996)

A

a recent workshop for 50 public school teachers in Los Angeles, Charles Haynes told ofapublic school dass turned to chaos by a fhiger-pointing, angiy exchange on who was going to hell. Finally, he said, the exasperated teacher threw up her hands and said, “You’re al/right,” halting the debate.The storyillustrates the flammability ofreligious topics, which has tempted many an educator to avoid all religious discussions

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and activities in the classroom.

But the Los Angeles Unified School District has turned to Charles Haynes to train educators to deal with religious expression.

Charles’ California project is called the 3Rs, for “rights, responsibilities and respect” relating to religious matters. He has designed guidelines to help educators deal with such issues as religious clubs, schoolprayer and proselytizing.

Charles said many conservative Christian leaders have endorsed ground rules for even-handed religious expression in “Finding Common Ground,” a guidebook he edited. The book reflects consensus among Jewish, civil libertarian, evangelical and teacher association leaders.

Charles Haynes is “probably the guy who can bring peace back to the public schools. I’ve been in meeting after meeting with Charles.

Whenever he’s there, youjust always agree with him,” said Christian organizer Robert Simonds oflrvine, California, whose Citizens for Excellence in Education has fought battles over religious issues and urged conservative Christians to run for school board seats. “Charles Haynes is probably one ofthe greatest leaders we have in the country to bridge the gap” between liberals and conservatives.

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Baba’s Christ’s Cradle

by Georgann Erskine August 1990, I went home to ‘Nagar after an 18 year absence. I took my daughter, Nami, for her firstvisit to India.

We accompanied Raine Eastman and her daughter, Freinietta, on the trip. It was a journey graced by Baba in every way. While enjoying our stay at the Pilgrim Center, the beautiful Christ’s Cradle bloomed one night. Being a ‘driven’ gardener myself I was intrigued bya succulentthatwould onlybloom for one day ofthe year and only during the night! The fragrance, as well as the glorious physical beauty ofthe bloom, was to me a bit ofAvataric magic. Present on that night were Patti Thorne and Noreen Graham, as well as Nami, Raine and Freinietta. At the end of August, when we reluctantly left India to return to America, I decided to ‘allow’ a few leaves from the Christ’s Cradle to travel along with me in my suitcase. Upon arrival at U.S. Customs, the customs agent took one look at me and my daughter and informed us that we looked as though we had enjoyed ourjourney and to go ahead and go right through the custom line.Thankyou, Baba!

Byjune ofthis year, almost six years since ourvisit to India, my Christ Cradle had grown somewhat in size, but had never had a single bloom. On the night ofJune 29, 1996, Noreen Graham had come down to L.A. and was visiting Patti Thorne, who lived about 5 minutes from my house in Topanga. It was a beautiful night and we decided to go to dinner at a local restaurant in Topanga that we all enjoyed. Upon returning to my house at about 10:00 that night, we went up the stairs to my porch and were astonished to see seven giant, glorious flowers blooming on the Christ’s Cradle! They were spectacular and we spent a long timejust adoring the blooms and being amazed at their incredible size.

Suddenly, we all realized that the last time this plant had bloomed had been six years before at the Pilgrim Center and all three

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ofus had been there together.

On July 27 of this year approximately one month later, Suejamison came down to visit me for the firsttime at myTopanga home.

Sue and I have been friends since I met her in India in 1972. We spent time together in Australia and also in Northern California.

Finally, I convinced her to come to L.A. to visit me in Topanga. I had told Sue of the Christ Cradle’s blooms and was sorry that she couldth have seen them.The Saturday night ofthe weekend she was visiting, we returned home and went out onto my porch. There it was one, lone, gorgeous Baba bloom on the Christ’s Cradle —just for her!

It is now August 18, 1996, a Sunday night. I havejust learned ofMani’s passing.

Last night when I returned home at 11:00

p.m., I was amazed to seejust one sweet, lone, perfect bloom on the Christ’s Cradle. It was as fragrant as ever, with a pure-white cradle and star gloriously embellishing the center of the bloom. How sweet a remembrance for the mostperfect ofour cherished Baba flowers our Mani-ji.

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In His Love with Many Kisses for Sweet Mani, Gcorgcann Erskine, Topanga, California

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Postings from the Internet Rita Gordon tells us ofan occasion early in her relationship with Baba:

I remember at the time I was feeling very unworthy and didn’t want to call myself a disciple ofBaba (in case He didn’t want me!!) and so wrote to Eruch asking him something along the lines of”How do I know that Baba has accepted me as His own?”

Here is part ofEruch’s response: ‘DearRita, it isHisgrandgame that Ifind inyourletter: You wish to know whetherBeloved LordAvatar Meher Baba accepts you as His own (disciple/lover); little do we realise that it is He whoprompts us to loveHim andto serve Him; it isHe in His own inimitable way who draws us to Him, and it is He who urges us tofind out whetherHe accepts us. Isn’tthisDivine humour Ofcourse, dearRita, jfHe were not to have acceptedyou, why wouldyou visit His home in MyrtleBeach andinIndia Why wouldyou want to think fHim alot...why wouldyou wantto read aboutHim alot, andwhy wouldyou wantto tiyto liveyour lfè toplease Him Allthis and much more below the suface of this, points to BelovedBaba being not only your mastei but your Beloved Lord who is drawing you closer and closer to Him to become His. The on& way to know whetherHe has acceptedyou as His, and whetheryou are His, is tofall back on His assurance: ‘) Whenyou become Mine, you willknow thatlamALREADYyours.”

So, dearRita, allow Him to drawyou closer andcloser to Him in His own compassionate way.

Feel not unworthy to declare yoursefto be His disczple orlover He alone isperJèctandworthy of our offirings. But, we have nothing to offirHim other than our own imperfrctions. It is His compassion andlovefir us that makes usgive up our impeèctions one by one. Anc4 He accepts our ffbrts as our offiring to Him. Ons3i through our imperfections can we strive to reach perfiction.

Dear Rita, it is best to lay aside the ques— tion ofwhether Baba has acceptedyou as His own. Just try to remember Him and love Him the wayyou can remember and love Him. It is said that our Lord is so very compassionate that He accepts our hypocriticalprayers.

I can’t tell you how much it put my mind at ease when I received Eruch’s letter. I found so hard to believe that I could be among the “few”!!

Here’s another experience I had along this line; the dear sweet man who worked with me and told me about Meher Baba in 1980 was fired shortly after our conversation that led to the revealing ofBaba to me.

I was devastated when he was let go, but he said it was all right his work here had been done, now he knew why Baba had sent him to thatjob, to get me! I don’t ever re member being so awestruck or so filled with humility in my life to think that the Dear Lord personally loved me.

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Jai Baba to all, Any contact with a fellow Baba Lover is very rare in the small desert communities aroundwhere I live and shop and ply my trade ofsignpainting, butT got areal surprise just this last November, after treating myseifto a dinner at the local Sizzlers in Yucca Valley,just a few miles from where I live. Slippedin through the crack of my car window, and yet placed perfectly onto the driver’s side seat, was a crumpled plastic bag, and a short handwritten note. The note said: “I saw your Meher Baba bumber sticker. I’m also a follower (I live in Toyko). I thought you would like to have some prasad. Jai Baba!” I was extremely touched to have this little gift, several prasad candies, from Baba.

Does anybody know of a Baba Lover in Tokyo?? Someone who might have been in Oth? Yucca Valley, California, on November 2

In His love always,

Sam the Storyteller Perhaps some ofyou have heard Sam Kerawala tell Sufi parables and stories after Arti. He usually tells one at every arti that he attends, and he hardly ever repeats them, no small feat in itself. His stories have become quite popular and when he starts speaking in his soft voice, people walk over to the Samadhi platform to listen.

A couple ofnights ago he told this story ofan Arab that had said his prayers 5 times a day regularly, had a good business and comfortable life, but didn’t feel that he was getting anywhere spiritually. So he went to a Master, and asked about his situation. The Master, byway ofexplanation, told him to get a cat and a dog and to feed them, and then report backwhat he noticed.

So the man obediently aquired both animals and began to feed and observe them.

After some time, he returned to the Master and was asked what he had observed. He said that the animals come, eat, and go away. The Master told him to continue, and report back after some time. Again he came back after the specified period, and reported to the Master that the cat is onlyto be seen at feeding times, but the dog is around most ofthe time. After the obligatorythird time, the Master tells him that what he has failed to notice is that the dog thinks that he is being fed because the man is God, and is feeding him out of His compassion, while the cat feels that it is being fed because it is God, and that the human is serving the cat because he recognizes that fact.

The Master said that the Arab had been like the cat, and now needed to become like the dog. It was a well appreciated story.

The next morning I was driving to Pune with Sam, and in the course ofour conversation, I happened to ask him where that story had come from, as I had never heard it before. Sam thought a moment, and said, “To be quite frank, Ijust made it up.Therewas ajoke about the cat and dog at the bottom of one of the articles in a Reader’s Digest that I had read, and I adapted it. You kno everyone expects me to tell a different story every time, and where do I get all ofthose?”

Jai Baba,

Jay Mohier J oshua Tree, California

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Calendar ofEvents Farsi Meetings

All events, unless otherwise noted, are held at the Center: 1214 S. Van Ness Avenue Los Angeles, Ca (213)731-3737

Saturday Evening Discussions These meetings begin at 6pm Discussions in Farsi, about Mchcr Baba.

All arc welcome!

July 12th, 26th August 9th, 23rd September 6th, 20th

Meetings are free andopen to the public.

Ifyou have ideas or requestsfor future programs, please contact Mahoo Ghorbani at (714)725-9552

Saturday Meetings Lord Meher Readings Saturdays at 4pm Drop in to drink the nectar of Meher Babs Divine Love. Reading and discussion of Lord Meher, the biography by Bhau Kalehuri.

Coordinated byFred Stankus,

July

August

July 1

August2

Grand Opening ofMeherabode

Meher Baba in Agnesc World at Meher Mount

Official Grand Opening ofMeherabode with Bhau Kaichuri officiating.

July 5th

No Meeting Center closed due to Sahavas at Pilgrim Pines.

July 12

Music and Poetry Nzht We are celebrating a night ofMusic and Poetry with Beloved Baba. Featuring outstanding artists BillyGoodrum, George Gerdes, Debby Ash and more.

July 19

Youth Art Festival Come and support our children and their creative expression dedicated to Baba. Dance, verse, play, and drawing July26

Rabaism ‘?

Is itinevitable that followingBabawill become a religion? Or are we there now? What can we do to keep fresh the spontaneous prayer ofthe heart?An open discussionledbyMitchell Rose.

September September 6

Gutta Night

Come and hearofAgnes’s relatIonshipwithMeher Baba at Meher Mount as told in Mandali Hall.

Hosted by Gigi Driessen.

A personal favorite, tonight we will celebrate friendship and camraderie in the iove of God. Hosted with abundance by Fred Stankus and Gigi Dricssen.

August 9

September 13

Free Trip to India

The Power ofMeher Babac Message to the World

Filmmaker Mitchell Rose is showing an hour and a halfvideo travelogue ofNorthern India and the life ofthe wayward pilgrim in Ahmednagar with some terrific Mandali gems. (Repeat) August 16

ManäJoy in Beloved Baba Jam us for a celebration ofjoyful memories of Baba’s sister, our SweetMani. Please bring stories and letters to share. Coordinated byDina Snow.

Open discussion of how Meher Baba’s messages have affected your life. Bring a special quote that is important to you.

September 20

The Latest Happenings in India Recent returnees from India will share their journey to the Beloved’s Home.

September 27 August23

Continuous Prayer An evening ofMantras,Japa, and prayers ofyour choice. Bring your favorite prayer to share.

Coordinated byLinda Zavala.

My Memories ofMeher Baba Murshida Duce’s daughter, Charmian Duce Knowles spent time with Meher Baba in India, America, and Europe and has many lovely stories to share.

August30

Film Night Press Meher Baba’s Image to your heart. God in human form on film. HostedbyCharlie Morton

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Ground-Breaking at Meherabad I

On

the first ofMay, 1997, after almost three years ofintensive planning and preparation, ground was broken for the new Archives and Museum conservation Building on Meherabad Hill.

This Conservation Building is the cen terpiece in a vast effort initiated by Mani to preserve for posterity Avatar Meher Baba’s personal articles such as sadras, sandals, hair, etc. as well as the documentary records ofHis Advent. After intensive research and planning into museum conservation methods and building designs, a year ago at this time the Trust’s Archives and museum Committee shared its goals and vision with Beloved Baba’s worldwide family. The response has indeed been heartening and stands as a mea sure of the support of Baba’s eastern and western lovers for this preservation work. And while anticipated budgetary requirements are still far from being met, nonetheless, earlier this year the Trust made the decision to go ahead with the ground-breaking and the first stages ofthe construction.

The summer season in India falls in the months between March andJune springtime in the West. By the beginning ofMay in semi-arid Ahmednagar, sweltering summertime heat is climbing towards its zenith. Day after day a stark, blazing tropical sun, almost dead overhead at noontime, bakes parched brown earth which has not been rained upon since the closing ofthe monsoon more than six months earlier. To avoid the high temperatures and sun glare of the mid-day in this uncomfortable season, therefore, the groundbreaking was scheduled for mid-morning. th, On April 30 the eve of the event, a colorful pandal was erected on the building site. Since the construction has been planned for an undeveloped and somewhat inacces sible spot in the Upper Meherabad estate, a temporary dirt road had to be improvised.

Outlines ofthe building itselfwere marked out with white lines of lime chalk running down the slope ofthe hill. By evening ofthe th 30 fl the necessary preparations seemed to —

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be in order. But evidentlyMother Nature had plans ofher own.That night the Ahmednagar district was struckby an exceptionally violent and altogether unseasonable storm. Torren tial rainfalls completelywashed awaythe lime chalk and transformed the new road into a muddy mire: and gale force winds blew down the tent. So it was that, by early morning of the designated day, the Meherabad workers were faced with the prospect ofhaving to do all their preparations over again from scratch.

To top it all, May first is a state holiday in Maharashtra, and Meherabad employees were on leave. Nonetheless, the Meherabad resident staffand such other workers as could be found pitched in and were able, for the second time, to prepare the site by groundbreaking time in the late morning. By then the storm had cleared, and we all felt Baba’s hand in tempering the weather to make the event both pleasant and joyful.

Ground-breaking in Hindu-culture is known as “bhoomi pujan,” or “worship ofthe earth.” Although this often crystallizes into a mere set ceremony performed without awareness of inner meanings, in fact the idea underlying “bhoomi pujan” is a deep one.

Through this pujan, prospective builders are seeking from the earth permission to break her grounds and raise an edifice that will weigh upon her for decades and even centu ries to come. In its true essence, this pujan is a prayer to God growing out ofthe apprecia tion of the inter-relatedness of all things and the Divinity that inheres within the natural world.

A simplified, Baba-style version ofthis pujan, then, was planned as the day’s fea tured event. It was preceded by a women’s arti, which will be familiar to those pilgrims who have participated in these devotional occasions with Mehera, Maul, and the other women mandali over the last quarter-cen tury since Beloved Baba dropped His physical form. The arti was fragrant with many memories and, at the same time, charged with the Divine Beloved’s ever-living presence.

After the prayers and songs, the gather-

by Ward Parks

ing moved to the new building site, which is located on the northeast edge ofMeherabad Hill, perhaps a hundred meters on the far side ofthe Meherabad tower opposite from the Tomb.

While the main part ofthe building itself will, when completed, nestle into the hillside, its upper entrance, where the groundbreaking was to transpire, is at a location which commands a splendid, panoramic view of the rural landscape, with Lower Meherabad across the railways tracks to one’s right and the outlines ofAhmednagar, hazy in the summer heat, far off to the left and north. After the fifty or so participants had gathered under the tent, Baba’s photo was garlanded with a shout of “Avatar Meher Baba kiJai!” Meheru and then Bhau cracked coconuts (symbolizing the offering of one’s mind to the Master), sprinkled colored powder and sugar on tile flowers and the earth before the photo, and broke ground with a pick. One by one, all others in attendance followed suit, digging up a small garden-sized plot of land. The simple event was then brought to a close with light refreshments of cold drinks and biscuits. By noon, the day’s main activities had been concluded or so we thought. But once again, Nature was of another mind.

Two or three hours after ground-breaking had been completed, the city of Ahmednagar was raked with the most fero cious hail storm in recent memory; and although Meherabad and Meherazad were spared, the Trust Compound provided an es pecially spectacular view of nature’s elements most mightily aroused. For about forty five minutes, to a thunderous accompanying din on the corrugated tin roofs of some of the neighboring buildings around the periphery ofMeher Nazar, a fusillade ofhallstones, many the size ofacorns and some a good bit larger, careened and bounded like white pinballs off the clay roofing tiles, tore offthe brilliant redorange summer blossoms ofgolmor and the leaves of the neem and papaya and mango trees, and gathered, a wreckage ofgreen and —

continued on page 38.

36

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‘Groznd-Breaking’ contJfrompage 36.

orange amid a halfinch ofhail-snow, on the Compound graveled walkways. Outside the Trust’s reception office ankle-deep ice wa ter covered with a floe ofhail-slush numbed the feet ofanyone foolish enough to yenture outside; on the stone pavement in front of Bhau’s office the hail fall-off from the roof gathered by the wall in a drift a foot deep. In the midst ofthe Indian summer season when the mercury regularly climbs above the century mark, all ofthis made for a bizarre sight indeed! In fact, the extremes ofwind and weather over this 48 hour span tore offmanybranches and even uprooted huge trees around Ahmednagar, which still can be seen lying here and there in the fields and along the roadsides.

Beloved Baba used to observe from time to time that rain at the outset ofa new venture or enterprise is an auspicious sign.

And indeed, unexpected and unseasonable storms often intruded at key stages of His work. One is reminded in this connection of the rain showers that inaugurated the New Life when Baba and His companions set out from Meherabad on the morning of October 16tF, 1949. Rainfall soaked sahavasees during the “Three Incredible Weeks” sahavas in 1954 when Baba gave his “Final Declaration,” and again at a gath ering in Satara later that year when Baba, employing His hand gestures publicly for the first time, gave his “Final Clarification,” and still again at the great confluence of His lovers in Poona in the East-West Gathering of 1962. It is almost as if, through adverse weather, Maya was offering resistance to the Avatar’s work and in this way giving it greater force, like the resisting bowstring which, when released. dispatches the arrow all the more speedily towards its target.

Seen against this background, then, and ifwe can indeed take meteorological dis turbances as an indicator of the heaven’s blessings, ground-breaking for the new Conservation Building was attended by blessings galore! It was a noteworthy and memorable occasion, dedicated to the One whose memory is forever kept alive in the hearts ofHis lovers.

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Real Alleviation of Suffering

by Meher Baba The quest for happiness is irretrievably enmeshed in the problem ofthe illusion ofthe world offormwithwhich the individual selfhas become identified through the body. If this illusion can be shattered, the shackles which bind happiness are automatically shattered as well. But how to shatter the illusion?

An individual who mistakenly believes that he is a coward may live a lifetime of misery during which all his actions are shaped by this incorrect belief. But ifsome event in his life challenges him so deeply that he unthinkingly strides forth with great cour age, then the illusion will suddenly vanish and he will see himselfas a different being.

Often it takes real crisis to bring out a sure knowledge ofthe real inner self, and it is always a creative knowledge.

Even as the individual can be wrong in his convictions regarding his own nature, so he is often quite wrong about the nature of the world around him. In reality it is aworid of illusion that separates him from his true birthright offreedom and happiness in oneness with the One. Actually, no individualis entirely devoid ofsome real happiness in some form, for God as an endless and fathomless ocean ofbliss is also within every person, and no one is entirely cut offfrom Him. Pleasure sought in illusion inevitably results in endless perpetuation ofthat very same false life of the ego, which leaves the individual exposed to intense suffering.

The whole play of illusion and the suffering it engenders functions by the divinely established law ofkarma (cause and effect). Therefore suffering must be accepted withgrace andfortitude. Itmustbe remembered that one’s own actions are the cause of much ofone’s suffering, and therefore wise action

CratLery of the 1-feart Credfts All the photos listed here are for sale through the Love Street Bookstore. #1 #2 #3

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Meelan Meelan

Back cover 20x30 color $30, 8x10 coIor $16 Diana LePage -

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can minimize it. But real alleviation of

suffering requires spiritual enlightenment, and for that man must turn to the Perfect

Masters and the God-man (Avatar).

LISTEN, 1-IUMANITY, ed. Don E. Stevcns, pp.

152-153 Copyright 1982 AMBPPCT

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Sunday Brunch with Craig Ruff his Maywe were happy to have Craig as a guest in our new home. He was on a trip around the U.S. telling us about his litest bookfn Has T; tist (Craig’s two previouos books, available at the Boookstore are Timt’e/ iiaçrIWusie and 77e Moment Within.)

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[:NN The ladies’ table infrenit ofihe Milbanfi mansion, clockwisefivm ccntet Teny

Laces, Mahoo Chorbani, Racie Choi, Olea SucofJ Donna Sanders, 4yr. old Jinjelica Dearborn, Connie Crawford, and Ginger Jlzsghes.

rr’a Dine,, David, and Glees.

38

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Center Report

by Donna Sanders

A Letter from Meherabode

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pring at the new center brought on a fever ofplanting, pruning and clearing the gardens. Roses now greet us when we come through the gates reminding us of Mehera’s Garden. At the risk ofsounding like a societypage, I feelmoved to teilyou about some ofthe manypeople who have contributed their love, energy and time since we moved in.

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forgive me if I’ve missed anyone.

I saw Shireen Lorkalantari singlehandedly defeat a scourge of iceplant that filled two dumpsters. Thanks y

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As Peter Ravazza and I yl Stone start in on the Baba room in the the cobweb Peter appears to be painting is the rçflection ofthe sun through the round center window in the top ofthe Dome.

to her, and the removal of two palm trees that had literally grown into and buckled the foundation, the “1 ,erac Rose ping are, from i front entrance ofthe BookJohn I rathew Echeveste, Pat Grjffin, Lynne store is ready for repairs and Maguire, Fred Stankus, and Dma Snow. new landscaping.

I saw the following grounds keepers hard Dear Harry Thomas, in atwork/play: Marko Swearingen, Karma Page, addition to his enormous task ofhandling center mailings, stops by every day that his job permits to sort mail, wa ter the plants, feed the fish, and answer phone messages.

Mo h a m m e d Azaderad re vealed that he is not only a psychologist, but a handyman, so he’s begun work on the many fix-its. Soon after we moved in, Marc Brutus used his skills to replace all ofour locks. I counted 27 doors inside and out!

Mia andfriends show the adults how it done.

We are truly grateful that Peter Ravazza and Daryl Dma Snow, Lynn and Danny Maguire, Stone drove from the S.F. Bay to contribute Ginger Hughes, Adele Wolken, Nazrin Ajang, paint, labor and professional expertise to Effie Omidivar,Trish Shannon,TracyBleahu, repaint the dome room and the meeting hail Pat Griffin and her boys, Mary Kay Shubattheir artistry and good humor made it all a Hage, DebbieAsh, andMia Campagna. Please pleasure. In a dinner at Peter’s favorite L.A. £

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Daryl takes a quick break before tackling the meeting hail.

restaurant, the Cheesecake Factory, Adele and I got to know Daryl and heard his fascinating story ofcoming to Baba.

Thanks to all ofyou sweethearts who donated for the new area rugs in the dome rooms. They are lovely. Nancy Merwan requests calls at 213-650-5481 with ideas about decorating the center, furniture styles,

39

(O3 t etc., before you purchase or donate. Nancy has spent hours choosing paint colors and working toward overall interior design concepts withher decorating committee: Diane LaFleur, Lynn, Dma, Nazrin, Adele, Mehernoush Lorkalantari, andTamara Mark.

Tamara also choreographed a cleanup day, leadingthe cleaners dancing through the work in a style that I know pleases Baba.The rest of the cast for that daywere: Billy Goodrum, Lois J ones, Lynn, Nancy, Mitchell Rose, Rosalie Dunphy, Jim Whitson, and others who were inspired bythe fun.

But, why should we have all the fun?

By the time you read this, Mehernoush, the Volunteer Coordinator, will have had her first meeting to orient a core group ofvolunteers who will keep the center open, safe and functioning. I hope you were there. If not, please contact Mehemoush to tell her howyou can help at 818-368-3800, after 6p.m. or at her voice mail: 213-881-4085.

Also, by the time you read this, we wifi have had a town hail meeting to discuss the conditional use and occupancy permits. We’ve hiredjim Bonar from the architectural firm, Cavaedium, (which means place oflight) to

get our application through the process.

Theyhaveworkedwith other nonprofit groups and built AIDS hospices. He drew a floor plan that will meet the city’s requirements for toilets, seismic retrofitting, exits, structural support, etc. David McNeely is the liaison to Cavaedium from the use permit committee. He says that Jim’s professional expertise and ability to negotiate through the maze of city offices, has already saved us money. More on this in a later issue.

Look for a family movie called “Buddy,” with Renee Russo and a herd ofanimals, that waslmed attheMilbankEstate before we moved in.You might see our lawn with its beautiftilwall, the meeting hall and storage buildings. In our first month, we were able to rent our outdoor areas forparking andfeeding the crew for two yet another commercials little gift from Beloved Baba.

It seems very fitting that the movie industry in Hollywood, about which Baba had so much to say, will be helping us pay offour mortgage!

Meherabode Memory Meherabode evening isfalling city ofangels canopy ofstars Meherabode darknessfaint-calling can you catch birdsong co-mingling with cars?

Meherabode buildings

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fiowers in garden humans in chairs Meherabode dwelling &yard Mehera &ManiPrabhu &prayers

David Raphael Israel

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Mia gives Debra a ‘hand’ or two with the planting.

Letter from Larry Remember those “applause-o-meters” on the old “QueenforA Day” television show?

We14 I have my own built-in “Godcpresence-o-meter” that I’ve been carrying aroundfâr years. It conveniently built right into my psyche.

Wè14 Ihappenedto drop by the newL.A. CenterlastFriday afternoon. Guess what?????

It registered aperfect 10!

Babac presencefloods the new L.A. Center! What a wonderfuiplace! What a wondeifulfind!

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AVATARMEHER BABAKJJAI! Istillcan’t believe it!

[hp: Film company vans lined up infront ofMeherabodec gate.

Middle: “Rick Brainin Catering”provides lunch repast.

Bottom: Theflim crew gratfully partakes...

Larry Pesta

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4 ‘Ruzbihan is back! One ofthe great Sufi mysticsfrom the centuryjust before Rumi, almost unknownfor hundreds ofyears, comes among us again in thispowerfiil and necessary book. I am grateful to ear/Ernst, who leads us through these spiritual diaries.”

—

Coleman Barks, translator ofThe Essential Rumi

“This is thefirst work ofRuzbihan Baqli, one of the colossalfigures ofSufism, to be translated into English.

Rendered into a language that is at once elegant and accessible, this beautful classic ofspiritualautobiography should appeal not only to scholars oflslamic thought, but a/so to anyone seriously concernedwith the life ofthe spirit.”

Sewed Hossein Nasr University Professor oflslaniic Studies, The George Washington University —

“The Unveiling ofSecretsput me in what Ruzbihan might call ‘i station” ofpure awe. This book explodes co ntemporary notions of autobiography. It overwhelms doubt without argument, overwhelms with the integrity of its own telling, and immerses the willing reader, the sincere one, in the central mystery andjoy oflfe. It brings, in this translation, an iltibasoan investiture of dignity and mercy and grace to the English language itse(f This book takes us where we cannot go and lets us stand there listening as it reads itse(f Open it, and watch a man love Godas God/oves man.”

—Davidjames Duncan, author ofThe RiverWhyjhe Brothers K, and RiverTeeth

“This book opens before us a world offragrant roses, visions ofincredible boldness, described by one of the greatest visionaries in the realm ofmystica/ love in Islam, Ruzbihan. The reader is transported by this congenialtranslation into the sphere ofAbsolute Beauty, and overwhelming Divine Love. May many readers enjoy this work which seems sofarfrom the image of Islam current inthe West!”

—Dr. Annemarie Schimmel, Professor oflndo-Muslim Culture, HarvardUniversity and author ofMystical Dimensions ofislam

“The Unveiling ofSecrets” is a 156 page paperback selling for $15.95.

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41

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Ruzbihan Baqil

The Unveiling of Secrets Diary ofa Sufi Master An Interview with Carl W. Ernst The Unveiling ofSecrets is an unusual title. What does it mean?

A. Ruzbihan gave this title to his diary.

“Unveiling” is a term used by Sufis to refer to the mystical experience in which God tears awaythe veil that separates ordinaryhuman consciousness from the divine reaiity Unveiling often takes the form ofvisions inwhich God, the angels, andthe Sufi saints appearinvisible forms.

“Secret” is the innermost consciousness that is hidden within the soul; that secret forms part ofthe divine realitywhich is unveiled.

From his childhood to his death at the age ofeighty-one, Ruzbihan’s life was filled with a continual stream ofvisions and ecstasies.

QHowwas Ruzbihan viewed in his own time?

A. As a youth, Ruzbihan (1128-1209) briefly sold vegetables in his hometown of Pasa in southern Persia; his surname, Baqli, “the grocer,” distinguishes him from several other people named Ruzbihan. At the age offifteen, however he threw his goods and cash box into the street, and ran away into the desert to seek God. He joined the Sufis shortly afterward.

Sometime in his late thirties he arrived in the city ofShiraz, and for manyyears he preached weekly in the great mosque ofthe city. He attracted many disciples among the people, particularly the artisan classes, and he was greatly respected by the Turkish princes who ruled the region. His tomb became an internationally known place of pilgrimage visited by travelers from as far away as North Africa.

Qlfhewas sorespected duringhis lifetime, and

42

for several centuries after his death, howwas it that his workfinallybecame more orless forgotten?

A. Ruzbihan’s descendants and followers revered him greatly, but they were not on the same spiritual or literary level, and they were satisfied with being caretakers ofhis tomb. In addition, a major religious revolution tookplace in Persia about 1500 when Shi’i Islam became the state religion; at that time, many Sufi tombs were destroyed and thousands of Sufi dervishes were killed. So it is not totally surprising that, by 1900, his tomb had become a ruin. More importantly, his writings on mysticism in Arabic and Persian were sophisticated and daring in expression; the average student of Sufism could not understand them. Nevertheless, a select handftil ofSufis in India, CentralAsia, Persia, the Balkans, and North Africa treasured his writings. The manuscripts have been re discovered in the past few decades by schol ars in Europe, Iran,Turkey, and India. These works are only now beginning to be translated into Western languages.

Q How is Ruzbihan connected to more well-known Sufi figures, such as Rumi and Hafiz?

A. Rumi (d. 1273)was a childwhen Ruzbihan died in 1209, and does not seem to have been in direct contactwith his teaching, but the two Sufis shared much in terms of their mystical approach to love and beauty The great Persian poet HafIz(d. 1391)was also a native ofShiraz, and evidence indicates that he may have been initiated inthe order founded byRuzbihan.The distinctive Persian approach to nature as the manifestation ofdivine beauty forms a strong

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link between the visions ofRuzbihan and the poems of Hafiz. Ruzbihan is also one of the most important commentators on the early Sufi martyr Hallaj (executed in 922), famous for saying “I am the Truth.” Ruzbihan’s visions of the celestial garden make it clear that this is not a mere figure of speech, but a visionary experience as well.The figure ofthe beautiful and cruel beloved so common in Sufi poetry is matched by Ruzbihan’s visions ofangels with long hair like women, who bear the weapons of Turkish soldiers. These poetic images are therefore closely linked to the mystical experience ofascension to the divine presence, which is the fundamental theme of The Unveiling ofSecrets.

Q How does The Unveiling of Secrets compare to other mystical texts from other traditions, and how does Ruzbihan compare to other mystical writers?

A. In terms of sheer power of expression and passionate intensity, it is hard to think of another mystic who comes close to Ruzbihan.

He uses a highly developed vocabulary of mystical experience in a poetic style that recreates the intimate mood ofhis encounters with God, Among Christian mystics, he re sembles Augustine (another powerful preacher) in the way that he uses scripture in unexpected and startling spiritualinterpretations.

Like Hildegard ofBingen orJulian ofNorwich, he describes detailed visionary encounters with God and with the divine qualities ofnature.

QWouldyou characterize Ruzbihan’s writing as Islamic?

A. Ruzbihan is the author ofa major Sufi

commentary on the Qur’an, and his writings are saturated with the vocabulary oflslamic theology andlaw. He was intensely devoted to the ProphetMuhammad, who appears in many ofthe most important “unveilings” that he describes. While this kind of intensive mysticism is not popular with fundamentalist Muslims, it represents what has been one of the major aspects ofthe Islamic tradition for over a thousand years.

QHowis the imageryin Sufi poetryrelated to The Unveiling ofSecrets?

A. Ruzbihan’s “unveilings” are expressed in powerfullyvisual imagery, inwhich falcons fly up to the garden ofparadise, God scatters roses over his lovers, and solitary pilgrims cross infinite deserts and swim through turbulent oceans. When a poem by Rumi says, “May this garden bloom until the resurrection!”, Ruzbihan’s visions ofthe celestial garden make it clear that this is not a mere figure ofspeech, but a visionary experience as well. The figure ofthe beautiful and cruel beloved so common in Sufi poetry is matched by Ruzbihan’s visions ofangels with long hair like women, who bear the weapons of Turkish soldiers.

These poetic images are therefore closely linked to the mystical experience of ascension to the divine presence, which is the fundamental theme ofThe Unveiling of Secrets.

QModern notions oflslam in theWest do not really correspond with the rising popularity of Sufism. Could you comment on that?

A. The news media focus almost exclusively on sensational political versions of Islam, such as the Iranian revolution. Islamic fundamentalists are, however, a small though vocal minority among Muslims.

Even today, probably at least half of the world’s one billion Muslims have a Sufi orientation. ManyAmericans and Europeans have been drawn to the ecstatic and lyrical tone of Sufi poetry, which also has a strongly universalist tone. Although today Iran is branded a “pariah” nation by the U.S. State Department, Iran’s favorite poet, Rumi, has become the best-selling poet in America.

Q Are there other works of Ruzbihan’s waiting to be translated?

A. Of the more than forty works by Ruzbihan in Arabic and Persian, less than half are preserved. The most important of these include the Commentary on Ecstatic Sayings, which explains the significance oftwo hundred mystical expressions of the early Sufis. The Explanation of Veils and Coverings discusses the 70,000 veils oflight that separate God from humanity.

Ruzbihan has described 1001 spiritual stations in a large Arabic work called The Spirits’ Font. Prof. Alan Godlas of the University of Georgia will soon publish excerpts from Ruzbihan’s massive Qur’an commentary, under the title Brides of the Qur’an. Portions ofRuzbihan’s other writings, such as The Jasmine of the Lovers (on mystical love), and Errors ofthe Wayfarers ( a work on mysticism for beginners), will bepublishedbyme in aforthcoming anthology ofSufitexts.

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Meher Baba’s Message for

Youngsters

How to Please Him hen

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you feel this urge to express yourselfon paper never check it.

As you tryto put these thoughts down they will become clearer and give you a deep understanding. Much that is within is often in such a chaotic state that to separate one idea from another is not easy.

I know you better than you know yourself and I will teach you in My own way all the things concerningyour Real Self Seek and strive to know Me your Beloved and bit by bit you will know your Real Self,for am I notyour real se/?

Realize Me and you will know God. No other pursuit is worthwhile when you have met the Beloved. Everything then centers around Him. You see all beauty through Him be it expressed through poetry, art, or music, or through life itself All workwhether ofyour hands or academic is done for Him and your only attachment is your Beloved. All service then becomes selfless whether done for friend, family, or stranger. All are one and toward this “One” the motive too is one to please Him, whom toplease is to know. There is no other knowing. Feeling is not knowing.

To please Me is to do, but doing what?

That which your Beloved commands you.This is My way, My path. “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” My way with you all is the shortest way to Union which I long for infinitely more than you can ever long. Although the game is ofMy own making, still I must suffer to enjoy the game of realizing Myselfconsciously in all creation.

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rememberverywellwhen, notlong ago, I was just like one ofyou. You little ones are especially dear to me. Children are innocent and free from vain egotism. Chil dren have no low desires. When, after becoming free ofall childishness, a man really becomes childlike, he realizes God. Whether you like it or not, you must soon grow up and cease being childish. More and more you must enjoy letting your teachers teach you and your elders lead you while you are growing into men and women. Unless you are willing to learn and ready to obey, they cannot help you as theywould like to do.

The whole oflife is like playing the game ofhide and seek, in which you must find your real self I give you myblessings, thatyou may succeed in this realization that life is all-time play. God alone is real, all else is false, and so you must tryto love God who is within us all.

To gain this love you should try to be honest in your thoughts, words, and actions.

THE OCEAN OF LOVE, Delia DeLeon, pp.

136-137, Copyright 1991, AMBPPCT

Excerpt from: LISTEN HUMANITY, edited

by Don E. Stevens. Dodd, Mead & Company, publishers.

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tracked intensity ofthe title cut, “How Many Lifetimes?” is a powerful, and deeply personal, musical statement.

The CD, which includes a 12 page booklet with lyrics, personnel, and Baba photos, sells for $15.95.

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Two thumbs up!?

Dr. Fate was a DC Comic 1 did back in the late eighties/early nineties. It featured BABA (and his Tomb) and other Avataric stuff and itwas NOT for eight year olds, by any stretch. (I’d say teenagers and up.) Another recent BABA-influ enced series I wrote & created was a New Age comic book called SEEKERS INTO THE MYSTERY; it also featured Lord Meher (as a character called The Magician) as well as a guy named Charlie Limbo (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Mohammed the Mast).

These comics are for ADULTS. These are NOT kids comic books by any stretch. They deal with adult issues very directly. (When I say adult, I don’t mean X-Rated, I just mean comics written for adults. You wouldt* have an eight year old read JMDM a NOVEL written for adults, right?)

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John Marc DeMatteis is one ofthe bestknown and most respected writers in the comicbookworld,withworkrangingfrom clas sic Marvel and DC super-heroes like Spi der-Man, Batman, The Silver Surfer and Doctor Fate (DeMatteis’s run on this title featured the first known comic book appearance of a certain Pune born Avatar). .to the creation ofchallenging adult graphic novels like “Moonshado” “Brooklyn Dreams,” and the nakedly Baba-influenced “Seekers Into The Mystery.” DeMatteis has also written for film and television he is currently at work on a feature film for producer/director .

—

44

Chris Columbus but he is known to many in the Baba Community as a singer, songwriter, and musician.

“How Many Lifetimes?” is DeMatteis’s first CD of B aba-inspired material; a wide array ofsongs ranging from gentle acoustic ballads to raw rock ‘n’ roll and Beatlesque production num bers, all ofthem reflecting the ups, downs, constant challenges, and ineffable re wards of life with Meher Baba. From the raw pain of “Free” to the gently haunting “Margaret” (dedicated to Margaret Craske) and the towering, multi—

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by Dma Snow Baba Folks!

By the ton ofSahavas registration slips that have been pouring in, it would seem that a great many ofyou will be here at our Sahavas. That’s wonderful, because quite apart from the fact that it is really fun to fi nally meet face to face the people I have been sending mail orders to, or e-mailing on the Baba ListServ, this is going to be a wonderful Sahavas! The guests, most ofwhom have met Baba, the musicians all time favorites Pilgrim Pines, what more can I say? If you read Sky Wiseman’s piece on the L.A. Sahavas, you will see what I mean.

But the great thing about being here, in what the Mandali have said is the largest collection ofBaba-phenalia and Meher-abilia in the world, is that you can actually see and walk around and touch and listen to the items that I can only otherwise write about.

And believe me, the CD that Marc De Matteis has produced has to be heard to be truly appreciated. Actually,just to look at, its pretty terrific too great cover which is actually a booklet with photos of Baba, the musicians and all the wonderful words ofthe songs. To read these words, you can tell this is a man that has been through some pretty serious hell, but with Baba’s help has come through into the sunshine. It makes for

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powerful reading. But the sound that issues forth when you put it on w your CD player!!

What’s that? You don’t own a CD player? Go buy one, because Marc /k did not cut any tapes! ; Mycopy of”HowMany while Clea wraps each package with lots of TLC Lifetimes?” has been on continuous play for the past 2 weeks, and no, The CD opens with the gentle Sanctification: I’m not getting tired of it. I guess it’s like b eing in love, the more you get to know a perUp in the Heavens son, the more things you find to love (And no, The angels are singing I’mnotin love with anyone but Baba, but The devas are dancing I do remember!). It is on a level ofexcellence From star to star with any commercially produced CD you BABAandMEHER/1 would buy in the stores. Marc has poured his Coming together very heart and soul into these songs, some sweet After so manyyears apart and gentle, like the tribute to Margaret Craske; another to his wife Diane; somejubilant, like Eye to eye “Free” “. . . Seen the valleys ofhell, Seen Breath to breath the walking dead, Heard the voice ofthe devil Heart to heart talking right inside myhead, But nowl’m free, Meher Baba made me free.” —Then there’s BABA hoveyou the heart wrenching “How Many Lifetimes.”

MEHERA blove you What a powerful song! “Baba Rain,” “Take And my soulc sofilled withjoy because Youe One the Name,” and “Time for Love” make me dance around the room with the sheerjoy of The Sanctification ofLove has now begun the music and words! .

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45

It closes with Fortunate Slave (with thanks to Hafiz) and segues straight into the heart felt Beloved God prayer.

Marc gives thanks to the Beatles for ‘the musical education’, and I can definitely hear chords, progressions and vocal that are reminiscent ofthe later, more sophisticated Beatle music.

When the second number Every Day starts up I am put in mind ofThe Who doing Quadrophenia! My favorite line from that song is: “Your DivineWine soaks through my mind Leaves no trace on the breath!”

Yes, you can hear the great musicians who have left their influence on Marc, but on this CD it is Marc Dc Matteis alone who composed all the words and music (ex cept, ofcourse, forThe Beloved Prayer). He also has a back up of at least eight other tal ented and professional musicians. It’s been a long time since the incomparablejim Meyer released his tour de force Relentless Love.

This tape has stood as my all time favorite Baba album, but geejim, I’m afraid Marc has just edged you out....butl’llbe back.The multitalented (seebox onpage 44)Marc De Matteis’s CD sells for How Many Lifetimes? $15.95.

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We also have the exciting news of a bookjust hot offthe press. And it is with even greater pleasure that I can tell you it is written by one ofour own: Professor Carl Ernst late of Los Angeles and now living in Chapel Hill NC. Not only does the Love Street Bookstore carry this wonderful new book, but it is commercially carried across the country. (But of course you wont go to your nearest Brentano’s and buy it, now will you?!) The title ofthis book is “Ruzbihan Diary Baqli —The Unveiling ofSecrets ofa Sufi Master.” $15.95 Since I have not had a chance to get beyond the dynamite cover, I shall give space to the words ofsome very distinguished reviewers, not the least of whom is Coleman Barks himself... See page 41.

Writing and artistic talent certainly run in the Ernst family. His wife Judy is the illustrator and writer ofthe book we mentioned in our last issue The Golden Goose King. Their daughter Sophie, now grown up, wrote the lovely little story of her Tea Party with Mansari, also in the last issue.

I am hoping that by the time you read —

46

this we will have available a poster that I have been asked for for years: The Ten Circles of the Avatar, (known colloquially as The Wedding Cake!). This is the magnificent painting hanging in the museum in the old water tower at Upper Meherabad. It was painted by Rano Gayleyunder the microscopic scrutiny of Meher Baba. When she would ask questions as to “Why am I painting this particular piece?,” He would simply answer “Don’t ask questions,just do as I say.” I’m not sure ifit will be in the form of a photograph or a printed piece, but when I get the negative I will see which will give us the best quality at the most reasonable price.

Hermes had once made it available in the early ‘80’s, but it has not been seen since. If I can get it done in time it will be available at the Sahavas, and then I shall run the photo and related story in the October issue.

Ifyou are at all interested in art, we sell two excellentbooks bypremier Baba artists Rano Gayley and Lynn Ott. Both are hard bound, roughly eight and a half by eleven inches, with copious amounts ofcolored re productions, and the stories relating to each painting, and also their own personal stories oflife with Baba. Rano, ofcourse, lived in the Ashram at Meherazad and traveled with Baba for many years. Her book, Because of In Quest of the Love is $35 and Lynn’s is $30. One recipient of Face of God Rano’s book so loved the pencil portraits and colored paintings, that she bought a second copy specifically so she could cut out many of the pictures and have them framed. They are both high quality art books.

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I still get requests for that amazing work The Lord Meher Biographies written

by Bhau Kalchuri and as an incredible labor oflove, published by Hermes. Due to the extremely high cost of producing them, Hermes was using an 800 # and a place called Bookcrafters from which you could order the books. But that has changed. You now have two new ways of starting your collection, fillingin the gaps, or adding the latest volume.

You can either order them through the Love Street Bookstore or write, with check endosed, to Manifestation, P.O. Box 2024, Asheville NC 28802. Ifyou have any questions and intend ordering them through Hermes, you may fax him at 704 251 2274.

For all you folks who started collecting the editions late, and missed out on Vol. I, you —

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will be happy to hear Hermes has had it reprinted. Vol. I and II are now combined (but not abbreviated) in one volume. The cost for this one, including shipping, is $82. Volumes III, IV, and V are $45 each. Volume VI and and part 2 of combined part 1 of VII VII, combined with VIII, and Volume IX and combined, are also $82 each. If you buy them through the Bookstore they will be slightlyless as we will figure the shipping based on your complete order. The books are, of course, all hard bound, printed on high qual ity gloss paper and contain many never before seen photos of Baba and His Mandali. Yes, it’s expensive, but it is the definitive reference work for the life ofour Lord. These are books that will be in your family for generations to come. Who knows maybe in the year 3000 theywill be the KingJames version ofthe Bible oftoday!

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Margo Watson and Cherie Plumlee have joined Carolyn Parker as the three ladies who are creatingverybeautiful Baba greeting cards for sale to you all. There is a great amount of time consurningworkin creating eachindividual card,just in the matting and placement ofthe photo on the card, as well as the truly inspired work that goes into thinking up new ways to glorify our Lord and present him in a beautiful setting. Before putting their cards on the market, each ofthe ladies has shown their creations to the Mandali, to make sure they are not infringing on anyone’s copyright, and that the women Mandali love the way they have presented Baba. As I have shown in manyprevious issues, Carolyn takes a black and white photo, arranges roses or rose petals around His face, and also Mehera’s, and then in color, photographs the resulting arrangement.

Margo Watson is a scenic photographer who scans her own photos into Adobe Photoshop ( on her computer), scans a photo of Baba, and then carefully and skillfully merges the two. Thus we have Baba with His leg resting on the rails ofa fence that sure looks like the countryside around Meherana, or dressed as Mohammed against dryrolling hills. (How about the sand dunes ofthe Sahara?) One ofmyfavorites is Baba gracefully reclining on a hilisde amidst a profusion ofbriffiant orange California poppies! To see it, you could not believe that it is not an actual photo ofBaba so seated.

Cherie Plumlee’s specialty is coloring a black and white photo in Photoshop and

ex:x3t inventing an attractive background, such as the rising sun behind Seclusion Hill for the photo ofMani with Cracker. These cards are either $3 or $3.50 each, depending on how many ofthe colored foil mattes are on the card.

Each is done on top quality card stock, with matching envelope and enclosed in a cello bag. As I said, a lot ofwork goes into the creation ofthese, and while it certainly is a labor oflove, it’s nice to monetarily support our Baba artists.

The oil painting by Diana LePage featured on our back page is hanging in the Baba meeting hail at Avatar’s Abode in Australia, and is an amazing seven by eight foot creation. We have reproductions for sale. $ 16. Ifyou are familiar with and attracted to Diana’s work, we have at least 60 of her different paintings represented as photos on cards. She visited our Center last year and gave a fascinating story of her growth as an artist and her gradual involvment with Meher Baba and now has an enormous output of Baba paintings. Her cards are all $3 each.

Ifyou haven’t bought your copy of the tape Song ofHuma vol2, now is your chance.

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We have just received another shipment in of this beautiful piece ofwork. A few years ago Elaine Coxwent to India with the very top of the line recording equipment, and recorded the women Mandali, including Mani, singing the ghazals that Baba had written in the 1920’s and had published in various newspapers under the pen name of Huma.

They were sung acapella, and when Elaine brought the recordings back to the US, she set about&idingtheverybestandmost appropriate musicians to create the background music that greatly enhanced the songs. Elaine gives a beautiful reading 6f each ghazal in English before we hear the sorg.

The question has oft been asked as to why Baba chose the pen name ofHuma. It is generally accepted to be a mythological bird rather like the phoenix. Our professor of Persian studies Dr. Carl Ernst, gives us a more detailed explanation: According to Firdawsi’s Book ofKings (Shah Nama), it is the bird that confers royalty; the person on whom its shadow falls becomes king. It is also non-violent, subsisting on bones only. It is still, despite its royal associations, the official bird ofthe Iranian national airline. (Interesting!)

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Anyway, mythology aside, it is a very beautiful tape, a lovely companion piece to Vol. 1 which is long out ofprint, and is available for $12.

Slowly but surely we are moving ever closer to having a new Catalogue printed, the one we are sending out now has so many deletions from out ofprint books, and is missing so many ofthe wonderftil new items we have added to our line in the past two years, that it will be wonderful to have a completely up to date one for you. But that too will quicklygrow old as more ofthese great Baba books run out their printed days, but joyfully, new ones are added. When we have an ‘electronic’ catalogue on the World Wide Web, we can alter it as any change occurs.

The WWW is open to any one around the world with a Web Browser, so The Love Street Bookstore will be an eyecatching name for our Beloved to catch more in His very own world wide web!

‘Til next time,Jai Baba to you all, and I look forward to filling your orders. (It’s truly!) what I live for!

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Babac Silence an oil painting by Diana LePage

AVATAR MEHER BABA CENTER ofSouthern California

1214 SOUTH VAN NESS AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90019-3520

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REDONDO BEACH, CA

PERMIT # 196 address correction requested

DATED MATERIAL Please Expedite!

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your year is up. We do not have anything as sophisticated and commercial as do the newsstand magazines to trackyour ‘expiration date,’ so we are leaving that up to you—whatever your heart moves you to do. Each issue costs around $1,800 to get out to you, so all dona tions are greatly appreciated.

One ofour readers feels so strongly about the LampPost that he donated a very special archival piece to raise funds for the magazine.

He suggested it be given as a Silent Auction.

See the box for details.

For those of you submitting articles, please note our changed deadline. Two weeks just isn’t enough time for the Design and Layout person to create the beautiful magazine you hold in your hands. Remember, all the work we do for Baba, we do in the evening hours after our regular day jobs. Tom Hart, still here after a beautiful first effort on the July September Silence Day issue, is puffing in 22 hour stints at the computer! Baba never promised us a rose garden now did He?!

While on the subject ofsubmissions we th, must ask that you not only get it in by the 8 but also in itsfinal, correctedform. Ifyou do realize a mistake before we go to press, please resubmit the entire piece rather than ask us to change a word here or there. We did have you e-mailing your piece to bothTom and myself but we have found this creates confusion at

Editor’s Corner Baba to you all.

Thankyou to the many readers who have taken the time to write in and tell us how much you appreciate your Love Street LampPost. It gives us greatjoy to create it for you and to know that it brings the light and love ofBaba into some very remote outposts.

Remember, it isyourmagazine, filled with the articles you have sent us. But we have not exactly been inundated with jokes for the Humor for Huma page, nor the amazing Baba sayings from the little ones. Let’s hear from you!

It is a year since the beautiful colored memorial issue David McNeely created for Mani’s passing. So many ofyou saw that issue, donated very generously, and asked to be on our mailing list. A year has passed, and that money has been depleted, so we must ask you once again to consider the worth of the magazine and send in a new donation.

We realize we have picked up many new subscribers throughout the year, so unless you feel tralyimpelled to donate at this time, wait till

Jai

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Tom’s end when he has all his regular work e mails coming in too. So please send all disks and e-mails to me alone. anniver August 1997 marked the sary ofthe Independence oflndia. I noticed a number ofmagazines wrote lengthy, in-depth articles on the occasion,Time and Vanity Fair among them. They were analyzing how far she has come, where she needs to go, etc. But I found to my amazement, thanks to Eric Solibakke of Norway posting on the Baba Listserv, Baba Himselfhad written the most profound, insightful piece yet, and He had written it in 1943—four years before Libera tion. It could have been written today! It is featured on page 24.

We have notices of three weddings on the Announcements page, but in case you skip over that, I do want to mention here the joyous nuptials of a couple that have affected the health and welfare of thousands of pil grims—not the least ofwhich was saving my son’s life—see “A Fatal Illness” on page 13.

Dr. Gus, as he is affectionately called, and his sidekick Radajoined in the Beloved’s love in June.Theywill continue dispensing their po tions and advice at the Pilgrim Center in Meherabad. We all wish them Much Love.

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A VERY SPEcIAi. AUCTION

at&t thxsyearlrtcezveda SpecnlDeliverypadcagefromafrtendmAnzona Hewasdortatmganongmalmanusenpt ofaplayBhau Kaichun had written in 1%1 Bhau had gntn it to my fitend sit 1973, asking him to put tt into colloquial American English D , as a curator of priceless tnanuscrtpts has kept it vetycarefully all these years and it is in the same condition as when Bhau gave it to hun—old and battere& America is odyjust begmningtoleam eonservatioa—the lnthanshavebeenpracucingttforcentunesiAnold heavycardboardledgerformstbeeovfront andhadswrth “1954155 Business no 12”wntten inblun penedontt khas a thmwhtte shoelacebmdingit through the2 holepunchedpapers Theplayistyped onthebackofsheets talcenfrom a 1972 ‘73 Tbeftontpageisuded TheSznnreSouflndrapencdBhau has lined througbthatandretided it TheAnamtOne(htshandwnting) and ssgaedss It thensays Dtdttation -BiovedRaba TbeAnnern’ One is dethcatedtothc /ove qfyourkvenv.xath aIllov4 —Bhau Kalehun, Meherazad2e Nov 1972 :i asked Bhau lit was all right to auction offthis prenous document as a flirts! raiser He told me “I am happy that 0 setityon this as a donation andyesyou mayauctaonthtsfortheLampPost In 1961,BelovedBabaliadaskedmetuwraeaplayforHis birthdayand solwrote it Then Babacalled His lovers from Ahmednagar Center and asked them to stage it, and they did it in Sarosh Cinema Baba and men and women Mandá caine iowa to see the play at Sarosh Cinema, and theywere allvery happy Some Baba lovers from different partsofMaharashta had also come Itwas really a very goodperformance Therewasone RustomKaka whowas averygoodsmger,and hebad the knowledge to stagethe play andhedid it verywell Songs &h November 1972 “ were really very good It was written in Hinds, and itwas translated on 2 In the hundreds ofynats to come this precious manuscript: and others like is, could take on the value ofSt Paul a Letters to the Epistles Now, we look on Bhau as ajolly good fellow and a wonderful friend but I have a feeling the world hundreds ofyears from non will not be seeing things that wayt We felt rather thanjust auction this offat our annual fund-raise; we would allow people from all overtheworld a chance to own it Accordingly, wewillhave asilent auction with the manuscript goxngtothe highesthidwehave recentdbyNotember3Q, 1997 Accordingly, write the amount you wouldlike to donate for ownership ofthrspiece ofhistory on a slip ofpaper and include italong with srnr regular donation lfyours is thewinning bid for the auction we can take paymenthy credit card but foryour yearly donationwe would need a check I made out to Love Street LampPost Because of extremely high postage costs I in afraid we must ask a minimum donation of$20 for all overseas addresses Goodluckon theaucuon (ffyouwish to partictpate)—rernembereverypennygoes tohelpthe LampPost keep a-shining

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A publication of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern Ca1fornu

Lo veStreet LamPosr welcome The Love Street LampPost is dedicated with love to Avatar Meher Baba. Its primary purpose is to contribute to a sense of community among all His lovers by providing a place for sharing His remembrance. All the members of the Baba family are invited to contribute to this feast of Love.

Your stories, photos, art work, poetry, letters, articles, and humor are all actively solicited. We seek expressions ofBaba’s message of Love andTruth.

Please submit your text on computer disks if possible (in any software format); typewritten copy on white paper is also acceptable. Be sure to dearly identifr all submissions and properly credit every quote or reference.

submissions, subscriptions, donations: Love Street LampPost Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California 1214 South Van Ness Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90019—3520 phone (213) 731—3737 ;:i::. e-mail Bababooks@aol.com

deadlines for submissions J an Mar issue .::::::AprJun issue Jul Sep issue Oct Dcc

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November 8 F’ebruary Bth.: May 8 th Aug 8

is published quarterly, The J.ou&Strcet in January, April, July, and October. All contents © 1997, Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California. All quotations of Avatar Meher Baba or books, © AMBPPCT, India. £ctmç1JP.osr

New Caretakers at Meher Mount

Kendra Crossen Burroughs

Peter Ravazza Meher r

A K and Leela Kasthuri Numberless Impressions

spcc:iaI teätures: Grand Opening ofMeherabode

Jeff Magui

Silence Day at Meherabode

Fred Stankus

HarryThomas

The 23 Annual Silence Day Sahavas

Billy Goodrur’

The J Baba Catalog

Mani s Day A Fatal Illness He Builtitwith Love—Meher Babas Shrine Roshan Kerawala’s Story

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WhoAmi? A School Work Project earr.:.

9a11eyf’t6 4 An Experience in Miracle MyHeartis Calling You ofMani’s s..

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Grand Open

Mehei Baba Manifests in L.A.

by Jeff Maguire st nJuly 1 ofthe great myster ies ofthe Baba World was finally and definitively solved. We may never in our lifetimes know what happened to Baba’s Book; and the debate over when and how Baba will break, or has broken, His silence will go on for a while; but after a long and arduous ordeal, the Avatar Meher Baba Center ofSouthern California has officially opened a permanent site, affectionately known as Meherabode.

Opening night found some 200 people gathered in the pleasant summer twilight to tour the buildings and gardens. It was won derfiil to see so many old friends and out-oftown guests in attendance, and it drove home the fact that a Baba Center belongs not to one group orlocalitybutto theAvatar and all His Lovers.

The crowd gathered near “Mehera’s Rose Garden” where our President, Mike Ramsden, offered abriefhistoryofthe Southem California group’s nomadic existence and search for a home.

We gave thanks to Baba and remem bered our spiritual fairy Godmother Filis Frederick who providedlove and leadership to the L.A. group for over 20 years until her passing in 1987. We also offered our grati tude tolongtime Baba Lovers, Adele Wolkin and Marguerite Poley, who’ve served as shining examples as we strive to grow ever closer to our Beloved.

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Then our great friend and brother Bhau Kaichuri, cut the ceremonial ribbon stretched across the driveway, amidst repeated shouts of”Avatar Meher Baba kiJai!”We felt itwas Baba’s blessing to have Bhau present, for he long ago dubbed L.A. the “Lunatic Asylum” and has been a great inspiration, both in our search for a permanent site and in our efforts to become lunatics in Baba’s Love. To show our appreciation, a motion was made and voted upon by the Center’s

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as inernorabit uly L, visitby rBhau4ca: ::about3Ootherstowatch fihnoi Baba and to hear a wonderful piano c •cçfto byRaphael Rud& At12 midnight the silence was broken wtth hearty cries of AaMeherBthaMJaifl!Theaunosphen* was surcharge&wtth a special hapsaonceih.a1ifeñrneexpeñenee tDaywith anihthnaternandali:riernber:. ier Baba at our new Center’ We;iaré *ry .

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The 23’’Annua1

Silence Day Sahavas

by Harry Thomas

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rd he 23 Los Angeles Silence Day Sahavas wafted once again through Pilgrim Pines as a gentle, loving breeze blew throughout the gathering. All in all, it was a wonderful Sahavas. The intention was to reurnte everyone who had been a guest ofprevious Sahavases. By Sahavas time, thir teen people had graciously accepted the invitation. The speaking guests were Bhau Kalchuri, Henry Kashouty LeatriceJohnston and her sister Renee Shaw, Adele Wolkin, Pascal Kaplan, Allan Cohen, Donald Mahler, andJack Small. Fiffing in for Irwin andJanet Luckwas Irwin’s brother, Edward.The musi cal guests were Jane Brown, Raphael Rudd, and Debbie Nordeen. The following account provides only a briefglimpse ofthe treasures shared by this remarkable group ofguests.

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n day one, Adele provided the assemblage with wondrous recollec tions. She revealed her deep connections with Norma Matchabelli and Ivy Duce and told how Baba instructed Ms. Duce to live with Filis, Norma and her. In 1952, at the Meher Spiritual Center, Filis and Adele were the only outsiders permitted to stay on the grounds. It was a great honor to have this privilege conferred. She fondly recalled how Filis played a major role in the Los Ange les group (in fact, she was one of the founders of the Sahavas) and referred to her as “the mother of the hippies.” (She also said that Elizabeth and Norma kept her out ofa lot of mischief!)

Henry Kashoutywho interviewed Adele, asked, “Is there anything you asked Baba in ‘52 along spiritual lines?” Adele had asked Baba, “What can I do for you?” Part ofBaba’s response was, “I heard about you from Norma and Elizabeth and I heard from within, when

I see such souls who love me I feel happy and strong. I love you because you love Me so much.” Later in Adele’s meeting with Meher Baba, He stated, “I want love, nothing else; love Me and let God love us. That is what I want—when you love Baba, God will love you. And God’s loving means everything. So Filis and Adele, I am very veryhappy. One who is the humblest of the humble is the greatest ofthe great, butithastobeinafl honesty and all truth.”

One final statement made to Adele deserves mention.

Baba stated, “I do Adele Woilcin everything for you, but I cannot bring harmony into your lives. That, you have to do.”

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ascal Kaplan was next to be interviewed and was asked how he came to Meher Baba. He explained that he was brought up in a Jewish family in Manhattan. He recounted that at the age ofsix, he witnessed a simulation of a hydrogen bomb exploding and its destructive capability was illustrated againstManhattan. This shook him to his core and instilled in him a chronic de spair about life. His Jewish affiliation didn’t help because God belonged to the Biblical past; He wasn’t a part ofthe present. While

growing up, Pascal said, “I didn’t meet anyone who cared about God.” Pascal was in college during the 60’s where he was involved in the SDS and the anti-war movement. At this time, however a psychological dichotomy raged inside ofhim.

He wanted to right the wrongs ofthe world, yet was plagued with the questions “Who am I?” and “Does God exist?” He later attended graduate school at Harvard and majored in Theology. One day while he was walking in Cambridge (after Baba had dropped His body in 1969), he happened upon “The Universal Message.” (He read it the same summer he became a fill fledged hippie living in Vermont.) He later got a call from a friend who said, “I’m with someone who is onto what w&ve been looking for.” Ram Dass (the former Richard Alpert, Harvard colleague of Timothy Leary) was teaching meditation and yoga techniques he had learned in India.

Pascal departed Vermont and headed for New Hampshire where he met Ram Dass, who was “the first person who took my quest seriously.” One day, on the back Ram Dass’s chalkboard, Pascal spied a small card with Meher Baba’s picture and the message, “Don’t worry; Be Happy.” Pascal later secured the card from Ram Dass and spent the next sev eral months looking at it. Ram Dass suggested to Pascal that he read Meher Baba’s works, but he wasn’t interested.

With his wife, they endeavored to hitchhike across Europe to India. Later still, Pascal began reading the Discourses. “The first few sentences of the Discourses,” he recalled, “went right through my analytical mind and hit me in the heart. here was Someone who knew the truth.” He sought out other Baba Lovers, which carried him to Myrtle Beach. ..

He walked into the kitchen and “found people smoking, talking, and frying up bacon and eggs.”This shattered his preconceptions about a spiritual lifestyle. From here, progressive steps brought him more and more into the fold ofMeher Baba’s all inclusive embrace.

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nJack Small’s intervie he recalled, with some angst, that he had had the opportu nity to travel to India after Baba had dropped his body. Fills had said, “Don’t go; the mandali will be nurturing sad feelings and you’d be in the way.” Later he spoke with both Allan Cohen and Rick Chapman, who reiter ated what Fills had said. However, a few days later both ofthem were on their wayto India!

“I was totally stunned. I wanted to go and could have but didn’t.” Following this dis appointment, Jack received from Filis a copy of a tape sent from India by Don Stevens indicating the mandali’s greatjoy at receiving the western visitors. Jack subsequently trayeled around the country and played the tape to many others who had canceled their plane reservations upon hearing ofBaba’s dropping His body. So, with the sting ofregret at not having traveled to India, he didn’t just hear this tape once but several times.To him, this brought forcefullyhome the notion offollowingyour heart.

couch, in an atmosphere ofquietude with Adi interpreting Baba’s gestures.

They each recalled an experience of looking into Baba’s eyes. Renee, upon an occasion of saying goodbye to Baba, “I leaned over and He took my face in His hands. I looked into His eyes and I felt eter nity and I don’t know how long this lasted.

I felt I was eternity.” Leatrice recounted of her farewell from Baba in 1952 that, prior to His embrace, she had really wanted to ‘know Baba.’ As she decribed, “He held me so that I could look directly into His eye... I entered and there was no stopping point. I kept going on and on and on and it was an infinite journey into infinity. And what I saw was colorless, formless, boundless light and beauty. And then the embrace was over, and Baba was smiling.”

Lagoon Cabin but afterwards would be at the Barn. The dancers readied His chair at the Barn for His later arrival. The Lagoon Cabin session was winding up and several people were milling about Baba, including Donald’s four artistic friends. Several more people were outside this configuration, so the four dancers were boxed in. There was a certain young man, about the same age as the dancers, who desperately wanted to be one ofthe carriers ofBaba’s chair. When this fellow recognized the dancers’ predica ment, he took offswiftly down a trail to the Barn to secure a place on the chair. Donald was on the periphery ofthis large crowd, and, receiving eye contact communication from his friends, took off down another path to the Barn. By the time the earnest young man ar rived at the chair, Donald was waiting there,

rom Donald Mahler’s interview by four Meher Miniatures, he shared the following anecdote. In 1958, Baba informed Margaret Craske that he wanted the five male dancers to carry him. This was after the 1956 accident, and Baba still had some difficulty walking. But the original wooden chair only needed two people to carry him.

Harry Kenmore found a chair that had long poles on it and four dancers could carry Baba with the fifth rotating in. The danc ers carried Baba in and out ofthe Barn and sometimes to and from the Lagoon Cabin.

The dancers were told that ifyou were assigned ajob by Baba, you shouldn’t give it to anyone else, even if they wanted it.

One day, Baba was scheduled to be at the

securing his and his friend’s position on the chair. About this Donald said, “This was an act as near to perfect as I’ve ever done.”

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eatriceJohnston and her sister Renee Shaw delivered several talks. Renee related how she and Leatrice, with the rest ofthe family, had undertaken upon Baba’s direction a month long fast and silence. Renee recalled one ofthe difficulties ofa Meher Baba household—all those pictures ofBaba. Her girlfriends would ask, “Who’s that in the photo?” Renee would explain: “He’s a very dear friend of the family” Leatrice added, “Renee would say Baba was her Godfather.”

Leatrice shared that prior to meeting Baba, she was afraid she’d have no feelings for Him because “my parents loved Him so much.” She was first in line on the bench waiting to enter the Lagoon Cabin in 1952 and when the door opened she thought, “Oh, I’ll let my mother go first.” Before being embraced

by Baba, “I had no thoughts in my mind.”

After the embrace, “Ijust melted into His arms and I thought, ‘I’ve come home to my real home at last.” Renee remarked of this first meeting, “As Baba embraced me, I lost all consciousness ofself All I could feelwas complete joy.” Her next recollection was ofsitting on a

llan Cohen was also interviewed by the Meher Miniatures, who asked im to speak about his involvement in spreading Meher Baba’s anti-drug mes sage in the West in the mid to late sixties. At that time, Allan Cohen, Rick Chapman and Richard Dreyfus, began their Baba-com missioned crusade. Drug usage was rampant yet very little was known about drugs’ deleterious effects. Baba instructed these three to usc the print and electronic mediums to spread the message. They were encouraged to say that Meher Baba was

God in human form. They had no personal credentials, but this only strengthened their position. Allan recalled having thought, “If He’s God, He should be able to pull this off. Let’s see how He does it.”

Allan had the idea that they could write letters to editors ofcollege newspapers, and in these, they could quote Baba. Surprisingly, several newspapers printed their letters. They were stunned when the Christian Science Monitor printed one. As momentum gathered, they began conducting several interviews. From this range of experience, Allan narrated the following story: He had met the head of Palmer Chiropractic College, located in Florida, who invited Allan to speak at the gradua lion. He even flew our fearless speaker down on a private jet.

This gentleman owned a TV station and he gave Allan an entire evening to deliver his message. Allan arrived at the studio for his seven o’clock interview. This was a local cable operation that employed one camera, which Allan couldn’t see, to capture the proceedings.

A telephone would allow viewers to ask ques tions. The show got underway, and at some point, the owner flashed an indecipherable gesture to Allan, then disappeared. On the next phone call, Allan extended the answer to five minutes, thinking he had to stall.

Viewers called in, Allan answered their questions, and all was well. As more time passed, physical needs began kicking in. He had run out ofwate; had to go to the restroom and, knowing he was on TV, couldn’t even scratch an itch! 8:30 arrived, but he maintained his cool. By 9:00 the phone was still ringing, and he really had to go to the bathroom. His mouth was parched and he was running out ofmaterial. 9:30... 10:00... and the phone was still ringing. By now he was starting to lose his cool. Time ticked on as he wondered ifhe was living a nightmare. Eleven o’clock arrived.

Then itwas five minutes before midnight. Was there no end to this madness? “By this time,” said Allan, “I was free-associating and mak ing no sense.” Finally, at wit’s end, he blurted, “Thanks very much and this concludes the broadcast. Good night.”

Walking to the camera room, Allan dis covered it was pitch black and deserted.

“Where is everybody?” Everything was on automatic. He called a cab and arrived at the mansion to find everyone asleep. He walked into his room, fficked on the TV and voila, “There it is!” The show was still running. His final comment, “This experience really humbled me.”

turned to the podium and said “Don’t worry guys, my friends in Berkeley will so love this.” With whipped cream dripping off his face, he continued answering questions; however, the audience had been trans formed into a docile and receptive group.

Later, an editorial in the school’s newspa per said how embarrassed they were over this incident; then later stated, how gra cious the speaker was and that the students should take his message seriously.

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The second anecdote involved a talk at the University ofAmherst. On a cold, winter night, about 1300 people showed up to the auditorium where the talk was scheduled.

Allan showed a film of Baba and began his talk about the dangers ofdrug use. He then opened up the floor to questions. The ques tions began getting more and more hostile.

Towards the end ofthe program, about 500 people were still there, but they were getting nasty and he was losing ground. Another re ally negative question was asked and shortly afterward, a blood curdling scream permeated the auditorium. A millisecond later, he was thrown back, blinded, and he couldn’t breathe.

There was screaming all about and he thought, “My God, someone’s finally shot me.”

People began rushing forward and the scene was total chaos. However, a few sec onds later, Allan felt a strange sensation in his mouth—the taste ofbanana creme. Someone had run up from behind him and smashed a banana creme pie into his face! The culprit was an escaped mental patient who thought Allan was promoting LSD usage, which he blamed for his condition.

The college people were mortified and considered arresting the man but Allan re

dward Luck, who had never been a Sahavas guest, proved to be an engaging speaker who related a remarkable association with the God-Man. He recalled that his brother Irwin had sent him a picture ofBaba, accom panied with literature. Ed related how on three different occasions, Baba’s picture looked different. Realizing he had to study the photo ear— nestly, he noticed two things: first, that Baba was suffering, and secondly, that he was looking at the Christ. Edward then said to himsclf “So He’s here again.”

Ed was living in Miami at the time, and shortly after this experience, received a phone call from Irwin in New York sug gesting they meet Meher Baba. Irwin had written to Baba and been given permission for both ofthem to do this, but they were allotted only one hour. But first, they had to raise the money. Irwin returned to Miami, came to work for his father’s real estate company and shortly afterwards, put in a big advertisement for many of the company’s land parcels. On the second day, they received an avalanche of buyers and this supplied the necessary money. They left for NewYorkwith the ambition of going to see Baba.

Enter the father who pronounced to the young men, “Only one ofyou can go.” Irwin was the designated one and a few days later was in Indiawith Baba. About this same time, however, Ed related, “I began to experience this presence ofGod.” He later went to the beach and a friend looked at him and re marked, “Eddie, you’re radiant.” Other friends

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made this observation. One said, “Yeah, he glows these days.”

As time pressed on, the spiritual pres ence intensified. He recalled passing a couple who turned completely around and stared wide-eyed at him. He began realizing that something mystical was happening and later received a telegram from Baba which read: “Time and distance mean nothing to me.”The telegram also informed him that he would benefit equally by Irwin’s visit to India. Irwin later returned, unhappy he didn’t receive God Realization. They began planning the next trip to India, this time financed by Harry Kenmore at Baba’s instructions.They arrived at Guruprasad and went searching for Baba.

Theylocated him and when Edward entered the room he immediately felt, “that invisible presence ofGod permeating the room.” When he looked at Baba, He appeared as a baby to Edward. “What was coming through Baba were the most innocent and purest of emo lions.” Baba later embraced both brothers and told them that He wanted them to remain close to Him while they were there.

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enry Kashouty was our guest at the very first L. A. Sahavas, so his re turn was both appropriate and hon orary “The most important thing in Creation,” he declared to the audience, “is to focus on Baba.” Henry told us the story ofhis coming to Baba. “Before Baba, my need was to find meaning in life.” Through an internal search-

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ing process, Henry deduced that this meaning could best be exemplified by finding a human being who embodied great quali ties such as courage, honesty, compassion, and humor.

He discovered the teachings of the Vedanta Society and by 1955 was avidly reading literature from the society when a friend in NewYork mailed him a copy of God Speaks.

Henry, only seeing Baba’s picture, immedi ately called her and exclaimed, “Liz, He is the one! Find out how we can meet Him.” He wrote a letter to Baba beginning with “Dear Meher Baba, I have your book God Speaks, which has great meaning for me. I want to meet you.” Baba’s reply was, “Your connec tion with me is oflong duration. You’re one of the fortunate ones.”

The storyleaps ahead to the Delmonico Hotelin NewYork Cit where itwas Henry’s great fortune to meet the God-Man. As he embraced Baba, he whispered into His ear, “I adore you.”

At one point duringthe Delmonico meeting, Baba said to Henry, “I brought you into this world blindfolded with your hands tied behind your back. You had to find a miracle.

You have found it; now I want you to forget your past.” Henry said that Baba would say to people, “You have the God-Man, use Him.” And as Henry said, “Baba’s with you every second, consciously. Baba is always within you and Baba will never leave you.”

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hau Kalchuri has graced our gather ing numerous times, and to have a re union Sahavas without him would seem unthinkable. Of course, all that Bhau said in his several talks could be transcribed into a booklet, only a few choice morsels follow.

Bhau explained that there are two types ofintellect: perverted and constructive. Perverted intellect is when mind controls the heart; constructive intellect is when heart controls the mind. Mind is illusion; mind is the obstruction. On the New Life, he said, “At this time, the Beloved is following us, and we are coming closer and closer to him.” He also said, “Since the dropping of His body, His physical suffering is absent, but His mental and spiritual suffering is still present.”

While talking on Baba’s Silence, Bhau told us, “The gradual breaking ofHis Silence means a gradual awakening.This is going on.”

He also said, “A Perfect Master works for the Universe in a general way and for the selected ones in a chosen way, whereas the Avatar works for the Universe in a chosen way and for the selected ones in a special way.”

Bhau left us with these final words from his concluding talk: “He’s the most Compas sionate One and you are all very fortunate to have come in His contact. But know well that He has taken the responsibility ofeach one.

Have that trust and whatever you can do for

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[@t@t Him, do it! Ifyou cannot, dont worry for that also. Just remember Him. Ifyou can’t remem ber Him, then ofcourse, also, dont worryc J ust love Him, more and more.

Justlove Him. Jai Baba.”

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usical guest Jane Brown sung magnificently. Her initial selec lion was “IfI FollowYou,” accom panied by Raphael Rudd. Additional songs included”Ishtiake” and “I’m Yours.” Jane’s voice caressed the audience with its sweet purity She closed with “ Victory Unto Thee,” one ofBob Brown’s most popular composi tions. She wasjoined on stage by several other musicians for a powerfid, moving performance ofthis song.

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ebbie Nordeen opened her musical segment with “Begin the Beguine,” followed by a string of pop standards whose love lyrics, Debbie explained, lend themselves well as songs for the Beloved.

These songs included “I’ve Grown Accus tomed to your Face” and “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” With the audienceju bilantly joining in, “Those Were the Days” spirited us away on a singalong, made especially sweet by knowing that Mehera and Mani so loved this song.

aphael our third musical guest, entertained us with several original compositions, including “Coming Home,” a piece he had played for Mani in her

Top: Rob Thornburn, Billy Goodrum, and Raphael Rudd.

Bottom: David Miotke, Debbie Nordeen, and Keith Gunn.

last days. He concluded with a medley devoted to the theme of Awakening.

This was an energetic musical surge that dazzled the audiencc. Later in the show, Jane Brown joined him for the “Gujerati Arti.”

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hen there was Bobby Mononash.

What can one say?

Only that many agreed this may have been the best Mononash yet.

You had to be there,* and ifyou were, you were laughing!

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esides all the wondrous discourses and personal stories from the guests, and the always popular and entertaining Childrens’Talent Sho the Sahavas was once again a place for regrouping and sharing in the fellowship ofBaba’s love.The toddy shop, in splendid fashion, was the meeting place for attendees to converse, listen to live music, see art, snack, catch their breath or reflect upon the gathering.The Love Street Bookstore (de dared by Bhau as being the best Meher Baba bookstore in the world!) was sumptuously filled with books, posters, tapes,jewelry, pins, tee-shirts, cards, and even a Baba screen-saver.

And the dhurti, as always, was a hallowed event,

Top left: Danny Maguirc— the next David Cassidy?!

Top right: Don’t Worry,

Be Happy “15 year Reunion” plus new voices.

Ages 3 to 29 years.

where afterwards people gathered, basking in the persistent glow ofBaba’s grace.

The Sahavas Committee deserves a hearty thanks for all its dedicated year-long work towards the fulfillment ofthis event. This year three people in particular are to be singled out: LoisJones and David McNeely, for their tireless dedication to the nuts and bolts of organizing the Sahavas; and Fred Stankus, who conceived the idea ofthis year’s guest reunion. *4fld fyou weren’t there, you can check out the video of the Bobby Manonash Showfrom our lending library (see page 19).

Thej Baba Catalog

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his year at the L.A. Sahavas Billy Goodrum introduced to us his “fool proofplan to solve all the financial needs of all Baba Centers worldwide.” Catalog sales, he informed us, can generate millions of dollars in revenues. “You’ve heard ofj Peterman and I Crew, now I present to you thej Baba cata log”, Billy said as he proudly held up the first copy fresh offthe press.

He then treated us to descriptions ofsome ofthe items in the catalogwhich included Pray and Wipes, TheA/i-Linen Mohammed The Mast Gardening Smock and Mandali Trading Cards.

Then Mitchell Rose came out and modeled the Bhau Kaichuri SpiritualEnsemble as Billy read the description “Springtime at Meherana.” “On first arriving you make your

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way over to the kitchen area where a crowd has already gathered. It is clear once again this Sahavas season that the fashion concious set has followed in the footsteps ofthat great trend-setter Bhau Kalchuri. Simply put: accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. The Bhau Kalchuri accessory ensemble includes sus penders, Avatar Meher Baba string tie, and stone-washed, distressed plastic ffip-flops.”

“You walk around greeting old friends and mingling.These ffip-flops feeljust right.

They don’t pinch your big toe and the sound they make as they flop back against your heel is full and resonant. Whether spending a ca sual afternoon in Mariposa or dining under the pandal at Meherana, you will feel confi

dent and saintly in this smnning accessory ensemble. Availaible in mango chutney, okra, and ‘lawender.”

Billy then informed us that pre-season response had been so overwhelming in the fashion world that Bhau had been offered a flip-flop endorsement deal with NikeTM and that the Air Bhauji would soon be on the market. Not only that, but Bhau had been offered a three picture deal by Warner BrothersTM and would be reprising his Ahmednagar Iones role in a series of films.

It is comforting to know that all our fi nancial troubles are now solved through this little bit ofingenuity and effort.

Thanks guys. Jai Baba!

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Mani’s Day August 19t, 1997

by Meheru e have come here to bow down to Mani, to honor one who led such an exem plary life oflove and service for and in her Beloved God-Brother, Avatar Meher Baba.

In her life with Him she played, nay, lived all the roles asked ofher with naturalness and perfection, her humor never far from the surface. Her many talents in various fields were an innate part of her that she used unstintingly in Baba’s cause.

The numerous plays and skits Mani composed and enacted for Baba’s entertainment and amusement could fill a volume.

Within a day or two she would not only have the plot with dialogue and even songs ready, but have everyone rehears ing and making or procuring costumes under her direction.

112

Mani wrote her own special songs to Baba, after He dropped His Physical Form, which most of you have probably heard.

They were the outpouring expression of her love for Him and are sung everywhere by the Baba world. They keep alive her memory and are such a gift to all.

But her life and responsibility on the serious side, which was against her natural bent, but which she carried out with such flair and grace, was the work she did as Chairman ofthe Avatar Meher Baba Trust.

This role was entrusted to her by Baba, which she carried out until the end of her life.

Mani was one of Baba’s best readers and interpreters ofthe Alphabet Board as His fingers would fly with lightning speed over the letters with His own version of

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shorthand, cuts in spelling, and even changes in language. She did a lot ofBaba’s secretarial work and typing, and expected a high standard ofwork from all the Baba helpers around her.

Mani will always be loved and remem bered by all the children as a child amongst them, who found time to play with them even in her busy schedule, and by the grown-ups to whom she gave so much of herselfin every way she could.

Today as we honor this day ofher first anniversary of going to Baba, remember Mani as ajoyous being whose life was com plete in fulfillment ofhaving spent it with her Beloved Lord Baba, whom she always aimed to please.

was sent to Ahmednagar for EKG’s, X-rays and Sonagrams. When every test came back negative and it was nearing the time we had to leave India, the blood cultures Mike and Sarah, the resident lab technicians, had taken days earlier, finally gave up the answer: Streptococcus. Sarah said she had never seen that

by Michael Franklin much strep in anyone’s blood stream before.

In consultation with Dr. Arvind, (Mani’s nephew) and 2 cardiologists they determined that the disease I had suffered from for the was April oflast year when my mother felt thatpoorly, but as I’d made a commitment previous six months was called Subacute EnDma asked me ifl wanted to go to India docarditis, a bacterial infection ofthe blood (and thinking that it might get better ifI just with her on her biannual pilgrimage in with a concentrated growth on the Aortic valve got out ofthe house) I reaffirmed my decision October. It was about then that I contracted togo. ofmy heart. Fatal ifleft untreated! the fatal disease.

Needless to say Mum and I were hornBy the time we got to Poona all I could At first I wasn’t too thrilled aboutthe idea do was sleep. Though I did get hungry, the fled but at least we knew what we were up ofgoing to India; my idea ofa vacation usu against. The cure? Two weeks ofhospitaliza smells from the small kitchen wafting up to ally includes white sandy beaches and the dormitory did nothing to make me want tion on round-the-clock antibiotics. The cost? swim-up bars. Ijust couldn’t get enthusiastic to get out of bed. Nor did the noise and About $700 for everything. I wouldn’t have about going to a third world country where been able to afford the barrage oftesting and smell ofthe diesel powered trafficjust outplaying chicken with oncoming traffic and ultimate treatment in America and so would side my window excite any interest in dodging bewildered bovines was the order of exploring the greater surroundings of the surely have died from lack of treatment if I the day, even if it was to see Baba’s tomb. hadn’t gone to India with my Mother.

Poona center. Ifthis was India, I couldn’t Although I grewup knowing that Baba is God wait to get back home. Little did I know The Mandali were extremely support(I’m a third generation Babalover), itjust wasnt that my life would soon be saved here. ive. Immediately upon being told of my something that I could get excited about. condition, Dr. Goher reserved a room at Ruby I became aware ofmy sickHall, telling me it was impera ness a few months before the trip. tive I get started on the treatment I became increasingly lethargic, right away. She told me Ruby feeling drained as thoughl hadiñ Hall was the best hospital in quite got over a cold and I was Poona, and itwas where Maul was also having very bad night treated. Arnavaz had a long talk sweats. I went to see a local doc with me and gave me her support tor and complained of my by telling me to up-root my fear symptoms. At the time, my ternand give it to Baba. perature, heart beat and blood After Mum saw that I was pressure were all normal. The safely admitted, she reluctantly doctors “thorough” exam conwentbackto the States.That af sisted ofmy sitting in a corner of ternoon I received a call from the examination room while he Bhau. He was in the hospital listened to me explain why I down the road and he called me I thought might not be well. He to find out how I was doing. He Eruch and Michael embrace. [Note: see No More Hugs, page 37] came to the conclusion that if I might have cancer and was in didn’t have tuberculosis then it was just jobTwo days later we were in Meherabad. I for some tests, and he calls me.Three days in related stress and not to worry about it. When became immediately familiarwith the Pilgrim a row! I truly felt blessed by all the attention the TB test came back negative, I began to Center’s resident medical staff Dr Gus and I received from such special people and canthink he maybe right. But the symptoms kept Rada. By this time I had lost 30 pounds, my not begin to guess at the healing effect it had. geffing worse. resting heart rate was 120 beats per minute, Looking back I can almost see Baba’s In the few days before I was to leave for the night sweats were becoming annoyingly Hand lifting me from my house in Los AnIndia I couldn’tget offthe couch. I would wake profuse and I was throwing up all night. Of geles and gently placing me in His home at up, feel normal for about an hour, then sleep course they didn’t believe the conclusion of Meherabad. I don’t knowwhy He chose to save until dinner. After eating, I was okay again for the doctor I saw in the States nor did they my life on what He has in store for mc, but you another hour, then I’d sleep until noon the think it may be psychosomatic as others had can be sure that whatever happens from now next day and itwould start all over again. Dma previously suggested. Instead they poked, on, it happens with Baba in my heart. even suggested that I shouldn’t go to India ifI prodded, tested, X-raycd and tested again. I

A Fatal Illness

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Meher Baba’s Shrine

by RichardJ. Procyk

he gleamingwhite dome ofthe shrine shone in the desert sun like a wel coming beacon in the distance. As I drove closer and turned into the last street, “The Perfect Man Shrine” loomed up in its beauty and splendor against the contrasting stark desert sand and muted mountains in the background. Built as a replica of Meher Baba’s tomb in Meherabad, it stood tall, like a surreal painting in gentle pastels ofblue, pink, grey, and white, accentuated by the shades of the brown and grey ofthe desert floor. Emblazoned over the entrance was the message “Mastery in Servitude.” Five sculptured reli gious icons, placed on each corner ofthc roof and at the top ofthe dome, symbolically proclaimed the five major religions ofthe world.

The smile that covered my face was one of appreciation andjoy as I viewed this statement made in stone—a monument built with love.

I meditated quietly as my mind flashed back to the beginning ofthisjourney. In the early 1960’s Earl Starcher, who was my brother-in-law, came to my house in Miami for a visit. Earl, at this time, was employed by the Federal Aviation Agency as an air traffic controller at the Miami International Airport.

He was a man ofthis world—single, somewhat materialistic, living in the fastlane with stewardesses and pilots—and he had no particular direction regarding religious philosophy or the spiritual life. Myparents were Theoso phists, and my library included books written

by Krishnamurti, H.P. Blavatsky, Besant, Gurdjieff, Yogananda, Ouspensky, Alan Watts, and others on metaphysics and reli gious philosophy. Earl inquired about this material and we were soon discussing the search for the spiritual path, the need for enlightenment, and how the serious neophyte had to reach the state ofawareness before the life oftransformation could begin. When Earl was leaving, he asked where he could go to expand on these ideas and was directed to

theTheosophical Societyin Miami.

Several months later he visited again and stated that his friends, Lois and Gerry Seeley, had introduced him to the philosophy of Meher Baba. He appeared different in his demeanor, and bore a quiet, contemplative attitude that was new and powerful. I listened while he spoke of a higher purpose and the need to live the spiritual life. It was obvious that his interest was sincere, and I was im pressed with the level ofintensityhe displayed so soon in his spiritual quest. Apparently, as an old soul, he recognized the spiritual path as part ofthe process ofreawakening and asked me tojoin him in several ofthe Meher Baba meetings at the Ann Forbes home. After one of the meetings Ann Forbes joined us and smiled as she advised me that I had been a monk in a prior existence and that Earl and I had been brothers. It would be years later that I would realize how deep the karmic ties ran.

Earl’s love ofand service to Meher Baba took a dramatic turn in 1965, when he re signed from the FAA. He gave up the material world and began the life of surrender and transformation by adopting a role of poverty, service, celibacy, detachment, and complete devotion to Baba. The detachment was se vere and included his family whom he loved butwould not see for the next 30 years. A few years later I was no longer married to his sis ter, making it possible in his eyes to reestablish his concern for them through me. When the Federal government learned Earl had given up his position in order to serve the poor the handicapped, and the needy, and to devote himseifto the spiritual path with no means of income, they suggested a disability pension; they assumed that onlyjob-related stress at the Miami Air Tower could account for such unusual behavior. It was unusual, indeed, for those still caught up in the material world.

Earl was soon at the Baba Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and later trayeled around the countrylooking for a spiritual site. He had a vision ofa Baba learning center and shrine that would attract those who wished to study in a retreat-like atmosphere

without having to travel to India. When he reached Columbus, NewMexico, he remarked how much the aura ofthe surrounding coun try side—the silence ofthe desert, the power of the mountains, and the spirituality—reminded him oflndia, where he had traveled many times.

Earl began the shrine in the mid-1980s and immediately faced many difficulties.

When he applied for a building permit, he was denied until he submitted a plan de signed by an engineer.Then they insisted that a contractor build it, with more time lost and additional anxiety and frustration. Finally, in a strange turn, he suddenly had permission to build it himself. He writes in a letter dated October 12, 1988, “At present I am working with white cement trying to get the proper mix to build the dome. The white cement should look very nice and will need little or no maintenance. The shrine walls will be constructed with “split face” blocks. These blocks will be ofa charcoal color and should go very well with the white cement. It should look very much like the fieldstone that they used in the Samadhi.”

Speaking ofthe shrine in one ofhis letters, he states, “This shrine is not a temple or a place of worship. It is a replica of the Tomb-shrine ofAvatar Meher Baba that is located in Ahmednagar, India.The shrine has a temporary reality and existence. Its value lies in pointing to Avatar Meher Baba’s reality of eternal existence and life eternal. The sole purpose ofthis shrine is to inform visitors ofMeher Baba’s divine mission ofredeeming the world and His love for all. At first, I wanted to name it the Perfect Man Shrine, however, as this name could have been confusing to the general public, the Avatar Meher Baba Shrine appeared more appropriate.”

Before working on the shrine, Earl constructed a combination information center, library, and museum that he envisioned one day to be staffed by Baba lovers for those who made the pilgrimage to Columbus. This construction, in addition to a garden and guest

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house, is in a compound surrounded by eightfoot concrete walls. The research center complex was to accommodate serious students as a retreat and provide information to the visitor ofthe shrine.

Earl Starcher dropped his physical body on November 1, 1994. His monument and research center is now a reality and awaits the pilgrim-visitor to view one man’s effort to serve God. An archaeologist and his wife, who is a teacher have shown a serious interest in Earl’s place, and ifthe sale is completed at the end ofthe year, theypromise to preserve the Shrine and add flowers and a fountain. When asked why they would perpetuate its care, the wife said, “I can feel he built it with such love.”

For those going west into the “land of enchantment,” there is someone who is in charge ofthe property and arrangements can be made for a visit.You will find Columbus is a charming village-town at 4,000 foot eleva lion where there are no traffic lights, and a local phone call is still a dime. The museum in town had been the old train depot when Baba rode through Columbus on his way to Albu querque in the 1930’s. Earl had no way of knowing when he purchased the land that Baba had been there before him, but he felt the spirituality and he knew that if he built the shrine, “theywould come...” .

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Roshan Kerawala’s Story

by Linda Zavala

[Editori note: Last September we were privi leged to have as our guest Roshan Kerawala, wft of ‘Sam the Story Teller Roshan certainly had aJèw stories ofher own with which to re gale us! She spoke twice at the Center and attended many teas heldfor her. Roshan grew up in the Jessawalla household and sofelt the influence andpresence oftheAvatar throughout her childhood and on through her marriage to Sam. Baba had His nazar very closeiy on this lady. He even toldher to give her wedding dress, which she hadjustshown Him, to Mehera to let her tiy it on. So Mehera put on this gorgeous, beaded, bejeweled, goldthreadedwhite sari and presentedhersqfto her Beloved Wouldthat we hadaphoto ofthat.’]

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oshan informed us that Emch’s mother was Roshan’s aunt—her father’s sis er. So, the Satha’s and the jessawalla’s were a close knit family. Roshan’s father, Homi Satha, lived with his wife and children in Ahmednagar in a home called Akbar Press, a name inherited from the previous tenant. The name stuck, so it was always referred to that way. In 1922, Homi, Roshan’s father, heard that a Parsi saint had come to the area now known as Meherabad. He and a few family members trekked across the open fields, which surrounded Ahmednagar, to meet him. They found Baba sitting under a tree, singing. Her father said that he had never heard such a beautiful voice. Baba called the family to sit near him. He asked how many members there were in the family. Homi said, “We are 5 brothers and 4 sisters. Baba said, “No, now you are six brothers and 4 sisters. I am one of you.” This was the beginning of a long and intimate relationship with Baba. In the early days Baba would often visit Akbar Press unexpectedly and, as part ofthe family, He would go into the kitchen to see what was cooking.

The first time Baba came to their house, Roshan’s grandfather was sitting at his usual place on the porch. After Baba left he called all the children together and said, “Dont think that He’s an ordinary man. He is a very, very high soul—like Lord Zoroaster.You should all respect Him.” Roshan said, “And so we all respected Baba from the very beginning. There was never even Left: Roshan in her wedding sari (now dyed blue) that Baba told her to give to Mehera to try on.

the slightest doubt. Whatever He said, we would do wholeheartedly.”

In 1942 her mother died. Her father was left with many children, all ofwhom devel oped muscular dystrophy. Shortly after her mother’s death, she was taken with the family to meet Baba. Baba took Roshan and cuddled her on His lap.Then He had everyone sit and He told Homi, “You don’t have to worry about this child. I am going to take care ofher. But, I order you not to take her to any saints, shrines, or physicians. You havejust to obey my orders and do as I tell you to do.” So Roshan was always under Baba’s care and she would live with whichever family Baba wanted.

In 1955 Roshan was directed by Baba to stay at Bindra House where she remained until her marriage. Over the years Baba vis ited there many times and sometimes He would bring carloads ofpeople to be fed.

Roshan recalls that in 1957 Baba called the whole Bindra House family to the Bo tanical Garden where Babawas staying. Her uncle Naosherwan-mama was there but not her father. Baba said to Roshan, “I think it’s high time you got married. I want you to get married.” Being careful to say the right thing in Baba’s presence she told Baba, “Baba, you know,when I used to go for mymedical checkup in school all the doctors told me that I should not get married because all my brothers and sisters have this polio [muscular dystrophy]. So they told me that I shouldn’t get married. But ifyou say, ‘Get married’ then I’ll get married.”Then Baba called Goher, who was standing at a little distance and said, “Goher, come here.”When Goher came Baba said, “Go inside and check her, whether she is fit to get married or not.” So she took her inside and checked her from “top to bottom”.

When Goher had completed the examina tion she said to Roshan, “Now go out.” Baba was reclining on the sofa and He asked, “There is nothing wrong?” Goher replied, “Baba there is nothing wrong with her she is fit.” So Baba said to her, “I want you to get married to Sam [Sam Kerawala, her cousin

whom she had known all her life]. Do you thinkyou are happy about it?” She said, very trustingly, “Baba, whoeveryou tell me to marry I will marry.” Roshan recalls that in those days they never asked questions oftheir parents.

Whatever they said, they would say yes to.

With Baba they would say, “Baba, ifyou are happy, I am happy to do what you say.”Then Baba said to her uncle, “Her father is not yet present, so I represent you as her father. And, you also tell me ifyou are happy with this.”

Then Helooked at Gaimai Mai, Banu Mama, Gula Masi, Manu, and Merwan and said, “Tell me ifyou are all happy.” Naturally they werehappybecauseitwasBaba’swish.Baba then said, “Now start getting things done for themarriage.” st The marriage was set for the 21 of March, 1958.Theybegan allthepreparations.

Then,oneday,Babasaid,”Wheneverytbing is ready, bring it all to Meherazad for me to see.” When the time came to take everything to Baba, theywere waiting for Sam, who had just gotten offa ship, and he arrived verylate.

He refused to buy the special Zoroastrian wedding clothes needed for the wedding. He said to Roshan, “I will be at sea, who is going to wear those clothes, they willjust be lying around.I don’tfeellikebuyingnewclothes.”

Roshan said, “No, you must wear them.” In some haste, they decided to have Sam revive Eruch’s wedding clothes which were still intact at that time. So he got Eruch’s clothes dry cleaned and washed and they were finally ready to place everything in the trunk to take to Meherazad. When they arrived, Baba was reclining on a sofa in mandali hall. Baba carefully reviewed each item and then said, very

sweetly, “Very nice.” Then Roshan presented her sari andjewelry made from her mother’s jewelry. Baba said, “Everything is very nice.”

Then he told her to take her sari and the jew— dry to the women mandali. Baba then gave the instruction, “Tell Mehera to wear your sari and your jewelry. When I come for lunch I want to see her wear it.” Mehera put everything onjust as the bride would. When Baba saw her He looked very happy. Then He said, “Mehera, youlookvery sweet. Nowtake these clothes off fold them nicely and give them to Roshan.” [To Roshan:] “Now you can wear it for your wedding.”

Mr. Meelan at Meelan Studio in Pune came to take the wedding pictures.

Baba said to him, “You will take nice photos oftheir wedding, no?” “Yes Baba, don’t worry, I will take everybody’s wedding picture”, he replied. But for some mysterious reason, when the photos were developed, Sam and Roshan appeared as white shadows while everyone else in the photo looked wonderful and clear. Mr Meelan was very disturbed by this phe nomena. So Baba told Meelan, “They will come to your studio, you must make at least one good photo for their wedding picture.” So they had one picture taken together which came out very well.

[In our next issue we wiieellyou ofBabac very strange and disturbing order to Roshan. It had to do with the way she was to treat herfirst born child.]

A Ghazal for Roslian byJim Wilson

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Ii Bloved, such sense of hmior You hav& Sometimes when we gather to re member You It is Your plaaurc to send a member ofYour intimate family to relive for us those divine days ofYour physiclpresncc In thairlives We get dreased up we clean our homc we scurryiround—prcpar our minds

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som there Your donkey is not lazy like tha &rmcrs mules wholong for guien paturcs No Your donkey &e across Your ocears to clean the cobwebs fom our memories And to feed us the curries ofYour gracious fragrance anct mtimatcwarmth Such a donkcy she is that ic even sicieps wcll in trangc places and unfamdiar beds, And shc asks onlyfora taste ofMcDonald’s :.:.:.:.:.:for.lier noshment

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Oh Beloved how can we not recognize Your smile in her loving eyc& And Your tender motlici4iood in the heavenly kod she makes for us And how can we not weep tears of reunion when e mdueus in the family of YGurubmatelover? is Your compas sioni It can so quickly dart past our stubborn minds and pierce our hearts so that the eyes of our hearts can open and see Youhere, with us, now and always

Oh Beloved, Your humor

Oh Baba, let us be playflul and happy as children in Your family And give us guid ance in caring for Your dnnke Your Fool No 9, and all the remaining crown jewels of our precious family

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Announcements

Roshan’s Recipes from Diana Goodhearts notes Fish inTomato Gravy (alsocalledPatta) t

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Miilcc tomato gravy—tomatocs,ginger, garlic water—chop and lIend Sprinkle and rub tnrmeric and salt an the inside and outside ofwhde cleaned fish (anybig strong, ;fsh) [WnusedwtutefIsh, trout, and salmon J Pour some tomato gravy over fish and mnrinate a short w}ule (5-7 minutes) Saute lots ofc1opped onion in oil with somi whole curryleavcs Wncn onions arc weuI cookea aou caycrrnc paprika, andlots and lots ofcsh, chopped conander Cook more Add afewprnces tQm2±*s, u little water adash salt Cook more AddmarinatectfIsh and cookbriefly Itis done when fish springs backandis still firm

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ilowing is a small listing ofthc meetings in various locations around the US Ifyou would like your group to be represented here call Dma at (310) 837 6419, evenings or e-mail your announcement to Bababooks@aol com

Meetings Meherana in Northern California holds a Dhuni on tne 12 th ofevery montn i nere w th, th, 18 and be a New Life Sahavas on the 17 th 19 ofOctober Featured guests will be Babas twin nephews Rustom and Sorab This time there will be no limits on the amount of attendees To make your reservation call Christie Pearson at (209) 966-5078 Meherana will also host a Women s Retreat th th November 8 and 9

ObsrvahQi RShifl $ays 7as Babd’ whn sh adé rngr€dwntt For Meher Mount (Ojai, CA) meeting info call Kendra andJonathan Burroughs at (805) 640-0000 Meher Mount 9902 Sulphur Mountain Road Ojai CA 93023

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Md aconut milk, tomato sauce and water : : tir unni itleaves the side ofthe pan. (When currypaste is ready, put a finger into t Finger hould come out clean ) Takcoutcurrypate Addwatertopot Addth&n3d sah Cookon higI forawhdc When chi&en1acooke4 addeurrypaste andbrmgto abil Wien itboit, thecirryis done :

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SoCal desert area Baba lovers meet occasionally contactJavMohlerforinformation (760) 366-3537 orwrite P0 Box 94 JoshuaTree, CA 92252-0094 -m jay mo er eeecom

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Seattle we have a regularly scheduled meeting every Friday night at different people s homes, as well as other events, such as Baba music every second Saturday night at John and B arbara Connor s house C all Catherine Alpert at (206) 525-7424 for information Denver area meetings are on Sunday evenings at 7pm Contact Judi Schoeck 303 733-9950forlocation The Fifth Annual Rocky Mountain Sahavas will take place FridaythroughMonday Febru y 13-16, 1998 The group will return to a wonderftil retreat site outside ofDenver CO over Presidents and Valentine s Dayweekend to share in the Love of the King of Heart&

t Guest(s) to be announced. For information and updates, send your address to: Judi Schoeck, 1456 5. Sherman St., Denver, CO 80210, or e-mail thejoodster@worldnet.att.net.

(303) 733-9950.

In the Ann Arbor, Michigan area we have monthly meetings. Anyone interested should contact Lindajones at (313) 761-2497.

For the Nashville area the point ofcontact is: Scott Tycer, 1004 Gracelawn Court, Brentwood, TN 37027. Phone (615) 6619990, fax (615) 661-9223 or send e-mail to stycer@worldnet.att.net.

Meetings are approximately once a month at various locations.

Scott is also the trustwalla for Friends ofAva tar Meher Baba Trust and will send a quarterly reminder letter to any Baba lover who requests it, that we are gathering contri butions to send to the Avatar Meher Baba Trust (Ahmednagar) for that quarter.There is no obligation and the reminder letters can be stopped at any time.

Hampton Roads, Virginia area: Henry Kashouty hosts the Baba meetings Mon day nights at 8pm last meeting of 1997 is Dec. 15, theyresuthe onjan. 5, 1998. For directions to Henry’s house in Hampton, call him at (757) 244-7865.

Lord Meher Meetings Now on Monday nights 7:30pm at the Los Angeles Center—Meherabode. Come and share the wine provided by Bhau Kalchuri in his biography Lord Meher, Avatar ofthe Age MeherBaba, (we are nowin Vol. 3).

Hosted by Fred Stankus

Audio Tape Lending Library Do you ever find yourselfin a ‘dry spell’ spintually? Are you bored listening to the same old negative news, weather and traffic reports on your way to work? Would you rather have something inspiring to listen to? Do you need an interesting theme for your Baba meetrngs. . .? Well the audio library has many interesting and intellectually stimulating dis

K3® courses on life with Baba. We have over 150 titlesjust waiting to be delved into by inquir ing minds. What unsuspecting treasures to behold! Don’t waste your time on this tired old world any longer. Make your choice to move into the cosmic Baba linkup. Lynne Berry (official tape walli) is ready to assist you.

For catalog or info write to: AMB Lending Audio Library cJo Lynne Berry 267 Hanover Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Video Cassette Rental Library Another treasure trove of inspiring talks is available through the Video Cassette Rental Library Seeing the guest speakers again from the L.A. Sahavas, from the many years past, brings back old memories from so many good times of Baba enrichment which the L.A. Sahavas has never failed to provide. We have many titles from over ten years to choose from.

These are also excellent for meeting themes.

For a complete listing oftitles and particulars write to: AMBCSC Video Cassette Rental Library, EQ. Box 3247, South Pasadena, CA 91031-6247, or phone Karma Page at (213) 225-3910.

Arts Festival II th, 1997. The first held Saturday, November 8 at Meherabode. Those interested in partici paring, i.e., music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry food, and refreshments, etc, please call Richard at (310) 208-4764.

Meher Baba on the World Wide Web Announcing a new Meher Baba internet magazine, “The Whim.” The first issue includes a Bal Natu story, “Kiciner’s Korner,” humor and cartoons from “The Word,” the former Chicago Baba magazine, as well as new material. The next issue is scheduled for Dccember. “The Whim” can be seen at the following URL: http://cccinfo.sunycrie.edu/zine/the/whim.html.

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New Caretakers at Meher Mount

by Kendra Crossen Burroughs

“Come Up and See Us Sometime!”

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onathan Burroughs and Kendra Crossen Burroughs have become the new caretakers at Meher Mount, the beautiful property in Ojai that Meher Baba called his second-favorite place in the West after Meher Center in Myrtle Beach. Given in love by its late owner Agnes Baron, Meher Mount is now held by the corporation she set up before her death. Dedicated to and inspired by the teachings ofMeher Baba, Meher Mount is a universal center that will be used for vanous humanitarian and educational purposes.

Kendra, a longtime Baba lover, had been an officer and board member ofMeher Baba Information Center in Cambridge, Massachussets, and was working as manag ing editor at Shambhala Publications in Boston. Jonathan had formerly been in change ofguest services at the Mahanishi Ayur-veda Health Center in Lancaster, Massachusetts, where he also lectured and taught medita non. Jonathan had long known about Meher Baba, since his parents, by a strange coinci dence, had moved next door to Meher Center in Myrtle Beach during the 1960’s. In 1993, when he read an article about Baba in a New England publication, he was reminded ofthe Center, and a self-styled sabbatical led to a two-month stay there in 1994, fol lowed by two trips to India (including Hamirpur, Baba’s “heart”) and attendance at most ofthe U.S. Sahavases.

Kendra andJonathan’s engagement last fall came as a surprise to themselves and their friends. However theyfelt itwas pant ofBaba’s silent working all along: it turned out that the article about Baba thatJonathan had read in 1993 was written by Kendra! They met in May 1996 and married on November 17 in Cambnidgewith the intention ofexploring the move to Meher Mount, wherejonathan had been accepted for a caretaker position. Visiting Meher Mount together in December led to their acceptance for the position as a couple.

They arrived in California in time to attend the L.A. Silence Day Sahavas, where Leatnice

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Johnston recalled Baba’s visit to Meher Mount on August 2, 1956, and His remark to the group: “Now go out and see the view and try to love Baba through nature.This is all due to My love-this whole creation, this nature, all the beautyyou see, all came out ofMe.”

Bhau Visits Meher Mount llowing the Sahavas, Jonathan and Kendra hosted their first Baba event at Meher Mount, Bhau’s talk on July 8. On arrival Bhau greeted manypeople from the front porch, and then a picnic lunch got underway beneath a big oak tree while Bhau ate at an extended table in the kitchen along with eight companions.There was a delicious turkey that GiGi had put in the oven in the wee hours ofthe morning, Oriental rice salad, green salad, an Indian-style potato salad, cheese, fruit, and other goodies. Bhau took a rest after lunch while preparations for his outdoor talk were completed. It was estimated that seventy to ninety people attended the event.

Bhau prefaced his talk with some remarks about Meher Mount:

came to know that I was intending to come here [to L.A.], she contacted me at the elev enth hour, of course. [Applause], so she is reallyresponsible, and I amjust observing that she is taking much interest in that.

And now I see there are two persons, Kendra and Jonathan. Kendra is associated with Baba [and] in His contact since many years. I know her. And when she has come, it shows that there is something—it is Baba who has invited her andJonathan to work for Him, and theywill be looking after this place very well.” . .

Bhau shared many stories oflife with Baba including an extensive account ofHis anony mous service to the lepers, mad, masts, and the poor, as well as the destitute middle class.

After the talk and entertainment (songs and recitations ofghazals), prayers and Artiled by Bhau were offered at the Baba Tree. Several people had pointed out where Agnes Baron’s ashes were placed in front of the tree, and Bhau suggested that a memorial marker with her name and dates be placed there. After a hearty send-offfor Bhau, those remaining had tea, drinks and many sweet treats at the house.

Getting to Work “I’m really ver very happy to see that now you all are taking interest [in Meher Mount]... because Baba’s visit [in August, 1956] was not without reason. The reason is behind it, and posterity will come to know what is the value ofthis property. For the present, those who love Baba, particularly from L.A. and Santa Barbara, they come sometimes, but in future because ofHis visit, people will come here and it will become a big center. And His visit also means some work here. And what is that work? He put some treasure [here] also.

Under this tree [the BabaTree, which He sat under] the treasure is there. But don’t start digging! [Laughter] You have to dig in your heart. Go on digging and you’ll get the trea sure. It is there.

Now I’ve come here just to feel happy, and GiGi’s responsible for this. When she .

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n addition to caning for the property hosting visitors, and faciiitatingvarious events, J onathan and Kendra are taking cane of Agnes’s aging pets, kitties Blanca and Negnita, and dogMax. Unfortunately, one ofthein first chores was to provide a fiffingbunial for Negnita and Max, both ofthem having recently passed away. Negnita the cat was buried on the slope overlooking Topa Topa Mountain. Max, Agnes’s faithful and beloved dog, was buried along with a well worn toy and a Baba card, near the tree under which Baba sat and close to where Agnes’s ashes were placed. The sur vivor is Blanca, a white cat who has had his ears removed because ofskin cancer. Agnes’s last remaining pet is active and eating well.

He will, however, require further surgery at a cost of$260. Ifyou wish to help, make your

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WhoAmi? A school work project

by Linda Stine

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he following is a love story made spe cial by the purity ofan eleven-yearold child who loves Baba with all his being, as naturally as he breathes. Baba comes into each person’s life in the way that will most serve that soul, and this little boy, my son, is a fortunate one in that Baba has made His love so apparent and guiding. Nikos, now a fifth grader in a small independent school on the Oregon coast, has been blessed by the Ancieht One in every way.

The school Nikos goes to attempts to teach the children in an integrated way, using as many real life experiences to teach the language arts as they can. The classes consist of two grades and it was the third/fourth grade dass that was making a study ofresearch when they were assigned a biography project. To make the study more relevant, the children were asked to choose a famous person that they would then research and finally portray in the “Biography Ball” that would be pre sented to the parents. Nikos had a difficult time choosing his character and in an attempt to help him, I asked what person in history did he feelwas most important. Without hesi tation he answered, “Baba, ofcourse.” I could see his eyes light up as he imagined the diffi cult project turn into an exercise oflove and joy. The children worked six weeks on their projects which included extensive reading, note taking, and a written biography oftheir chosen person. They were also asked to draw a picture, and Nikos suffered this assignment, feeling like he could not do his Beloved Babas face justice. We together studied some of Wodin’s drawings in Maul’s book, GodBrother and Nikos said, “Well, I’lljust have to do my

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best.” When he was finished, he felt as ifBaba had helped him draw the picture.

The night ofthe ball arrived, and Nikos prepared himselfin his homemade sadra and cotton pants, with a large painted moustache.

He then wrapped his head in a white piece of cotton (to disguise his blond hair). The “fa mous persons” were asked to give three hints as to their identities and then stay in their character throughout the dinner and activi ties. The crowd ofparents and friends were then allowed to mixwith the celebrities, interviewing and attempting to identify them. If they were successful, they could ask for a sig nature in the autograph books that had been prepared for them by the students. Nikos al lowed me to interpret from his alphabet board as the many curious folks tried to identify this silent celebrity The most beautiftil calm filled Nikos’ every gesture and answer. His face was radiant with his love for Baba, and he later said that he began to feel like he would be silent forever as “it was so peaceful.” Baba undid that when Nikos dropped his board on his bare foot and yelped in pain before he could catch himself There were 75 adults touched that evening by the genuine quiet and beauty por trayed so lovingly by this little boy. No one went home without knowing about Meher Baba, as revealed and related by one of His small servants. As for Nikos, he went home feeling Baba’s presence in a newway. For sev eral weeks after the Biography Ball, Nikos donned his sadra and observed silence for the day,justto feelthe quiet and the peace through that experience. We sometimes observe si lence together as a family, which brings us close to one another in the practice ofother forms of

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communication as well as the powerful re minder ofour Baba.

I have enclosed Nikos’s biography of Baba, the picture he drew, and a photograph from the gathering.

In His Love, Linda Stine (mother ofNikosJ. Parse)

Meher Baba

by Nikos Parse

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ne beautiful February morning 1894, I, Merwan S. Irani was born.

I was our family’s second child, and I lived to be the oldest out ofthe seven kids in my family. I was brought up in the Zoroas trian religion, but I went to a Christian school.

My childhood was very spiritual due to my parents’ guidance. I loved sports like cricket and games like chess and marbles.

One daywhen I was riding to school on my bike I saw an old lady sitting under a neem tree. I was drawn to her like a magnet to metal.

I came closer and she embraced me. Over the next five days I came back to this lady, whose name turned out to be Babajan. She was one ofthe five Perfect Masters. On the fifth day, she kissed me on the forehead. I went uncon scious and I remained that way for three days.

My mom became very worried. She called in a variety ofdoctors, none ofwhich could heal me.This was my first experience ofdivine bliss, although I was unaware of the world. Over the next seven years I worked with the other four Masters who brought me back to normal human consciousness.

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My first workwas writing down the very complicated experience ofdivine bliss. I told my brother Adi, this book would be found after my death. In 1920 I established a boys’ schoolwith strict spiritual mles. I began train— ing my mandali who travelled across India helping me in myuniversalwork. In the 1930’s we made seven trips to the West including China, Europe, Australia and America. In the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s I opened hospitals, fed hundreds of thousands of poor people and established ashrams all over India.

In 1925 I purposely stopped talking.

There have been enough words. I communi cated by an alphabet board and hand gestures the remaining forty-four years ofmy life. I came not to teach but to awaken love in the heart of every human being. My life was a living ex ample oflove and selfless service.

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3. When you feel happy, think “Baba wants me to be happy.” When you suffer think “Baba wants me to suffer.”

4. Be resigned to every situation and think honestly and sincerely: “Baba has placed me in this situation.”

5. With the understanding that Baba is in everyone, try to help and serve others.

6. I saywith myDivine Authorityto each and all that whosoever takes my name at time of breathing his last comes to me: so do not forget to remember me in your last moments.

Unless you start remembering me from now on, it will be difficult to remember me when your end approaches. You should start prac ticing from now on. Even ifyou take my name only once every day, you will not forget to re member me in your dying moments.

Meher Baba

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The Need for Creative Leadership in India

by Meher Baba hroughout the hoary ages ofthe past, India has played the most prominent part in shaping the spiritual history ofhumanity She has been a home ofAvatars, Prophets, Masters, seers and sages, whose contribution to the spiritual evolution ofhu manity has been unparalleled. The contribution oflndia to the solution of mun dane problems has also been remarkable, since she has produced scientists, poets, philoso phers, emperors, leaders and statesmen ofthe first order. In the past, India has attained cminence in spiritual as well as mundane spheres of life; and her place in the post-war New World ofthe future is going to be unique.

The problems which India has to face today are, in some ways, more complicated than the problems which any other country is called upon to solve. Men ofall races, creeds, cults and religions have found a home in India; and ifthis lack ofuniformity in composition has presented some difficulties in arriving at soli darity and concerted action in the national life oflndia, it must in no way be looked upon as a pure handicap. The various streams of cul ture which have poured into the life-history oflndia have added to the wealth ofher na tional personality; and they have not only created a suitable opportunity for arriving at a new cultural synthesis, but have necessitated its emergence. Ifhandled with creative leadership, the presence ofconflicting elements in Indian life can be utilized for bringing into existence a rich world-culture, which shall not only rejuvenate and harmonize Indian life, but will also give a new tone to the life ofthe whole world.

The process by which we arrive at the new world-culture cannot be purely mechani cal. We can never have any vigorous world-culture by merely piling together cer

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tam isolated elements selected from the present diversity ofculture; that waywe shall only succeed in getting a patchwork of little vitality. A hodgepodge ofcollected ideas can never be a substitute for a direct and fresh perception ofthe Goal. The new world-cul ture will have to emerge from an integral vision ofthe Truth independently of existing traditions and not from the laborious process ofselection and compilation of conserved values.

The newworld-culture which will emerge from integral vision will, however, automati cally bring about cultural synthesis. Since the vision that inspires the newworld- culture will be comprehensive, it will not negate the val ues ofdiverse traditions; nor will it have merely patronizing tolerance for them. On the contrary, it will express itself through active appreciation ofthe essentials ofdiverse reli gions and cultures.Thevastvision oftheTruth cannot be limited by any creed, dogma or sect; however, it helps men to transcend these limi tations, not by blind and total denial of any value to the existing creeds, dogmas and sects, but by discovering, accentuating, unfolding and developing such facets of the Truth as might have been hidden in them.

Evolving a transcendent and synthetic culture which will express the Infinite Truth is one task before India. The other task, for which India is particularly qualified, is to help other nations in arriving at mutual understanding and harmony. This second task, again, requires creative leadership which will have an unclouded perception ofthe mission which India has to fuffill in relation to the destinies ofthe other nations ofthe world. In her foreign policy India must in no waybe a party to color prejudice and color war. Black, yellow and white are differences ofthe skin; they are not

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differences within the soul itself Through her past history, India has been a link between the East and the West; and the two have come closer to each other through her.

The third task before the creative leadership in India is to strive for political poise in spite ofthe difficult situation in which she is placed. India can never make her full contri bution to the world unless she is free from political domination and fear offoreign ag gression or conquest. If she is to fulfill her mission in the sisterhood ofnations, India must be free to shape her own national life and to determine her policy towards other nations.

But insistence upon this fundamental need should not be allowed to disturb her political poise. While leadership in Indiawould bejus tified in striving for national freedom and selfdetermination, it must not allow itselfto be vitiated by reactionary isolationism. In the same way, while discharging the clear duty of resisting foreign aggression, India should try to keep free from hate, malice or revenge.

Aggression must be met with resistance; it is unpractical to insist upon nonhere and violence. Pure non-violence or incorruptible love can come spontaneously only where du ality has been completely transcended in the realization ofthe last and the onlyTruth; and non-violence ofthe brave is possible only for s who have, through rigorous 1 advanced sou discipline, eradicated from theirmind all forms ofgreed and hate. But so far as the masses are concerned, it is undesirable to ask them to stick to the external formula ofnon-violence when it is their clear dutyto resist aggression in selfdefense or in the defense of other weak brothers. In the case ofthe unevolved masses, universal insistence upon non-violence can Continued on page 50

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noted, are held at the Center: 1214 S. Van Ness Avenue Los Angeles, Ca (213)731-3737

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Ifyou have ideas or requestsfor future programs, please contact

Theseprograms are subject to change.

Call the Centerfor verflcation.

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L iMeberReadrngs Now on Monday nights Mehetabode Come and share the wine pro vided by Bhau Kakhun inhis bwgraphyLørd We arecurrentiy on Vol 3 which covers the years 1925 1”

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October 4 5OyearswfhMtherBaba Celebration ofMarguente Poley s 5O anmver— sary with Mehr Baba Saturday, 7 30 p m October II Mymemores mthMeberBaba Murshida Duces daughter, Charmian Duce Knowles, spent timewith Meher Baba in India, America, Europe and has manylovtlystorics to ihare Saturday I 30 m and

October 12 Sharrngsweet nwmeiztswttb Cbarmzan Potluck, storics, and muisc Bringa dish and drrnks to Sunday 12 00 noon sweet

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October 16 MeherRabaand:heNevLfe Codmthe thiaNew Lftfrrallofusasuccess andjoy Come share a special evening with music, stories, and film Coordinated by Lois Jones Thursday> 7 30 p in “

October24 Afoyfidev€nmgiithMeherBabasnepbews Rustom and 3oin us to welcome our Sobrab Irani who will share some of their memories ofMeher Baba Friday, 7 30 p in October25 MemorieswuhMeherBaba Special guests Rustom and Sohrab Irani from India will share their wtalth of stories of life with Mcmi Baba Saturday 7 30 p in dear guests

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Notes from the Internet Bob Holdt Swims in the Ocean of Love

Mark Palmer posted the following touching story:

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aba’s dear Bob Holdt died quietly in a hospice in Cambridge, Massachu setts, on Sunday, August 10, 1997, after along boutwith a slow-developing form ofliver cancer.

Bob was born in Huntington, West Vir ginia, on January 19, 1944. At the age of eighteen months he was diagnosed with a rare form ofretinal cancer to which he lost his sight.

Bob went to live in Massachusetts at the tender age of six to receive his education at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, and he subsequently attended Harvard University. He first learned ofMeher Baba in 1968.

Baba-lovers the world over know Bob through his beautiful song, “The Ocean of Love,” which is sung so often on Meherabad Hill that DollyDastur has called it an Arti. At many Baba gatherings on the East Coast— including Boston celebrations, Northeast Gatherings, and the concerts at Meher Cen ter in Myrtle Beach all enjoyed Bob’s singing with his autoharp accompaniment. His reso nant baritone voice was well suited to songs likejim Reeves’ “Welcome to MyWorld” and “These Four Walls” (to which Bob had written Baba-lyrics).

Bob’s daughter, Michelle, learned of his passing just after arriving at Meher Center and felt that Baba had planned the moment with perfect, compassionate timing. Bob’s son Erich died in 1990 at the age ofeighteen, also from cancer.

A memorial service in Cambridge is be— ing planned for September. In the past year, a recording was made of Bob singing “The Ocean ofLove,” and his friends hope to make it available soon. A more complete story about Bob and his famous songwill be published in the next Glow International.

Kendra Crosscn Burroughs, Meher Mount

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ane Brown told us that she had gone to the Meher Center beach Sunday (Aug.10) with Ira Gross and Damien Triouleyre. Ira noticed the shells on the path to the beach that spelled out “I am the Ocean of Love.” He was concerned by the weeds,etc, among the shells and proceeded to do cleaning. When theygot back to the Cen ter, they were informed that Bob had passed on about the same time theywere at the shells.

Years ago, Bob was going to the beach with friends. When they got to the bridge, one ofthem asked ifhe had ever been shown the shells spelling out Baba’s words, “I am the Ocean ofLove.” He hadn’t, so he got down on his knees and felt the shells. Then as they walked on the beach, the song idea (words and music) came to him quite magically .

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®:i1 A Letter from Bhau July 7, 1997

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earest Beloved Avatar Meher Baba’s Dear Ones—

I’m veryhappyto havevisited Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Avatar’s Abode in Aus tralia, and Meherana, Myrtle Beach, and L.A. in the States. The Sahavas programs in Meherana and L.A. were reallyvery very intensive. People came from many different places to attend the Sahavases. The new cen ter in L.A. is verybeautiful and the L.A. Baba lovers have made it most beautiful in their love for the Beloved.

The gathering at Avatar’s Abode, Aus tralia made Beloved Baba’s visit to Avatar’s Abode very fresh and His Presence very ac tive there. The Baba lovers are preparing for the fortieth Anniversary of His visit there (1998) and they expect that Babalovers from other countries too will take part in this.

Myrtle Beach is the home for the Beloyed ofthe West and Avatar’s Abode is His abode in the West. The name Avatar’s Abode was given by Baba Himself and it is really Hs Abode.

The programs in Myrtle Beach were full oflove, and it appeared as ifthe waves from Beloved Baba’s Ocean were touching every heart. The divine garden was full ofbeautiful birds who sing His glory in the garden and the sweet voices ofthese birds touch the heart ofeach listener.There were radio programs, a television program and interviews with newspaper reporters. The Myrtle Beach press published a very nice article in the paper.

This is the sophisticated age and the more sophistication is progressing, the more bills people are receiving. This is the age ofreason and because of that people have no time to think about the will of God. They have to meditate on bills, and thus the will ofGod is ignored. But Beloved Baba is very very ac tive at present and His work is speeding up.

There is material progress on one side and there is also spiritual progress on the other side, and those who are in His contact are learning how to make use ofmaterial things without getting attached to them. Beloved Baba has said, “I have come not to teach but to awaken” and He is awakening the people

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gradually. The dirt (sanskaras) which we have collected must be wiped out in order to get awakened towards the Divinity, and this work Beloved Baba is doing gradually. This dirt is also found inlower kingdoms—right from the gas, stone, vegetable, worm, fish, bird and ani mal kingdoms because ofthe exploitation of these kingdoms by the human beings, and therefore Beloved Baba has to give a Univer sal Push which will clean the dirt of every kingdom and the consciousness will become natural and clean, and mankind will have the awakening towards the Divinity.

This awakening will differ from person to person. For instance when it rains, those who are in the open get fully drenched. Those who hold umbrellas, they get a few drops of rain here and there. Those who sit on the yeranda see that it is raining, they shout with pleasure that this rain is ver very pleasant.

Those who remain behind closed doors, hear that it is raining and that the rain is pleasant, and then they open the door in order to see the rain.

Thus, the experience of those who are fully drenched is different from those who, because of the umbrella, have received the drops only. Those who are on the veranda, their experience is different yet again.

Similarly, when Beloved Baba’s Univer takes place, the entire world Manifestation sal awakened will be and the experience will dif fer from person to person.

This is the time when Beloved Avatar Meher Baba is following each one, because He has to wipe out the dirt. And when this process ofcleaning begins, people come into His contact. The entire world will come to Him because He is not only in everyone and everything but He is everyone and everything, and He is the one who is responsible for the whole creation, animate or inanimate and therefore He works for all.

May you all love Beloved Baba more and more and follow His wish and make Him pleased.

In His Love, Bhau Kaichuri

Bhauji’s Chat-session

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you will read from Jerry Edwards posting, the Computer Age has hit The Trust Office full force. As just

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about the whole industrialised world is realising, ifyou don’tjump aboard the cornputer band wagon, you wont be riding into the new millennium! Mr. Kalchuri has more than got his feet wet in this medium during his recent world tour. Starting in Australia he would sit in front of someone’s computer and they would enter a program/place called The Palace.

Somewhat like a ‘virtual reality’ game, the Palace was, for this occasion, the Barn at Myrtle Beach, with a photo ofBhau hovering over Baba’s chair. There were 30 or more people around the worldjoining in, each one represented by a smiley face on the screen.

As each one took a turn, theyidentffied themselves, and their question or comment to Bhau would appear written on the screen in a cartoon-like balloon.

The response was sometimes a tad de layed, seeing as the words were being transmitted all over the world. But as your editor and her son Michael found out, seated around his monitor, it was very exciting to be a part ofsuch a strange new happening. Bhauji got quite the expert at it, and so at every stop along his route, when it was convenient, he wouldjoin with a group ofcyber buddies and another meeting would be set up. It was fre quently heard, amongst the cyber-ites, “Hey, did you go to The Palacelast Saturday night?

Wasn’t Bhau great?!”

Following is the account David Israel posted ofBhau’s finalvisit to The Palace.

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athered in Dan Stone’s basement office this afternoon, Bhauji was surrounded by a group ofcheery onlookers as he doled out, with characteristic eloquence and humor, thoughts, replies, and warmth, in the final Baba Palace real-time chat session in what we might caliThe First Series—this being a mode ofcommunication with Baba lovers globally that Bhau has re turned to periodically amid his travels on the current world tour. That tour now winds to its close—the man from Meherazad will be seen offfrom Dulles airport tomorrow evening, as he returns to mother India. He concluded his post-chat day with a group dinner followed by a 3-or-so hour talk.

The number ofparticipants ranged from about 8 tol2—and we tried (for the first time in these Bhau sessions) a more free-form, un moderated format. I enjoyed serving as Bhau Kalchuri’s amanuensis for the event.

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Meher Baba, Mother Teresa and Princess Diana The Connection Ramarao, a residentatMeherabadwho has met Baba numerous times, told this story atArti on th, the morning ofSeptember 7 1997.

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eloved Baba, in His Infinite Cornpassion, first took me in His Lap in January, 1953 At that tirne, Bhau Kaichuri and Nana Kher were sent to Bilaspur, Andhra Pradesh, as part of a tour to spread His Name and Message ofLove in Central India. One of these meetings was presided overby Rai Saheb Krishnand Verma, Supreme Court Advocate. At the time I had heard that he used to send regular gifts ofmoney, clothes and food to MotherTeresa, so it was through Baba’s connection that I first became aware ofher work.

During the period ofmy suspension from the Railway Services, I served in many firms, one ofwhich was an eight year employment with Rajrishi Exports Ltd., Bilaspur. I was an export executive, in charge of of Sri Rishi’s offices at Calcutta, Bhubaneswar, Paradeep and Hyderabad. ShriJ.C. Rishiwas the owner of our company, and the founder of a chari table trust, which used to donate to the Missionaries of Charity, 54 Lower Circular Road, Calcutta, which is the wonderful, simple and sacred service group of dear Mother Teresa. I had the privelege to meet her many times, and she was always gracious and bying, at one point autographing for me a copy ofherbook, SomethingBeautfulftr God. Later, on one occasion when I visited her, I sent her my business card, which on the reverse side was printed one ofBaba’s messages. After I was seated in her simple room, which contamed two tables, some chairs, a typewriter and a telephone, she very sweetly questioned me, “You are a lover of Meher Baba?” Ohserving herinterest, I told herin Bengali, which she spoke fluently, “Yes, Avatar Meher Baba is the Living Christ.”

In my hand, I carried my small briefcase, and in those days, tape recorders were all reel to reel, and the portable ones were about the size ofmy briefcase. She pointed to the briefcase in a questioning manner, and asked me ifit were a tape recorder. I opened the briefcase to show her that it was not, and in a quiet manner on that Sunday, alone in her room, .

she told me in a very reverential manner, “Meher Baba is a Christ-like person.”

Prompted inwardlyby Baba, I told her, “Ma, Baba Thakur achey.” (Mother, Baha is God.) She was silent for a few seconds, then she told me in a very simple way, “I am a Ro man Catholic nun, governed by Vatican Dictates, but I know this: Baba started working on lepers, then we four became involved with lepers—myself, Baba Amte, Gandhiji (Mahatma Gandhi) and Albert Schweitzer.

Following thatwork, the Government of India is now pursuing leprosy eradication, and the World Health Organization has a program to wipe outthe disease bythe end ofthe century!”

After affirming her feeling about Baba’s divinity, she asked me, while she was alive, not to tell people ofher acknowledging Baba’s Christ-like life. I met her a total ofseven times, and the last three are recorded in my diaries.

Dma Snow Reports

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hortly before we went to press the world got the sad news ofthe death of Prin cess Diana. There have been a great many postings on the Baba List Sen’, with most everybody seeing Baba’s hand very defi nitely at work. An editorial from an Indian magazine written after the death ofPresident Kennedy showed many parallels: “ it is indeed amazing how President Kennedy’s death has been felt as a personal loss by the man on the street everywhere! This could only be because he sincerely made his fellow hu man beings feel he was a brother to them, and championed the cause ofthe downtrodden.”

And then, quoting from the Family Letters dated 10th December 1963, by Mani: “ Beloved Baba said ofhim: He was a great man, good and sincere. Dying as he did, has not only made him immortal in mankind’s memory and history, but it has given him a great push forward spiritually. However al though he was assassinated because it was ordained to be, it is not a good thing and it portends more suffering ahead for the world.”

Does this hold true for Diana too? The fol lowing arejust averyfew ofthe many thoughts presented on the List Sew It wasjust too

coincidental that the two most famous women in the world, renowned for their love of hu manity, their caring for the poor, the downtrodden and forgotten, should die within a week of each other! Baba set it up with a one-two whammy!

One hopes that the cu mulative effect of their lives and deaths has created a tidal wave in Baba’s Ocean ofLove As Baba used movie theaters to do His Universal work, at Diana’s funeral He had over two billion people with hearts wide open Baba performed an operation on the heart of England and it was such an incredible proce dure that we were all deeply touched Simon Reece writes: “In Britain, which is pretty high up on the world scale of emotional suppression, thousands were crying in public.

There was the story of a truck driver who stopped in a lay-by to observe the minute’s silence and hugged all the other people there, even tho’ complete strangers. Many people think they are feeling grief, since a shocking death was the catalyst for it all. But I think what has really gone on has been a mega sanskaric bonfire ofindividual and collective dimensions.The sense ofHope is very, very strong, and we mustn’t let it slip.” Baba has always used the media to His advantage, and He certainly used it this time Both Priñ cess Diana’s and MotherTeresa’s deaths and funerals occurred on the weekend, so that people could stay glued to their TV sets the entire time He doesn’t miss anything!

And we know that both women knew of Baba. We were also told that Sonja Davies ofAvatar’s Abode in Australia gave the Princess a copy ofJean Adriel’s book Avatarwhen Diana visited a tourist attrac tion not a mile away from the Abode. The love that was awakened at the deaths of these two women has had a profound im pact on the world. Lets hope it lasts.

J ames Cox writes from India

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oday marked the first anniversary of Baba’s sister’s passing, and Goher, Katie, Meheru, Manu, and Rhoda Mistry, came from Meherazad for a Women’s Arti. Aloha was already at Meherabad. Hundreds of people from all over the world attended, as did almost all ofher family. The Twins sung rousing renditions of songs that Mani wrote or that were her favorites, and recordings ofMani performing were played at the Samadhi. As usual, many other people

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also sang, and profttse amounts of flowers adorned Baba’s, Mehera’s, and Mani’s tombs.

In perhaps a leftover flavor oflndia’s 5O independence anniversary, a curtain of small orange and white flowers interspersed with tiny bundles ofgreen leaves was tied in front ofthe door to Baba’s Samadhi... ...Today, someone that had spent a lot of time with Mehera told me that Mehera, in the late ‘80’s, had once gotten up in the afternoon, doubtlessly not feeling so well, straightened her clothes, and asked, “But how would it look ifwe didn’t go out there ( referring to her porch), and share, when we have been given so much?”

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van Gesteren, accompanied by his wife, is now here for the first time in 30 years, since he filmed Baba in 1967. For the first time, he showed his footage ofBaba to the remaining Mandali, and will show it again in a few days to the rest of us. Mani reportedly once told someone that Baba had hugged Louie more in a short amount of time than He had ever hugged anyone else, and at least one ofthose hugs is on film. Louie also wore the famous turban which Baba had given him, and which he wore when he filmed Baba. Evidently the same person at Meherazad also tied it for him now, 30-years later.

One ofmy oldest memories ofa Baba film is seeing a man with a goatee and turban hugging Baba in a chair against the backdrop of Seclusion Hill. I was told the man was Louis van Gesteren, a Dutch filmmaker who had met Meher Baba in 1967, and had filmed something like a whole reel of35mm film of Baba, but almost no one had ever seen it, as Louis would not release it. Several attempts had been made to persuade Louis, but none were successful. So it was something of an event when Louis and his wife, at the prodding ofPaul Comar, for the first time in 30 years, showed up in Meherabad a short time ago.Theybrought a video version ofthe film, and showed it here several times. It was the first time that most ofus had ever seen it.

When he filmed Baba, Louis brought a cameraman and a sound man, and the film is spectacular in its clarity ofimage and sound, although there are some slightly amusing mo ments as the cameraman shifts the focus to a branch ofbougainvillaeawhich has fallen from Baba’s lap to the ground after having been

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given byLouis to Baba earlier. Baba, or someone offcamera, gentlypicks the branch back up and places it back on Baba’s lap as the camera follows and refocuses on Baba. The camera does wander to local color from time to time, but mostly it is incredibly clear footage ofBaba gesturing and Eruch interpreting.

Perhaps the thing that impressed me the most about this film was the apparent diffi culty that Eruch had in translating Baba, which I had never experienced before in any medium. I had always assumed that Eruch’s translationsjust flowed, almost telepathically, but that wasn’t the case. He struggled with what Baba was trying to tell Louis, and it was apparent that to understand and translate Baba’s gestures, one had to have one pointed concentration. It wasn’t easy or smooth, and the Mandali confirmed to me that this was how it was.

Much ofBaba’s explanation in the film is directed to Louis in answer to his questions, which dealt with drugs, spiritual experiences, degrees ofconsciousness, etc., and there was nothing said that I had not read elsewhere, but the clearness and expressiveness ofBaba was incredible. Baba did, however, empha size that a telltale indication of whether an experience was real or not—was whether or not it was permanent.

Later I had the chance to speak with Louis and his wife,Joke (pronounced Yokeh), and theyboth maintain that theyare not devo tees in the sense that they think most of the rest “us” are, and that they didn’t care for what they perceived as pressure from some people to bow down to Baba’s chair and bed, etc., and to generally conform to the way in which other people showed their devotion to Baba.

Louis told me that he first heard about Baba by a series ofcoincidences, starting with riding in Irwin Luck’s taxi from Manhattan to Kennedy Airport. The coincidences went on to include meeting Robert Dreyfus, I believe Rick Chapman, and maybe Alan Cohen ( Guys, please correct me ifl am wrong,) in a short span oftime. So Louis wrote to Baba and asked ifhe could come film Him. Baba wrote back and said, “Yes,” and that Baba had a message for Louis. Louis wrote back to say that he was coming and that he also had a message for Baba.

When he met Baba, Louis described the experience as “one lonely man meeting another.” He felt that one ofthe reasons Baba went into seclusion was that, in the midst of

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having so many people around, He was really lonely. Louis said that he dislikes the practice ofpeople putting everything on Baba, and he emphsized that one must take charge and re sponsibilityofone’s own destiny. I didn’t really meet Louis until the night before he left, so I didn’t have a lot of time to pursue his ideas and the effect that meeting Baba had had on his life, but I liked both him and his wife very much, and I hope that theywill indeed come back again, sooner this time.

Louis did say something about perhaps releasing a video of this film later this year, and ifhe does, itis deflnitelyworthwhile to try toseeit.

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th anniversary of oday marks the 50 India’s independence, and in ‘Nagar it was celebrated by processions of schoolchildren blockingtraffic, waving Indian flags and pushcart floats with young, dhoti clad Gandhijis sitting at styrofoam replicas of spinning wheels (cute), politicians giving speeches (boring) and the opening of Ahmednagar Fort where Nehru was impris oned, sort oflike a county fair atmosphere with camel rides and snake charmers (interesting).

The road in front ofMeherabad was choked with bullock cart and tonga races, enveloped in a moving sea ofmotorcycles (definitely dangerous). For the first time, I saw someone hitch a horse and a bullock up to the same cart. It didn’t workverywell.

Much has been written in the press about these first 50 years in India’s history as a de mocracy, but one cath help wonder what the founding fathers would think oftoday’s po litical situation, iftheywere here to observe it.

It reminds me ofUpasni Maharaj’s com ment 50 years ago tonight, which went something like, “India is giving up her foreign masters for a worse slavery at the hands ofher own people....”

There hasn’t been much rain this year, only around 6 inches sincejune 1, although we do still have mostly cloudy days, and from time to time we get a drizzle. But it is about half of where we would now normally be.

After a slowJuly, the Pilgrim Center and Dharmashala are continuously ftill, with Hos telD now also filling up in anticipation ofthe first anniversary ofMani’s passing. The line . .

for darshan at evening arti hardly ever gets finished by 8:00 pm, and it often carries on until 8:30.

Work on the excavation for the founda lion at the Archive building goes on, and there is a large hole in the side ofthe hill, where the building will eventually stand. An approach road offthe Kedgaon Road has also been cut through the bundh, leading up to the building, and shortly the Wadari gang under the direction ofMr. Ramdas Fulari, will start digging footings for the foundation walls.* The physical condition ofthe remaining Mandali is more or less the same as it has been for the past few months, and Eruch is still complaining oflingering.

As always, it is a “good time to come.” [*See photos on page 38—Ed.]

No More Hugs !!!

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eather made an announcement last night at the Pilgrim Center that from now on, people should not hug Goher or Eruch, as they are extremely sus ceptible to catching colds and flu from the pilgrims.Theyregretverymuch havingto take this decision, but they are getting sick with increasing frequency, and they realize that this is a real burden on the people who have to take care ofthem. So Meherazad todaywas a “no hug” day for Goher and Eruch. Then on the return bus ride, Flagg Kris announced that Aloba had informed him that the rest of the Mandali would also abstain from hugging people from now on, as they felt to do otherwise would be unfair to Eruch and Goher.

Somehow Ijust don’t think Meherazad will be quite the same...

Jai Baba, J ames Cox

Tony Paterniti Writes

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erhaps the saddest news I’ve ever heard to come out oflndia. Makes me feel Baba may be ready to take them all home and is “breaking it to us gently.” Still, what a thought!

Over the years, I’ve gotten used to people telling me I’m a “great hugger.” And some-

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times I’lljust say, “Well, I’ve been hugged by the best.” At another time, in a more thoughtful mood, I wrote hugs: (Saturday, 7/13/96)

hugs seven degrees of separation make hugs a beautiful thing

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andjust as the rivers flow to the sea, the Ocean’s hugs flow back to me sometimes in a single “generation” by a Meherazad embrace so tell me then: is it my love i send or the love ofthe Ocean, flowing through me? water is water in the end, my friend, and hugs are liquid reality so please, take this hug back home for me, by accepting it no need for thought for water always seeks its own level within the human heart

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© Tony Paterniti, 1996 I remember my first arrival at Meherazad and being hugged by Mani who was Baba, my old girlfriend, God’s sister and the beauti ful Irish woman with the lovely smiling eyes who was my babysitter when I was three years old all rolled into one. .and Eruch’s warm and loving bear hugs and Bal Natu’s back-patting hugs, accompanied by a rapid ‘jaibabajaibaba jaibabajaibabajaibaba!” ...and Arnavaz; and lately I was lucky to see a picture of Katie embracing me (albeit a somewhat ‘weightier’ me) in Bill Stephens’ book Footprints, radiant with love. and all the rest.

Beloved Meher Baba, thankyou for the blessing ofthese dear ones ofYou in our lives we will miss them ah, time, love, You. ..

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JaiBaba! —Tony

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Angela Ucceio was a happy Sahavasee, who upon her return homefrom Myrtle Beach in July,postedthefoiowing:

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i hug you and you hug her and down the line it goes till everyone’s hugged everyone— a message in a bottle couldn’t communicate more quickly my love for you is for your love and for her love and for his love, so take this message to the one i love take me with you there

Youth Sahavas

recently returned from the Youth Sahavas that was held at the Meher Spiritual Center in South Carolina. I want to tell you all how much I enjoyed my time there. This was such a wonderful experi ence. It was my first year going, and I will definitely be returning next year. I met so many caring and loving people there. I don’t live around any Baba lovers, so to be around so many Baba lovers really helped to express my love for Baba.

You could really feel Baba’s presence diring the whole week. You could also feel His love shining through everyone. I had the best time and I didn’t want to have to leave, but as al ways, good things come to an end. I am so glad that there are the Youth Sahavas, and I thank Buz and Linda for putting this whole program together for the past seven years.

They, and everyone else connected with it, do such awonderftdjob.

We are all very grateful.

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Pilgrim Pines Bliss Baba Cyber-family! I have a feeling that I will be greeting the mailman and answering the phones, etc., with ‘Jai Baba!’ for weeks to come, after being drowned by the Ocean of rd Love at the Los Angeles Baba Group’s 23 Annual Silence Day Sahavas. Ijust got home, and have a strong desire to share with you all my impressions and experiences of the last four days with 338 other Baba Lovers in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains. What fin it was to meet so many listies in person and get to know them better in that other part of illusion (what is the cyberspace term for noncyberspace? One can hardly call it the real world). Wendy Ward gave us ‘Cyberspace Ashram’ stickers for our name badges, and one night some ofus sat at one dinner table and got to talk face to face with what had previously beenjust names on our computer monitors.

The quotation (from Sparks) setting the theme for this year’s retreat was the following: “One who hears the music ofGod in his own heart—suchwonderfiil music, foritis the origi nal music—loses his bodily consciousness and

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sees God everywhere.”This appeared in calligraphy, mounted and matted with a big colorized photo ofBaba in blue coat and gar lands, the original ofwhich had been signed byBaba, as part ofthe registration packet. And music there was throughout each day. The seeing-God-everywhere part was easy.

The musicians were fabulous (Debbie Nordeen,Jane Brown, and othervocalists, guitars—includingTony Paterniti, and Raphael Rudd on piano)! Performances in programs, Artis, the toddy shop, and dhuni included instruments such as the balalaika, du1cimer cello, violin, drums (including a 13-year-old prodigy who brought the crowd to its feet), recorders, accordion, and harmonium. There was a Sahavas Chorus who managed to put so much love into theirtoo-briefperformance that when they chanted ‘Zoroaster, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, Meher Baba’ in an elaborate, complex round (with one voice de claiming that familiar quote ‘To penetrate into the essence and significance ofall things. and other voices in the audience and on stage tak ingyct other parts) I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Well, I have to admit that happened often, and I am not under normal circum stances particularly prone to weeping, but I was so moved by the sounds all around mc that I wondered ifpcrhaps Baba wasnt breaking his silence!

I particularly loved listening to Allan Cohen’s talks. for those who weren’t around in the sixties, he and two other BL’s under Baba’s direct instructions used to go around to talk shows, college campuses, etc. to give Baba’s anti-drug message to the west. In fact, they gave thousands ofpresentations in a very short time. (Allan or Rick Chapman spoke at my college, October, 1968, and I sat in the back of the hail snickering. A few weeks later I was experiencing that honeymoon we know so well...) Allan said many delightful things; he radiates insight and humor. Here, from Allan, are my two favoritcjewels: “We read the words of many spiritually advanced souls, gurus, teachers, masters, but Baba’s the only one with a good sense of humor!” There was a lot of humor at the Sahavas, like the Bobby Manonash Show featuring Ed McMaya.

“Baba gave us a definition ofBliss. It is that which has no opposite.” (Mytake on this com ment: That takes bliss entirely out ofthe realm ofillusion, therefore, when we experience this emotion, it’s a direct experience ofBaba’s pres encc in our lives.) ..‘

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Bhaujiwas there...looking happy, healthy, and aglow... and spoke at great length. I am bubbling over with Sahavas-excitement (or something?) and could go on and on, (I even got a tour ofMeherabode!) but I have to put dinner in the oven and unpack my bookstore goodies (Bhauji said that Dma’s Baba Bookstore is the finest in the world, by the way).

In His LOVE, Kathy Hill

Footprints in the Sand posted byjeannie Taylor

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his book [by Bill Stephens] is brimful ofBaba’s presence, it weaves His Shining Light in-between the sen tences, dancing with the words. It had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see the outcome ofsome ofthe real-life vignettes.

The compilation ofshort stories and po ems are refreshingly filled with His palpable presence. Do get a copy and breathe in His essence.

Thankyou Bill Stephens for sharing this part ofHis Stream ofLove.

This book is wonderful, BABAFULL!

Heather Nadel Writes [And we don’t mind printing it!]

es, yes, yes we did get copies of the LSLP; in fact, theywere a very, very, very hot item around here—can you believe it, someone stole someone else’s copy offthe mail table for an hour, read it and put it back (that was me).... it was too full of great articles to resist.

Ofcourse I had plenty oftime to browse through it again when the issue came for the Pilgrim Centre, which is now being enjoyed bypilgrims.

What a wonderful issue! Loved the re port on your new and absolutely amazing Center in LA—WOW! The mandali got their issues too, and could be seen reading them in spare moments.

I was very impressed with the graphics, content and quality ofit; notjust saying this now either—I rea11yTHOUGHT it at the time!

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Numberless Impressions

by Meher Baba posted by Eric Solibakke

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he give-and-take ofsanskaras or im pressions is constantly going on in the play oflife. Where there is mutha1it there is this give-and-take, but it is not a mechanical process. The same action can create different impressions, according to the motive which inspires that action. A man who, out of the motive ofdoing good to another person, gives him food or clothes, at once catches his good impressions. The man who slanders another person with an evil motive or steals his belongings at once catches his evil impressions.

Killing an animal for sport, pleasure or food means catching all its bad impression since the motive is seffish. But no such bad impres sions are caught from snakes or germs and the like, which are a danger to humanity, when they are killed out ofphilanthropic motives and onlywhen absolutely necessary. Such killing, when it is not a duty will certainly create binding impressions....

Impressions are contagious. Eating meat is prohibited in many spiritual disciplines because the person thereby catches the impressions ofthe animal, thus rendering himself more susceptible to lust and anger.

Sometimes, innumerable strong impressions are transmitted through the mere touch ofthe physical body ofanother person. gross body, even a corpse, can quickly impart numberless impressions to the person who touches it.

Sparks ofthe Truth, Ed., C. D. Deshmukh, pp.

24, 26 Copyright 1971,The Universal Spintual League in America, Inc.

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AMB Trust Computer Project

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he collection for the computers in India is moving along slowly. So far, we have two 4 Gigabyte Hard Disks donated, a laser printer and software on CD’s totaffing about $3,500. Our need has been reduced from $8,000 to $4,500.

The computers for the education of the children in the Trust Office is being handled separately. The original total need was for $2,000 (probably as older model portables estimated at $1000 each).This need has been met, computers have been promised.

No donation is too small! It is estimated that $1,000 cash is the minimum to begin the project. We have $150 total cash donated to date. Shirla and I are leaving as usual (Our 10th Yr.) at the end ofSeptember (returning in March) for Meherabad and will be working on this project, among other things, and minimum funding is required at that time.

As many of you know, Bhau Kalchuri, chairman AMBPPCT has asked me to coor climate computerization ofthe Avatar Meher Baba Trust office in AhmednagaL I feel he is especially interested in computerizing the Trust Office work at this time because ofthe increased work pressures there on the mandali.

Ofprime consideration at this time is coor dination of all computers and software so that programs and information are easily interchangeable.

Please make checks payable to AMBPPCT and indicate for “CORPUS Trust computer fund.”

The status of the fund will be reported via Listserv periodically.

Anyone interested in finding out more about this or donating equipment, please contact Jerry Edwards, Avatar Meher Baba Trust, Kings Road, Ahmednagar, MS, 414-001 India.

In HIS service, Jerry Edwards

[For more information about the AMB Trust Computer Project please refer to the article on pg. 20 oftheJuly September, 1997 issue ofthe Love StreetLampFost, tided ‘Meherabad Gets Wired. “—Ed.] -

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An Experience in Miracles

by Mary Marmo with Joanna Tompkrn the videoA flew qfGod— Mekr Baba Throigh the Eyes of Bhau Kaithun was an experience m miracles—one after another after another Babils Hand was continually and tangibly at work, as ifile were physicallywith us From the first, each momentwas filled with Him in His timeless presence To begin with, Bhau and Jeff Maguire graciously agreed to do an interview on videotape for the purpose ofmaking a halfhour introductory program fortelevision Forthreeyears afterthefilmmg,the doors were shut to all attempts to complete the video Once the Beloved opened the doors, however, it was as ifBaba Himselfbreathed down our necks personally tellmg us “Hurry up. hurry up complete it ‘ Neither of us knew anythingabout makingvideos Smeewe had no knowledge, skill or aptitude, and also had (still have)veiy opposite personalities, we felt we probably possessed the basic pre-requtsites for plungmginto Baba work So we took up the challenge in spite of—and because of —our deficits Often we recalled Mani speaking ofher first exposure to Trust meetings and budgetmg When the numbers came out exact all she could think of was “1ts a miracle Ifs a ” which practically became our mant mirade tra as the onginal 45-minute interview went through melt-down to about2O There was no way to know beforehand ifthe cut-andpaste we had done throughout the transcript—dissectingsentences, re-positionmg seetions—wouldworkwhen the technical editor eut the videotape Continuallywe ob served Baba’s Hand smoothing the way, making it work We were supposed to be male mgavideo lnsteaditwasasifwewerewatchrng afllmoftheTrueFilmmakermakingit Andso itwentforthe integrationofbeautiful, heart and soul-full music that accompanies the magnificent footage ofBaba (The video consists ofan introduction to Baba followedbyalternating3-7 mmute sequences ofBhaus interview and 2-3 minute segments

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offootage ofBaba aceompamed by music) Except for Avatar Mther Betha ki Ja with sitar and vocals byMani, the rematmng music was recorded by Janice Reman and several Rabalovers in St Lows, Missouri The songs were written by Bhau and set to music by he andJamce, a professional musician Not to be left out, they too were saddled with chal lenging restrictions, without benefit of appropnate notations as to timing and placementin the not-then-completed video Janice mduded cymbalsto eoincidewith Baba playmg cymbals—a miracle done by feel not by technical guidance since theylacked the professional euemg equipment necessary for synchronization ofmusic and video Miracu lously Steve the professional editoijiappened to ahgnthemperfectly on his first try—and in such a way that the last cymbal chimed by Baba is silent’ This in spite ofBabas having changed rhythms mid-stream Probablythe smgle-tnost strikmg event that occurred was the recognition that Baba wanted a segment on His suffenng included in the video We intended to cut parts of it, but Editor Steve uncharaetcnstically interrupted us, insisting the viewers would not understand the significance ofBaba s suffermgifwe cutit At that pointsomethingmtense and personal happened to each ofus and then we felt Beloved Baba wanted it included for theworldtoknowofFbs suffenngfor all The final miracle was that it was cornpleted at allwhichitwas onJanuary27, 1997, 2 days before access to free editing would eeasc. to be available

All proceeds from A View of God by His Hand Productions will be donated to thc Trust for the Conservation Project For a copy of the video contact the LoveStreet BookStore Cost $25

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no intention ofstopping, even ifl could.”This signal may be emphasized by the use of headlamps (insouciant).

Article IV remains subject to the provision of Order ofPrecedence in Article II above.

ARTICLE V All manoeuvres, use ofhorn and evasive ac lion shall beleft until thelastpossible moment.

ARTICLE VI In the absence ofseat belts (which there is), car occupants shall wear garlands ofmarigolds.

These should be kept fastened at all times.

ARTICLE VII Rights ofway:Traffic entering a road from the left has priority. So has traffic from the right, and also traffic in the middle.

Lane discipline (‘111,1): All Indian traffic at all times and irre spective ofdirection oftravel shall occupy the centre ofthe road.

Humor for Huma rTT 11i1 rona iviemories or riome -I-.’

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Thefoiowing item wasfound in the travel sec tion ofa British newspapei

raveling in India is an almost halluci natorypotion ofsound, spectacle and experience. It is frequently heartrending,sometimes hilarious, mostlyexbilarating, always unforgettable—and,when you are on the roads, extremely dangerous.

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Most Indian road users observe a version of the Highway Code based on an ancient text.

These 12 rules of the Indian road are published for the first time in English.

ARTICLE I The assumption ofimmortality is required of all road users.

ARTICLE II The following precedence must be accorded at all times. In descending order, give way to: cows, elephants, heavy trucks, buses, official cars, camels, light trucks, buffalo, Jeeps, oxcarts, private cars, motorcycles, scooters,

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auto-rickshaws, pigs, pedal rickshaws, goats, bicycles (goods-carrying), handcarts, bicycles (passenger-carrying), dogs, pedestrians.

ARTICLE Ill All wheeled vehicles shall be driven in accor dance with the maxim: “to slow is tofalter, to brake is tofail, to stop is defeat.”

This is the Indian drivers’ mantra.

ARTICLE IV Use ofhorn (also known as the sonic fender or aural amulet): Cars (IV,1,a-c):Short blasts (urgent) indicate supremacy, i.e., in clearing dogs, rickshaws and pedestrians from path. Long blasts (desper ate) denote supplication, ie to oncoming truck “I am going too fast to stop, so unless you slow down we shall both die”. In extreme cases thismaybe accompanied by flashing ofheadlights (frantic). Single blast (casual)means “I have seen someone out oflndia’s 870 million whom I recognize”, or “I have not blown my horn for several seconds.”

Trucks and buses (IV,2,a): All horn signals have the same meaning, viz, “I have an all-up weight ofapproximately 12½ tons and have

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ARTICLE ‘[III Roundabouts: India has no roundabouts.

Apparent traffic islands in the middle ofcrossroads have no traffic management function.

Any other impression should be ignored.

ARTICLEIX Overtaking is mandatory Every moving yehide is required to overtake every other moving vehicle, irrespective ofwhether it hasjust overtaken you. Overtaking should only be undertaken in suitable conditions, such as in the face ofoncorning traffic, on blind bends, at junctions and in the middle of villages/city centres. No more than two inches should be allowed between your vehicle and the one you are passing—and one inch in the case of bi cycles or pedestrians.

ARTICLEX Nirvana maybe obtained through the headon crash.

ARTICLEXI Reversing: no longer applicable since no yehide in India has reverse gear.

ARTICLEXII th incarnation ofGod was as a diesel The 10 smoke spewing truck.

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My Heart is Calling You The making ofMani’s song-tape

by Heather Nadel

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ne afternoon about three weeks before she went to Baba, Mani was sitting upon her bed in Meherazad.

We hadjust been discussing some copyright business and I was walking out ofthe room when Mani called me back. “What about the songs?” she chirped. “The songs, Mani?” I stuttered, trying to catch up, “You mean you want the copyright ofyour songs to be with the Trust?”

“That of course,” she replied, “but what I mean is, I’d like them to be shared She sat looking so sweet and expectant that I said, “We could do a songbook!” Her eyes brightened, she said, “Yes!” and then lay back down to rest. We never spoke ofit again. She was referring, of course, to the many songs she had written over the years for her Beloved God-Brother Baba, and for Mehera.

Songs oflove, longing,joy, celebration, sepa ration—Mani loved to sing and she loved singing, so it is natural that many songs had come out from her heart for the ones she loved.

In the difficult weeks following Mani’s reunion with Baba, I began to think about the songbook. Problems ofhow to do it, who would do the notation, how to print it, could anybodyread music anymore?, etc., were puz zling me when one day Meredith (Klein) casually remarked out-of-the-blue,” There should be a tape ofManis songs.” And that was my answer. Of course people pick up songs by listening! You share songs through a tape, not through a songbook!

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From that moment the Mani song-tape project took offon wings ofits own. It was one ofthose Baba-projects where everything falls into place seemingly by magic. And the magic, I soon saw, was people’s deep feeling for Maul. Everyperson I contacted to partici pate was immediately ready. Not only ready, but excited, enthused, eager! It amazed and touched me. This willingness on the part of the singers, musicians, recording engineers, the wonderful arrangementwallis and wallas (Judy Ernst, Hugh MacDonald, Mike Hansen, Debbie Nordeen and Buz Connor), and other friends, and their love for Baba and Mani, fueled it from the first to the last.

So now, what songs to put in? First and foremost, a Mani-tape naturally has to have The Songbird, Mani herself, singing—and even better, singing and playing the sitar. So included are three songs ofMani singing and accompanying herselfon sitar and one singing a capella. Maul used to recount how Baba had told her to learn the sitar and often asked her to sing and play for Him. I must say that to my ears and heart, Maul’s singing and playing is the highlight of this tape. When you hear her, you will know why we titled it My Heart is Calling You. As for the Baba-songs that Mani wrote and others sang, it seemed we should put in songs that she liked to sing and liked to hear, with singers doing versions that she herself heard, approved, and enjoyed. So these are the eleven songs that came to be included:

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Open Up the Door: Allyou L.A.wallas know this one! Buz Connor singing his rousing ver sion ofthis song oflonging that Mani gave him and he made famous at the L.A. and Youth Sahavases. This is the live version re corded at a recent L.A. Sahavas, with many Sahavaseesjoining in with Buz. Be Be Be Be Be With Baba and JaiJaiJaiJai Meher Baba: Ifyou’ve ever heard the Twins sing, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten it! These are two fun and lively Baba-songs Mani spe ciallywrote for Baba’s twin nephews Rustom and Sohrab to sing on their visit to the West in 1987.

To the Glory ofLove:This ofcourse is the song that Mani wrote for Mehera’s Birthday in 1989 after Mehera’s reunion with Baba. The words were sent out to Baba-singers around the world and there are many different tunes to it. The chorus tune for this version was written by Mani. We use a live recording made at the Samadhi on Mehera’s Birthday, 1989, when Debbie Nordeen and I sang the song as a duet with Mani, the Meherazad ladies and othersjoining in.

Baba, You FoundMe: A lyrical Mani-poem put to an old Italian tune and sung by Janet Luck. Mani was touched when Janet sang this song to her in the hospital last year.

Lord of the Universe: One women’s arti at Meherabad when sitting outside Baba’s

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6O Youth of thIAn 7Jo the Glory of Love .i. Open 1 2 25th February 3J(adiJangeYaK .

4. Baba, You.Found.Me 5Be Be. Be Be BeWithE 6 BabaNuNaam 7 Lord of the Universe B Mahara Bha4 Jaan

Samadhi with the women mandali, Mani spontaneously gave the words and tune of a song chorus to Ward Parks asking him to add verses. He did (a few days later) and she liked the result.

Keep Me with You: Familiar from an early Baba-album, this is a poignant song of sepa ration that Mani wrote in the early 1970’s as if from Mehera to Baba. Andrea Winzimer sings it, as she would on occa sion for Mehera and Mani at the Samadhi.

Baba Nu Naam: Katie from Meherazad, with friends, sings Mani’s Gujerati call-andresponse song about B aba’s N ame—the chorus (translated) is: ‘Babac Name, Babac Name, keep on repeating Babac Name A Singing to the Beloved: Most ofyou know this one (‘Oh Baba, Meher Baba, my heart is calling You. ..“). It is Mani’s song written for the 1973 In His Love album, here sung by Janet Luck with a slightly modified tune taught to her by Mani.

0 Youth ofthe Ancient One: One of Mani’s gifts to the young people at theYouth Sahavas at Baba’s Center in Myrtle Beach was this song. Tedjudson and I sing it accompanied in fine country style by Charlie Chu Kehier on the banjo.

Mani’s song for Beloved Baba’s Birthday in 1990. The song was included in

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Songs to

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.1rom HIs Sister, ManI the Meherabad 100 Baba-Birthday Spectacle designed by Mani, and this is a live recording from that amazing occasion (wish we could have put in the confetti!) —So that’s how Mani’s song tape came to be. It certainly seems Baba’s special timing that it was re leased this August, which is, ofcourse, Mani’s one year anniversary ofreunion with Him. I think I speak for all the participants when I say it was a gift to work on. And now for many others, I’m sure, it will be a gift to listen to.

Isn’t thatjust like Mani to give us a surprise, a little anniversary present; we think she’s gone, but in so many ways she goes on sharing her love andjoyin Baba with us.

JAI BABA!

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Step inside...

77w Love Street 13ookstore

by Dma Snow

hink Christmas!

I know this is only October but now is the time to start thinking of all the Baba lovers to whom you would like to give a special Baba gift. And this is the right place to choose those gifts.

We are also starting something new for you this year: something to make your gifts even more beautiful and your gift giving easier for an extra $3 we will gift wrap in beautiful, very special, Christmas paper.

Or, ifyou like, Chanukah. (I think we need someone to design Mehermas wrapping paper.) Cherie Plumlee is designing us a beautiful Baba Christmas card which, for $3 (the regular price ofall her photo cards) we can also add to your gift, or you can purchase them outright in quantities to send to your very best Baba friends. At press time it is still fermenting in her artis tic mind, so we can’t show it to you, but judging by all her others, it will be a beauty.

So here follows the top 28 all time fa vorites. I’m sure you will be able to find something for everyone on your list amongst the proceeding eclectic selections!

A must are the five new items, all just hot offthe presses. (Isn’t it amazing, how every quarter, there are more new items?! Baba lovers are such prolific artistic producers!) . . .

A beautifully produced hardcover book Letters ofLoveforMeherBaba, byjane Barry Haynes, is illustrated with over 100 pho tographs, many published for the first time.

It consists ofa collection ofletters to one family, which forms a kind of journal— deeply personal yet universal because of the unique scribes who penned them: the

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family and disciples ofAvatar Meher Baba, including His beloved Mehera, His sister Mani, Elizabeth Patterson, Kitty Davy Adi K. Irani and Charles Purdom. In particular it was Mani who was Meher Baba’s “pen,” bringing His spirit oflove, purity and selfless service to the ever-growing Meher Baba family across the world for forty years.

It is 6 x 9, 656 pages, $25.

Bill Stephens, head ofwhat is probably the largest bloodline ofBaba families (around 20 at last count I think!) has given us a little gem ofa book. The beautiful cover in a multitude ofsunrise colors is a painting

by Roger Stephens ofBaba walking on the sand by the ocean. Titled Footprints in the Sand, it is a collection of stories of events that happened to Bill and his family that showed Baba’s ‘footprints’ all over them.

Normally I have to rely on other’s opinions of all the new books we get in as I simply do not have time to read them, but luckily I was flying north for a weekend visit and took the book for plane reading. It was anything but plain! I found it absolutely delightful! So many of the little stories I will be sharing with friends and family.

Eruch gives it a great write-up: “The flavour ofour dear Bill Stephens’ wholehearted love for and faith in our Beloved Lord Avatar Meher Baba comes shining through! How blessed you are, dear Bill, to be surrounded by so many drops ofHis Ocean that waves ofHis love splash upon the sands of your life, wherever you may be, keeping you and dear Peggy ever refreshed and renewed, finding His Footprints in the Sand. Paperback, 142 pages, with manyphotos, $12. “

L:amji:sr 0 £ov&5treei

The long awaited My Heart is Calling You tape is a collection ofthe songs that Mani has composed to her GodBrother. Many ofthem she sings herself while playing on the sitar.

For the songs ofwhich there were no recordings of Mani’s voice, we hear different accomplished Baba lovers singing them. Read Heather Nadel’s account ofthe making of this beautiful tape on page 42. At only $10 it makes a wonderful stocking stuffer!

Our next item is familiarly referred to by many as The Wedding Cake, but it is, of course, the amazing picture that Baba had Rano Gayley paint of The Ten Circles ofthe Avatar. It will make a wonderful gift whether you want to go expensive, and have it framed for the recipient, or spend only $15 and give them (or yourself) the poster as is. See the picture on page 31.

I had wanted to take some of Rano’s words from her book Because ofLove that tells about the execution ofthis most amazing, intriguing and enigmatic work Baba had her do. But I find short oftaking whole pages, there is no way I can excerptjust a paragraph it is all sofascinating! The hardcover book, 8.5 by 11, was originally published at $45 but is now available for $35. Apart from many color reproductions and full page photos of her charcoal sketches of Baba, it tells us of her life with Him from the time she went to live in His Ashram in 1937 until her death in her eighties. It has a very detailed accounting of the painting of this chart. Rano tells us “From beginning to end, the sole concept was Baba’s; I just blindly followed whatever He wanted. Sometimes itwas very difficult to find pictures ofthe various animals Baba wanted -

on the chart, but Mother found a book with birds, animals and insects, and I just happened later to find a magazine with pictures of the bombers and warships Baba desig nated.” Baba declined to give any explanation for this rntriguing five foot by eight foot chart, either to Rano or anybody else. She gave up her quest for explanations after being told three times by Baba in the course ofwork on the chart, “Don’t ask questions; just do as I tell you.” Our high quality reproduction of the chart is printed on .10 semi-gloss coated stock and measures 11 x 17, $15.

Our fifth new item this month is a wonderful video superbly put together by the Oregon group using all commercial facili ties, so we not only have a tape of great spiritual content, but it is wonderfully pre seated. It is titled A View of God—Meher Baba Through the Eyes ofBhau Kaichuri.

Read more about this tape on page 40, $25.

The Sheriar Foundation has given us two new videos oftalks by Mani. When the pangs of separation grow strong, put in one of these tapes and get immediately transported back to Mandali Hall to be sitting enraptured at her feet listening to her talk about her Beloved God-Brother. Both videos run about 30 minutes and cost $15. The first talk she gives is titled DoingAilForHis Sake and the other is Accepting His Way. Hard to choose between the two, both equally rewarding.

A video that has been out for two years now but is still our best seller is EternalBeloved.

Produced by Meher Prasad, it has a run time of4O minutes and some fabulous footage of Baba that has been color corrected and sharpened to the point where the quality is just about equal with the recently filmed interviews with Mani, Goher, and the other Mandali who tell us about what Baba was doing and where He was in the preceeding frames. Very well worth the $50!

Ifthere is anyone left out there who does not own a copy ofDaniel Ladinsky’s ‘renderings’ of Haflz I will be very suprised. These books are enjoying great success in the commercial bookstores across the country proving that you don’t have to be a Babalover to enjoythem. Dannyis currently working on a third. But until that’s released, we have the two super sellers IHeard GodLaughing $14, and The Subject Tonight is

Love $10.Anyonewho has the slightest interest in matters spiritualwould totailyenjoyeither of these books.To put it in the vernacular—it’s a no brainer! Buy them! Give them!—or enjoy them for yourselfifyou are one ofthe very few who do not already own a copy.

The latest from the very erudite pen of Dr. Carl Ernst is his translation of Ruzbihan Baqli—The Unveiling ofSecrets—Diary ofa SufiMaster. I sent one to Heather Nadel and she responded with a note saying “I flipped over your wonderful present The Unveiling ofSecrets. What ajoy to have it to read. It is quite astonishing and very moving. I have never read anything quite like it!” (and Heather has certainly read a lot!). It has a dynamite color cover paperback, 5½ by 8, 150 pages, and sells for $15.95.

A book that is only available in India or The Love Street Bookstore is Much Love byT.K. Ramanujam. Ifyou can only afford one book about Meher Baba this is the one to get. It is incredibly comprehensive—the index alone covers eight pages. It is hardbound, 6 x 9 with 606 pages, and sells for $20. Part 1 contains a calendar of events in the life ofthe Avatar from birth to death; Parts 2-7 cover all His important messages and declarations, prayers, songs and on and on. Apart from making good reading, haying it all under one cover, it is also an excellent reference work.

The best selling book ever in our Bookstore, has been the autobiography of Arnavaz Dadachanji, GflofGod (excluding, of course, God Speaks and The Discourses). It is a very intimate accounting ofher life with Baba and her struggles to abide by His wishes at all times. Paperback, 242 pages, $18.

Another must have is that wonderful collec tion ofBaba stories from Eruch. If a trip to India is not on your horizon, purchase Thatc How It Was and be transported to Mandali Hall, sitting comfortably, listening to Eruch speak ofhis life in the service ofthe Master.

Hardbound $25, paperback $15, 412 pages.

Delving back into the musical realm we have the incredibly popular, runaway bestselling CD by Marc DeMatteis—How Many Lfetimes?Words, music, melodies, instrumentation—it has it all; ballads,

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gentle sweet numbers, poignant, rousing rock and roll—everything for $15.95.

There is also the double CD from Raphael Rudd that was a major seller at our Sahavas.

People would hear him play, then come up to the bookstore and buy The Awakening so they could take some ofhis magic home with them. One ofthe CD’s is a rerelease of Skydancer which contains the exquis itely sung GujeratiArti byjane Brown. The other disc in the set is a selection of songs and instrumentals Raphael recorded in the late ‘70’s with Pete Townshend and a pick up drummer name ofPhil Collins! $20 is a fabulous deal for two CD’s!

Relentless Love is a tape (no CD unfortu nately) by the incomparablejim Myer. It has been around for a fewyears now, still his lat est release though, so ifyou don’t already own it, this tape comes highlyrecommended. $12.

Also two tapes (I’m bolting forward to the day when they will both be on one CD!) from Simon Reece ofEngland. They cre ated quite a stir when first released. I wouldn’t call them ‘background’ music, al though I love to ‘shut out’ the world when I am doing heavy concentration work by playing them, but they are gentle, exquisite pieces, slow, hypnotic (don’t play them on the Freeway while driving or while operat ing heavy machinery!) For those who are into meditiation, you couldn’t find better music to do it by. We have Sun and Moon and Echoes ofthe Infinite both $10 each.

Along the quieter lines also, is a lovely al bum put out by Margaret Bernstein—she ofthe beautiful flute playing. It also incor porates the outdoors with crickets, etc., in the background chirping along to the harps, synthesizers, and tablas. CD is $15 and tape is $10.

The Wine Shop was much frequented these past few months. We have 2 such CD’s, the first being from the trio of David Miotke, Ron Greenstein, and Darrell Rupe entitled Meher’c Wine and the second from Judi Schoeck—The Very Best Wine. Both CD’s are $ 15 each and Judi’s is also available on tape at $10.

t3@t Next we have the spoken word on tape.

Michael daCosta of England gave us an absolutely delightful performance piece in his readings ofA GarlandofEgos. This is a conversation between Self and Ego—the latter, as we all know—is a stubborn little beggar and very hard to beat down. The performance is terrific, but so too are the words, and gratifyingly Michael has made them available in a little booklet. The book— let is $6, the tape is $10.

Song ofHuma, Volume 2 is another best seller. For those ofyou unfamiliar with this beautiful tape, it was produced by Elaine Cox who took top recording equipment to India and recorded the women Mandali singing the ghazals that Baba had written under the pen name ofHuma in the early ‘20’s. As the women were singing a capella, Elaine then had the recordings beautifully accompanied by some very Indian sounding flutes, tablas, and synthesizers. Before each song Elaine reads the English trans lation so we get the full beauty ofthe piece.

The words are all written on the inside of thejay card, and at over an hour of superb Baba music, $12 is a very reasonable price.

Have you got God-Realization yet? No? Well you didn’t buy the great board game thatJim Meyer (yes, he ofRelentless Love fame) designed for us to have fun with and practice for the Real Event. Hey, maybe for some ofyou it’s just around the corner— then for the rest ofus, there’s another 6-7 million lifetimes to go! For $10 it comes com plete with instructions and game pieces. Put it under the Christmas tree and then you can all sit around after the turkey stuffing and practice God-Realization.

We have made our best selling card even more affordable for you. It is the black and white close up photo ofBaba’s face (one of Mani’s favorites) taken from the 1939 group shot ofHedi Mertens’ nieces and son Toby.

(It was shown in our April 1986 issue) Beautifully printed on white gloss cover stock with the “Mastery in Servitude” logo on the back, we have shrink wrapped them 6 to a pack (with envelopes) for only $6.

It’s that time ofyear again where you can order your Avatar Meher Baba Calendars for 1998—something everyone wants and

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needs to start the year off right and keep it going all year long as each time you look at it you see a beautiful face ofBaba looking back at you, read His inspiring words and see just what in the Baba world transpired on what particular day—especiallyyour birthday! See the add on page 51. Christina Arazmo, the very talented Floridian who creates these works ofart for us each year has been able to hold the price at $8 while giving us a larger format, 14 months and including much more info in an easier to read design. th Our 28 item (who says we don’t have something for everyone?!) is the collection ofbeautiful cards we have by the talented trio of ladies, Margot Watson, Cherie Plumlee, and Carolyn Parker. (Walnut Creek is a hot bed oftalent!!) We are showing some more in this issue, and we had 6 featured in ourJuly issue. In that one I mistakenly attributed D to Cherie Plumlee... it was in reality, Margot Watson’s. These are all full color photos on good quality cards with matching envelope for $3 each. They feature Baba, Mani, and Mehera.

In the way ofcorrections, we were misin formed about the closing of BookCrafters.

It is still a place where you can order the LordMeher volumes, no inquiries, orders only, credit card only, $82 per copy—call (800) 879-4214. Or you can place your order with us when you are ordering your other items. Either way, its a great series of beautifully produced books. Hermes tells me volumes 11-12 will be available before Christmas, so we should have that edition for you too.

There are getting to be quite a few Baba books published in foreign languages.

Most of them done under the auspices of Companion Books in Europe, managed by Don Stevens, but the latest addition to our collection is Meher Baba—an Introduction translated into Portuguese by Ray Spagnuolo and his wife Sonia. It is in the format ofthe origi nal, a small compact paperback for $1 titled Meher Baba—uma Introducto.

Well I think that should give you a great selection of Christmas gifts. Hopefully I have taken all the hard work and anguish ofgift choosing out ofthe Christmas sea-

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son, so you just need to write out your order, phone fax write or e mail it in to me, sit back and relax, and let The Love Street Bookstore handle all the rest.

Jai Baba, Dma

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“The Need” continued from page 24 only lead to their being cowardly, irrespon sible and inert. True love is no game of the faint-hearted and the weak; it is born of strength and understanding. The ideal of non-violence, in the face ofaggression, is impracticable for the masses; and it will have a tendency to be readily used as a subterfuge for servile acceptance of ignoble conditions and contemptible desertion of a clear duty. In its enthusiasm for the highest ideal, wise leadership can in no way afford to lose all sense ofthe relative and the prac tical. Human evolution proceeds by gradual stages from selfish violence to unselfish vio lence, and then from non-violence of the brave to the pure and incorruptible nonviolence ofTruth as Infinite Love.

All narrowness limits love. In India, as well as in every other part ofthe world, hu manity is breaking itselfinto narrow groups based upon the superficial and ultimately false differences of caste, creed, race, nationality religion or culture. Since these groups have been long accustomed to separative distrust and fear, they have indifference, contempt or hostility towards each other. All this is due to ignorance, prejudice and selfishness; and it can only be mended by fostering the spirit of mutualitywhich breaks through artificial isolationism, and which derives its strength from the sense of the inviolable unity of life as a whole. Creative leadership (which has so much scope in the soil oflndia) will have to recog nize and emphasize the fact that all men are already united with one another not only by their co-partnership in the Great Divine Plan for Earth, but also by virtue oftheir all being equallythe expression ofOne Life. No life of action can be really helpful or fruitful unless it is in entire harmonywith this deep Truth.The future of humanity is in the hands of those who have vision.

Treasures, pp. 227-231 Copyright 1980 AMBPPCT

IT’S A CALEN PAR ABOUTTH E AVATAR OF THE AE —YOU CAN’T FINOTHAT IN BARNES AND NOBLE! 2 ALL PROTS cOTO:AMBPPCT 50%TO ARGI 1V ANP MU5 UM PRO)CT N MEHERA13AP 20%TO AVATAR MEHER BABA PERPETUAL PUBLIC CHARTA3LE TRUST GENERAL FUNP 15%TOMEHERAZA FRLE PISPENARY 15%TO RAES E FUNE5 FORA BOOK TENTATVELYTiTLW: COMPA55IONATE FATHER: STORIES ANE ME$SAGES BYANt ABOUT MEHER BABATH E AVATAR OFTHE AcE. 3 NEW LARERTHAN EVERFORMAT12.5 INcIHES XIS INc1L5 UNFOLDEE 4 YOU GET 14 MONTH5, JANUARYI99BTO FEB RUARY199 .

PACKER PACKED PACKEP, ANE STILL YET MORE PACKW WITH AVATARMEHER BABAS LOVfN ME$SAGES 6 BEAUTIFUL BREATH-TAKING PHOTOS OF THEANCIENTONETHE HIHETOFTHE HIGHJ 7 5EETHE 1’ATESATA cISTANEANP REAP EVERYTHINcCLEARfl’ WITHTHE NEWCLEAN DE5INANE LARGE FORMAT. 8 ELIMINATETHENEW FORANOTHERCALENPAR US HOLIPAYSARE 1OCATED INTHETOP LEFTOFTHE PAGE. SOTHEYDONT INTERFEREWITH THE BABA 1ATES. (EVENTHE HOLIPAflTHATCHANEPATE, LIKE EA5TERANt PASOVER,ARE INGLUPEP FOR PRACTICAL REASONS.) 9 I2AYLIGHT SAVI NG TIME ANO OTHER U.S. EVENTS ARE INGLUPEP. 10 MOON PHASESANP EARTH SEASONSARE INCLUPEP. 11 A COPY OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 15 INCLUPEP WITH YOURCALENPAR

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itliough there are numerous Baba lovers around the world, for some reason the calendar has never broken the 1 ,000 unit barrier. The low printing quantity and the fact that it is time-based (not like a book whose sales can go on for years) seriously influence the price of this product. If we can increase the sales, we can maintain this price and also increase the proceeds that are forwarded on to the non-profit Meher Baba projects mentioned. Please inform all your Baba friends around the world that this calendar is available and lets all keep this calendar going strong for years to come See “1e Low Street BookStore”article by Dma Snow (page 48) for ordering information.

Photograph Credits Page or Item Frontcovei Backcover 4,5 6 7,8,9 10,11 15 1 21 38 .41

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PhGtographer or Owner

Photographer or Owner

Page or Item

Pariday Ari&udo Meelan Studio Dma Snow and Marc Brutui Kathy Wiederhold DinaSriøw SharWisemanandFlintMednick RchardPro* DiriaStiow KathyWiederhold(A.K.,Lecla,atidEhauphotos) FromMeherazadandDouglas Fratik Tom!lart

9i&ug’-t1;ec+1arr Photos H 1,K,W .j L M N 0 P QR,S,T U V x Y

—credits continued .

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Phcitoeand cards for sale. (MI cards arecolorprintsonwhite card stockwithowelopeuriless notedotherwise. $3 each,) •Cards A,G C,D,E B

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Diana LePage,blackandwhite MargotWatsori Totnllart,blackandwbte

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SalO colorphoinofaCharlieMortonpainting, $12 WinCoates,4,c6 colorphoto$6,5x7$1O Beheramlrani, Bx1Qphoto, $12 Panday,SxlO photo, $12 Ade!eWolkin’sarchives,SiilO,S12 Meelan,4x6,$2 Ralphjackson,4a6color,$6 Panday, SxlO photo, $12 KirkAflen,5x7color,$6each Paintingby Rano Gay!ey llxl7colorposter $15 unknown,4x6photo,$1.50 Rano Gay1e4x6photo,$1.5Q MeeIan,3x5$2 Panday. BxlO, $12 unknown, 4x6colorphoto,$1.50 Adele’s archives, originalissigned,color5x7, $12 Mce!an, SxlO, $12

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