The Andhra “Opera” group - the divine singers of God

Meher Baba Australia June - August 2006 Australia ‑ Update on Spring Sahavas By David Hobson

In the previous Meher Baba Australia was initiated into the religious life In 1941 Moorty wrote for the first newsletter we informed you of the from a very early age undergoing time to Sadguru Meher Baba, praying upcoming Spring Sahavas at Avatar’s regular courses in and for Baba’s blessings and a message for Abode. As mentioned the Sahavas as well as taking part in other religious publication in Dr Moorty’s annual will be held over the weekend of practices. However these spiritual report of the Divine Life Society with Saturday 30th September and Sunday disciplines did not bring the happiness which he was associated. Even though 1st October. Also there will most likely and joy he was struggling to achieve. Baba was in seclusion He complied be a welcoming dinner/programme on This dissatisfaction and his growing with Moorty’s request by attesting His Friday evening (the 29th September) as thirst for true knowledge led him to signature to a message which had been there was on the Friday evening at last the world of spiritual literature. Dr dictated prior to His seclusion. The year’s October Sahavas. Moorty’s father, being the editor of message read “The greatest need of an English monthly journal called humanity today is Love – Love Divine This year we wish to gather together Shri , had a vast library which is pure and selfless, which those Australians who attended of nearly 5000 books and bound awakens man to the proper sense and the 1962 East-West Gathering at volumes of religious journals. Moorty understanding of his real duty in life, Guruprasad in Pune, India, 7 or 8 of was passionately determined to read to find true happiness in giving not whom we hope will be able to attend all these volumes in order to equip receiving, in serving and not in being the Sahavas. himself with the required knowledge served, and in willingly participating Dr GNS Moorty, a long-time Indian on spiritual subjects. As fate would in the suffering of others more than in disciple of Meher Baba, has also have it the first book he picked up their happiness. My mission in life is to accepted an invitation to be one of our was Geetank, a stout volume of 1,000 kindle that divine spark of love in all.” guests. It will be wonderful to get both pages. While glancing through it in – MS Irani. the eastern and western perspectives of a cursory manner a beautiful picture It was not, however, until 1955 that the East-West Gathering. of Hazrat Meher Baba struck his eye Dr Moorty first had physical contact The weekend’s programme is yet to with unusual appeal. The inviting with Meher Baba. Dr Deshmukh unfold, however we envisage that we love-looks of Baba in that picture had invited Moorty to participate in a will focus on The East-West Gathering a special irresistible charm. The picture November 1955 Sahavas with Baba, for perhaps the morning and early produced an “hypnotic spell within but Moorty was not interested in afternoon sessions on Saturday while my being” and when Moorty became attending. When Moorty received the remainder of the weekend will be normal he found himself possessed a telegram from Ahmednagar (sent devoted to Dr Moorty’s recollections with a desire of studying Baba- by Deshmukh) in the first week of and stories. literature, while still continuing with November, again inviting him to Many of you will be familiar with his other spiritual disciplines. attend, he was still hesitating. Soon our Australian guests but not with Dr after that Deshmukh sent Moorty an Moorty. Baba affectionately referred express letter, writing, “My affection to Dr Moorty as “the talkative disciple for you inwardly selected you for a of the Silent Master” and also as His contact with Beloved Avatar Meher “Vivekinanda”. He travels widely to Baba. I am extremely happy that my Baba centres in India and abroad, wish in this respect got fully fulfilled in recent times having been to USA when the Beloved Avatar Meher Baba and UK and a return trip to USA is asked me to invite you to His Sahavas planned. From all reports Dr Moorty at Meherabad by sending a special is a guest not to be missed, very lively, wire, and your meeting the Avatar is very humorous and a wonderful a beginning of a fast unrolling of the channel for Baba’s Presence in spite of divine destiny in store for you…” Dr his 83 years. Moorty on reading this letter, and out of his personal respect and love He was born into an Orthodox Dr Moorty during his 2004 visit for Deshmukh, decided to attend the South Indian family and to USA

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Sahavas. Following is his account of that first meeting. ‘It was thus in the year 1955 that I first came to Meherabad and saw Meher Baba physically. I was standing in the long queue of lovers waiting for the arrival of Baba at about 7am for the Sahavas programme. I was not a Baba lover then. Everyone in the queue was holding a garland in his hand to be offered to Baba when He would pass by the queue. I was the lone exception who did not buy any garland to be offered to Baba like others, as I was much against the Avatarhood of Baba. Though I had no objection in considering Him to be a Mahatma or a Saint, yet I was not inclined to accept Him as an Avatar like and . Dr Kanakadandi Suryanarayana was standing by my side. He had earlier asked me to buy a garland but I refused to do so. I was also curious to know about the method of Baba’s communication since He was observing silence – having given up the use of both written and spoken words. While I was thus deeply absorbed in my own curiosity, Baba’s car arrived and stopped at the main gate on the road near the Dhuni. All eyes were on Baba as He got down from the car and stood looking at the lovers. He was wearing a pink coat. His face was Dr Moorty with Avatar Meher Baba at the East-West Gathering in Pune in 1962 emitting golden rays. I was amazed to see two most brilliant star-like eyes minutes for Baba to come near me to Baba. Just at that very moment, twinkling on His face. For a moment, I because I saw Baba receiving garlands Baba gestured to me saying, “I am the was totally lost in the radiant beauty of in His hand from His lovers. Eruch Ancient One. I know everything. Tell Baba, the like of which was never seen Bhai was following Baba and was me honestly, why you were looking to before by me. interpreting Baba’s gestures. the other side while God Himself was ‘Baba was slowly and majestically ‘Just when I turned my face towards approaching towards you.” I became passing by the queue moving towards the flower shop and was about to nervous and replied to Baba saying, me and those at the other end. It then take a leap to fetch one garland, I felt “No Baba. It’s nothing like that. I only struck my mind that I must also have a someone’s touch on my shoulders from wanted to buy a garland for you”. garland to be offered to Baba when He behind and as I looked back, I was ‘However, Baba did not leave me at would come to me. But the problem utterly surprised to see Baba holding that point and questioned me seriously, was now to leave the queue and get the my shoulders and looking into my “But why did you not buy the garland garland. Luckily, I could see a small heart. I was so much overwhelmed before coming to the queue as the flower shop nearby underneath a tree with Baba’s divine beauty that I became others had done?” I had no answer. that was just a stone’s throw away from almost speechless. At the same time, I was put in an awkward position. the place where I stood in the queue. I was repenting in my heart of hearts I was upset. How to tell Baba that I thought it would take at least five for not being able to offer a garland Continued on Page 19 ...

3 Meher Baba Australia ‑ Filis Frederick Talking about the East West Gathering, obedience, the illumination of the ego, working for Baba, the spark of individuality and backbiting.

Filis Frederick visited Avatar’s Abode for working there, He’s working on His of your heart to the brim and you the Anniversary in 1981. Roy Hayes universal work at that time, especially will drink to your heart’s content.’ taped her talks and the programme, in 56. It was very dramatic. That was like a promise. Really our Richard Thompson has converted these So being with Baba, our separate hearts are dry of love until Baba fills tapes into digital format for archival personal relationship with Baba was them. That’s when you feel the bliss of purposes. Following are some of the talks just a small part of it I’m sure. The God’s love. So these qwalis were very she gave. gathering of this mass of humanity beautiful. together, He’s working like we’re all And at the same time Baba had that “Seeing that movie of 1962 awakens keys on David’s accordion. (David intimate thread with you, sitting in many memories. It was the last time Miotke accompanied Filis with his the audience of thousands you still many of us saw Baba – the last time I accordion). And you actually felt that knew Baba’s eye was on you. And saw Baba. when you were with Baba that you you see when they pass Baba, Baba The East West gathering really had were an individual type that Baba doesn’t even look down sometimes a tremendous significance I think. was working on and so He’s working and another one He will embrace. Ivy It is already beginning to show in through humanity with individuals as Duce asked Him one time, ‘Baba how the world, the confluence of eastern well as your own little . is it so many pass you and you don’t and western thought, especially Especially in 62, that was the day of seem to look at them, but others you in the spiritual path. There’s been the sputnik, Baba explained that the will look at?’ Baba replied, ‘I don’t such an influx both ways in a new real journey is the inner journey in see people as you do. I see their souls understanding, the new age, new wave inner space, that going to the furthest right over their heads. I see the light of consciousness these two cultures, star you’d only find yourself there with that shows their development, their tremendously separated since Plato all your problems. That beautiful spirituality.’ So He sees that spark. and since Western science, these are chart, The Four journeys was shown (I’m using my own paraphrasing here). coming together again. Baba brought to us and Francis read the explanation. them together. Baba with His little twist of humour Obedience I remember the first day in 62 that said to Francis, ‘Do you understand Anyway the inner journey is what we saw Baba. He always when He it?’ and Francis said, ‘No.’ Baba said, Baba calls the path and there are of first sees you says, ‘How do I look?’ ‘I don’t either!’ Baba always makes course many ways to go on this path and you’re always saying, ‘Baba, you’re you feel good. He told us to read God but Baba’s way He emphasised was the beautiful, wonderful.’ He looked not Speaks ten times. He said, ‘But for all path of love. Baba said it’s the short too well as you can see in the film. of you only love matters, God Speaks cut, the easy yet the hard way. It’s the And He goes like this, ‘Inside I am a is for the future.’ path of surrender and obedience. In volcano. The world was on the brink I remember this sahavas with Baba in 1958, as you experienced here, Baba, of the third world war and I put a stop 62 was a love sahavas. Sahavas means the very first morning, said, ‘All those to it.’ And if you remember that was the give and take of love. It was music who love me raise their hands,’ and November 62 and the Russian missile mostly except for two talks and this everyone raised their hands. ‘All those crisis happened and the Russians journey chart. We listened mostly who will obey me raise your hands.’ backed off from Cuba. Everybody in Baba’s presence to a tremendous And everyone raised their hand – was startled and didn’t know what had amount of music of different types, there were about two hundred of us happened and how it was done. That especially the qwalis. One song was in Myrtle Beach, except one man. So was just the time of our East West something like Give me a drop of your Baba said, ‘Stand up. Why didn’t you gathering. In fact every gathering we wine O Saki, my heart is thirsting for raise your hand?’ and he said, ‘Baba I had with Baba, if you look back, has your love. Baba stopped them and don’t know if I can obey you enough.’ been at a time of crisis in the world. He translated and said, ‘All of you, He was honest. But Baba said, ‘Just 56 was the Suez Crisis, 58 De Gaulle your hearts are dry of love. But when try, that’s all you need to do is try to and Algeria. You see Baba’s fingers I break my silence I will fill the cup obey.’

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And of course Baba immediately put So of course that’s what we did the first It was a mother with two teenagers us to the test. He said that morning, day. In the afternoon Baba was in the who were just pests and had annoyed ‘What shall we do? Will it be alright if cabin and we sat around outside. And everybody. So the wheels were we have together-ness in the morning He did call for this one and that one beginning to go and people were , a discourse and then in the afternoon but there was one person He called for feeling upset. Why am I not called? I’ll be in my cabin and I’ll see people over and over again. Of course it was So the next morning Baba said, individually Will you mind if I call the one person that was disagreeable to ‘Yesterday you promised to obey me. for one ten times and maybe not the a great many people and their wheels You said you wouldn’t mind if I called other at all?’ We said, ‘No, fine, we began to go why is this one being in this one or that one and you did promised to obey, Baba.’ called? mind. Therefore I’m cutting short my trip and leaving for India.’ So we all gasped, then Baba said, ‘Well what shall we do? Shall we have only discourses or only interviews or like we did before?’ We said, ‘Baba do it the way you want like you did before.’ So you see Baba immediately put us to the test. He actually did cut short his trip and flew to San Francisco and then to here (Australia) so He came earlier here. His plans had changed. So Baba challenges obedience. Obedience is difficult but it is what we can give the master. He gives us the love, we give the obedience. In 56 there was one boy who surrendered to Baba and very dramatically said, ‘I want God realisation.’ Those were the days! Baba said, ‘Hmm, he doesn’t want much does he!’ So He said, ‘Will you obey Me?’ ‘Yes Baba.’ So there were two rules at Myrtle Beach that Baba Himself had put down. One was to never wear open shoes on the paths because of the poisonous snakes and the other was to never go swimming alone at the beach. Now the beach at Myrtle Beach is a very gentle beach. It goes very slowly out. Only a fool would drown there. But nevertheless this man went out there alone and started swimming alone and started to drown. His head went down then up then down three times. And slowly walking onto the beach was this elderly lady, Enid Corfe, who happened to be a good swimmer. And she sees his little head bobbing there and dashes out and she saves the man’s life. They walk back to the Centre and immediately Baba claps His hands, Filis Frederick, Avatar’s Abode Anniversary, 1981 Photo by Felix Schmid

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‘So and so, Baba wants you.” And he He gives you the anaesthetic and I have to be personal with stories, it’s comes in and Baba says, ‘Yesterday then He can operate.’ So Baba hooks more interesting. About the Awakener, you wanted God realisation and you’re you with love and after you are really yes Baba gave me permission to do going to obey Me and today already hooked then He starts to work on it and I was very thrilled. I put out you disobey Me, a simple rule don’t go you. And what does He work on? He my first edition in 1953. And then swimming alone.’ works on the ego. comes 56. In 52 we hadn’t really Baba trips you up for sure. The path documented Baba’s trip very much. is surrender and obedience. But what The illumination of the ego, the kiss So Ivy Duce and I agreed this is going about today when Baba isn’t here in and the kick to be a marvellous trip and we should the body. Well we are all facing that, The reporter in London in 31 said to have as much record of it as we can. those who met Baba or those who Baba, ‘What is your speciality, Sir?’ So we split the job down the middle. haven’t met Baba, how do we follow and Baba said, ‘It’s the illumination of She was going to get it taped. She Baba. I think of a tiny moment at the ego.’ Like He has one little thing! had a boy in her group who did tape Myrtle Beach. This was in 52. Baba One way Baba did it if He met you, recording, which was rather new then, was standing by the corner of the you were suddenly the very special and do a movie and I would take notes original kitchen which faces the lake one, the white haired boy or the fair and carefully document whatever else and the ocean. It was early in the haired girl. Sit here and be with me, went on. Now Baba came over with morning and it was very beautiful. He you do this, and you do that. You get a prepared bundle of messages that was smiling at me in His white clothes the special little things to do and He were read out each time at meetings and slowly His body just vanished wants you there with Him, and you – we spent almost 3 weeks with Baba until just the eyes were there and I get high on your special attention. We from New York to San Francisco. could see right through Him to the all need it. We’ve all been mashed And it was mostly Don Stevens who sparkling lake and the ocean. Then down, low self image and all, and so read them out and then Baba would Baba came back and He smiled at me this is a tremendous boost. God loves comment on that message. So I and didn’t say anything. He’s showing you. God wants you there. You are took down everything in shorthand, me this body is like nothing. It’s like the companion of the Beloved and everything that happened. And it was mist and He says, ‘It’s a cloak I wear then suddenly the next minute you are lucky because the tape kept breaking. to be with you so when this cloak is out. One very dramatic story I’m sure And Charmian Duce took the movie. gone nothing is really gone. Baba is you’ve read is about Meredith Starr. At the end of three weeks we were in there in every sense of the word.’ So He was certainly the most original San Francisco and I had assumed that we still have to obey and still surrender link with Baba in the west and he for the issue of the Awakener covering and it’s a little harder. We don’t get introduced all these people to Baba in the darshan and the sahavas trip I these nice telegrams and messages and England. Baba played up to him and would have the messages and then of letters and gestures. But it’s a harder he was greeting the press in London. course the commentary and it would thing to love and maybe easier, I don’t But then on the trip to America on the make an integrated story. So one day know. To love without that form to boat, Malcolm Schloss was there, also I see my friend Billie Eaton running be attached to. God is more present a writer and a poet, so then suddenly around with a bunch of manuscripts. and I feel we have to internalise our on the boat Baba said it was Malcolm’s I go, ‘Billie, what are you doing?’ ‘O, relationship with Baba. We have to job to greet the press and this put I’m typing up the messages. Baba is really travel that inner path. Baba Meredith’s nose out of joint. Then they giving them to Ivy Duce to make a once said to the mandali, ‘Who loved got to Hollywood and Malcolm had book out of it.’ I go clunk! I was sure Jesus most? St Peter or St Francis?’ links in Hollywood and that’s what it would be in the Awakener. I never Everyone said St Peter and Baba said, turned Meredith off Baba. He just said a word. I didn’t complain. Of ‘No, it was St Francis because he loved couldn’t take having been boosted up course Baba instantly knows your heart Me without ever having met Me.’ and then dropped. I went through but He never mentioned that subject That’s where we have to go for the next a little of that, almost everyone did. at all. Those messages did come out in 700 years. I remember so well the You’ve read some of the stories. But a book called Life at its Best. But the words of Margaret Craske who spent once you’re hooked on the love, you very next day Baba called a meeting of many years with Baba. She met him just want more and you’re willing to the Awakener staff and was solicitous in 31 and she always said, ‘Baba first suffer for that. Baba will cut out on about us and how we were getting floods the area with love and then He the ego, start operating, then boost along. ‘By the way’, He said, ‘after operates on you. It’s like the surgeon, you up, then cut you down. I drop this body everything will go,

6 June – August 2006 books and magazines and everything.’ Do I want to be one with this one, we have our ‘real workers’ meetings It was like Baba gave us the lift. I was that one! But you see what will be. and try very hard to work together very into my efforts to publish Baba. You will have to be one with all the in the sense that we have weaknesses, That was my big hang up. So Baba people you don’t like, not just the ones we put all the weaknesses together pounded on us a little then He lifted you like. and we have strengths and we are still us up. struggling with it. I feel that Baba is a Baba was so intimately in what was Working for Baba person that’s God but is also a person happening to you that He would often This brings up the question of in that real sense of the individuality. send telegrams answering a problem working, doing Baba’s work, working you were going through when you had with other people. I’d been so much The spark of individuality never written Him at all, and never with Norina, Elizabeth and Nadine I remember Purdom asked Baba in 56, even talked about it to anyone else. I doing work for Baba that I was very ‘Baba after God realisation, is there had that once. I had something with inspired to give my life to do Baba’s anything left? Do you sink into this the magazine, a conflict with Elizabeth work. As Baba said, ‘You are working absolute beyond beyond state?’ And about something and I was real upset. for yourself, you are not working for Baba said, ‘It’s impossible to explain You can’t kind of buck Elizabeth me. You are working to work out of but what remains is the spark of Patterson! And the next day, it your ego really, so you don’t owe me individuality.’ wouldn’t even have been that fast if I’d the work and you don’t need praise.’ In other words, everything is gone, telegrammed Baba, He sent me a cable One mandali said when Baba doesn’t your connection with the creation answering the question and telling me praise you, that’s good because He is gone, but that beautiful spark of what to do. knows you are grown up enough not individuality is left. You feel that He And again in California the very first always to need recognition and praise. [Baba] is totally you in that very spark time I was asked to give a talk there, That’s a hard place to get to! You of individuality, that you are unique in I had prepared a slide show on God always want a little recognition. the creation. He has shared that divine Speaks. I’d never written anybody This was dictated at a worker’s meeting identity with you and appreciates about it, I hadn’t told anyone about on Feb 3rd 1952. One of my favourite that. That is the source of real love, it, I was all on my own there in Los pieces. that you appreciate the other person’s Angeles. When I came home from “Include Mr X in the meeting on individuality and respect it. Not the giving the talk there was a cable from 2nd March. It is important. Time is persona, the ego, not our temporary Baba on my door that very night coming very near 100% and you all manifestations as incarnating people saying, ‘So happy you’re giving a talk work 100%. I am fed up with bowing but that spark of individuality. That on God Speaks!’ So Baba helps you down. Gods bow down to me, what is the God in you but it is still the with your work. At the same time He about human beings? I don’t want all individual spark. can rip you up. Anyway because of that. I want workers, honest workers. love you take the blows or what Baba I know everyone has weakness but Backbiting used to call the kiss and the kick and we must put all weaknesses together Remember backbiting is spitting somehow one follows the other very and erect a tower of strength out of in the wind. You don’t look pretty fast, as you may have noticed, and we it. That is my plan. For example, one after a while. Harry Kenmore said go on this journey of love. That’s the thorn is here, one thorn is there, and backbiting was like taking in everyone destiny of love, to become one. We are thorns can be of no use if scattered. else’s dirty laundry. Baba explained one, but we don’t know it. We have to They only prick, but thorns put that backbiting exactly comes back to achieve what we really are, that’s one together can make a hedge that no one you by the law of karma. You take on with the Perfect One. Baba is each can enter. These scattered thorns have exactly the same you’re criticising in one of humanity and once I had an become a source of protection when the other person. Once Baba said – in insight into this. I was feeling Baba formed into a hedge so all weaknesses fact He said it several times, ‘I want very much. I was walking around 42nd put together can form a tower of you to stop backbiting. I know you street. There were thousands of people strength.” can’t but I want you to try.’” milling around, all kinds of people. And we use this as a kind of a And I suddenly looked and everyone motto for the group work we do Transcribed by Gusi Carpenter had Baba’s face, their face was Baba’s in California. We’ve collected all There is more from Filis’ talk about and then their faces came back. And the things that Baba has said about “Women in the New Age” in The there were some gummy types there! working for Him in a scrap book and Avatar’s Abode Newsletter, July 81

7 Meher Baba Australia ‑ Looking Back on Seven Years of the Youth Sahavas By Meherose Borthwick

The Youth Sahavas is the time each discussion on love in all it’s forms. And Each year a Dhuni is held and this year year that Avatar’s Abode is given over at the disco a number of years ago the I was reminded of the Dhuni of 2002, to young people. This, the 7th year party atmosphere was set with coloured where Tadaaki Iimura declared it “a – the Youth Sahavas was moved to lights, smoke machine and projections good fire” to the general appreciation Easter, a cooler and more comfortable of black and white films of Baba onto a of those there, that this was perhaps, time of year and, I believe, the most white sheet. the Dhuni we would remember for the beautiful time to appreciate the natural The building of The Shed in 2002 rest of our lives. beauty of Avatar’s Abode. Since April brought a greater level of comfort and Over the years there has been a I have been reflecting on the Youth lots of space to move - but looking tradition of stargazing and shooting Sahavas and what happens there. There at photos from 2001 recently, I star spotting on the trig point at is some kind of magic that springs up remembered the energy of the first night. 2006 was memorable for a new spontaneously on around the 3rd day. It night’s welcome feast in the hired tent tradition - on Easter Sunday, at Amir is like Baba’s message of Love is being – a truly fun party with a circus theme, Naderi’s suggestion, we rose before lived, has permeated through everyone and a real circus tent. This year Owen dawn to watch the sun rise over the and everything. And suddenly, almost Bowling brought the circus back to lookout. Calling out Baba’s name to unexpectedly, there is a happiness and the Youth Sahavas – as the finale of the rising sun was a memorable way truth. This is not to say everything is the performance night (Baba’s Stars), to spend this special day of the year – perfect, we are all imperfect beings a troupe of circus performers, led by although some of us (including me) after all. However, Baba is there with Owen, dazzled us with their acrobatics found getting up early a challenge! us, and His presence casts a glow. display. The Baba Stars performance We never know before the Youth Looking back over the years I have felt evening has brought many moments Sahavas quite what is going to happen lucky to get to know so many of the of high comedy, including Jenny – what treasures and pleasures Baba young people who have come and to English’s memorable dance to “Jenny has in store for us. But each year I see what Baba describes so beautifully from the Block” in 2003 and last year’s leave feeling tired, but renewed and in His Message to Youth, that - “It interpretive dance by the boys from fresh in my love for my Beloved. is the privilege of youth to be full of Judith’s cabin, enacting the birth of a Thank you Baba. energy and hope. Not being caught baby chick. in any ruts, your dreams of the future have the advantage of being inspired by an unfettered imagination.” It truly is an exciting time of life, alive with possibilities and pitfalls. We have always tried to be open to ideas and suggestions that come up during the Youth Sahavas and some of these have led to memorable moments where Baba’s Love is felt most strongly. I remember vividly the indoor-outdoor – where half of the people stood outside Baba’s House at the windows beneath His Room facing in, while the other half were inside – with the windows slightly open to let in the breeze we could hear enough to stay in unison as the arti was said. Two years ago, inspired by her trip to Iran, Elischa Isaacs-Young put on an Iranian Tea party which segued into a Circus Tricks Photo by Meherose Borthwick

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Above - Youth Sahavas Attendees & Workers Left - The Continuation Of The Iranian Tea Party Below, both - Dawn Silence In Baba’s Room On Easter Sunday

Photos by Owen Bowling

9 Meher Baba Australia ‑ More On The Youth Sahavas By Shirin Borthwick

Like, hiiiiiiii. Totally welcome to a brief treatment of our Mellifluous Hippie Love Commune. I didn’t even know what Mellifluous meant when I wrote that, but it came to me like a ray from beyond, indicating its undeniable origin in the Great Sahavas Love Spirit. My name is Rainbow, like, as in, the Manifold Variegated Harmonious Mellifluous Colours of the Cosmic Love Spectrum. Professionally, I counsel disturbed trees suffering their mid-autumn “I’ve lost my foliage, who am I?” crisis period. This year I did something unusual: I volunteered as a Sahavas youthwalla for the first time, & I’ve gotta tell you about our beautiful younger generation. They’re so sweet & talented. They can produce evocative, forceful poetry …and send you little love-letters that make you feel like a hero…party-dance hot- hardcore to “Thriller” like it’s the Age of Aquarius… blend harmoniously with the earth when Owen’s exhorting them to do “one more!” push-up at Boot Camp…drop spiritual insights like a vaguely sinister tag-team of Himalayan cave …wield a ceramic hair-straightener with professional efficiency. We must furthermore concede that Michelangelo could not display more stunning innovation in the sophisticated medium of Scoobie than these babies. And their ability to burp on cue is just Soooo Profoundly on waking, noticed the shiny eggs times like these that one can perceive Cosmic. from the Easter bunny lacing their how companionship with the Many Besides the above talents, these snowy pillows… “Oh!” they each amplifies companionship with the Sahavasees have much unique exclaimed in dulcet, nay, mellifluous One (the true meaning of ‘Sahavas’). Cuteness. This makes it very rewarding tones, and blinked their lovely eyes. Alone there I was rendered silent and to be a walla. For example, at 5am on And despite the unreasonable hour, reverential by the beauty of the fir trees Easter Saturday it was my joyful duty they were psychically equipped for and the horizon, and the presence to wake the girls (Phoebe, Elischa, the struggle up that hill to meet the of the unseen. I did tai chi for some Mehera, Jaya, Roisin) in my cabin others! Very impressive. Inspired time (…talked to a few trees…) then and herd them up to the lookout for by this Excellent-Intense Bountiful descended again to the group as they a fire-side viewing of the Glorious Cuteness, I ascended to the Trig Point sat by the fire, looking out to sea. Dawn, master-minded by Amir to feel the morning Chi. The bright There followed some Persian singing; (new age name: Holy). Picture their white moon shone through the muted some exceptionally rowdy pirate- adorable little faces as each of them, blue haze of the dusky sky. It is at dancing; a lot of joking around. When

10 June – August 2006

the sun finally came up, we cheered! atmosphere comes on unexpectedly. pantaloons, do your best, then That’s Sahavas! The Hippie Love Commune launches! Don’t Worry, Be Happy! Yes, there are moments like these that Are these sparks from the New are true to the spirit of the Australian Humanity? …. a Utopian paradise Opposite Page: Sahavas, that give a glimpse of Baba’s where we’ll all be Fully Righteous Top - Disco Great Hippie Love Commune of Love People wearing rainbow tie-dye Bottom - Roisin And The Apprentice the future….when one sees Gabe pantaloons and dancing in circles till Irish Dancers” by Meherose (Waterlily), precariously rocking we trip over (then continue to roll Borthwick out reckless air guitar to Bohemian ecstatically around, absorbing the Rhapsody on top of a (very) unsteady trans-psycho-magnetic vibes of the This Page: table; or bowing and solemnly earth)? Or … just feeling happy and Left - The Lunch Line throwing her sandalwood burden, loved so that we want to express more, Right - Jalal Still Struggling With whatever it is, into the Dhuni; or give more to everyone, and give more Love Stuart (Walnut) enthusiastically up to Baba. Give it up for Baba, kids. fashioning a sign proclaiming “EGO”, Take that feeling with you when you Photos By Owen Bowling except to be triumphantly burned at the go out to face the world beyond the where noted. bonfire stake; or five little girlies Commune ... If people mock your holding hands and giggling as they run into the surf together at the beach. You know they’ll always have PROGRAMME IN REMEMBERANCE OF BELOVED AVATAR this in their hearts, for the rest of MEHER BABA’S 2ND AUTO ACCIDENT AT SATARA, INDIA. their lives, like we of the previous (MEHERABAD 2ND AND 3RD DECEMBER 2006) generation of Sahavasees do. On about the 3rd or 4th day of any Sahavas, this The Library Committee of Avatar Meher Baba P. P. C. Trust will be thing happens. It’s famous. You start organizing a two day Programme at Meherabad in remembrance of Beloved looking at everyone and going a bit Avatar Meher Baba’s 2nd Auto accident, which occurred fifty years ago in doe-eyed, and saying stuff like, “I Satara, India on 2nd December 1956. love you Angela”, and “You’re soooo 2nd December 2006 will be the 50th Anniversary of this great event. 2nd beautiful, Sage…I mean Lotus”, and and 3rd December 2006 will be the two days when Avatar Meher Baba PPC “Oh Mehera, siiiiiiiigh”. And in Baba’s Trust will organize a programme of remembering and honouring the great room the feeling gets very glowy event of Beloved Baba’s 2nd Auto accident. and poignant, and when people sing This is for general information and may be published in Baba magazines outside it, seated on the rug Baba and newsletters. walked on, every note seems amplified as it shimmers in the air. Everyone gets In His Love & Service, a bit crazy-happy…the shy kiddies (V. S. Kalchuri) start blossoming and speaking up. Chairman, Avatar Meher Baba Trust. It’s like watching a flower open. This

11 Meher Baba Australia ‑ Divine Shama: The Illusion-Consuming Flame This is an excerpt from Bal Natu’s Glimpses of the God-Man Meher Baba – Volume 5

On the morning of February 26, the quite common in poetry, but the real and the universe, infinite mercy and day after Meher Baba’s birthday, the esoteric meaning behind them has been unbounded love act as a prominent mandali gathered in His presence. lost. link which is eternally made use of by Baba told Ramjoo that He wished to Naaz, (also known as nakhara) refers, men who become God or by God who say something on naaz and niyaz. He on the human level, to the caprices becomes Man.” asked whether Kishan Singh, who or whims of the beloved expressed in God’s indifference, therefore, is only had been given the duty of keeping an the relationship with the lover. In apparent. And God’s independence account of Baba’s second Andhra visit, this game of love, the whims of the is such that He is able to even use was there. As it turned out, Kishan beloved often change before the lover that indifference as a medium for was still in the school building where can fulfil them. Thus the beloved ever the infinite mercy and unbounded the mandali were lodged. Hearing remains unsatisfied, and his or her naaz love which is the link between His this, Baba looked a little annoyed and continually displays its various facets. independent state and the universe. gestured, Sufis regard a Qutub (Sadguru or Perfect But this is perhaps made even more “During this tour, whenever I have Master) as the perfect personification explicit in the remainder of Baba’s the urge to say something, something of naaz. This is because the Perfect discourse which is given below. Baba goes wrong: there is some sort Master is infinitely indifferent. One may continued: of disturbance; the microphone wonder how God, who is the source of Now what is niyaz? Niyaz literally malfunctions or the ones whom I everything, and a Perfect master, who is means supplication or prayer, but in its expect to be present are not there.” God-personified, can be indifferent, cold true sense, it refers to the lover’s dancing One of the mandali quietly slipped and uncaring; His infinite Independence to every tune of the Perfect Master’s out and hurried over to the school makes this impossibility possible. (divine Beloved’s) naaz. This requires building to tell Kishan that Baba Even on the ordinary human level, the great preparedness on the part of the wanted him and very soon Kishan beloved can be indifferent to the lover. lover—to live wholly and solely for the arrived. Before beginning the The divine Beloved, Perfect Master, Beloved and not for one’s self. It is not discourse Baba glanced around the who is the very Ocean of Love, also can easy to respond cheerfully to the Beloved’s room. The look in Baba’s eyes made all appear indifferent and callous toward naaz. Those lovers who are able to lead fall silent in anticipation of what He His lovers. Yet the life of each lover is such a life are rare. was about to say. The next moment totally dependent upon the Master’s Now, there is another aspect to this game Baba’s graceful fingers sped over His every naaz (whim). But there is a of love which is even more profound. board and the message on naaz and difference between the naaz of the divine Shama literally means the flame of a niyaz began. Beloved and the naaz of an ordinary candle. It is used to symbolize the All- My hand automatically reached for beloved. The whims of the latter gratify consuming life of God as lived by the my pen to take notes. I have taken the the beloved’s ego. They are used to Avatar. The Avatar’s lover is likened to a liberty of editing my notes taken at the demonstrate the control the beloved has moth, parwana. time in the light of explanations Baba over the lover. The naaz of the divine As the Avatar, God the Infinite Reality, gave us later, such as His illuminating Beloved, however, is the medium through assumes a human body—puts on the statement that “The Avatar becomes which the lover is helped to become free cloak of illusion. As soon as the Avatar and the Sadguru acts.” So the of the limitations of the ego. dons this cloak, the sufferings of the following is not a verbatim rendering, This point was explained more fully world devolve upon Him. So the Avatar, but is the edited version of the notes I when Baba began to discourse on shama who is infinite bliss, infinitely suffers. took at the time. Baba conveyed: and parwana, but before continuing Today, I want to tell you something with this, I would like to interject here a about the two Urdu words, naaz and brief profound exposition Baba dictated niyaz. In the past, enlightened Sufi poets later that year: “God is absolutely used these terms as well as shama and independent, and the universe is entirely parwana. These terms have now become dependent upon Him….Between God

12 June – August 2006

Why does the Avatar suffer in and through the cloak of illusion? Or why Anniversary Workshop does the divine Shama keep burning? By Steve Hein It is in order that the others, who are trapped in their cloaks of illusion, might Following last years enthusiastic nights are long, Big Fist is trot sliding become as free as God, the Infinite. response to the opportunity to in the shopping malls. How do we In fact, the Avatar, as the Eternal discuss a theme raised by Ross cope? Divine Beloved, experiences the Keating’s newsletter article, there will • What remedies for our dilemma sufferings of the world as His own. be another community dialogue or have we gathered from Baba and his People suffer for innumerable reasons— sharing, on a different theme, during Mandali? physical and mental. But this suffering, the 2006 Anniversary at Avatar’s • What have we learnt through as it resolves around desires rooted in Abode. All are welcome. aspiring to love & remember Him, in illusion, binds those who suffer even trying to incorporate Him into our more tightly to illusion. Therefore, this This year’s theme: Inner contact and daily lives? kind of suffering is termed “illusory internal connection with Meher Baba. • What (if any) practices did Meher suffering” because such suffering is The goal of spiritual life is for an Baba give us and what additional grounded in illusion. individual to disentangle himself from practices or methods or ways and The Avatar, however, wants to free attachment to and identification with means for inner contact with Him people from their suffering, so He wants the body/mind (drop) and to become have we found and applied? to make them suffer for God. This aware & experience that in his essential • How do we incorporate suffering is known as “real suffering” nature he or she is God ( the ocean). remembrance during high intensity because it loosens the bindings of people’s We are one and all, emanations of God situations? Good as well as bad can be sanskaras (mental impressions) and with a serious case of mistaken identity high intensity... leads them to Reality. How does the and amnesia. We are God already.... • Do we have any practices that Avatar bring this about? He burns His Meher Baba told us this. help break or at least weaken our own cloak of illusion (which is His We have been drawn to Meher Baba identification with suffering or with constant crucifixion) so that others’ and His path of involution so that we the body? illusory cloaks will also be burned. And might develop a way of living life with • How do we manage and cope with the brilliance of the Avatar’s Shama Baba at its centre. Through working at work, our life partner, money, kids, attracts the moths (parwanas). The loving Him, remembering Him and parents, illness, creativity, discipline, Avatar burns His cloak of illusion to dedicating outcomes to Him. addictions?...the list is long. attract His lovers to Him. He suffers One writer told us: The Avatar is God • Meher Baba, being God, is a mighty infinitely and this suffering draws His and simultaneously fully human. His portal... He, His name, His image - a lovers to Him. Once His lovers are powers, influence and presence are powerful force. Engaging repeatedly drawn to Him, His naaz may make unlimited and universal, and He is the with this force has an effect. What them suffer, but this suffering is “real quickest, safest path to Godhood. He effect has it had? suffering” as it frees them from all has come to awaken and energise the • Many of us never met Him in the suffering and eventually unites them whole of creation and to perform His form and always had a relationship with God. universal work. with Him that was based on inner The life of the Avatar is an Illusion- You would think that task of contact. How do we work that? What consuming Flame. The Avatar’s lovers, awakening and energising the whole works well? What else could work? like moths, gather, hovering about Him, of creation would be huge enough but • What about intuition? Any inner the Flame. A few are even so possessed Meher Baba also stated that He was guidance going on? How do we by love that they fly into the Flame and fully available to each of His lovers via discriminate between intuition and burn themselves, their false selves, and internal connections and inner contact. delusion? so experience the “I am God” state. He told us not to worry and to be The act of sharing experiences To be so consumed by love, however, happy. He told us He would help us. and insights and asking questions depends upon the grace of the Avatar. So, here we are...Suffering? Don’t influences all participants who take As Baba finished, He put the ask! Sanskaras? Plenty! Stress and part in the dialogue in some way. The alphabet board on His lap, holding worry? Everywhere! Indulging or not dialogue will offer an opportunity, it gracefully between his fingers while indulging our wants creates suffering perchance to enhance or refresh and either way. The going is hard, the Continued on Page 16 ... Continued on Page 14 ...

13 Meher Baba Australia ‑

Continued from Page 13 ... revitalise our individual and uniquely FROM THE EDITOR personal practices. Meher Baba’s There are some changes you will need to be aware of. mandali (intimate disciples) have Most important is a CHANGE OF POSTAL ADDRESS. Please note the new been an inspiration and example for address for MBA is PO Box 335, Woombye QLD 4554. many of us but they are becoming Our plan at the moment is to return to India in October until March 2007. scarcer with the passage of time. The (Bear in mind that, as Paul Morris once said, everything is going according to emphasis will soon fall entirely on plan, but not necessarily my plan!) one’s inner direct connection with I continued to edit the newsletter this year from India but it became increasingly Meher Baba. This dialogue circle obvious with the consistent power crashes and computer and email malfunctions is envisaged as a conversation of that this was not a good idea for future extended stays. I learnt a lot about how I discovery, in a safe space, with Meher had to experience the frustration before things worked out and that staying cool, Baba as the honoured guest. calm and detached simply prolonged the agony. So I will continue to edit the Do you have favourite quotes newsletter while in Australia but at present Roy and Ros Hayes have offered to and passages from Baba and His edit the December 06 – February 07 issue and Meherose Borthwick has offered to mandali that help you to ‘manage’? edit the March – May 07 issue. Please bring and share. Perhaps find Thanks to all those who have given me feedback about the newsletter. It is always something more that relates directly much appreciated. At Bhau’s request after the last issue with photos of other to the theme? Hint, look at the Australians I am including a picture of myself – I chose one of me with Bhau in 1950’s. 1974. He loves to If you are not planning to come to reminisce about these the Anniversary then you can still old days before there share your contribution by emailing was a Trust bus and [email protected]. Please write how we walked along ‘Inner Connection with Meher Baba’ the Meherazad road. in the subject line of the email to Re: the other avoid junk mail filtering. Or write a Australian in letter to: Meherabad, the Inner Connection with Meher Baba article on Janet c/- Steven Hein P.O.Box 3858, Judson is still to come South Brisbane B.C. Qld 4101 – hopefully next issue. Gusi Carpenter

Morgan Bowling and Michelle Dawson celebrated their engagement in India in February 06 with some of their old and new friends.

From America: Patty Curtis, Jim Rhoten, Sam Ervin and Margaret Magnus. From Australia: John, Wendy and Meherose Borthwick, Stuart Rigg, Gusi Carpenter and David Bowling. And from India: Pat, Adair, Heather and Eric, Flint and Jessie

14 June – August 2006 Baba’s letters to Nonny - From Tavern Talk

Today on Heart Talk (an ongoing different life from their former one in Trust Office and a trustee of Avatar series of letters to and from Baba from Park Avenue, New York, and travels Meher Baba Trust until her death at the Avatar Meher Baba Trust Archives), in Europe. Rano recalled, “...I had no Meherazad on 5th December, 1986, at we move to the 1930s and begin a new idea that except for two brief trips to the age of eighty-four. series of letters from Baba to Nonny the West in 1952 and 1970, I would Reflecting on this life Rano said, “In Gayley and her daughter and close be spending the rest of my life in the , doing for Baba meant the woman mandali, Rano Gayley. India.” From 1952, she was the only “I” no longer mattered. Daily life...was For those of you who would like some Western woman that Baba kept with not our own. It was Baba’s. For those background, Nonny and Rano first Him in India. in the ashram, there was only this; heard of Baba in Paris in the spring of Nonny died during the Blue Bus tours obey Baba implicitly, and be cheerful.” 1933 and met Him in London later in Bangalore on 14th October 1939. The letters we are posting are from the that year. In Rano’s words, “I was not Again in Rano’s words, “Nonny’s 1930s, before Nonny and Rano joined looking for God...I walked into Baba’s relationship with Baba was different Baba in India. About these letters room and just stood there. To this day, from the relationships the rest of us Rano commented “All of us (close I do not know who else was in the had with Him. Baba would needle us, early Western lovers) received personal room...but clearly in their midst was pick holes in us, but never once did letters from Baba during certain Meher Baba with the most beautiful He do that with Nonny. Whatever periods and [these] are typical of those expression I have ever seen. Sweetness, was Baba’s wish was her wish, so Baba Baba wrote as part of the “spiritual love --everything that was beautiful -- never found fault with her. Somehow, courtship”, heaping praise upon was there in His face.” Nonny had no need for the tests and what deep down we knew were our From that time on, Nonny and Rano trials.” undeserving heads. But we cherished joined Baba whenever and wherever Rano’s duties during her life with Baba them and responded to the love in He called them on His trips to the were multifarious – she was His artist, them and they served their purpose, West -- France, England, Switzerland executing whatever Baba called for, the drawing us closer to Him in love.” and USA -- and in 1936 they arrived “go-between” of the secluded life of the By the 1930s Baba had stopped hand- in India to stay at the Nasik ashram. Eastern women mandali and the world Following a trip to Cannes with Baba, on many of Baba’s travels in India, in Continued on Page 16 ... they returned to Meherabad to a very later years Mani’s companion in the

Nonny and Baba at Upper Meherabad in 1938

15 Meher Baba Australia ‑

Moving The their stay at Meherabad will now do since Foreign Registration in India is a this at our “old” Pilgrim Centre rather different process, required of long-term than the office in town. visitors). P.R.O. Police reporting is required by Indian Adi also kept a book with a copy of law for all visitors travelling on foreign each person’s police form and their Irene Holt, May, 2006 passports. This is generally handled picture, as a reference for the Trust. A big change which will affect pilgrim for tourists at hotel desks at the time The book filled up, and a second life is the moving of the Pilgrim of check-in. When Baba lovers from volume was started, then a third and a Reservation Office (P.R.O.) from the abroad started coming regularly to fourth. These registration books have Trust Compound in Ahmednagar to its Ahmednagar after Baba dropped His been maintained, by Adi and those new rooms at Meher Pilgrim Centre, body, Baba’s secretary Adi K. Irani took who came to work with him and after lower Meherabad. Pilgrims who care of their police reporting formalities him, without a gap, from 1972 to the have to complete the police reporting (which we often call “registration,” present. The number of volumes now paperwork prior to checking in for though that is somewhat of a misnomer totals 97. So, along with desks, tables, computers, files and a plethora of office paraphernalia, these volumes have been Continued from Page 15 ... transferred to the new location. They writing letters and would indicate what belongs to the Beloved, and hence so are the legacy of the P.R.O., connecting He wanted to convey to a mandali lovingly welcome. The thrill that you us in time to those early years. member – often Chanji – who would feel at the thought of Love indicates Hopefully we also bring with us the type (or hand-write) the letter. Baba gradual growth of Love, and with it, its spirit of service to Baba lovers that Adi was still signing letters at this time, consciousness. It will grow on, much exemplified so many years ago, that and, except for two “group letters” more, my dearest, till it is eventually we may remember to do our very best, and two Messages, these letters are merged in its Own Self that is Infinite. to give our all for the sake of those signed by Him. The quotes from Rano Meanwhile, the ecstatic experiences precious ones who come here to Baba are taken from her book “Because of that you have are the steps to reach the with their hearts open for Him. See Love.” (Copyright 1983 Avatar Meher goal, which will be yours through the you soon, in the new P.R.O.! Baba Perpetual Public Charitable grace that you will have from me. For reservations, please note that our Trust). Your desire for “service”, in my Cause, address and email address remain the The first letter is from Baba to Nonny and the opportunities that will come same, but our telephone number is and is signed by Baba. It is presented to you will, if readily responded to, changed. with the transcribed text below lead you to the attainment of the Contact: Pilgrim Reservations followed by the link to the new PDF Highest that you aspire. I will give Avatar Meher Baba Trust format. Baba gave many of the early you the opportunities, for I know you King’s Road, Post Bag 31 western lovers special names during long for these and will certainly grasp Ahmednagar, 414001, (MS) this period, in Delia DeLeon’s words them whole-heartedly, when offered. INDIA “to please us.” His name for Nonny So, don’t you worry, dearest. Just wait, [email protected] was “Kemali.” In the typed transcript, till the “time” comes, with all love you +91-241-254-8733 adjustments have been made for have for your Beloved Baba who is ever readability. at your heart and at whose heart your Jai Beloved Baba! name exists. Archives, Museum and Research The “Eagle” and other birds are all Continued from Page 13 ... Committee of the Avatar Meher Baba mine. They soar to different heights a profound silence settled over the Trust according to the capability of each room. Baba, the Divine Shama, the g h having different experiences, all illusion-consuming Flame looked so resplendent that all eyes were centred Meherabad eventually to be merged in the Infinite. on the radiance of His face, and all Ahmednagar, Sept, 30 [1934] I am awaiting cable from New York hearts were moved by His My dearest Kemali, to start, and as already told to you, we and His sacrifice in suffering for the I have your loving letters. It is good shall go together to America. whole world. the way you feel. It is the way of All my love Submitted by David Hobson and Love. Even the “I” that is expressed MS Irani transcribed by Glenda Hobson

16 June – August 2006 ‘For Everything There Is A Polish’ By Davana Brown for Tavern Talk

Recently in Mandali Hall, other but didn’t stir. There was no should not drop. Otherwise, it would Meherazad, Meherwan Jessawala other noise after that until we heard spoil My work.’” took us on a journey back in time to Baba’s clap. Then Bhau came and told Meherwan recounted incident after the last days of Avatar Meher Baba’s all of the mandali that Baba was calling incident revealing how difficult it Advent. As if we were flies on the wall, us. So again we trooped inside the hall. was to witness Baba’s progressively we vicariously witnessed a remarkable “Baba asked Eruch, ‘What was that failing health and, at the same time, unfolding of the God-man’s suffering, sound that occurred? Couldn’t you all how difficult it was to have to leave His ways of working with His close obey such a little order from Me just Meherazad and be at a distance from ones and His loving compassion. to keep quiet? You couldn’t do that for Baba. As Meherwan spoke, the feeling in Me? What was the sound?’ “It really weighed heavy on us even the hall brought to my mind one of “Pendu sheepishly looked at Baba though we weren’t there. I was all the Eruch’s favorite sayings of Prophet and said, ‘Baba, I had kept a vessel full while in Pune attending to my job and Muhammad: of water on a stool in my room and I the family. Letters would come from “For everything there is a polish that felt that something could cause it to Eruch quite frequently because Baba takes away rust. And the polish of the fall down, so I tried to carefully lift had instructed him to regularly write heart is His Remembrance.” it and place it on the ground but it a report and let the family know what Our hearts received a good polishing slipped from my hand.’ was going on. So we would receive that wintry morning in Mandali “Baba gestured, ‘Where was the need little tidbits of information and could Hall. There was nothing but His for you to get up and do that? Couldn’t gather how serious the situation had Remembrance in the air and it rubbed you have left it in place? This is become. so hard against our hearts, you could that wants to oppose My work. “It was the month of November 1968 feel the rust peeling off. Anyway, you are not to blame. It is and the date was the 22nd. I remember Meherwan’s story took its starting good that it has occurred. It lends force that because it was my birthday. The point in early 1968 when Baba entered to My work because the disturbance it previous day we had received news a very strict period of Seclusion that caused has made Me work all the more that my uncle, Meherjeemama, my lasted for almost the entire year. This strenuously. But in future, take care mother’s eldest brother, was in very Seclusion began during the time when not to let this happen again.’ critical condition and had been shifted Meherwan would come and stay at “Such was the seriousness of that to Booth hospital. So my mother was Meherazad for his vacation from work. Seclusion,” remarked Meherwan, “and quite anxious and said to me, ‘Let’s go “It was the very first day,” recounted it continued during my whole stay at and have a look at what is happening.’ Meherwan. “We were all called into Meherazad at that time. I came with my mother and we stayed this hall. ‘Remember,’ gestured Baba, “One day Baba told us, ‘Today I felt at Akbar Press, our ancestral home in with Eruch interpreting, ‘I don’t want so weak and giddy that I thought that Ahmednagar, and went to the hospital the slightest noise. Best is for you to I would fall down from the chair. So I to see my uncle. He had just been keep to your rooms as long as I am clapped and called for Bhau.’ Turning given a blood transfusion because of sitting here in Seclusion. Whenever to Bhau, Baba gestured for him to tell haemorrhage and was very frail, being I clap none of you are to stir; only us all what had happened. ninety years in age.” Bhau has been asked by Me to respond “ ‘Yes,’ said Bhau. ‘Baba told me to But somehow or other, Baba got to My clap and he will come and tie a sash around His waist to keep word that Meherwan and his mother do whatever I ask him to do.’ We Him tied to the chair so He wouldn’t Gaimai were in Ahmednagar and all trooped out of the hall and went fall down while engaged in His work.’ when they returned from the hospital into our rooms, and Baba started His Then Baba explained to us, ‘You know a message was waiting for Meherwan. Seclusion work. But a few minutes what the strain of Seclusion is? It is not He was told to come immediately later, we suddenly heard a loud noise the work that I am doing but the strain to Khushroo Quarters, (now called coming from Pendu’s room. It sounded of keeping the link with the body. Meher Nazar and home of the Trust like the thud of a large vessel filled with That is the most taxing for Me. It takes office) where Baba was. water falling on the floor. a lot of effort on My part. I have to “Baba was just getting into the car to “Eruch and I just looked at each maintain the link with My body so it Continued on page 18 ...

17 Meher Baba Australia ‑ return to Meherazad when I arrived. that He looked extremely pale. Baba, ‘Fine, fine’ So I got into the car with Baba, not I said, you look very pale to me. ‘Oh,’ “But later on, somebody asked Baba, knowing why He had called me there.” He said. Then the conversation took ‘How could you have a transfusion?’ Once at Meherazad the third degree a different turn. But a few minutes And Baba said, ‘Why not. You know began for Meherwan with Baba later Baba said, ‘They gave a blood this body is just like any other human questioning him as to why he had transfusion to Meherjeemama. Why body. So whatever ailments the body come to Ahmednagar without Baba’s don’t they give it to Me? Meherwan has, I also have that. It is not that I prior permission. says that I look very pale.’ The mandali shouldn’t have a blood transfusion, so ‘How come you came here?’ thought Baba was just saying it what of it.’” Meherwan responded, “I told Baba offhand and Eruch replied, ‘Baba why A few days later, Meherwan recalled, what had happened to my uncle do you need a blood transfusion?’ He Baba’s condition had so deteriorated and He said to me, ‘Without My had become very anaemic and that is that blood tests revealed He needed an permission you came here?’ There why the doctors gave him one.” immediate blood transfusion. Only was an order for us that if we left ‘Well, don’t I need a transfusion?’ then did the mandali understand the Pune we must let Him know, but Eruch said, ‘No, Baba, unless the relevance of His words. since it was a period where there was doctors advise it, it is not the usual What turned out to be the final no correspondence and it was an thing to be done.’ occasion for Baba’s close lovers to see emergency, we just came anyway. Baba Baba just nodded his head and said Him was held on the 22nd and 23rd told me, ‘OK. Since you of December 1968. have come, it is all right, Baba had decided that but go back immediately He wanted to celebrate and take your mother Mehera’s birthday on a back with you. This grand scale in spite of the is My instruction. mandali’s concerns about Whatever your uncle’s His poor state of health. condition is, I will look At the same time, Baba into that, but both of planned to have His you return. Don’t stay nephew Dara wed Amrit, here.’” Shatrugna Kumar’s “Goher had daughter, and celebrate remembered that it was the engagement and my birthday and so she wedding at Meherazad. had sent a little packet of But behind the scenes, sweets to Baba and He Baba’s condition had put it in His pocket. continued to worsen. He said to me, ‘So today One day prior to Dara is your birthday.’ I was and Amrit’s engagement, sort of embarrassed Baba had His third blood about it but said, ‘Yes, transfusion. Baba it is.’ Baba then Meherwan told us, told me to come close “You can imagine how and He gave me a good we all felt. Here was embrace. Then He Baba giving out His last handed me the packet of bit to His lovers without chocolates. I put them their having any idea into my pocket and just what He was passing sat there in front of Him. through. And it was at ‘How do I look?’ this time that He was “I never used to look at having these terrible jerks Baba’s face for very long [spasms] throughout His or too often, but since body. The jerks were so He asked me to look at violent that sometimes Him, I did, and I noticed Meherwan Jessawalla, Meherazad, 2005 by Gusi Carpenter they caused His body to

18 June – August 2006 fly off the bed a few inches. Several of profound authority. I still remember Continued from Page 3 ... the mandali would have to hold Him the gesture He made as Eruch spoke down on His bed to keep Him from out the words: all the time, I was thinking against banging up and down on the bed. ‘Remember I am God. Now come Him. I was dumb not knowing what Baba had said ‘It is all the working of one by one and kiss Me on both My to say. Yet, I thought for a moment, Maya to break My bones, but in doing cheeks.’ “If this person Baba is really God – so, I will be breaking the backbone of “I didn’t know it then, but that Antaryamin – how nice it would be Maya.’” was to be the last time I saw Him on His part to leave me thus without Meherwan continued, “I remember physically. Those were His last words further interrogation?” And lo, just it was the last day, the 23rd of to me; ‘Remember, I am God.’ where my thought ended, Baba picked December. When I came that day to “As we were about to leave, Baba sent up saying, “Well, I forgive you. Don’t Meherazad, Eruch tells me, ‘Look word that if I could stay on for the day worry”. A few seconds after that, here, Meherwan, you go back in the and the next day, He would be happy drawing my attention to the few jeep to town. Naosherwan Anzar is to have me here. But I was so stupid. garlands that were still hanging on coming from Hyderabad by train but it Instead of saying yes, I made excuses, His hand. Baba said, “Look to these has been delayed. Since you know him, thinking that Baba would be needlessly garlands. These flowers will fade away. you go and receive him at the railway constrained to keep a cheerful face They are bound to be destroyed sooner station and bring him here as soon as in front of me and later when His or later … But, I want you to be My he alights from the train. Don’t waste health improved I could see Him. So Living Garland”. the slightest time.’ I lost the opportunity. To this day it ‘I could not follow what Baba “By the time we reached here, has been a very sad thing for me that actually meant by saying “Living everything was over and Baba had in spite of the chances Baba gave me, Garland” and I was simply staring at retired to His room. But He had left I refused. Never try to be smart with Baba with vacant eyes. Baba then held a message that when I arrive with Him.” both my hands into His hands and Naosherwan we are to go straight to As if to punctuate what had just took them round His neck and said His bedroom. been said, the Meherazad bell “Now do you understand?” I found “I remember Baba was lying on His rang, but none of us moved. There myself practically hanging round the bed looking totally exhausted. All was too much to ponder. Then bosom of Baba as a child suspending the mandali were around Him. Baba Meherwan stood up to greet the itself in the embrace of its mother. motioned for us to come in front of departing pilgrims and Mandali ‘Giving me a soft slap on my cheek Him. He just asked us one or two Hall emptied out. But the words Baba pointed out to my suspended questions. Then He looked up at us, of Truth reverberated in the silence: body and said, “Yes. This is the living His face extremely serious. He was “Remember, I am God.” garland. But I want you to become lying so helpless and physically broken Tavern Talk is the electronic newsletter a Real Living Garland.” Baba finally down and yet He expressed such of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust gestured to me saying, “I know everything. Love Me and I will help you”.’ Krishnan Borthwick married Rachel Smeaton on the 22nd of If you wish to hear more from Dr Moorty you will need to come to April in a spectacular east-west ceremony presided over by the Spring Sahavas. Actually this is Ross Keating and Jal Dastoor. Much fun was had by all! not totally true, as Dr Moorty will Jai Baba! also be visiting Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Dates, times and places for these visits are yet to be fixed. If you are planning to come to Avatar’s Abode from left: please note that Monday 2nd October is Jal, Rachel, the Labour Day holiday in NSW and Krishnan, Dolly, the ACT, and the Queen’s Birthday Wendy and John holiday in WA. We all look forward to a wonderful Baba-filled Spring Sahavas with Dr Moorty and our Australian guests. Jai Meher Baba!

19 A U S T R A L I A SYDNEY CALENDAR OF EVENTS Meher Baba Meetings are held at Meher House, 12 Kalianna Crescent, JUNE — AUGUST 2006 Beacon Hill on the last Saturday of the month. The meetings PO Box 335 start at 7:30. Please feel free to come any time after 7PM. Nambour, QLD 4554, Australia Coordinators and topics are posted on the Sydney email list, Editor — Gusi Carpenter or phone Michael Le Page on (02) 9971 2486 Design and Layout — Linda Beleski Mailing List and Distribution — David Bowling Avatar Meher Baba at Meher House Sydney, August 1956 Front Cover — Guruprasad 1959. This photo was gifted Meher Baba stated that His purpose in coming to Australia in to Francis Brabazon. Deadline next issue — 7th August, 2006 1956 was “To sow the seed of Love in this country”. If possible, please send submissions on IBM compatible disk, TheFiftieth Anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba’s first visit to or email to [email protected] Australia in 1956 will be celebrated in Sydney from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th August. If you would like to participate in the preparation of this event UNSHINE COAST EVENTS S or have any ideas to contribute please contact: Friday Night Meetings And Saturday Film Nights: Jenny or Ross Keating (02) 99383737 or [email protected] Meetings start at 7 pm and end about 9.30. The hosts organise the evening and a light supper is provided. If you need a ride please call Kris on 5476 3389 or 0408 226 NEWS FROM THE GLOW 353. Australians can subscribe to The Glow through their credit SAT MAY 20: Film night at the Abode cards. See the website www.belovedarchives.org for details. FRI JUNE 2: Miles Rowan ph: 5442 3063 The Glow has recently launched an outreach programme SAT JUNE 17: Film night at Abode through CDs: Beloved Sings of Love is a collection of FRI JULY 7: David and Gusi ph: 476 2027 Beloved Baba’s ghazals with translations and the second SAT JULY 15: Film night at Abode (NB - One week after one is Meher Baba on Love & War and the Human meeting as this is 3rd Sat of month) Experience. The third CD under preparation is, Meher FRI AUGUST 4: Bill and Diana ph: 5448 5514 Baba on Meditation and Inner Love. SAT AUGUST 19: Film night at Abode FRI SEPT 1: Sue Douglas and Peter Murray ph: 5492 9475 Charlotte White and Jethro and Ella Hitchins SAT SEPT 16: Film night at Abode with their new baby girl, born on 3rd May, 06 48th Anniversary of Baba’s visit to Avatar’s Abode The flag will be raised at 11.30 am on Fridayth 9 June and lowered at 2.30 pm on Monday 12th June. “I am coming to America and Australia solely to give My Sahavas to My lovers, and I want each of you to come with the longing to receive just that. I want this Sahavas to be above all a close companionship between your Beloved and His lovers; and if you wish to maintain this unique relationship, then do not come with the question or the desire to seek discourses and explanations. Come with the preparedness to receive fully whatever I may give you, with the thought of being completely resigned to My Will.” (Part of message of 12th April 1958 from Baba to all those attending the Sahavas at Myrtle Beach U.S.A., and at Avatar’s Abode, Australia.)

BABA CONTACTS IN NEW ZEALAND Travellers to New Zealand who want to meet Baba lovers there are invited to contact Kelvin and Jill Hobbs 19 Brassey Rd, Wanganui. Ph 06 347 2974, email: [email protected].