MEHER SPIRITUAL CENTER

Meher Baba's Home in the West

April Newsletter 2024

ECPPA Collection

"If you want to be free, free you are; but you do not really want to be free, and therefore you continue to feel yourself bound. You want to lead a perfect life of love and service. When you really have that want, you will not need to worry how to lead the life — you will live it. . . .What you must long for is the real want, and this real want alone must be your perennial want."


Meher Baba

Lord Meher, Online edition, by Bhau Kalchuri, p. 4480

Dear Meher Center Family and Friends,


Greetings from Meher Baba’s home in the West.  We want to remind everyone of the Youth Sahavas dates from July 23rd to the 28th.  During the Sahavas, participants will stay in Center cabins with experienced counselors, enjoy vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals and snacks, fill their days with art and music, fun and games, beach time and nap time, meaningful discussions, performances, dances, and plays—and by His grace, will all be infused with His love. For more information, or to sign up, please click here.


We are happy to announce that we will soon be presenting a podcasts of talks given in the Center’s Meeting Place over the years. Please stay tuned for more information.


We have also updated our website to provide easy access to past articles written for our newsletters. Click here to check them out.


A new musical, entitled Trail of Tears directed by Joe DiSabatino, will be presented over the weekend of May 24th to commemorate the anniversary of Baba's automobile accident. We’ll have additional information as we get closer to the date.  


In His Love and Service,

 

 

Buz Connor

For Meher Center board and staff

Elizabeth

On the anniversary of Baba's first visit to the Center in April of 1952, we share this rare and invaluable footage of Elizabeth Patterson—one of Meher Baba's female mandali and founder of Meher Center. Here, she speaks in great detail about the Center. She begins with the search that she and Norina Matchabelli undertook to find the perfect place for Baba's home in the West, and goes on to talk about the construction of the Center, its purpose, and Baba's three visits. Elizabeth's whole-hearted focus and devotion to her Beloved shine through her every word.


Video, 1:19:42

Dilruba, Meher Center, Myrtle Beach, 1977

Courtesy of Meher Baba Film Archive International, thanks to Pete Townsend

Love on Tour: 1970

By Valerie Mckean

Meher Baba in the Barn with Meherjee and Adi, 1956

Shaw Family Collection

On February 11th, 1970, Adi K. Irani and Meherjee Karkaria, two of Meher Baba’s Indian men mandali, departed Bombay for a tour of the West, with visits planned in Zurich, London, and ten cities across the United States. Adi met Baba in 1921 at the age of eighteen and became one of His first mandali members. He frequently acted as Baba's spokesman, became His secretary in 1944, and spent his life in service to Baba. Meherjee met Meher Baba in 1927 while studying for his college exams. At Baba’s request, he taught for two years, at the Baba’s Hazrat Babajan School for Boys in Ahmednagar. He later entered the business world, always guided by his Beloved Meher Baba. 

 

Throughout their tour of America, the two men spread Meher Baba’s message of love and truth to old and new devotees as well as those who were hearing Baba’s name for the first time - from a Meher Baba birthday celebration held in New York at the Brabazon Hotel to a talk in Miami on Meher Baba’s Universal Message as an alternative to drugs. At a gathering in Chapel Hill, NC, Meherjee remarked, “Anyone who met him felt his love for humanity. His face was always radiant. Anyone who could approach him—whether to question, criticize, or learn—seeing the love on his face would sit dumb.” He went on to say, “Baba was love personified. Even the smallest children to the oldest old people experience his love in their own way.” [1]  


They arrived at the Meher Spiritual Center on March 10th. Almost twelve years had passed since Adi accompanied Baba to the Center; he was with Baba for all three visits,1952,1956 and 1958. Meherjee was in service to Baba for two visits, 1956 and 1958. When Meherjee and Adi arrived, they were welcomed at Meher Abode - Baba’s House, reuniting with their old friends, Elizabeth Patterson, Kitty Davy, and Jane Haynes and a small handful of followers. During Meher Baba’s 1952 visit, Adi, Meherjee, and Dr. Nilu had taken turns being the night watchman at Baba’s House. Upon their return to Meher Center in 1970, they slept in the mandali bedroom, where they had kept watch - the last bedroom on the left across from Baba’s room. Housekeeping duties for the two men were carried out by Jim Meyer, who had been employed by Elizabeth as a caretaker for about one year.   


Jim recalls that many mornings Adi would stroll into the Original Kitchen where people would spontaneously gather around to listen and ask questions. Twenty three year old Tim Garvin, had questions for Adi - so many questions. As Tim says, he was “trying to get a handle on this love business” sitting next to an extremely patient Adi. Click here to listen to one of Adi’s morning talks in the Original Kitchen.


In February 1970, Elizabeth Patterson wrote to Charles Haynes, “I don’t want you to be disappointed too much that the schedule of Adi and Meherjee does not include Emory in Atlanta, but as I wrote to your mother, there are two chances for you and those of the Emory group to meet and be with the one weekend at Savannah, then Chapel Hill and Myrtle Beach.” 

[2]


Clearly, Charles was not disappointed, as he recalls: “I took a number of the newly-formed Atlanta group to the Center in 1970 to meet with Adi and Meherjee during their visit. I recall being very excited: this would be the group's first contact with Baba's close Indian mandali. At the same time, I was a bit anxious. Would everything go well? Would the new ones draw closer to Baba through this visit? Of course, I need not have worried. Sessions with Adi and Meherjee were filled with Baba's Presence. As Adi and Meherjee shared beautiful moments from their many years with Baba, they brought Baba alive. Speaking with great conviction and humor, Adi touched our hearts with his deep understanding of Baba's ways. Meherjee, who served Baba as a businessman, used fewer words to quietly, effectively convey what Baba means when He says be in the world, but not of it. Leaving the Center renewed and inspired, we were filled with gratitude for all that Baba gave us in those precious days.”  


At one point, Meherjee walked around the Center with a small group of people, answering questions and sharing some of his memories. He said that Baba took great interest in the Center and everything that happened at the Center. Baba said it would become a place of pilgrimage for all. He commented on how peaceful the Center is. He remembered that Baba  said the trails that weave through the Center should be kept as they were to preserve the natural state of the property. Meherjee also remembered Baba chasing the mandali through the woods and how Baba would stride across the lagoon bridge, stopping at the halfway point, like so any of us do, to gaze at the view and look for alligators.


He reminisced about being at Baba’s side when He greeted His lovers, who had gathered in the Barn for darshan programs or the Lagoon Cabin for private interviews. When asked what transpired in the Lagoon Cabin, he recalled that many of the Sahavas attendees came to their short five-to-ten minute interview with Baba with love in their hearts. Some came with their problems, and others with questions that they could not ask because they were overcome with love and emotion upon meeting Meher Baba. 

 

When asked about expansion of the Center, Meherjee noted that at that time Elizabeth was considering enlarging the Library, expanding the Original Kitchen, and eventually adding more cabins; any development plans resided in Elizabeth’s hands. It should be noted that in the fifty-four years since Meherjee’s visit all development has been thoughtfully planned, at first by Elizabeth, and later by the Meher Spiritual Center Board, to ensure that the natural retreat state of the Center prevails [Click here to listen to Meherjee give a tour of the Center in 1970].  


During Adi and Meherjee’s week-long stay, talks were given at the library, Jane Haynes’ home, and the large cypress wood barn where Meher Baba had met with many of His lovers during His three visits. They departed Myrtle Beach for stops in Virginia, Chicago, several stops in California, including Mehermount, and finally Honolulu, where they spoke of Meher Baba and the Spiritual Path at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel.


Dominick Toto, writing for The Way and the Goal, seems to capture the essence of this 1970 tour: “The most important message which the Mandali brought is that Baba never dies. He is always with us, loving us and guiding us. Baba never dies. He is with us so much more because He lives in our hearts as He always has and always will.” [3]


[1] "Meher Baba Followers Faithful A Year After His Death," by Ken Ripley, The Daily Tar Hill, March 19, 1970

[2] Letters of Love, by Jane Haynes, p. 463

[3] “An Account of Adi and Meherjee’s Visit to Myrtle Beach,” by Dominick Toto, The Way and the Goal, Vol I March 25, 1970

Life on the Center: Children's Easter Program

Over Easter, the Center hosted events for children including a Circle Time with music, stories and crafts, an Easter Egg Hunt, and a wonderful Baba's House tour hosted by Wendy Connor. The children had a great time!

Gardening for His Pleasure

By Preeti Hay

Spring at the Center is magical. Right now, the garden at Baba’s house is in full bloom. The assortment of fragrant flowers outside the home that He loved best, inevitably reminds me of Mehera’s garden. The parallels between His home in the West and in the East may be vast or few depending upon the lover’s inclination. But both the gardens that bloom upon His delicate touch and against all odds, have love and His pleasure in common.


Mehera’s garden in Meherazad came to be from Baba’s encouragement to her since He knew how much she loved nature. “Mehera loved making cuttings for the garden, starting seeds, collecting them and so on. Mani and the others would observe Mehera’s enthusiasm when she’d sow the seed of a tree. And they would tease her, knowing that what she really wanted was a full grown tree by the next morning. Such was Mehera’s vision of an abundant garden for her Beloved Baba, and such was the promise held in each and every seed she collected and sowed . . . to become something very beautiful for Baba,” [1] writes Kacy Cook.


Pilgrims who go to Meherazad today see this vision come true in a luscious, tropical garden. As it is with gardens, the product is so enticing to a layman’s eyes that the struggles behind it are unnoticed. And that is by design. 


"One day, Baba was admiring the flowers in the garden. Colorful varieties had been planted. Baba loved bright flowers and remarked, “I like these very much. They look so pretty.”


Mehera complained to him, “It’s not easy to grow these kinds of flowers here at Meherazad, where the soil is so poor. We have to bring soil from far away, near the lake. The garden boys harness themselves like bullocks and bring it in a cart. Then, when heavy rains come, the topsoil is washed away, because the ground at Meherazad slopes. It takes so much time to grow these flowers. It’s a lot of work!”

Baba said: “Yes, that is why I appreciate it. Because the soil is poor, you have to work hard, with so much care and love; then the flowers and plants that come up are special. What’s the use if it is good soil, if you plant seeds, water them a little, and they grow easily by themselves? I wouldn’t have appreciated that as much. This is how I like it. I appreciate the garden because of your efforts.”[2]


Mehera added: “So Baba wants that – to work hard and then get results. That is what he appreciates. It isn’t easy. Baba always had a ready answer. From that time, I didn’t complain to Baba that we have poor soil in the compound.”


Here at the Center, guests and locals rush to Baba’s Garden this time of year while the gardeners work untiringly throughout the year. I had never given any thought to the hardships that might present themselves to the gardeners at Meher Abode, but remembering Mehera’s account, I thought to ask. “The soil is sandy and very difficult. Over the years, from the minimal plants that existed during the early days, the soil has been amended and yet it stays very difficult,” says Dori Seeley, the head of the volunteer team of gardeners at Baba’s house.


Dori tells me that mulch is brought from the Center Orchard to help the garden. Some other things that help are bringing soil from off Center, adding minerals and different types of organic fertilizers such as neem powder and Bat Guano. But challenges continue for Dori and her team of five gardeners. “Let me give you an example, the Eutin rose grows in this area and is considered very easy to grow. We did the best we could, but it did not thrive in Baba’s Garden. The same plant is flourishing in my garden at home, just across the street.” How then do they deal with these inexplicable challenges? “We try to focus on harmony and pleasing Baba,” says Dori.


Walking through the woodland garden adorned by flowers worthy only of a king, deity or a Beloved, I am hit with nostalgia and the feeling of being fully present, all at once. Azaleas, the voluptuous bunch of pink pearls, remind me of creeping beauties of bougainvillea all over Meherazad. The dogwoods, to lay eyes like mine, bring forth the memory of clematis outside Baba’s bedroom window in Meherazad. The celebratory arrival of pompoms outside Baba’s room in India is thrilling like the first burst of hydrangeas here. A gentle breeze lulls the flowers as it carries the fragrance of jasmine, a tender and sensory reminder of Baba’s fragrance all over the Center. 


I am not a gardener, but gardens always fill me with a sense of hope and faith. In a talk titled “The Significance of Awareness,” Kitty Davy shared a passage very close to her heart from the Epistle to the Hebrews: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.'' [3]How could it be anything but faith (and love) that would work with barren soil, and through perseverance and patience wait for an unseen reward?

 

[1] “Gardening with Love,” by Kacy Cook, On Sacred Ground

[2] Mehera-Meher, by David Fenster, Vol III p. 297

[3] One Fine Thread, by Kitty Davy, p.213

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