MEHER SPIRITUAL CENTER

The Heart of Every Lover:

Weekly Offerings

January 20, 2023

ECPPA Collection

Dear Meher Center Family and Friends,

Greetings from Meher Baba’s home in the West. We hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

This is a quiet time at the Center, when the holiday season has passed and South Carolina’s version of winter has descended. The mild winters we experience remind me of the conditions Baba gave to Elizabeth and Norina when He sent them to find land in America for a Center.   

In Kitty Davy’s book Love Alone Prevails, she writes: 

“To begin the story of Meher Spiritual Center, we must now shift back to Ajmer, India, where we were with Baba in 1941. At this time, Baba set forth His wish for Elizabeth Patterson and Norina Matchabelli to return to the U.S. to locate a property for the Center. Baba told them He wanted a home in the West where, after He had lived and worked, others from the East and West could come. 

“Baba who lives simultaneously in the past, present and future, had no doubt visualized and selected the spot long ago, but for reasons of His work He always acted as if He did not know what lay ahead. Elizabeth’s first reaction was naturally, ‘What are we to look for, Baba?’ He intimated that this property might be any place in America but that there were five specific qualifications which He had at the tip of His fingers, so to speak. In brief: (1) the climate should be equable; (2) it should have more than ample water; (3) it should be on virgin soil, never before built upon; (4) it should be land that could be tilled; and, (5) it should be ‘given from the heart.’”*

It seems clear that Baba’s idea of ‘equable climate’ translates into very hot and humid summers, but also wonderfully mild winters. Of course, both seasons are gifts from the Beloved, but one is a little easier to take!

In Baba’s love and service, 

Buz Connor

For Meher Center board and staff

*Kitty Davy, Love Alone Prevails, p. 365

Family Letter #54

Read by Kipper Schauer

20:38

These are readings of a collection of letters written by Mani, Meher Baba’s sister, to the Western family of Baba lovers between 1956 and 1969.

Robert Dreyfuss was fortunate enough to meet Meher Baba in 1965, after an arduous journey hitchhiking across the globe to meet his Beloved. He later returned to Meherabad to live and work, during which time he developed close relationships with many of the Mandali, one of whom was Francis Brabazon. Francis was an Australian Mandali member, poet, and deep lover of Meher Baba. In this recording from Mandali Hall in 2007, Robert sits with Meherwan Jessawalla, and shares memories of moments spent with Francis.

Video, 11:21

Meherazad, India, 2007

Courtesy of Michael Le Page

Naja Rustom Irani was Baba’s cousin, and grew up on the same lane as young Merwan in Pune. At the request of Baba’s mother Shireenmai, Naja began preparing and serving food to Baba at the age of twelve or thirteen. This was the start of a lifetime of service to the Avatar. She became one of Baba's early female Mandali members, and spent the majority of her life cooking for Him in the ashram. In this talk, Naja shares stories from Baba’s childhood in Pune, the time period after Babajan’s Kiss, and the gathering of His early Mandali and formation of Manzil-e-Meem.

Audio, 25:29

September 1972

Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks

This is a new song written and recorded by Billy Goodrum, which he graciously shared at the New Year's program on Center.

Video, 2:02

December 31, 2022