tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86455080057046315962024-03-13T20:05:58.828-07:00Meher BabaRemembering Him..Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-65622419658408685012015-09-12T02:22:00.000-07:002015-09-12T02:22:55.050-07:00"Come All Unto Me"<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Baba said, </span><br />
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"<span style="background-color: white; color: #680cc3; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Age after age, amidst the clamor of disruptions, wars, fear and chaos, rings the Avatar’s Call: “Come all unto me!”</span><br />
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Although, because of the veil of illusion, this call of the Ancient One may appear as a voice in the wilderness, its echo and re-echo nevertheless pervade through time and space, to rouse at first a few, and eventually millions, from their deep slumber of ignorance. And, in the midst of illusion, as the Voice behind all voices, it awakens humanity to bear witness to the manifestation of God amidst mankind.</div>
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The time is come. I repeat the call, and bid all to come unto me."</div>
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Here we are, then. His Call is totally unambiguous. He does NOT say "Come all unto Me via so and so." He does not say "Come all unto Me via a path that calls itself the 'fast track' to Me because they mistakenly believe that I promised them a 6th plane illumined teacher for the next 700 years. He does not say "Come all unto Me by going to a 'living guru' who can raise your kundalini or awaken your inner consciousness or heal you spiritually or any other such diversions. <b> </b></div>
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<b>His Call is direct. </b> "<b>COME ALL UNTO ME." He directs us to take the shortest route to the Avatar, by heeding His Call and making a bee-line for His feet, to hold on fast to His Daman and to remember Him as often as possible, preferably with every breath. This is Meher Baba's Call. </b></div>
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Later in the message Beloved Baba gave on 12th September 1954 He goes on to say,</div>
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"Age after age, history repeats itself when men and women, in their ignorance, limitations and pride, sit in judgment over the God-incarnated Man who declares </div>
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His Godhood, and condemn Him for uttering the Truths they cannot understand. He is indifferent to abuse and persecution for, in His true compassion He understands, in His continual experience of Reality He knows, and in His infinite mercy he forgives." </div>
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More and more we hear people who come to Meherazad and sit in Mandali Hall and ask Meherwan Jessawala if he thinks if so and so is a true guru? "I feel very drawn to him or her, should I go there?" Sitting in judgement on the Avatar Himself and feeling that He is not enough, that one needs a 'living guru' is at the root of such curiosity. As Meherwan says, having come to the court of the Emperor, one does not need to bother with His clerks or ministers. He also reminds people that those who claim spiritual advancement can only be recognized by one who is God-realized. The likes of you and me, we are not fit to make this call. In modern management speak, such things are outside your pay scale!! Those who indulge their curiousity will have to pay the price, and sometimes the price is to lose the Kohinoor diamond that is the Avatar in exchange for a piece of glass. If you do, He will forgive you, for forgiveness is His nature. But you will have to take the consequences of your actions, because He won't take those away.</div>
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Baba has assured us that in each incarnation we go forward, never backwards. However, we can go backwards in the same incarnation...and anyone who succumbs to the lure of the latest 'enlightened being' who comes along or the one who promises to get you an audience with someone who has passed over or claims to heal your aura, body, spirit or mind through occult means <b>after coming to Meher Baba</b> takes that risk with eyes open. You makes your choices, you pays the price. No other way, is there? Choose wisely, my friends. You have already been chosen by God Himself. Don't lose this priceless opportunity by going after mirages. </div>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-84506058400993034992015-07-09T23:14:00.000-07:002015-07-09T23:14:37.306-07:00It's Silence Day at Meherazad...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meherazad - as it looks today, but photographed by Robin Oppenheimer yesterday</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">10th July ..Silence Day all over the world for Baba lovers. 90 years ago on this day Meher Baba started His Silence which is still reverberating in our hearts and lives today. He speaks in His Silence, and we all have heard Him, or else why would we be observing this day?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Meherazad, Baba's home, goes from mad, mad rush of pilgrims coming to visit His home on 9th July to becoming a place of silence in the space of a few hours. I woke up this morning remembering that I didn't talk to Baba aloud. Went and greeted Meherwan Jessawala by joining my hands to him, then got everything ready for his breakfast and went outside to do my turning clockwise exercise and what happens? Our dearest Gabby, Meherazad's 3-legged dog, does what he tries to do every day, spin with me!! Without thinking I said "Good morning Gabby!" then had to smack my hand over my mouth for having broken my silence. And it was only 4.55 AM! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Well!! Perhaps that's it, and the rest of my Silence Day will pass, well, in silence...it is easy to be silent here. Since the workers keep silent too (voluntarily) there is none of the usual shouting of instructions, petty squabbles, laughter and joking. Instead you can hear the birds singing, and boy do they sing loudly! The coppersmith, the Indian cuckoo, the Indian robin, parrots, crows ...all chorusing away. Singing His Name, no doubt. The plants rustle quietly, there is a loud creaking noise as the tin shade next to Eruch's cabin sways in the breeze and someone has just turned the outside tap on full, even though we are in the middle of a severe water shortage...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I went for a walk this morning, around the foot of Seclusion Hill and around the new forest road back to Meherazad. One of our dogs came with me. Cissy was so good, she came each time I clapped. Much better behaviour than when I am talking and call out to her to come! Seclusion Hill looked beautiful and I wished I could climb it, but I can't right now because my damaged knees can't cope with the climb back down... maybe soon, yes Baba?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Yesterday we had a few hundred pilgrims come and take Darshan at Meherazad, they came from all over India to be with their Beloved at His Samadhi for this most important day of the Avataric advent. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilgrims and volunteers outside Baba's room at Meherazad 9 July 2015. Photo Robin Oppenheimer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHZR9wIoA5Ht1mNHcoNPioQOeLXiRIcQpWenPli2SMNh4-dhGc_HB4DXYnkjSvy36aauF4LmbHLl2Gfdg9VVkEFKQG-FYhb-rpvtWwHKa-26evEJ_gw8DWrv86MzXSVvUjxrx_j3Dln0/s1600/11707658_10205858629838727_653910653802601347_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHZR9wIoA5Ht1mNHcoNPioQOeLXiRIcQpWenPli2SMNh4-dhGc_HB4DXYnkjSvy36aauF4LmbHLl2Gfdg9VVkEFKQG-FYhb-rpvtWwHKa-26evEJ_gw8DWrv86MzXSVvUjxrx_j3Dln0/s320/11707658_10205858629838727_653910653802601347_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers taking Darshan at the very end of the pilgrims' visit, 9 July 2015. Photo by Robin Oppenheimer.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">They came and cued for a surprisingly short time, visited with Baba in His bedroom and in Mandali Hall and then came around to greet Meherwan Jessawala who sat in his usual place on the men's side verandah and greeted each with joined hands. Then they went off to absorb the beauty of the place, many of them lying prone on the benches in the garden and looking up at the leafy tree cover and, beyond that, the blue sky. It was a happy day, and we Meherazad residents were so grateful to be part of this love feast. Today the pilgrims are exchanging real things at His feet in Meherabad.. after all, Baba Himself said, "Things that are real are given and received in silence." Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!!! </span><br />
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<br />Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-71586028881418262272015-06-10T01:49:00.001-07:002015-06-10T01:49:11.257-07:005 Tibetan Rites - full demo so you can join in.....<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qLKhvsfQKc" width="459"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am posting the video I used to learn to do the 5 Tibetans, and I recommend them to anyone who has pain or is feeling that their body, mind and soul are getting weary and slow. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are other articles and videos about the 5Ts but this is my favourite.</span>Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-21332176184041996472015-06-10T01:46:00.000-07:002015-06-10T01:46:48.828-07:00Taking Baba's Name for Aam Aadmi (Us common folks) or Dummies.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Meherwan Jessawala entering Baba's bedroom to take Darshan. 2014.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Meherwan Jessawala has been remembering Meher Baba since he was very young. When he first met Baba as a child, he called Baba "Krishnaji" because Krishna was his favourite Avatar, being mischievous and fun-loving. However, as he grew older he so totally fell in love with Baba's current Avatar that it was all he would focus on. So started the habit of taking His Name whenever he could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Time passed, Meherwan and his mum and sister moved to Meherazad to be near Eruch Jessawala, and he had not many distractions so he started taking Baba's Name almost constantly. Today you can see his lips move in silent remembrance, all the time. Sometimes, when he is asleep I go to check on him and make sure he is alright, and I hear him going "Baba Baba Baba Baba" in his sleep. Meherwan is exceptional. He wants all of us to focus on taking the Lord's Name continuously. I have written much about this in the past and you have all read what I wrote. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Being with Meherwan almost continuously, I can't help but absorb some of this "Taking Baba's Name" drive. So I have been practising...and I found that though I can't do it even a fraction as well as he does, there are things that have helped me to improve. Here are some of my own tips and tricks for getting into the habit of constant remembrance:-</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Decide that you will commit to this practice. Vaguely saying, "I want to take Baba's Name all the time" just does not do it. So, having committed, you will have to set aside a time and place for this most important activity. In the beginning I found that if I set aside 15 minutes before I went to sleep, it worked best for me. I'd fall asleep taking Baba's Name, and usually slept wonderfully well. This is because there are no violent, angry, resentful or just stupid thoughts going through your mind at the same time as you are focused on His Name, and so you fall asleep peacefully. Actually, I'd fall asleep within 5 minutes of starting to take His Name!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you wake up say "Good morning Baba!" before you even sit up or say anything else. I say it aloud. If you then want to offer thanks for a good night and offer whatever happens during the day to Him, go right ahead. I just started off saying "Good morning." </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Begin thanking Baba for things during the day. A nice bit of fruit - Thank You Baba. A phone call from a close friend - Thank You Baba. You get the picture?? I had severe pain in my knees for over 2 years, and I'd walk along and thank Him for the pain, because it helped me remember Him. I'd also berate Him for His gift of suffering, but so what? You can tell Baba anything, and He will listen. I then discovered the Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation (see the separate blogpost with the YouTube video that I used, posted right after this one) and my knee pains disappeared within days. So now I think of Him when I walk and thank Him for the absence of pain. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Use external aids to make this repetition automatic. I recorded the Meher Dhun at Amartithi and then put it on my phone. I can play it in a loop, and it is a most wonderful way of repeating His Name. You can sing His Name and record yourself doing it, then play your own voice in a loop. This is actually better because you know your own voice and it makes a deeper imprint on your subconscious memory than someone else's voice. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ask Baba for help. Baba has said that He will not grant you your wishes, but there is one exception. If you ask Him for help in remembering Him constantly, He CANNOT refuse you this help. </b> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Notice changes within, no matter how small. My first sign that I was beginning to internalize the <i>Naam-smaran</i> was that I'd wake up in the morning without a feeling of "What do I have to do today?" Instead I'd wake up and have a few minutes of conversation with Baba, aloud if I felt like it. This helped me to learn about letting go of (illusory) control and surrendering the day to Him. Lower anxiety and a much happier start to the day. Then I noticed that I was going "Baba Baba Baba" while travelling in rickshaws, on trains and buses, walking...it was beginning to become more of a inner refrain and less of a conscious practice. If you are travelling in India, the condition of the roads and the disorderly traffic certainly helps. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Listen to devotional music, stuff that uplifts you and makes you happy. Avoid violent and loud music, films that depict human nature at its worst or are excessively full of gratuitous sex and violence. When I started looking I found that there are many <i>bhajans<b>,</b></i> chants and <i>sholakas</i> that are so inspiring that my day is better for starting with one of these forms of remembrance. And there are so many sweet films that are being made that are filled with love, light and the better side of humanity. I still love Queen's loud anthems, though...and Boston Legal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are falling asleep reading all the above, just forget about it all and offer it up to Baba. It is all up to Him, anyway. He will do whatever is best for you and you will get to the remembrance sooner or later. </span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYnLbWagQAZ3YcbT5in39xiWOSfdZ0_0yAUfk8HlwA_kqj3BeMo8xbKYzvrJRiwwAoQR0rSiY7pRSoRCr2Y26dc_ESn1rLykcYDOLUCa4yPAbXR4_ZwfLF3mCQyd92tt5UEaFieePN3o/s1600/Meherwan+Kaka%2527s+Birthday+2014+and+other+pictures+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYnLbWagQAZ3YcbT5in39xiWOSfdZ0_0yAUfk8HlwA_kqj3BeMo8xbKYzvrJRiwwAoQR0rSiY7pRSoRCr2Y26dc_ESn1rLykcYDOLUCa4yPAbXR4_ZwfLF3mCQyd92tt5UEaFieePN3o/s320/Meherwan+Kaka%2527s+Birthday+2014+and+other+pictures+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Meherwan Jessawala bowing down to Baba's bed on his birthday, 2014.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My uncle Eruch did say that <i>sanskaras</i> unwind when we take His Name. As I've said before, he explained that when you are taking His Name whole-heartedly everything you do is done by Baba and not by you, so you get no further additions to your <i>sanskaric</i> load. Instead your impressions begin the process of unwinding. If you go by this, Meherwan is whizzing around and around very rapidly, unwinding all the lifetimes of <i>sanskaras</i>!! For myself, I'm hoping I've slowed down the winding process, just a smidgen! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What are the benefits? I am less likely to jump to conclusions, start arguments, get upset, take things personally, become all judgemental and pompous. I am still arrogant and still say what I feel, but I am trying to do it more gently. I worry less about my parents and Meherwan dying, about what I will do when they are gone, stuff that I have no control over and is directly contradicting Beloved Baba's order "Don't worry, be happy." I feel more love towards others, maybe because I am finally getting a very vague inkling that He really IS in everyone. There are still people I cannot stand. But right now I can honestly say there are only 2 people who fit into this category. Pretty good, huh? Others, well I wouldn't court their presence, but I don't shun it either. Most important, I am happier and am letting go of stuff more easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OK, this dummy's thoughts on "Repetition of Baba's Name" are done. You can share your own thoughts and tips in the comments below! Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Meherwan and my sister Dolly walking back towards Mandali Hall, Meherazad after Darshan in Baba's room</span>.<br /></td></tr>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-64217002040077055142015-01-26T01:34:00.000-08:002015-01-26T01:34:09.170-08:00Goodbye Dinshaw Kelawala..Yesterday at 4.45 a.m. I got a phone call from my sister Dolly to inform me that Dr Dinshaw Kelawala had passed away in Panchgani, early in the morning. He was 82. <br />
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Dinshawji had a very old connection with Baba and he didn't even realize it!! Years ago, when he was a young boy, living in Satara with his grandmother, she rented out two of her bungalows (she was a very rich Parsi lady, with multiple properties) to a man and his companions. They settled in, and he would often see this man walking around the compound, but since no one was allowed to disturb him, Dinshaw didn't think too much about it all. The two bungalows were Rosewood and Grafton, and it was to Baba that his granny rented out the properties. Of course, Dinshawji had no idea at all that this was Whom he had seen as a boy.<br />
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Years later, my sister Dolly went to work at the Dastur School Administrative Office. As a trustee of the school board and also of the charitable trust's board that funded the 3 schools, Dinshawji was one of the persons she had to answer to, as the chief accountant and office manager. Not only that, his wife Zerene was the principal of the primary school, and she became very fond of Dolly and adopted her, sort-of. As time went on Dolly became an honorary member of the Kelawala-Divecha family, and Zerene's sister Najoo Divecha was like a foster mother to her, especially after my parents moved to Meherabad. Since Dolly talked about Baba to them all, Dinshawji became interested and started reading Baba books. It was then, in one of the books, that he realized that Baba had stayed in Satara at his family's bungalows!!! And that he had seen Baba as a boy. <br />
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Time passed and he and the whole family became very close to Baba and to Eruch and all the Jessawalas. They did in fact, become part of our family. So it is with a very heavy heart that I, personally, say goodbye to Dinshawji. He was a very intelligent, thoughtful, humorous, loving and kind man. He was the Dean of the Symbiosis Law School for some years, and a very well-known authority on Trust and Contract Law. His generosity was such that he would help anyone who came to him and asked. Affectionately known as "Kaka" (Uncle) to many in Satara and Panchgani, his smiling face will be so missed by all who knew him.<br />
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Happy trails, Dinshawji. Baba has you safe in His arms now, and we are happy for you. But we will surely and sorely miss you. Jai Meher Baba! Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-32902801652071484462014-12-04T22:48:00.000-08:002014-12-04T23:05:04.836-08:00The True Meaning of Surrender - Mandali-style.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surrender has been a subject that has been much discussed at Meherazad and elsewhere. On my trip to the west coast of the USA Meherwan Jessawala asked me to make it a part of my talks in each group I visited, and I did so. A lot of those present were able to benefit from his wisdom and so was I.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am going to share two stories of surrender, one so poignant that it will break your heart and gladden it at the same time, the other a more humorous one that will amuse you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baidul and his family lived in a poor part of Iran. There was not much work, life was hard. He and Soltoon had three sons and two daughters to raise. Things were so bad for the family that the two older sons died of, well, deprivation. Baidul was very scared that the third son too would die, so he sent him to Pune, to his younger brother's home. He asked his brother to take in his son, treat him like his own and give him an education. His brother promised him he'd do just that, so Baidul left his son with his brother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The brother did not, unfortunately, fulfill his promise. Instead of sending the boy to school he worked him mercilessly. The boy was nothing more than an unpaid servant, often starved and beaten for not doing enough. He was a mere child but was expected to do a man's work and more. One day he could do no more, and collapsed. His uncle, instead of realizing that the boy was exhausted and weak, lost his temper and kicked him hard in the stomach. So hard did he kick him that the boy had internal bleeding and died. Baidul knew nothing about this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few years later the whole family moved to India and settled in Poona. Baidul found himself serving Beloved Baba as a member of His mandali. However, somehow the news came to Baidul that his only son had died at the hands of his brother. He was devastated and went to Baba to ask Him what he should do now. Baba gestured, "Go to your brother, fall at his feet and beg his forgiveness that you burdened him with the care of your son." Baidul didn't wait to be told again. He left Baba and went to Bombay, where he met his brother and did exactly as Baba had told him to do. The brother didn't say anything, remorseful or otherwise. Having carried out Baba's order, Baidul returned to Him, and Baba told him, "It is over now. All finished." That was it! Neither Baidul nor Baba ever mentioned the matter again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such is surrender. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the funny story, which Meherwan told me to specially share with a friend who was having to face a lot of criticism, but which is specially about total surrender to Him, no matter what he dishes out (pun intentional):</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ac193d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">When Beloved Baba, the women and men mandali were staying at Rishikesh, Naja feel ill and could not cook for the group. So Manu Jessawala and Katie Irani had to take up the cooking. Both were young girls, and both were very timid. Yes, Katie was really timid too. She never lifted her head up or spoke back to anyone. There were certain ladies in the group who took great pleasure in constantly criticizing and poking at both of them. They would go complain to Baba about each meal, find fault with whatever they did, no matter how hard they worked, it was never good enough. Things got so bad that Manu had a nervous breakdown, and she was out of action. Katie now had to cook for the whole big group single-handed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ac193d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">Instead of giving her a break and helping her, the critics continued without any consideration or thought of her condition. One day, after a particularly bad bout of complaints Baba lost His temper with KATIE! He told her that because of her incompetence He had to listen to these complaints and it was interfering with His Universal Work, so what was the use of her being with Him? In Gujarati He said to her, "Go, blacken your face and never show it to me again. I don't want you here with Me." Katie was shocked and deeply hurt. She didn't care about the critics, but that she had interfered with Baba's Work and caused Him any problems, that was unbearable for her. She immediately left Baba's presence and went to her bed to pack and leave.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ac193d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">As she was packing, tears ran unchecked from her eyes. She was crying so hard that she didn't see Baba come up behind her. He turned her around and seeing her crying, gestured, "What? Why are you crying? Do you know how much suffering I go through each second for the whole Universe? Can't you even bear this much from Me?" Katie wiped her eyes and said, "Baba, I am crying because I have caused a problem for You, interfered with Your Universal Work. I don't care otherwise for anything. I am going away, Baba, because I don't want to be a hindrance and load on You." Hearing this Baba embraced her and said, "I can say anything, but remember that I know your heart. I know that you do everything for Me, and so I am pleased with your work. From now on, if anyone says anything to you about the food, you have My permission to tell them to eat what you cook or stay hungry." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ac193d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">This was the best prize Katie could have wished for. That her beloved Baba recognized her work for Him was the only thing that mattered. From that day forward she never took any nonsense from anyone, and would give them back as good as she got. In fact, this became a game in later years. She would come over to the men's side at Meherazad in the evenings, and Eruch, Aloba and Falu would tease her about the food. They would say, "Katie, what is all this grass you constantly send us? Send us some big chunks of meat!!" And Katie would reply, "Yes, you go buy the meat and bring it and I will cook it. Otherwise, shall I just cut some chunks out of my arms and thighs so you all can have a feast?" It cheered everyone up and was a lot of fun to watch! </span></div>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-5949091212538332082014-12-04T22:20:00.000-08:002014-12-04T22:20:06.746-08:00My Creation, My Rules!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The subject was obedience, and how to be obedient. This was in Mandali Hall, last Tuesday. There was quite a crowd, and someone who was listening to Meherwan Jessawala talk about obedience asked, "Does Baba get displeased or angry with us when we fail to obey Him?" I said "No." and simultaneously Meherwan said "Yes." It must have confused the hell out of the poor pilgrim who asked this question! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I asked my uncle to explain and he said, "When Baba gives an order and we don't obey Him implicitly, He <i style="font-weight: bold;">is </i>displeased. He's our Divine Father and our disobedience makes Him sad. We can't give the Lord anything, but we can give Him our obedience." If we are always questioning and challenging Him, it is not only displeasing to Him, but could also be a hindrance in His Universal Work, because Baba does not ask us to do anything without a definite (and divine) purpose behind it. Thinking about this, I shared with the group that when I was a kid I'd constantly question my mum, and often disobey her instructions or wishes. Because she was bound by Baba's order to not punish me, she would sigh and say, "When you are a mother yourself, you'll understand what I am going through." Of course, I used to scoff!! Oh, the arrogance of a child! Years later, when I had my son Sheriar to bring up, he started on the "Why" refrain, and I always said to him, "Because you are my son and I am your mother. You live in my house, and while you are in it, it is my house and my rules." Everyone laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As Meherwan was about to continue, a very smiley Jeannie MacDonald spoke up from her corner, "Oh, I get it! Baba is like a mother, He is saying, "My Creation, My rules." so if you don't like them then you have to go find another creation, if you can." I thought that was absolutely perfect! Of course, that is how it is. His Creation, His Rules...no argument! B</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">ecause we have nowhere else to go, do we?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBEDAmAa03pcbRKqg3o9_k_1_kzxYIW6joEXdYhRbPMFzn0QhqtPeEHeLhftrvokf9xL6wW0rUUF9bo2FB_H-8HoBaFF2UMkfOd4Kdp93eIxww-Zc3YBfwHqEqNxC3RK7MHnIaUsZD2Y/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBEDAmAa03pcbRKqg3o9_k_1_kzxYIW6joEXdYhRbPMFzn0QhqtPeEHeLhftrvokf9xL6wW0rUUF9bo2FB_H-8HoBaFF2UMkfOd4Kdp93eIxww-Zc3YBfwHqEqNxC3RK7MHnIaUsZD2Y/s1600/055.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meherwan Jessawala walking out to wave goodbye to the bus, with Suzie Imura (R) and Ma Meher's father (L)</td></tr>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-15928898256581254962014-08-23T02:01:00.000-07:002014-08-23T02:01:05.506-07:00Satgurus and God-realized? Avatar Meher Baba's Last Warning is Very Clear!On 12 August 2014 the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust took a major step and published the following warning to all Baba lovers world-wide:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">http://ambppct.org/circular.php</span><br />
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If you haven't seen it, please do go and read it, because it is a very important circular. Baba has warned His lovers many times about getting involved with <i>sadgurus</i>, realized souls, <i>yogis, mahatmas</i>, etc. Yet here is a man, Dr Raghuveer Singh Gaur, who came to Meherabad stating that Meher Baba had given him realization in the Samadhi, and that as a God-realized soul and Sadguru, he is worthy of worship. His website clearly shows people bowing down to him, kissing his feet, writhing on the ground in trances - none of these things would have been tolerated by Beloved Baba nor His Mandali. <br />
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I happened to be travelling on the west coast of the USA in July this year, when it so happened that Dr Gaur also was there and was invited to address a meeting at the LA Baba Center, Meherabode. However, people who did some research on Dr Gaur came across his website and videos he has posted on YouTube and were shocked that such a person was going to come to a Baba Center to give a talk. Due to some very public comments, the talk was cancelled.<br />
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Now, as it so happens, Dr Gaur is well-known at Meherabad! He first came to the notice of residents and trustees when they saw him wandering around with a following. In fact, he was allowing people to bow down and touch his feet in Hostel D! When our current chairman saw this he told him to stop immediately and informed him about Beloved Baba's orders, warnings and wishes. He was told that if people wanted to bow down to him and he allowed them to, this was their business, but NOT ON TRUST PROPERTY. Very clear, right?<br />
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When we heard that he had bought a plot of land very near the Samadhi people were concerned, and it was then that research showed the videos and the information on his website, showing him <b>giving darshan</b> with Beloved Baba's photograph, flag and His Mastery in Servitude symbol behind his chair. Meherwan Jessawala has warned Dr Gaur, twice in my presence, about the danger of the path he's going down...so there <b>is</b> first-hand information about this man's actions.<br />
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I was forwarded an email by the AMBPPCT, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.933332443237305px;"><b><u>AN OPEN LETTER -- Expressing Disappointment with the AMBPPCT Trustees!</u></b>"</span>, from someone who wrote anonymously, purporting to be an old-time Baba lover in the West. This person states that the entire circular was drafted by Mehera Arjani and the AMBPPCT published it without verifying anything. The reason I got it is because it stated categorically that I had written this circular. Not so. Meherwan Jessawala was asked to help draft it, and since I do his correspondence, I was involved in helping him do that. This anonymous individual accuses the AMBPPCT of not doing the minimum due diligence before sending out something like this, and treating Dr Gaur as "guilty until proven innocent". <b>For the record, Dr Gaur's behavior was observed first hand by trustees and residents, and he had been warned in person to desist. </b><br />
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As the Trust circular states, no one can judge the spiritual status of any other person, but we as Baba lovers can and should keep away from any other <i>guru</i>, no matter whether she or he is genuine or not. Baba has said that once having come to the Avatar we should not go to anyone else, EVER. Our family was not even allowed to visit the centers of His five Perfect Masters except for once, that too with His permission. Though my sister and I had no such order, we had not even been to Kedgaon and Shirdi until recently, and having been there once and paid our respects, I have no desire to go again. <br />
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Dr Gaur states that he brings people to Meher Baba. But they bow to him, not to Baba. They call <b>him</b> Sadguru. Since when did Baba need an intermediary? If you look at the YouTube videos, he is always between Baba's picture and <b>his</b> devotees, sitting in a chair like Baba did, and allowing people to bow down to him and garland him. Baba is put at his back, delegated to the background. Anyone who comes between you and Meher Baba needs to be avoided at all costs. Either follow Beloved Baba or follow the person who comes between The Lord and you, but you cannot do both and yet obey Baba's Last Warning.<br />
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I have previously written a blog about Eruch Jessawala's wife, Khorshed. How Baba banished her from the family after she refused to give up her association with a spiritual predator in Mumbai. Baba didn't prevaricate, He didn't give any soft options. He was very firm about this matter. He took equally strong action when it came to Balak Bhagwan and Krishnaji, both of them taking on '<i>guru</i>' status while the Avatar was still in the physical form! This is how it was, is and always will be. <br />
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AVATAR MEHER BABA KI JAI! MAY WE ALWAYS HOLD ON TO HIS DAMAAN FIRMLY, UNTIL THE VERY END.<br />
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<br />Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-91939025986420742772014-04-25T23:52:00.000-07:002014-04-25T23:52:23.369-07:00Thereby hangs a (goose) tale!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgh4zjpUfAd9rS0J-Y62pfFGdYs56Q9v70unrhblrneVq1M7HH5XOAkZRXU-uboJTraJrV8t9J87GjMZ_2exSn4n6LbNhl3asMYo12RgZQvA53SQz_ljV4Rq2qtaRWiogRuHntgNeQq8/s1600/geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgh4zjpUfAd9rS0J-Y62pfFGdYs56Q9v70unrhblrneVq1M7HH5XOAkZRXU-uboJTraJrV8t9J87GjMZ_2exSn4n6LbNhl3asMYo12RgZQvA53SQz_ljV4Rq2qtaRWiogRuHntgNeQq8/s1600/geese.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walking with Meherwan yesterday, we were talking about farm animals and birds. I was mentioning how there was a goose pen on the road to Meherazad and that resident westerners had wondered if the birds were for sale and if so, for how much. Tallking about geese, I was saying how these birds make excellent watchdogs (or watchbirds, to be precise) and he said, "Oh yes, we used to have geese at Mary Lodge (in Nagpur, where Baba first went to stay at the Jessawalas). They were really very good, in fact they were scary. Did you know that one chased Eruch and almost pecked him very badly?" I said I had never heard this story, so Meherwan proceeded to tell it to me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The geese at Mary Lodge had been brought there by Pappa, who enjoyed having different birds and animals around. We even had an aviary with some exotic birds, in our garden. Anyway, these geese were very ferocious. In those early days, houses didn't have indoor toilets, so we had to go outside for our morning visit. We didn't even have outside toilets, at first. Pappa built two outside toilets later on. So, we were going for our daily jobs to a nalla (small canal) that ran past the end of the garden. One very early morning Eruch, who was quite small at that time, maybe only 12 or 13, had to go. So he got out of bed and started to walk towards the nalla, when suddenly, he was attacked by a goose. This large bird chased after him, but he out-ran it and hurrying to the nalla, squatted down to evacuate his bowels. Suddenly, from behind, this goose came at him and started to attack! Poor Eruch was terrified, and hurriedly stood up and tried to pull on his pyjamas, but the goose was still hot on his heels. It managed to get the seat of his pyjamas in its beak and held on. So there was Eruch running back, shouting loudly because he had this goose hanging on to his backside!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baba was later told this story and enjoyed it very much. When the Jessawalas came to stay with Baba in 1938, they brought a few clothes and personal items...and the geese! Baba had them bring the geese to Meherabad, where they stayed for quite some years. So you see, geese are really very good watchdogs." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story so amused me that I thought I'd share it with you all. Jai Baba. </span></div>
Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-44948100499677800792014-03-31T02:33:00.001-07:002014-04-25T23:30:27.604-07:00Meet Merwan Dubash, our new Trustee!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7Vnj_406mWtBpkhX_bzmT_iLA4h_kh0J2kRP6KiLrRT0nBk4E2T4cowekofFYKzRyY4-BAqU4VhqfQutmFAyK4U83hHcxREVnmzdj7PVpnfirzVDFo8cq1NAzyWrJ8MEcenv5ISFpTU/s1600/Manu+and+Merwan+Dubash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7Vnj_406mWtBpkhX_bzmT_iLA4h_kh0J2kRP6KiLrRT0nBk4E2T4cowekofFYKzRyY4-BAqU4VhqfQutmFAyK4U83hHcxREVnmzdj7PVpnfirzVDFo8cq1NAzyWrJ8MEcenv5ISFpTU/s1600/Manu+and+Merwan+Dubash.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amartithi 2011, L-R Merwan Dubash, Michael Ramsden, Manu Jessawala, Meherwan Jessawala and I<br />
(Photo courtesy Davana Brown)<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">On 29th March 2014 the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust selected a Trustee to replace our dear Bhauji. The person they selected is Merwan Dubash, son of Adi and Roda Dubash. Adi Dubash was himself a trustee. Born in 1947 in united India, Merwan met Beloved Baba when he was only days old, rather like I did. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Merwan and his wife Ruby are Canadian nationals of Parsi origin. They have one son, Neville. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">His family has been totally devoted to Baba and Adi and Roda returned to India and got back their Indian citizenship after years of struggle, just so that they could live undisturbed in Meherabad and be of service to the Trust. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Merwan and Ruby too have been coming to Meherabad for several months a year for the last many years. They've helped with so many things - he is the bedrock that supports the AMBPPCT's Financial Committee but he also helps with other projects around Meherabad and Meherazad. Ruby helps with Archives projects and also comes to Meherazad to help Michael in the Meher Free Dispensary, a few times a week during their stay here. Both do Samadhi duty during their stay and of course, during Amartithi each year they are a very integral part of the team that manages volunteers around Baba's Samadhi. Even before he became a trustee, he was very much part of the 'team' and was relied on by the Meherabad trustees as well as by Falu Mistry, the managing trustee at Meherazad.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">People may recall I had written a blog a long time ago, for Amrit Irani to be made a Trustee? Well, I still think she'll make an excellent trustee, but m</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">aybe AMBPPCT is not quite ready for a big dose of female energy right now!!</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> Still, the Board has made a very good choice in Merwan. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">He is totally reliable and trustworthy. He (like his parents before him) has given generously and unstintingly of his time, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">effort and resources to projects of the AMBPPCT. As a fully qualified Chartered Accountant with decades of experience in the UK and Canada, he is more than capable of steering the Trust through lean times and managing the finances with integrity and transparency. His ideas are sure to make the working of the financial department more efficient and streamlined. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Of course, I've known Merwan all my life and he's like the older brother I never had, so I'm a bit of a fan of his. He has strong ties to the Jessawala and Kerawala families. Manu was so fond of him, she always perked up and got better during his visits. He can be brusque and very business-like, but we need that kind of person here! He once said to me, "I'm not here to win any popularity contest, I only want to get the work done." Hear, hear!!! Go for it, Merwan!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai! </span></div>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-22681181260899726382014-03-04T01:25:00.000-08:002014-03-04T01:25:38.969-08:00Love - mother style and Avatar Child style.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZHNZhaUdYRvZ4-gP7zAdgOFYoMOXOOQ-eugaP43UJyUM6_OX15iT9Piiuw7pTA5OPBzSwpcMdQNuY9dXUQmxHxqn02tgeBouvMiOEUkLDPz_4OVWvE76VVYog7GVXlifBxkt3x50xlw/s1600/Shireen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZHNZhaUdYRvZ4-gP7zAdgOFYoMOXOOQ-eugaP43UJyUM6_OX15iT9Piiuw7pTA5OPBzSwpcMdQNuY9dXUQmxHxqn02tgeBouvMiOEUkLDPz_4OVWvE76VVYog7GVXlifBxkt3x50xlw/s1600/Shireen.jpg" height="320" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: lime;">Shirin Sheriar Irani, Meher Baba's Mother.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meherwan Jessawala had been to Pune for a few days, to have a hernia op. Having been discharged from the hospital (where we had a very comfortable 3 nights stay) we were having lunch with my mum Roshan Kerawala and sister Dolly. Another old Baba-lover friend also tagged along and was talking to mum very loudly, and she talked back to him at full volume too. Having run around since early morning to get the discharge done asap, I had a bad headache, and this shouting was really not helping, so I turned to them both and said quite sharply, "Can you talk in normal voices? I have a very bad headache and don't need it made worse."</span><div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mum must have said something to Meherwan, because this morning while I was having a cup of tea he said very sweetly, "Your mum said that you are like her mother-in-law, always telling her what to do and what not to do." I had to agree. Since she fell ill mum does not do anything unless she's pushed and reminded several times. I was telling him so, and he (gently as always) pointed out that unless you are going through it yourself you can't judge anyone's effort or lack of it. Also, my mum had done so much for so many, we should be taking care of her without a murmur. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"You know, Baba was so particular about Maiji's care. He would take care of her even when He was in the strictest seclusion, doing fasts and working on His Universal tasks. Often He would come in late at night, totally worn out, to visit with her briefly before retiring for the night, and just as He was leaving her, she would call Baba back to say something else to Him, often a very trivial thing. Baba would go back and wait patiently until she finished. Sometimes He would insist on sitting on her lap. She would object, she would demur, but He'd sit on her lap! "Merog, get off, You're too heavy," she would protest. "How does it look, You so big and still wanting to sit in Your mother's lap? What will those madams (Western women staying with Baba at that time) say if they see this?" Baba would reply, "They will think, how lucky I am that I am still sitting in my mother's lap!" She would beg and plead for some decorum, but Baba would not get up! See how He humored and teased her? Do the same for your mum." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It struck me afresh, this love and teasing between the Avatar and His earthly mother. How easily loving, how simple their relationship was in it's deepest essence! Though Maiji often fought with Baba, wanted special privileges, flouted instructions, none of that came in the way of His love for her and hers for Him. He was still her Merog and she was always His Maiji! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am dedicating this particular post to all of us who are struggling with ill, feeble and dying parents. There are many of us, and we all bear a big load, living a life that is responsible for our parents' welfare and nursing them through the last years and months and days of our lives. I am doing this myself, and it was hard and keeps getting harder. Christina Arasmo Beymer, I salute your service to your mum, and hope Baba brings about a speedy end to her suffering. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love and Jai Baba to all parents and all children who read this.</span></div>
Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-84247871602519564142014-02-18T02:41:00.001-08:002014-02-18T02:41:54.165-08:00No One Could Check Themselves...?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>A while ago I received an email with this extract from "Growing Up With God" by Sheela Fenster:</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><b><span style="color: red;">NO ONE COULD CHECK THEMSELVES</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><i><span style="color: red;"> Sheela Kalchuri Fenster with David Fenster</span></i></span></div>
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Baba's family arrived from Poona around 8:00 P.M. Mani </div>
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stepped out of the cabin, and Jal started crying badly. </div>
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Rustom and Sohrab were behind him. They too were </div>
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crying. "No, it is not proper," Mani chided. "Stop. Not a </div>
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single tear. Baba wouldn't like this. You cry like this? See </div>
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me. I was with him my whole life, and I am not crying."</div>
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"Mani Auntie, Baba left us behind," the twins said.</div>
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"No, he didn't. No tears. Please stop that!" She was </div>
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wagging her finger at them, speaking so strongly. </div>
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Rustom, Sohrab, Gulnar (their sister), and Beheram </div>
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(their father) could not stop weeping.</div>
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Mani continued: "Inside, Mehera is crying. In front of </div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
her, no one should shed a tear. If you show her your </div>
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tears, she will cry more. Don't cry. Baba wouldn't like it. </div>
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He would be so upset, you don't know that? He didn't </div>
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leave us. He is always with us. When did he leave? </div>
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Never. So why are you crying"</div>
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"Just look at me and don't cry. Just think of what will </div>
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happen to Mehera. If you go inside and she sees your </div>
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tears, she won't remain alive. She will die. Please stop </div>
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before you go inside. Don't cry."</div>
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They tried, but they could not stop. Jal came in the </div>
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cabin, took darshan, then sat behind the cabin, </div>
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weeping. Even though we told ourselves not to cry, not </div>
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to show Mehera our tears, our tears too would not </div>
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stop. Mani was telling everyone the same thing.</div>
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</div>
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Inside the cabin, Goher and Naja turned their face </div>
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towards the window and wept silently into their </div>
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handkerchiefs, which they held in front of them so </div>
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Mehera would not see the. But a soon as they looked </div>
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at Mehera, they would start crying aloud. No one could </div>
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check themselves successfully.</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Goher, Naja, Meheru, and Mehera wept almost </div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
continuously for the seven days that Baba's body </div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
remained uncovered on the hill. But somehow, with </div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
unimaginable courage and fortitude, Mani never did.</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></i><br />
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></i><br />
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> GROWING UP WITH GOD, pp. 725-726</span></span></i></div>
</div>
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></i></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Copyright 2009 David and Sheela Fenster</div>
</span></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Having read this account, and having been there myself, I drafted a response that I then sent to Baba's family in Pune, so that I would not inadvertently get something wrong. I give my response below:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Actually, I was there too. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Baba's family arrived on 1st Feb in the late </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">morning or early afternoon, </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">certainly not at 8 pm when it would have </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">been dark already. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">(Rustom told me later that they all arrived on 1st Feb at around</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">9 a.m.) And since I was near the Samadhi, handing out ashes to all the</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">people who came by (there was a big afarganiyu the curved vessel we</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Parsis use to burn sandalwood, just outside the door of the Tomb, on the</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">platform where the cabins used to be) from 2nd February to the time they</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">covered Baba up, I watched the ladies come and go, plus we were staying</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">in the now library room with Naja and Rano there with us for the last 3</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">or 4 nights, and definitely none of the other women mandali was crying</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">loudly in Mehera's presence. In fact they weren't even crying loudly</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">when they were alone. No, Goher, Naja, Meheru most certainly didn't weep</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">continuously. And I don't recollect seeing Sheela or her mother</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">anywhere near the women Mandali during those 7 days. They weren't</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">staying on the Hill with us nor do I recall seeing them around the</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">ladies. I have particularly vivid memories of the 7 days because the</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">moment I laid eyes on Baba's Body in the Tomb, I had like an epiphany -</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">I realized that He hadn't gone anywhere, and I was so happy, so</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">incredibly happy to finally understand what my family meant when they</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">said Baba was God, because only God could be so instantly felt even</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">though I was looking at what was His Body - that after that everything I</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">saw was imprinted with this glow of joy and I still can see it in my</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">mind's eye. However, so that there could be as little inaccuracy as</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">possible, I have also cross-checked my memories with my uncle Meherwan Jessawala and a</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">few close ones to whom the women Mandali had described the 7 days while</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Baba's Body lay in the Samadhi. They all agree that I recall it right,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">as do the twins. Back to the subject of Baba's family, of course they</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">were crying. They had lost their beloved Baba, the mainstay of their</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">lives, as had we all. But Mani Aunty couldn't leave Mehera even for a</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">few minutes because she (Mehera) was so distraught, I don't think. And</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">after the twins came out of the Tomb I didn't hear them cry any more,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">any tears shed were quiet tears, I suppose. I am copying Rustom in on</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">this so he can read and if necessary, correct any inaccuracies in my</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">account, which was, after all, limited to what I had seen through the</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">eyes of an almost 10-year old, from where I was situated! Of course,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Gaimummy and Manufui (Eruch's mother and sister) were with the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">ladies most of the time, as shown in </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">the videos and photographs of </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">those 7 days. And they were not crying </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">constantly either, though their </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">hearts were breaking. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Besides, no </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">matter what, writing about people without checking out the accuracy of</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">the account is, to my mind irresponsible and careless. Rustom and Sorab</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">should have been asked to read through this account and correct it (by</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Sheela), because it certainly needs correcting. Verbatim</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">conversations??? How is it possible to hear everything that Mani said</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">to them (if you assume that Sheela's got it right)? Was she following</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Mani Aunty and would Mani Aunty talk to her family with a spectator</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">there? Mani Aunty kept her family matters so very private that even we</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">who were so close to Baba's family in many ways were never permitted to</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">know anything and she never talked about family matters in our presence,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">so in my opinion, no, she would not. Again, Rustom has confirmed that</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">this was so, and he does not recall seeing Sheela anywhere near the</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">family when they came to Meherabad in 1969. As I said, I was there, but</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">most important, so were the twins. To publish something as fact and </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">without verification </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">is not appropriate, especially when it pertains to</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">someone who is still around to verify the accuracy of anything she</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">wrote. Hope this helps. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">Mehera.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><b>I received a prompt response from the family, which I also reproduce.</b></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 22.719999313354492px;"><br /></span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Great job done dear Mehera,thank you so much, Meheru told us too that she was very upset with the wrong stories.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="background-color: black;">Eric</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;"> should not only withdraw the post as this has already been posted but should write that the account sent is totally wrong and just a made up account.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Jangu is sending by speed post a strong letter to Sheela/David & a copy to you for your reference.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;">May our Beloved Baba's Love ,Grace and His Sweet Nazar be always upon you.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Much love.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Baba Khodaiji</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Sohrab.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<b>Indeed, the letter from Jangu did arrive, and with his permission I am sharing this below:</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>To: The Authors, "Growing up with God" David & Sheela Fenster, at Post Meherabad, A'Nagar.</b></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>From: All family members of Beloved Baba's family, Baba House, Pune.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Having gone through the email extract of "Growing up with God" describing the scene at Meherabad Hill on 31st Jan. 1969, we state as follows:</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>1) Baba's family reached Meherabad Hill on 1st Feb. 1969 at about 9:00 AM, having left Pune by the night train on 31st Jan. 1969.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>2) We are sure, the authors are aware of the professional etiquette of checking details of a subject they are writing about.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>3) It was totally unethical on the part of the authors to have written about the scenario at Mehearbad Hill on 1st Feb. 1969, without checking details from the near ones, who were present at the Samadhi.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>4) Baba's family members were present at the Samadhi at aout 9:00 AM, along with members of Jessawala and Kerawala families. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>5) The author who has written these details was never present at the Samadhi, nor even anywhere nearby.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>6) Beloved Baba's brothers, Jal and Beheram, having taken Darshan stood silently and solemnly without uttering a word near the Samadhi, throughout the day.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>7) The younger members of Baba's family, having taken Baba's Darshan with silent tears rolling down, stood solemnly with a brave front, convinced of Baba's presence, but missing His physical presence.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>8) Beloved Baba's sisterMani, who herself put up a brave front, appreciated the brave front exhibited by Baba's family members.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>It behoves on the part of the authors to make necessary corrections regarding the incorrect material published in their book. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Kindly acknowledge in writing that necessary correction will be made at the earliest.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>A copy of the corrected version should be sent to us.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Jangu.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>(Jehangir Sukhadwala on behalf of all members of Baba's family, Baba House, Pune.)</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #274e13; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b>Why am I blogging this? It is because those of us who were there and are still around feel that it is now or never. If we don't correct inaccuracies and tell it as we saw and experienced it, then it will never be told. Once we are gone, there will be no way to verify or change the printed words written about Baba and those close to Him. I would never, ever narrate a story about someone else in relation to Beloved Baba. If I even thought about it, I would make sure I asked permission and got it right. Baba's family feel the same way, as do others who were close to Him and had the great good fortune to have been in His physical presence.</b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b>Of course, it is natural that our memories, perspectives and ideas are biased. It is human nature to see things from your own point of view. So what we would like to do - lovingly and at our own pace - is to tell it as we saw it. In this way everyone has the choice to believe what they want. If nothing else, they at least have a different version, a different point of view. </b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b>If in doing this it causes offence, then I apologize in advance. It will be necessary from time to time to quote from printed sources, because we can only give our story against something that is already out there. I will always acknowledge the source and copyright of anything that I use. Baba will guide us and we hope that what is there becomes a record of His advent from our own tiny perspectives. There will be many records in years to come, but we who were born in His time, received His love and attention and were brought up under His loving gaze are not getting any younger. If we don't do this now, then it will be too late. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I am having some formatting problems with this blog - please excuse this. </b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #274e13;">
<b>Jai Baba.</b></div>
</div>
</div>
Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-86389344657027766932014-02-15T08:59:00.000-08:002014-02-15T09:01:01.533-08:00Getting it right.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Worldwide Baba Family Meeting (WBFM) is a new online forum that has a live chat on Sundays, where people who have met and known Beloved Baba meet and share stories. It will, I und</b></span><b style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">erstand, be a space for togetherness in His Name and His Love. </b><b style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
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<b style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As sometimes happens, I was sent a question by a Baba lover in the West, regarding a quote - "</b><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Baba said some would come to Him directly and some through His mandali" -asking if Baba had actually given this message, because this had appeared on a recent post by WBFM. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Though I didn't think Baba had said this, I had to check, so I took the question to Meherwan Jessawala, the nearest thing to Mandali that we who live in Meherazad have left. </b></span><b style="color: #0c343d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Meherwan said that Baba has not said anything like this at all. He did say, and Mani also confirmed this, "You'll see, my gems will come." Baba was referring to the deluge of lovers who would come to Him after He dropped His physical form.</b></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Further, Meherwan told me that Baba never let any of the Mandali think that she or he had anything to do with someone coming to Baba. He actively discouraged this attitude. Telling a sweet story to illustrate this point, Meherwan said that once Baba sent Baidul out to announce that Baba would be meeting people, giving His Darshan. Baidul was to announce it randomly to people he met on the street, giving the date and time as specified by Baba. Baidul did as ordered.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On the appointed day many people showed up, and seeing the crowd there Baidul said to Baba, "They are all here because I went and told them!", implying that all these people had come to Baba because of his actions. Baba gestured that they are here because He sent Baidul out to give the message. As Eruch often said, they were merely Baba's willing slaves. Otherwise who were they that people would come to Baba because of any of them? People came to Baba only and totally because of Baba Himself. And more importantly, they came when it was their time to come, not a millisecond before or after. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In the later years we often heard people come and say things like "Mani will be a Perfect Master in her next life." or "Bhauji is God-realized." It is not something that either would have encouraged if they knew it was being said about them, I don't think. It is so important to guard against this kind of useless speculation, because what business is it of ours? As Meherwan often says, our only responsibility is to remember Baba and take His Name. We do not need to know if the Mandali were advanced souls, whether they had specific stations and roles, nothing. If the Mandali themselves didn't give these things much importance then why should we? </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>WBFM has, of course, taken off the 'quote' and are happy to have any inaccuracies pointed out, so they can correct them. To add to the growing quantity of "If Baba had thought about it, He would have said..." stuff that is out there is not what they are about, I'm assured! And I look forward to watching their webcasts sometime. I am usually busy when they broadcast, but I will surely try to catch some of the stalwarts they have lined up. The time is coming when all those who met the Avatar in the Body will be dead, and WBFM will be a very valuable resource because it will have a record of their stories told in their own voices. Bless you all for making this happen, and thank you! Each has their own perspective, their own memories and so each gives yet another facet of our Beloved's advent. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If anyone has a genuine query about the accuracy of something they have read or heard and want to get clarification leave me a comment, and I will ask Meherwan or my parents or someone from the Baba family or other close ones, and try to get you an answer. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jai Meher Baba.</b></span></div>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-60955063054550637412014-02-03T08:45:00.001-08:002014-02-03T08:45:45.340-08:00NEW YEAR RESOLUTION MADE IN MANDALI HALL THIS MORNING BY ALL PILGRIMS PRESENT!!! Errr...a bit late in posting, but better late than never!Today is the last pilgrim day at Meherazad in 2013. The hall was packed with pilgrims come to bring in 2014 at Baba's Samadhi, and I was fortunate enough to be able to come to Meherazad for a few days, thanks to my mum's (Roshan Kerawala) improved health and my sister Dolly's sweet offer to be with her full-time for a while. Meherwan had been asked if he had ever been with Beloved Baba on New Year's Eve, and he said that he had not, but we had someone in our midst who had. That someone was Alain Youill. Alain shared his story of coming to Meherazad with Don Stevens in 1959, and staying with Baba for two weeks. <br />
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There was a lull, then Meherwan asked what we should talk about next, and I suggested we talk about taking Baba's Name, because it is the last day of the year and we need to hear about this from Meherwan, who does it all the time, as a matter of course! So Meherwan started talking about taking His Name, and it was truly inspirational. Then he invited the pilgrims to share their stories about taking Baba's Name and what it has done for them. Several shared their own stories or stories about friends. Then someone said that we should all make a New Year's Resolution, to take Baba's Name as constantly as we can, and to ask for Baba's help if we find ourselves not able to do so at any time. Baba had said that if one asked for His help in being able to constantly remember Him, He would always give it. <br />
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All present have resolved to take Baba's Name constantly, and I am doing my best to keep my resolution. I have to ask for help a lot, but hey, that's what Baba is there for, right? Baba, Baba, Baba, Baba, Baba...<br />
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<span style="color: red;">This was forgotten and while posting WHY ARE WE STILL HERE? I thought it would be nice to share this one as well. </span>Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-16716945169142919582014-02-03T08:39:00.003-08:002014-02-03T08:50:33.688-08:00Why are we still here?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walking with
Meherwan this morning, we were actually having a conversation about dog breeds
(the Meherazad dogs were with us, of course) and I was telling him about one of
the new breeds which forms very deep attachments to it’s humans, making it
impossible to rehome. They are known to
die if separated from their human. This
got us on the subject of how varied Baba’s creation is, and how there are some
with more heart and others with more brain connection, how some are strong and
others weak. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it is
a subject that I often wonder about, I asked my uncle, why are we still
here? Baba said that Illusion was
created so God in the Infinite, Formless state could answer the question He
asked Himself on a whim, “WHO AM I?” My
point was, once the first soul got God-realized, why didn’t He just shut up
shop and say, “There, I know who I am now, I am GOD!” Why would He continue with this Illusion
Game, millenia after millenia? In
universal terms we are less than the millionth of an atom to the power of a
million, so what really are we still doing here? And Meherwan replied, “Yes, we are
infintesmal, but these infinitesmal specks that we are contain the
Infinite. So this Illusion Game can
never end, because it is infinite. But
we don’t have to worry about that because we end the game as individual drop
souls when we attain God-Realization. That
is why we don’t need to do anything at all, apart from making Baba our constant
Companion and taking His Name all the time.” Simply profound!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, I still feel that if it had been me coming up to being the first drop soul to become God-Realized, I'd have stood back and let someone go on before me! Imagine, you have to come back, suffering guaranteed because of the nature of the Avataric advents, every 700 to 1400 years. And your task is not limited to this planet, which we will probably destroy in a few decades or so. No, you have to come again and again, and there are even planets waiting in a queue for the privilege of being the one where the Avatar will incarnate, once our dear Earth is no more...no escape for the Avatar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Going on to
the question of <i>Saakaar</i> and <i>Niraakaar</i> God – we both are big fans of
Purshottamdas Jalota singing the <i>Atma Shatakam</i> - verses composed by Adi Shankracharya when he was just 8 years
old, I was saying how the Formless (<i>Niraakaar) </i>is so beyond anything. Meherwan said, "Of course, but don't forget that the path to <i>Niraakaar </i>is through<i> Saakaar.</i> It is only by our total focus on the Form that we can move beyond it and know the Formless. But the Atma Shatakam is a perfect description of the Niraakaar side of Baba." I could not find a version sung by Jalota on YouTube, but I've pasted a link to a version that has the story behind the verses, as well as the transliteration and translation, for you all to listen, read and enjoy. But back to our story. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a professor at Deccan College called </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pandurang
Shastri. He used to walk past Guruprasad while on his constitutional, and often wondered what was going on inside. One day he came in to find out, and Baba allowed him to be in His presence. After that Pandurang Shastri would come regularly. Baba used to get him to sing the <i>Atma Shatakam</i> before Him. Meherwan recalled, "Pandurang Shastri sang the verses before Baba and then started to translate the Sanskrit. Baba stopped him with a smile and gestured, "I know what the Sanskrit verses mean. You just go on singing them!" and Shastri had the first-hand experience of the 'Infinite Knowledge' part of Beloved Baba's advent in a very small way. A while ago I wrote in a blog about Madhusudhan's Sanskrit <i>bhajan</i> that Baba was very concerned should be correct. Pandurang Shastri was the one Baba send Bal Natu to, to find out if it was so. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By this time we had almost finished our walk, but Meherwan had not forgotten the start of our conversation. Going back to the subject of dogs and humans, he said that it was important to love our pets but not get too attached, because any attachment is an obstacle on our path to becoming one with God. So here's to detachment, and to a relatively obstacle-free journey to each and every one of my readers...Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/MqMFz_0VOxY" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/MqMFz_0VOxY</a></span></span></div>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-5914040339818174532013-11-12T09:03:00.003-08:002013-11-12T09:03:58.832-08:00Aloba Tales!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSto07g4bnDG4ip3OfQCjbzm8NJy4rj0DF07WQ5-6JQzxutUSoPzX8UGQH-HNb6WMOWVOYgf8a74xqTA640peTXp9nlq9mUWcDtgDO21NkERs6yWAZblxY1ya9olxJdwlKCiG7yb_TR0w/s1600/Aloba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSto07g4bnDG4ip3OfQCjbzm8NJy4rj0DF07WQ5-6JQzxutUSoPzX8UGQH-HNb6WMOWVOYgf8a74xqTA640peTXp9nlq9mUWcDtgDO21NkERs6yWAZblxY1ya9olxJdwlKCiG7yb_TR0w/s320/Aloba.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;"><u>Aloba speaking on the veranda outside Mandali Hall, Meherazad.</u></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mandali Hall, 7 November 2013. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meherwan was asked about his memories of
Eruch as a boy, growing up.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few
stories were exchanged, and then the talk turned to Aloba.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We were talking about how Eruch’s</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">spiritual longing grew from his exposure to
Catechism class in the school he attended in Nagpur. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I then mentioned how
Aloba, in his role as marriage counsellor, used Baba’s name and prayers as a
tool to turn the couple’s attention away from their issues and problems towards
Baba. His theory, as far as I can make
out, was “The couple that prays together stays together.” A very good theory. I was once sitting on the porch outside
Mandali Hall and listening to two couples discussing their meetings with
Aloba. One was saying how because of
their marital problems Aloba had instructed them to establish Baba’s photograph
in their living room, pray together before it 7 times a day and take Baba’s
Name so many times (I forget the number).
The other couple quite smugly said, “Your problems must not be so
serious as ours.” When asked why they
thought so, the husband said, ”Alobaji has told us to also establish Baba’s
picture, but we have to pray 10 times a day and he has also told us to take
Baba’s Name many more times than he has told you.” This one-upmanship over their relationship
issues was so sweet, and Aloba’s solution so very Aloba! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meherwan reminisced how Aloba was very
emotional and passionate, especially about Baba. How he would long and long for Iranis to come
to Baba, and how eventually they did.
After Baba dropped His Body, Aloba told the rest of his companions that
he felt he should go to Iran. This was
when there was very little money in the Avatar Meher Baba (Firstly) Trust – the
arm of the AMBPPCT set up to take care of those Baba had supported financially
and deemed ‘beneficiaries’ in His will.
So Eruch told Aloba, “Look Aloba, there is not much money, so all we can
spare is Rs. 200/-. If you can manage on
that amount, then go.” Aloba was very
happy, and set off on his travels. Meherwan
recalls Aloba telling how he would go into a roadside restaurant and try to
bargain down the price of a meal. If there was a thali offer on, he would try to convince someone to share the thali meal so that he paid less! How he
would travel with great discomfort but for very little money. Once he shared a taxi with 16 other people
and a donkey tied to the roof carrier!
He got the Iranis to support him some with what they could spare, and he
talked about Baba, cried with love and longing and often fainted out of his
ecstasy. Baba had already sent some of
the Prem Ashram boys back and they were now living in Iran. Aloba must have contacted
them, and through them others. He had a
very successful trip (the first of quite a few in later years) and returned
back to Meherazad. Imagine everyone’s
surprise when he returned some of the money he had been given!!! Only Aloba could make the impossible
possible!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meherwan then recounted this story, which is so
sweet and so Aloba, it really has to be told.
Next to Guruprasad was another bungalow, appearing deserted and shut up to all intents and purposes. Except,
every morning an elderly Caucasian man would emerge and walk past Guruprasad
gates towards the main part of Pune Camp.
Baba once wondered through His gestures who could this be? The man was walking past the gates and Baba
turned to Aloba and said, “Aloba, go find out who he is.” Baba hadn’t even finished gesturing His wish,
when (Meherwan described this so perfectly) Aloba set off like a bullet out of
a gun! They were sitting on the front
verandah of Guruprasad, which had a marble balustrade with a drop of around 10`
on the other side. Aloba didn’t use the
steps to go after the man. Instead, he
climbed up the balustrade and then somersaulted down, landed on his feet and
took off down the driveway. Reaching the
outside boundary, he didn’t bother to open the gate but climbed up the fence
and took a flying leap and landed beside the man. The poor guy must have been shocked out of
his wits, seeing this hurricane land beside him! Of course, Aloba walked with him, and
returned with the full story of his life, where he came from and what he did,
etc. The man was called Kirkpatrick, and
was an Irishman who worked for the priest in charge of St Mary’s Church near
the Pune racecourse. Baba laughed and
gestured, “See how Aloba operates? I
hadn’t even finished my sentence and he went off. I am really frightened to give Aloba an
order, when he rushes off like this I get palpitations!” Meherwan gestured as Baba had done, and
everyone burst into laughter!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aloba had no compunction about confronting
people, and sometimes he would be so direct, it hurt people’s feelings. Someone must have said something, because he
came and told Baba, “Why are they saying I hurt their feelings? I am a good man, I don’t hurt anyone.” </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Again, after Baba had left them, one day
Aloba got it into his head that he was the one to find Baba’s missing
book. The Book! He informed the rest of the Mandali that he
was going to set out and wouldn’t return until he had found the manuscript. Knowing his ways, the Mandali was justifiably
nervous. So Eruch suggested he ask for
guidance. Now Aloba had two ways of
deciding matters. One was to put two
slips of paper with “Yes” and “No” on them at Baba’s foot cushion in Mandali
Hall, and pick one. The other was to ask
Hafiz. Opening the Hafizi to whatever
page comes up and reading the message therein is used very widely amongst the
Sufis. Aloba loved his Hafizi and used
this way, called “<i>Faal</i>”, to decide
matters. So when Eruch suggested he ask
Hafiz, Aloba immediately agreed that this was an excellent idea. One morning shortly after, he came in all
bathed and ready with the Hafizi. Eruch,
Pendu, Mani, Goher and other Mandali were gathered in front of Baba’s chair and
waiting. After prayers Aloba reverently
opened the Hafizi. To everyone’s
astonishment, every stanza on the page ended with the words “<i>Ma posh</i>” – “Don’t ask” – and Aloba
realized that he shouldn’t go searching for the book, it was not what he was
meant to do. Baba had spoken, and everyone
was very relieved!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In later years, when I came to Meherazad to
stay and cooked for the Mandali, I would often make mince cutlets for the
household, or other meat and fish dishes.
Aloba loved meat of any variety, but he especially loved meat cooked
with spices and oil. He would come and
compliment me on the food, and pour blessings on my head! After Pendu died, Aloba’s usual seat was in
the easy-chair outside Manu’s kitchen window.
Any time we made <i>akuri </i>(spicy
scrambled eggs) or omelettes, he could smell the food and would call out, “<i>Manubai, aaj bahut achha khana banaayaa hai!</i>” (Manu, today there is something very good
cooking!) and of course Manu would make up a roll of whatever was being cooked
in a chapatti and I would go give it to him, and he’d enjoy it with great
relish! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the days when pilgrims stayed in Meherazad
until 5.00 pm, Aloba was responsible for preparing the afternoon tea for
pilgrims, and once decided that it was too expensive to give tea with milk. So he started giving weak tea with lemon
grass and mint, but sweet. It was an
instant hit! And of course more got
drunk than when he served regular chai!
He was very cross that his purpose had been defeated, because it hadn’t
cut down on costs. Another thing Aloba
did was serve cold drinks and snacks. He
had a store of biscuits and bottles of orange flavoured Rasnaa, an artificial
mix for preparing squashes (no nutritional value, only many chemicals and
sugar!)...BUT...both these items were strongly scented with camphor! Aloba preserved everything with camphor
balls. Many is the time I have had to
surreptitiously pour away the glass of orange squash, though many is also the
time I’ve had to drink the glass down, because Aloba was sitting there watching
me!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aloba was very close to my uncle Eruch. When Eruch died, he was hale and hearty. However, he then had a fall and broke his
hip. Before this happened, Bhauji was
very ill, and it was assumed that he would pass away before long. Aloba got so very agitated about this,
because this meant that Bhau would be buried next to Eruch. Aloba told Manu and me quite a few times,
that this was unacceptable. He and Eruch
went back a very long way, from the time Eruch joined Baba. They were brothers, and it was only fitting
that Aloba be the one to be buried next to Eruch, not Bhau who (according to
Aloba) was a new-comer. Anyway, the
broken hip meant that he had to go to Pune for treatment. Aloba told everyone that he was going for the
last time, they would not see him again.
He said his goodbyes, and even though everyone told him that he’d be
fine, he insisted that he was not coming back.
He even took Meherwan to his room and showed him where everything was
kept (the makings for morning and afternoon tea, soap, detergent for dishes,
washing powder, etc.) so that he could handle things from then on. And he was right. Aloba, who so many times had predicted Baba’s
Manifestation on such and such date and always been disappointed when the day
passed without drama, died on the operating table in Jehangir Nursing Home in
Pune. He got his wish, and was brought
to Meherabad and interred next to his dear brother Eruch, his body resting
contentedly beside this beloved companion of his life with Baba.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many of my readers will remember Aloba and will have stories of their experiences with him..please share them!! Jai Meher Baba.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-74858057796377928102013-09-06T22:35:00.000-07:002013-09-06T22:44:35.654-07:00Surrender v/s Hypocrisy - A Talk by Meherwan Jessawala.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meherwan had been asked to speak on the topic of surrender versus hypocrisy. He started out with what Baba Himself has said about these two attributes:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Let those
sitting here with Me today, and those away from Me at this moment, beware and
be ready. The time is close at hand – the moment has almost arrived when your
sincerity and your utter surrender to your Master will be put to the extreme
test. It is not I, personally, but circumstances that will test the extent of
your self-dedication to Me, your Master. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Baba further
explained to the group that those who had adhered to Him, and those who were at
present with Him, must be fully prepared for the necessary forthcoming
humiliation, apparent utter defeat, and bodily violence, even at the cost of
their lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other
hand, humiliation, defeat and physical violence will not necessarily be
encountered by all who are connected with Me. Those fortunate ones who will
face these onslaughts unhesitatingly and bravely and withstand their tests
unflinchingly will ultimately be co-sharers and inheritors of the divine glory.
And those who will flee from these apparent but imperative calamities will
testify by their own actions whether their surrender was sincere and
wholehearted, or whether it was heavily encumbered by selfish motives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People
generally have a very superficial understanding of what is actually meant by
complete surrender of one's all – namely, one's possessions, body and mind – to
a Perfect Master. The complacent belief of a disciple that he has completely
surrendered to a Master is due to ignorance and hypocrisy. Because, if the
significance of the words were weighed literally and pondered over deeply, it
would be seen that if one's possessions, body and mind – the very core of one's
existence – were entirely submitted to the Master, there could then be no room
given for even a single thought of one's own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mind now
belonging to the Master, it would be hypocritical even to move. Even to breathe
would be hypocritical, because the body has been surrendered. But this literal
and impossible surrender is not required by the Master from His disciples. What
is demanded of a disciple is his complete and absolute surrender to the will of
the Master, however contrary it may be to the dictates of the disciple's
temperament, however opposing to his natural inclinations or beliefs, however
difficult to admit within the restricted precincts of his mind. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supposing I
were to elevate you into an emperor tomorrow, and the very next day bring you
down to the level of a sweeper; you should accept the extremes with unswerving
faith in My judgment. You must always try with undisturbed equanimity to fit
into any given role, at any given time, concerned only with the carrying out of
your Master's wishes." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Turning to
the others, Baba continued: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For a
disciple it suffices to obey. Your duty as a disciple is to obey as if you were
not your own self, which is indeed literally true when you have completely
dedicated your self to the Master. Never try to match your limited intellect or
your reasoning against your Master's will. Spontaneous acceptance by you of
anything the Master says or does, and your unquestioning obedience to Him, will
safely steer you through any so-called crises that you may have to face. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be brave, therefore, and be honest to yourselves. Obey the
Master, giving willingly whatever He demands of you. Play your parts well, as I
too shall play Mine, fulfilling all that is ordained for Me by God."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MEANING OF SURRENDER</span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
during this period, Baba had called Pankhraj to Dehra Dun from Nagpur. He
arrived on March 25th and Baba asked him, "What do you want?" "I want to stay with you always,"
he said sincerely. “It is extremely hard
to stay with Me. It means total self-surrender. Are you prepared for that?" “I have come only for that reason,"
Pankhraj said. Baba then explained the
meaning of sacrifice, counseling him, "Think it over and give Me your
answer tomorrow." After deep
thought, the next day Pankhraj assured Baba, "I am prepared to surrender
myself to You. You are my Master and the only Beloved of my heart." "I am very pleased," replied Baba.
"You have made the right decision. Now go back to Nagpur and find
employment. Even if you find a job paying only ten rupees a month, accept
it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pankhraj
stared at Baba, finding it difficult to believe his ears. Baba explained,
"Since you have surrendered to Me, there is no room left for any wish of
your own. Now I have full rights on you and you must do as I say. If you obey Me,
it will be like staying with Me. This is the meaning of surrender." Pankhraj obeyed Baba and went back home. Soon
after, he got a very good job in Nagpur. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD</span></u></b>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baba has said:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I have
emphasized in the past, I tell you now, and I shall age after age forevermore
repeat that you shed your cloak of Life and realize Existence which is
eternally yours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To realize
this Truth of Unchangeable, Indivisible, All-pervading Existence, the simplest
way is to surrender to Me completely, so completely that you are not even
conscious of your surrender, but conscious only to obey Me and to act as and
when I order you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you seek
to live perpetually, then crave for the death of your "deceptive
self" at the hands of complete surrender" to Me. This yoga is the
Essence of all yogas in one."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">GIFT OF HIS GLIMPSE</span></u></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There is one
thing greater than love, and that is obedience. But greater than love and
obedience is surrender, completely surrendering everything – body, mind, soul –
at the feet of the Master. There are volumes written on this subject, but no
one has surrendered to Me as I want. You surrender everything, but you have no
control over your mind, which you cannot surrender. No sooner do you surrender
it than this whole play vanishes!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
difference between love, obedience and surrender is that love seeks the will of
the Beloved, obedience performs the will of the Beloved, and surrender resigns
to the will of the Beloved. Love is a gift of God to man, obedience is the gift
of the Perfect Master to man and surrender is the gift of man to the Perfect
Master."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">THE INTENSITY OF LONGING:</span></u></b>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Realization
is not child's play. For this, one has to surrender all – body, mind and heart
– to the Perfect Master."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE MESSAGE:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My message
today to those who love me and believe in my Life is that, in order to escape
this cosmic illusion, and to realize and attain the Supreme Reality, we must
abide by the following: First and foremost, our complete surrender to the
God-Man, in whom God reveals Himself in his full glory, His Infinite Power, His
Unfathomable Knowledge, His Inexpressible Bliss and His Eternal Existence.
Should this complete surrender not be possible, then one or some of the following,
if faithfully carried out, can win the grace of God:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1) Wholehearted love for God. Thirst for seeing
Him, longing for knowing Him and a burning desire for union with Him
constitutes this all-consuming love, for which the lover forsakes everything,
including himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2) Keeping constant company of saints and lovers
of God, and rendering them wholehearted service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3) Guarding of the mind against temptations of
lust, greed, anger, hatred, power, fame and fault-finding. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(4) Absolute and complete external renunciation,
whereby one leaves everyone and everything, and, in solitude, devotes oneself
to prayer, fasting and meditation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(5) Living in the world and yet practicing
complete internal renunciation. This means attending to all worldly duties without
attachment, knowing all to be an illusion and only God to be real, carrying out
one's worldly affairs with a pure heart and clean mind, and living the life of
a recluse in the midst of intense activity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(6) Selfless Service: One who practices this
thinks not of himself but of the happiness of others, serves others with no
thought of gain or reward, never allows the mind to be upset or disappointed,
and, facing all odds and difficulties cheerfully, sacrifices his welfare for
the good of others. This is the life of the selfless worker."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PERSONAL SURRENDER:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meherwan further continued, sharing a story from his own life. Meanwhile, I had proven to be a burden to the relatives
at Akbar Press where Baba had placed me before leaving on the tour. Mumma's
sister Shirin's husband, Jehangir Damania, would continuously write to her to take me back, as I was too much of a nuisance to look after. Mumma was very worried but didn't want to bother Baba with her problems. However, she looked anxious so one day Baba asked her the reason. Explaining the situation to Baba she said, "For us You
are put to so much trouble. Now there is Meherwan to worry about. We have come
to You with only problems." Baba asked, "Do you love Meherwan or Me?" Mumma replied, "To dedicate my one
Meherwan at Your feet is not enough; even were I to surrender a thousand sons,
it would be nothing." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Her reply
made Baba very happy and He consoled her, "As you have come to Me leaving
everything behind, what trouble would it be to Me?" Then in a cryptic tone
He spelled out, "You are not worthy of being Eruch's mother, but you are
worthy of being My mother!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> Meherwan further added these thoughts about surrender:</o:p><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surrender is not about us but
about Baba. It is not a show of how
“dedicated” we are but how wonderful and satisfying Baba is. When we are called to leave all and surrender
to Him, there is often nothing “nice” or pleasant about what He asks of
us. A good example is of Abraham, whom God called upon to offer his son Issac as a sacrifice to Him. There was nothing pleasant about the demand
or the obedience that was required to follow God’s command, but the purpose was
not to see how dedicated Abraham or Issac were but to show that God was worthy
of such sacrifice. Abraham and Issac saw
this. They saw a God Who is greater than life itself. Abraham believed God, and was prepared to kill
Issac on His command.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surrender is not sought but
embraced. You cannot create the context
for surrender to happen. Baba creates the context and you embrace the events as
coming from Him. For example, when Baba asked Eruch if it was possible to leave
everything and come to Him, Eruch said, “By Your Grace, everything is possible.”
Eruch had only two choices, either to believe Baba was God and embrace His Wish
or to stand in rebellion against Him.
Had he chosen to say “No” then his life would never have been the
example of a fortunate and perfect slave.
In a sense Eruch chose Life (with a capital L) against the death of his
progress on the spiritual path. He
embraced Baba’s wish, and so surrendered. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Surrenderance happens in the
context of desperation. The kind of
desperation that brings us to the end of ourselves, i.e. our false self. The circumstances that bring about the
desperation show us for what we are, nothing.
They bring forth weakness so that we can see Baba’s strength, show us
our need so we might see His resources. </b></span></i><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Surrenderance is when we come
face to face with our own limitations and Baba’s complete sufficiency, and we
choose Him! When the Lord asks us “Am I
not enough?” and we say with total conviction, “Yes, You are.” that is when we truly surrender. God always wins, but when we choose Him our enjoyment in the moment becomes
magnified.</b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surrenderance is a dynamic
condition. It’s not as if you embrace surrenderance once and that’s it. Each
time you are pushed to the brink of despair, you get another chance to say, “I
can’t but Baba can.” Each event brings you closer to Baba and to the complete
surrenderance He asks of us. Each moment of our lives exists to show us that
our need of Him is absolute, and that holding fast to His damaan is the only
way out for us. Paul the Apostle said, so we are told, “I die daily.” He was
talking about the death of the false self and the resurrection each new day of
it. Only when the false self became the true, God-realized Self would he stop
dying daily and live truly. </span></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Surrender is only possible
when we fully, with all our heart, mind and soul, accept the sovereignty of
Baba over everything. Not a leaf moves
without His Will, and once we immerse ourselves in this conviction, surrender
is embraced and embraces us in return. </b></span></i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing on the subject of what Baba had to say about surrender to His Wish and Will, Meherwan continued to quote from Baba's words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baba
remarked, "The Sadguru has not to know, He knows. He knows that there is
nothing to know." He
also stated at length:<i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe
me, I am the Ancient One. There is no doubt about it. I am not this body that
you see. It is only a cloak. I am Infinite Consciousness. I sit with you, play
with you and laugh with you; but remember, I am simultaneously working on all
the planes of consciousness. I have before Me <i>walis</i> and <i>pirs</i>, <i>yogis</i> and saints,
who are Me in different forms, for I am the core [center] rooted in everyone and in everything.
An infinite number of branches spread out from Me. It is I who work through you
all and suffer for you all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understanding
has no meaning. Love has meaning. Obedience has more meaning. Holding of my
daaman has most meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
know three things: I am the Avatar in every sense of the word. Whatever I do is
the expression of my unbounded love. I suffer infinite agony eternally through
your ignorance. What sustains Me in My universal suffering is bliss, plus my
infinite sense of humor. The amusing incidents that arise at the expense of
none, lighten My burden. Therefore, always think of Me; remain cheerful in all
situations, and I am there to help you.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-19236938047516646422013-09-05T23:44:00.000-07:002013-09-05T23:44:59.440-07:00Baba's Humour<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRFc80jLae3CH4HEAQBTwok52DlelZ-N0phblleebe-RGt_WYDd5i3fD2vOu7MOPhScO7r0dAAtszXsm8qMG6np8tJ9nruzjP2Qs9Moi3jaiGgsqTAJxXwFTeMVgyFZHcbJo5M0EOr4s/s1600/Acer+Pictures+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRFc80jLae3CH4HEAQBTwok52DlelZ-N0phblleebe-RGt_WYDd5i3fD2vOu7MOPhScO7r0dAAtszXsm8qMG6np8tJ9nruzjP2Qs9Moi3jaiGgsqTAJxXwFTeMVgyFZHcbJo5M0EOr4s/s320/Acer+Pictures+084.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baba with children: Divine good humour in play!<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently, everyone has been talking about Baba's humour. Even my parents were supposed to talk about this for the Young Adults Sahavas held at Meherabad last month, but ended up talking about other things about Him, I am told. However, yesterday in Mandali Hall at Meherazad there was talk of His humour and these two stories that I've not heard myself were so funny and so sweet, I am sharing with you all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Both of these are from my dad Sam Kerawala. The first one takes place during one of Baba's visits to Karachi in what is now Pakistan, but was then undivided India. Baba was being hosted at a very posh hotel called The Grand Hotel by Mansari Desai's uncle Homi Desai. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">The evening was very enjoyable and Baba was in a very good mood. Beaming at the gathering, He said, "Is there anyone who is more loving, caring, gentle and considerate than I am?" No one said anything. Baba gestured, "Don't worry, say openly if you know someone who is more loving and gentle than Me. I won't be angry." At this Homi Desai got up to speak. "You know someone who is more loving and gentle than I am?" Baba gestured incredulously! "Who?" "My butcher" Homi replied. "Your butcher?? Why is he more loving and gentle than Me?" "Because Baba, he kills with one clean stroke, whereas you cut a little here, prick a bit there...making small, small wounds and taking for ever about it." said Homi. Baba laughed, then gestured, "I too can kill at one stroke, but if I do that your eyes won't be opened. Only by cutting a little here, pinching a little there and so on can I accomplish what I have come to do, which is to awaken you." Divine Humour, in spades!!! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">The other story happens in Meherabad, during the 1958 Sahavas. There were around 2000 people at that gathering, and one day they were sitting before Baba and a singer was singing a quawali for Baba's entertainment. For some reason, he kept on repeating the line, "If You cannot quench my thirst, don't call Yourself the limitless Ocean." Over and over he sang this same line, even though Baba gestured to him several times to move on. Ignoring Baba, he kept repeating, "If You can't quench my thirst, don't call Yourself the limitless Ocean." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">It being around tea time, just then the tea boy brought the tea around. Baba gestured to him to come on the stage. As the singer was going on one more time, "If You..." Baba looks at the singer then gestures to the tea-walla without missing a beat, "Give this man two cups, he is very thirsty!" Even the singer had to stop and laugh out loud!!! Funny, funny God!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">There were other sweet stories, Baba cheating at gilli-danda and cards, Baba eating up someone's food while berating her about breaking His order to eat only simple daal and rice and vegetables...so many times He came down to the human level and played with us as one of us. Then, just as we'd got used to thinking of Him as a child or playmate, He'd remind us, "Don't take Me for granted. Just because I become one of you, don't forget that I am God." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Hope you all have a humourous day in His Love. Jai Meher Baba! </span></span><br />
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-60120793039598632642013-08-18T03:20:00.001-07:002013-08-18T03:20:05.356-07:00Good, Evil and God-Realization.<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today someone sent me this excerpt from Lord Meher, thinking I'd find it useful. </span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<pre style="background-color: white;"><pre style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"As good is necessary, likewise bad is also</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">necessary – just as positive and negative. Both</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are essential for action and evolution. If only</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">good were to prevail everywhere, life would end!</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both good or bad done to the extreme would lead</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to Self-Realization; for instance, absolute evil</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with no trace of good, or absolute good with no</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></pre>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;">
<span style="color: purple;">trace of bad at all – both are equally conducive</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span><span style="color: purple;">to the attainment of the goal of Self-Realization.</span></div>
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If this is so, naturally it can be asked, "Why is good preferable to bad?" Both good and bad are zero, being nonexistent for those who are God-Realized. Both are terms of duality. But the Masters and Avatars give preference and advocate good over bad. This is only because good is really, spiritually speaking, easy for reaching the goal; though apparently, materially speaking, it is the reverse.</div>
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For example, bad is apparently easy – difficult, really! But the underlying principle in life being spiritual progress – true existence – comes against the material progress which is only apparent and not real. Thus, the Masters advocate good, being truly easy for mankind, as the better course to follow for true progress in the march of life to the goal of Realization.</div>
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Another reason for preferring and advocating good is that in evil, although apparently easy, while thinking about and actually committing a bad act, there is always a sort of torture to the mind, which inevitably happens after committing the act. For instance, illicit sex or murder. Whereas in good, which though apparently difficult, there is nothing of the kind – no torture to the mind. On the contrary, there is a constant feeling of a sort of happiness not only in thinking but also in doing a good act, although it is always more difficult apparently to do good rather than bad.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Besides, pursuing the course of doing bad to the extreme would not succeed or endure until the end. A man's body however bold, indifferent, healthy and robust would not be able to withstand prolonged indulgence in bad vices – such as lust, drinking liquor, or violence to the extreme."</div>
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</div>
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<b><i>Meher Baba</i></b></div>
</span></span></span></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I've always liked this discourse, and so I wrote the following answer back to him, and am sharing because it is based on Eruch's and Meherwan's take on the subject, and I think you will all find it interesting. </b></span></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Yes, I have also read this one and posted it on FB somewhere, I think. Absolute good, absolute evil or both good and evil <i>sanskaras</i> in perfect balance - Realization is the result. However, as Eruch often said, why worry about getting God-realization? You have no choice, you will get it one day..</span><span style="line-height: 22px;">whether you want it or not! </span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> Knowing this is so, I ignore spiritual progress or lack thereof in myself, and dedicatedly try ignoring it in others who want to talk about it at length. To the extent of sometimes avoiding that person, just to avoid this discussion! As you can tell, my good/evil ratio is probably not weighted to the "G" word, rather to the "E"! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My current work in progress is to accept whatever I'm given to do and do it wholeheartedly. Not grumble or try to get out of doing it (my first reaction to any work I've not specifically chosen myself) but just say "Yes"...so hard for me to do this, but slowly getting easier. V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y. I am working on this because both my uncles - Eruch and Meherwan - stress on obedience. If I have decided to live at Meherazad and 'serve' here (I am not sure I AM serving, hence the quotation marks) then I have to accept that all the work I'm given is given by Baba Himself, for whatever reason. I can't, therefore, very well say, "No, thank You but no." I do what I'm asked and look for ways to help bring more efficiency in how things work. This is a very important trait of lazy individuals, they are always looking for efficient ways to do what they have to, because it saves time and effort. Best and most efficient of all ways is to delegate, always! But I am resisting delegation in favour of doing the stuff myself. Baba, I hope You notice and don't keep this up for too long, please remember that I'd asked specifically for a vacation incarnation!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously though, Meherwan says often and I totally agree that intellectual debates and constant analysis does not really bring me closer to Baba. In fact, I find myself getting irritable and ornery if I engage in these pursuits for too long. And Baba does not want us to do this game playing. As He told the Andhra group once, leave your mind closed and open your hearts when you come into My Presence. That way you will receive the Love I am giving you in full measure. (Not exact quote but you get the meaning?) Spiritual training is all very well, in small doses. Take it one bite at a time and you may be able to finish the whole portion in this lifetime. If not, there will be many more to learn the lessons we need to learn and do the things we need to do. Answers come in their time, if you have questions. If you don't they still come, just like God-Realization, eventually. And when that has happened to me in the past, it has always come as "Oh, I knew that!" because of course, we know it all, we just don't know that we know! </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are many of us who are starting to get it..you need do nothing at all, except what is put in front of you. If Baba puts joy and health in front of you, then enjoy and share it with others. Savor it and remember to thank Him for all He gives. If Baba puts pain and suffering your way, then so be it. Take it and swallow, one small sip at a time. If you need someone to come hold the cup while you drink, call your friends and loved ones, they want to help. They do want to be there for you, but it can be hard to say "Can I be there?" Easier if you ask and then they can come and be with you without feeling like they are imposing. Remember, they can't read your mind! And of course, if they don't then you've given them the option to say "No", haven't you? Baba has made us part of His family for a reason, apart from loving Him. It is so that we can each of us be there for each of the others if we choose to take this on. I can't help everyone, but whoever gives me a shout, I always respond and do my best in whatever way I can. Sometimes I say no, and don't feel bad about it, because better to do nothing than to do everything with a feeling of resentment and reluctance. And even in your pain and suffering, thank Him for all He gives. He only gives you what you need and in the exact measure you need it. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jai Meher Baba! </span></b></div>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-15593773096337048312013-07-30T04:11:00.002-07:002013-07-30T04:11:59.946-07:00Meherwan Jessawala said, "Post this on the Internet." So here goes!! We had a really good session in Mandali Hall this morning. The group was small, and all wanted to ask about improving their inner relationship with Baba. Many stories were exchanged and it was not just serious, it was also loving, interesting and fun. A lot of the questions were about how to know if we are progressing on the spiritual path in our remembrance and service of our Lord.<br />
<br />
Meherwan said to all, "This is not your work. You do your own work and let Baba do His. Progress or not, moving forward or not - that is not for you to worry about. You just have to go on remembering Him all the time, continuously. By remembering Him you make the bonds of Maya weaker and weaker." Then he narrated an incident where Baba gave a couple who were His lovers, a message. He paraphrased it. <br />
<br />
A few minutes ago he came in with a piece of paper and asked me if I could share this on the Internet. I said, "Of course, I can post it on my blog." So here is what he handed me.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">On 18th July 1959 at about 5.30 PM Baba said to the Khilnani couple (Justice Prem Khilnani and his wife Girija):-</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>"I am in everybody's heart but I am sleeping there. It is My old, old habit! In order to awaken Me you should always call out to Me and say 'Baba, Baba, Baba.....continuously. Then I, Who am asleep in your heart, will not find any pleasure in remaining asleep..let alone sleep, I shall not find time even to doze! I shall then slowly be awakened in your heart by hearing your constant calls - your taking my name constantly. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red;"><b>Once I am awake in your hearts you too would awake and remain awake for all time. Therefore, repeat My Name constantly and awake Me in your hearts so that you become awake for all time." <i>= Meher Baba =</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
OK so there it is people! Take His Name and perish! Let your false self perish. You know what they say, "There's nothing certain except death and taxes"? Well, taxes are no longer certain, there are so many ways of evading them. Death is a certain thing, you begin to die the day you are born. However, Baba has said that every drop soul has to merge in the Ocean, so actually, "There's nothing certain except God Realization and Death, and actually GR and the REAL DEATH are one and the same thing."Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-13901599042246898722013-07-13T02:06:00.000-07:002013-07-13T02:06:36.991-07:00Meher Ekam, Meher Nityam, Meher Satyam Sundaram.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Singing Madhusudhan’s
beautiful <i>bhajan</i> (devotional song) this morning while cleaning Mandali Hall and Baba’s Blue Bus
(because Devana has gone to Pune for dental work) I passed Meherwan who was
arranging finances for his trip to Pune next week for his eye appointment. Stopping me as I passed him, he said, “This
<i>bhajan</i> you are singing.” “Yes?”
“Madhusudhan wrote it, and Baba liked it very much. But then Baba started wondering, is the
Sanskrit <i><u>grammatically</u></i>
correct? Bal Natu was asked and he said
he thought it was pretty accurate. Baba
was not satisfied. “Go to Panditji and
ask him to check and see if it is.” </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, Panditji was a professor of Sanskrit attached
to Deccan College, and had happened to come to see Baba and fell in love with
Him. He was devoted to Baba. Balaji took the lyrics and off he went. All he knew about Deccan College was that it
was across the Bund Garden bridge. He
went across and asked people where the college was, finally reaching it. Asking around for Panditji, he was directed
to the faculty quarters where the professor lived. Seeing Balaji appear, Panditji was very
concerned that something had happened.
However, Balaji reassured him and told him why Baba had sent him to
visit.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Here Meherwan paused and
recalled how Baba had been worried. This
was a Sanskrit <i>bhajan</i> in His praise and if the grammar was incorrect, people
would scoff at Baba’s followers, He said.
Where was that Bal Natu, what was taking him so long to do something so
simple as find Panditji and get the grammar checked out? Meanwhile Balaji was trying to do his best to
leave without much delay, refusing all Panditji’s entreaties to sit have a cup
of tea and something to eat, visit with him and his family for a while. He hurried back to Baba and of course, was
told off for taking so long! Bal Natu
explained what had transpired.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meherwan resumed his
narrative, “When Bal read out the <i>bhajan</i> to Panditji, he listened with great
attention. After Bal finished, he said
that the bhajan was truly written from the heart, and the rules of grammar do
not apply to such compositions. It was
perfect as it was, nothing needed changing.
Balaji told Baba this, and Baba gestured that He was happy. And so this <i>bhajan</i> you are singing is
heartfully correct, and has been endorsed so by a Pandit of Sanskrit.” Saying this, he went back to his counting and
calculations!! </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-59877658579560492422013-07-04T05:10:00.000-07:002013-07-08T03:31:11.551-07:00First Day of the Pilgrim Season - Baba's Sweet Gift!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meherazad Gates, waiting to open for His Lovers!!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The new pilgrim season (2013-2014) started with a whisper of His Love, no big bangs here! It was a small group of eastern and western pilgrims who came to visit His Meherazad, on Tuesday, </i></span><i style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 July 2013. The day was truly filled with Baba's Love and also His perfect sense of timing. I will give you a short-ish account of what the day brought us. </i></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Meherwan (Jessawala) had just had cataract surgery and was a big concerned how he would cope with the day, so for him it was a gift from Baba that the group was an intimate one. After greeting all the people who came on the bus, we went in to Mandali Hall around 11.00 AM. Paul Liboiron, Davana, Lorraine, Meherwan and I went in and sat down and started talking. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meherwan Jessawala with two young pilgrims.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Meherwan reminisced about how Baba would always want the family to ask Him about everything. Once in 1968 (November), his eldest uncle Meherjee (the one Baba said would see His TRUE form 2 minutes before he died) was very unwell. Gaimummy wanted to see her brother so Meherwan and she came to Akbar Press to visit. Of course, Baba came to know through Eruch that this was happening, so He called Meherwan to the Trust Office. There Baba was seated in the car, and He met Meherwan, then told him to get in beside Him, and come to Meherazad for a longer visit. Once at Meherazad, Baba scolded Meherwan, demanding to know with whose permission he and his mother had come to Nagar. Did they think they could just do what they pleased? WHY hadn't Baba been asked? And so on and so forth. Obedience - that is what it was all about with Beloved Baba.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The talk turned to the rains or lack thereof. At this time a family from Hamirpur came into Mandali Hall. The husband and his mother sat at the far wall near the door, but the wife came right into the middle of the seating area and sat facing Baba's chair. Talk went on around her, and the talk was about gratitude. Lorraine said that she found it helped her to stop a persistent, negative thought by constantly thanking Baba for letting her have that thought so she could remember Him. Meherwan said that Baba didn't like them to say "Thank You" to Him. Davana added that Eruch had said that because everything is because of Him, even our very breath is because He allows it, we cannot say "Thank You". How many things are you going to thank Baba for?? Rather, we are BEHOLDEN to Him for our very existences. However, Lorraine recalled that the women Mandali always reminded them to thank Baba constantly. We decided that it was what felt right to each that we needed to follow, there was not a "One fits all" rule about this or anything else to do with Baba. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>At this point Meherwan decided that the Hamirpur family should be included, so he asked them if they understood English, and they didn't. So I was deputed to translate. Hearing the conversation the wife (her name was Meher Jyoti) said that Baba had just answered the main question she had!! Her family always said say thank you to Baba for this and that, but she felt that there was no need, He already knew that He gave everything, and this was a bone of contention. And here Baba had given her the answer! And her family was there to witness it. Then the question turned to whether it was OK to ask Baba for things - following on from the story of how Rustom Irani (Meheru's dad) was upset because Baba gave rain to the villagers but not water to Meherabad, which was suffering from acute water shortage. Again Meher Jyoti said "My question!" She was always wondering if it was OK to ask Baba for things or to trust Him to give what He wanted and take away what He wanted. This was amazing for her, the only two questions that had been really bothering her had been answered by Baba. By this time we had a group from Andhra also sitting with us, and Meherwan was talking about using the mind and using the heart, which was appropriate for the Andhra lovers because Baba had originally spoken about this in Andhra - Just love Baba and accept Him and His orders without question. There is no end to questions, if Baba answers one question, a hundred more arise to take its place. Better to just be in His presence and experience Baba with and within our hearts. (Davana Brown and I were reading the blog together and she and I noticed I'd left this paragraph incomplete, so here it is, now completed!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Over on the women's side it had been a gentle day too. People went and visited Baba's room, sat on the veranda and generally just enjoyed being back in His home. Wish you were all here too! Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meherwan Jessawala at Baba's Chair, Mandali Hall, Meherazad.</td></tr>
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-72348086323005776162013-06-20T23:36:00.000-07:002013-06-21T00:06:37.607-07:00Baba's Toy - Kaka Baria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Ardeshiar Shapurji Baria ( Kaka )</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Born : 23rd February 1891 - Navsari,MS, India </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Died : 27th February 1969 - India</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Nationality : Indian</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">The reason you are getting two stories today is because as we were talking about the Samadhi and the Tombstone, Kaka's name cropped up in the conversation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Kaka Baria was one of Baba's close ones. He was a very loving and simple soul, and his only desire was to be close to Baba. Usually an amicable man, he had an immense dislike for Baidul, another of Baba's close Mandali. There was a fierce rivalry between the two for Baba's attention. Kaka didn't like Baidul's success as a <i>mast</i> hunter, and Baidul didn't like that Kaka was the manager of Meherazad! They often had blazing rows, which Baba enjoyed. Kaka called Baidul "Enemy #1". There was an "Enemy #2", but more on that later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Kaka was devastated when Baba dropped His Body. Like a child who has lost his mother and father at the same time, he was stunned and confused. During the seven days that Baba lay in the crypt, Kaka would stand outside the door, behind the wooden poles that formed the simple barrier to marshal the people who came to take a last <i>darshan </i>of His lovely form. If someone brought him a chair, he'd sit down. </span><span style="color: purple;">He would often have tears running down his cheeks. </span><span style="color: purple;">But he would not move too far from the door. He had had several heart attacks and a couple of strokes and his speech was severely impaired. But if you engaged him in conversation, he'd smile for a bit and talk to you, in his fashion...</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Because of the strokes and subsequent loss of speech, Kaka didn't converse like you or I do. He'd talk gibberish. He would come and talk in this manner to Baba Who loved to hear him, and would laugh and laugh. Even during the last gathering for Mehera's birthday and Dara/Amrit's wedding and the Navjotes of the Dadachanji and other kids, he came on stage and clapped and talked and entertained Baba! Falu Mistry recalls that he would come to Pendu and say "<i>Papeta, papeta</i>" (potato, potato in Gujarati). Pendu would then hand him a box of matches, which was actually what he wanted, though he had forgotten the word for match, and called it potato! This is why Baba called him His toy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">On 7 February 1969 it was decided that Baba's Body would be covered up. The wooden cover was made and brought. It was a very flimsy box, making it easier to disintegrate. The reason why Baba wasn't directly covered with earth was because it would have made Mehera very unhappy. She was still reeling from the shock of Baba's going, and this would have devastated her. The box was only a token covering so that at least there was something between Baba and the weight of the earth that would cover Him. Kaka was dead against the plan. However, it was not possible to keep Baba's Body uncovered indefinitely. Sarosh brought the box in and he and Adi and Eruch lifted it into the crypt after removing the ice and flowers that covered Baba, and placed it over Him. Kaka only saw Sarosh, who "Put my Baba in a box". Sarosh was thenceforth Enemy #2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">After the interment, the first meeting of the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust (AMBPPCT) after Baba's passing was held on 27 February 1969, at Meherazad. It was held in what is now called Room 7, across from Mandali Hall. There was an easy-chair outside what is now Falu Mistry's room, and Kaka was sitting in it. When Sarosh arrived, Kaka shook his fist at Sarosh, as if to say "Come over here if you dare, I will hit you." He continued to sit outside, and sometime during that first meeting, he died. Within 20 days of seeing His Beloved for the very last time, Kaka decided he had had enough, he was going to be with Baba, and off he went! He is buried in Meherazad, the only male <i>mandali</i> to be laid to rest there. It was where he wanted to be, the place he had looked after for his Beloved Baba for decades. Very few know he is there, even fewer go to see his grave, but he was a stalwart, a true warrior for Baba. Of an early morning I often walk over to visit with him where he lies, to the left of the old Meher Free Dispensary building, now called Pilgrim Facility! I like to thank him what he did to make Meherazad what it is today, and preserving it for us and for His lovers to come for all time. Thank you Kaka Baria!! Jai Meher Baba. </span></div>
<br />Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-44416164793532518212013-06-20T23:05:00.001-07:002013-06-20T23:05:40.474-07:00The Story of The Stone - How Baba's Tombstone Happened.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">All of us have seen it. We have all bowed down to it, but how did this particular slab of marble come to be blessed to become the Avatar's Tombstone in His Samadhi? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">After a particularly successful session of fencing in Meherazad (where two contentious areas were finally fenced in with the help of our local police force), I went to Meherabad yesterday and said "Thank You" to Him who made it all possible. Later, while I was treating Meherwan (Jessawala) before he went to bed, we started reminiscing about the Tomb, and then I asked Meherwan if he remembered how we got the marble that now forms Baba's Tombstone. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">It is an interesting tale. It all started with Beloved Baba dropping His Body on 31 January 1969, of course. It was a given that in time, once the earth had settled on His Body, a stone would have to be put on the crypt. A fitting memorial would have to be found. One that befitted the Avatar of the Age's Samadhi. Rano Gayley, Baba's <i>mandali</i> and a very accomplished artist in her own right, had ideas about what it should be like. She had also, around that time, received an inheritance from her father. He had been a very successful lawyer in New York, and had left her a substantial inheritance. This was Baba's perfect timing in action!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">She decided that the best use of this money would be to get a beautiful slab of Carrara marble from Italy. Rano asked Fred and Ella Winterfeldt to go to Italy and pick out the stone, told them what needed to be engraved on the slab and specified that it should be pink and gold-veined marble. This is one of the rarest of marbles, and to get such a big slab would not only be very expensive but also very difficult. Once it was bought, getting it to India and finally to Baba's Samadhi in Arangaon would be an even bigger challenge. But hey, it was for Rano's Beloved Baba, and nothing was going to stop her from trying her very best. So the plan was put into action. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Fred and Ella went to Italy and found what they thought was the perfect slab. It was then commissioned to be cut and engraved, the writing to be highlighted in 24 carat gold inlay. In time the stone was ready. Then it was shipped, through a very circuitous route, because the import duty on this slab would have been almost impossible for the newly emerged Trust to pay, there was just no money in those days. After many travels and travails, it arrived in Mumbai, by sea.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Later, it arrived in a truck to Bindra House and we had it there for a day or two. It was put in Meherwan's room, which Baba used whenever He stayed in Bindra House. I remember looking at this huge slab with awe! I'd never seen a slab of marble so beautiful. It was waiting to be collected and transported to Meherabad where Padri had a team of 12 workers, all strong men, drilling daily to pick up this huge weight and carefully put it in place over Baba's crypt. Typical Padri, he had been practicing for months, since he knew that the stone was ordered and being brought over to Meherabad. There were no cranes, no mechanical aids to put the marble in place, only muscle power. Meherwan says that the stone weighed over a ton! Meanwhile, there was a big commotion...the slab had a flaw. After all this trouble, there was a dark vein (not pink or gold) running through the lower part of the marble slab. What to do? The company that made the stone was contacted, and offered to replace the stone if it was sent back. Sent back?? It had only just arrived after much time and effort being put into getting it to India! Were they mad? I am not sure who among the <i>mandali</i> came to look at it and said that there was no need for any exchange, the stone was perfect as it was, but it was a great relief to all that this was it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">By now the earth over Baba's Body had settled. During the months between the crypt being filled and the stone being set, there was gradual settling of the grave. A strange phenomenon was observed. There was a deeper depression where Baba's head was, and a very strong scent of roses came out of that part, it filled the Tomb with the fragrance. I remember going to take <i>darshan</i> around that time, and smelling this fragrance and feeling a deep happiness that Baba was everywhere now, and He was telling us so! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">When the marble arrived in Meherabad, Padri's workers executed the manoeuvre flawlessly. </span><span style="color: #20124d;">The stone was home! It had come to where it's destiny through many lifetimes as stone had brought it, to the Avatar's final abode on this gross plane. There is a very unique twist to the ending of this story. Pink and gold veined Carrara marble is very rare. So rare that the Italian Government banned its export. Meherwan says that this was probably the last slab to be exported, and then there was no more. Baba allowed Rano's wish to be fulfilled, because she loved Him so. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Mehera bowing down to Baba's picture. Gaimai Jessawala in front left corner.</span><br />
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Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645508005704631596.post-19352334703854174882013-04-27T22:01:00.001-07:002013-04-27T22:10:35.512-07:00See The Mountain In Your Own Eye Before Searching For The Mote In Your Neighbour's.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJPNsC96vhcEkOILeO0sAi_F0oT-WINiJ34WEaiSE4wuLJ7Uiu2_IXyMbXM_-MjPvIl_Rw-j9ybV1vHFJQNblG0QDqoN41G0UHSXfoDNUtfo9VrpcAWRmu4znTbRGLU4mkSpGzkwpXIM/s1600/Water+pots+at+Meherabad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJPNsC96vhcEkOILeO0sAi_F0oT-WINiJ34WEaiSE4wuLJ7Uiu2_IXyMbXM_-MjPvIl_Rw-j9ybV1vHFJQNblG0QDqoN41G0UHSXfoDNUtfo9VrpcAWRmu4znTbRGLU4mkSpGzkwpXIM/s320/Water+pots+at+Meherabad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Water pots at Meherabad</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">There has been a lot of heated discussion on the Baba Lovers Facebook page regarding a post by Kendra (Crossen-Boroughs) about a request for travel expenses for Mehernath Kalchuri and his family, as requested by Mehernath himself - which was subsequently withdrawn, again at Mehernath's request - and Kendra has spoken very openly about the immense suffering that this post caused her personally.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">It was clearly a case of "Shoot the Messenger", because she was made the focus of a lot of negativity and it must have hurt! It is so easy to pick at the flaws and imperfections of others, because then we feel justified in considering ourselves OK, to say the least! However, Christ has put it perfectly when He said that it is easy to see the mote in our neighbour's eye but very hard to see the mountain in our own. When it comes to the AMBPPCT, it is easy to criticize the Trust, its workings and its trustees. I know, I've done it often enough myself. Today I would like to talk about the good things that are being done by the Trust.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">You may have read, there is a slew of committees that are now looking into the finances, labour relations, projects, etc. and are actually doing a fine job in some cases, adequate in others. But it will improve slowly. Change is threatening, and major changes take a lot of effort to bring about. Slowly but steadily things<b> <u>will</u></b><u> </u>change. Trustees are becoming more responsible. Capable people will come forward to take their place in the hierarchy and will come for the right reasons, to serve our Beloved to the very best of their abilities. In time the Trust will once more be worthy of its name, Baba's Trust. We all have a part to play in this transformation, by making sure that we help by telling the relevant trustees if things appear to be askew and telling everyone if you see things that are being done well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The Trust has quietly been supplying drinking water to the village of Arangaon for many years. However, in the last few years the monsoon has repeatedly failed. Now almost everyone in the village comes to fill drinking water at Meherabad. There is a line of shining steel pots each morning by the MPC (see picture above), and villagers take their turns in a very orderly fashion, thanks to the intervention of Jal Dastur, one of our Meherabad trustees. When there was a ruckus, Jal immediately shut off the water and then instituted the present system, which is enforced by our security guys. Thank you Jal.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Finances have been a major issue, especially the misuse of Trust funds and also Trust facilities, not just by Trustees but also residents. The Finance Committee is overseen (among others) by Meherwan Dubash. Meherwan is the son of late Trustee Adi Dubash and a qualified Chartered Accountant. <span style="font-size: small;">I</span>t is very clear that there is order emerging from the chaos - Trust cars and labour are not used for personal work as freely as they once used to be, each item purchased has to be indented, scrutinized and passed by the Committee, there are good checks on the donations and the outgoings. There is still a way to go, and slowly the issues of private homes that have Trust electricity and water but are being rented out for profit will need to be addressed, each property that has the utilities provided by the Trust will need to be metered and a fair price charged. In my opinion this should include residents' quarters, because I have seen immense wastage by our residents, where lights and fans are kept running all day (because they don't like to come back to a dark/hot room! It only takes a flick of a switch to put on the light, and the fan can cool the room in a few minutes by leaving the door and windows open to cool it off). If they can afford to pay, they should. If they can't, they will see how much power and water they use, and maybe it will encourage them to be more frugal? Any property which is rented out will, of course, not qualify for Trust utilities. It is not fair to expect donors' money to go towards funding a few individuals' profit. The Trustees are looking into this, I am assured. It will change..but again, change will be slow and painful.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Labour costs are rising, and staff and workers expect good raises each year. However, it is a one-way street so far. There is no efficiency measure, no performance-related pay and no evaluation of the work done by staff and labour. We are a charitable trust, but we need to look at this issue as a practical and not a spiritual matter. The Trust donations should not be used to give workers a free ride. That kind of charity is at best a waste and at worst a threat to the future functioning of Trust work. Labour is organizing. I have heard workers talk about it when I walk around Meherabad on my (increasingly rare) visits there. We may once again have a time where there will be a strike. There needs to be a strong and capable Labour Committee which is conversant with Labour laws, and is able to negotiate strongly and firmly. It is time to set out a fair and <u><b>legal</b></u> policy governing performance measurement, pay negotiations, disciplinary measures and the like. A good welfare policy coupled with a fair performance target is the best way forward. Now is the time to do this, not when we reach crisis point! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">There has been a lot of progress in our relationship with the Pimpalgaon Malvi villagers. A group of volunteers are going to the local Marathi school and working with the older kids to teach them conversational English. This has made us a welcome and valued presence in the village. There has been a lot of progress in our fencing work, and this is mainly due to the increased cordiality between Meherazad and Pimpalgaon. Contentious issues are ironed out over cups of tea, not out on the field with threats (except for a few instances, and even there, some of the village panchayat members did support our position) and life is a lot more pleasant. What started out being a threat to Meherazad has been turned by Baba into an opportunity to preserve and protect the Trust lands around the core property! Harmony is <span style="font-size: small;">slowly being established, and we are <span style="font-size: small;">being inv<span style="font-size: small;">olved in social projects like health camps, etc. b<span style="font-size: small;">oth by villagers and also by Larsen & Toubro, a big industr<span style="font-size: small;">y that has adopted Pimpalgaon Malvi. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>He works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">There are many things that worry the Baba world in general, but one thing in particular is of great concern - who will take over from the present trustees? It is vital that the people who come on to the Board are above reproach. It is not enough to take a decision between the existing trustees, the Trust also needs to listen to the Baba community, and pick good, strong and capable individuals. Baba's Trust is not a private club, where members are chosen because they 'fit in'. It is the operating arm of Baba's continuing work. Its main purpose is to fulfill Baba's wishes as set out in His Will. Baba will bring forward people who will fulfill His wishes, of this I am sure. Baba-willing, the existing Trustees will recognize the need for such individuals, and make the selections that please Baba, not each other!! A good start has been made by putting in place an Ethics Committee. A<span style="font-size: small;">n initial circular has gone out, but it is now time that the Trust takes into account views from all over, not just their <span style="font-size: small;">own and those <span style="font-size: small;">of a few individuals. <span style="font-size: small;">There are a lot of good points o<span style="font-size: small;">f view out there, believe me<span style="font-size: small;"> Trustees! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">That is it for today, folks. I am not sure if my views are the right ones, so everything written here is my opinion only, and does not reflect t<span style="font-size: small;">he views or opinions of anyone else<span style="font-size: small;">. As my dad is very fond of saying, "If there be any good in these words, the cr<span style="font-size: small;">edit goes to Baba. Only the mistakes are mine!" Jai Meher Baba. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Mehera Arjanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00237886812665967021noreply@blogger.com10