"Hidden in your penniless hands, is treasure untold..."
Meher Mount
Your Friday photo is honor of Avatar Meher Baba’s New Life...
Meher Baba started the period of His work known as the “New Life” on October 16, 1949.
Before embarking on the New Life, He asked Dr. Abdul Ghani Munsiff to write this poem, “Song of the New Life,” — which describes the conditions of the New Life. Dr. Ghani was a close disciple and childhood friend of Meher Baba.
The photo of Meher Baba was taken during the New Life outside the Nalavala residence in Dehra Dun, India. The photographer is Keki Nalavala.
“Even if your heart is cut to bits, let there be a smile be on your lips.
Here I divulge to you a point worth noting.
Hidden in your penniless hands, is treasure untold;
Your beggarly life will be the envy of Kings (of the world).”
The Song of the New Life
Listen to the silent words of Meher Baba;
The life of all lovers (of God) is based on the practice of these words
If you are serious about living this New Life,
Then whole-heartedly renounce this ephemeral existence.
We have taken to this life, in which we rely only on God;
In this, our Will (to do or die) is strengthened by the oath taken;
We are merrily singing the song of hopelessness;
We are inviting all calamities and difficulties.
We neither wail over lost hopes, nor complain about (broken) promises;
We neither covet honour, nor shun disgrace;
Back-biting we know not, nor do we fear anyone;
This is now the colour of our New Life.
No confusion in the mind, now, nor any ties left;
Pride, anger, lust and greed we know not.
We have no religion nor care for physical and mental fads.
The Sheikh and the Brahmin — typifying all castes and creeds — are now sailing in the same boat.
There is no small or great now, for us all;
The questions of disciple, Master or Godhood, no longer arise;
Brotherliness or fellow-feeling is the link that exists.
And this contributes to our present enjoyment of suffering.
This world or the next, hell or heaven, we no longer bother about.
Shaktis and siddhis, occultism and miracles, we no longer think of;
All these false impressions (thoughts) for us have been purged from the mind.
What has value and importance for us now, is to live in the active present.
Dear ones, take seriously the words of Baba when he says,
Although now, I am on the same level with you all,
Yet all orders from me, good, bad, extraordinary
You should all carry out immediately, leaving the result to God.
Even if the heavens fall,
Do not let go the hand of Truth;
Let despair and disappointment ravage and destroy the garden (of your life),
You beautify it once again, by the seedlings of contentment and self-sufficiency.
Even if your heart is cut to bits, let there be a smile on your lips.
Here I divulge to you a point worth noting.
Hidden in your penniless hands, is treasure untold;
Your beggarly life will be the envy of Kings (of the world).
God exists indeed and true are the Prophets;
Every Cycle has an Avatar and every moment has a Wali,
For us however, it is only hopelessness and helplessness,
How else should I tell you what our New Life is!
~Dr. Abdul Ghani Munsiff, Close Disciple of Meher Baba
About Meher Baba’s New Life (October 1949-February 1952)
In the New Life, Meher Baba and His companions gave up all property and financial responsibilities. They traveled throughout India without money, begging for food, and living in strict accordance with Meher Baba’s conditions of the New Life.
These conditions included absolute acceptance of the circumstances of their lives and consistent good cheer in the face of any difficulty. It was a time of complete helplessness and hopelessness, relying only upon God.
The New Life phase of Meher Baba’s life culminated in early 1952 after more than two years. “This New Life will live by itself eternally, even if there is no one to live it,” said Meher Baba.
Notes
Shaktis: Shakti in Vedanta means power.
Siddhis: Siddhis refers to divine or mystic powers; also occult powers in Vedanta.
Avatar: The total manifestation of God in human form on earth, as the Eternal Living Perfect Master; the direct descent of Reality into Illusion; the Savior, the Highest of the High, the Ancient One. Also called God-Man, the Messiah, the Buddha, the Christ, the Rasool.
Wali: A friend of God. Frequently used in a more restricted sense to mean a saint.
Sources
“Song of the New Life of Meher Baba & His Companions,” by Dr. Abdul Ghani Munsiff. PDF accessed October 6, 2026. ©1980 Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahilyanagar, India.
“Baba Words — The Master’s Glossary,” compiled by Frank Davis, ©2000 Frank Davis. Accessed online October 6, 2026.
“Meher Baba’s New Life,” Meher Mount Story Blog, accessed online October 6, 2026.
Photograph: Avatar Meher Baba in 1950 outside the Nalavala residence at 36 Lytton Road, Dehra Dun, India. Photographer: Keki Nalavala. Courtesy of Meher Nazar Publications, Ahilyanagerar, India.