9902 Sulphur Mountain Road
Ojai, CA 93023-9375
Phone: 805-640-0000
Email: info@mehermount.org
Wednesday-Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
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Buzz & Ginger Glasky
Sam Ervin, Preident
Ron Holsey, Vice President
Ursula Reinhart, Treasurer
Jim Whitson, Director
Richard Mannis, Director
Margaret Magnus, Secretary
Anecdotes, activities and stories about Meher Mount - past, present and future.
Filtering by Category: Meher Baba at Meher Mount
Agnes Baron drove Meher Baba and the mandali from the hotel in her "Woody" station wagon to Meher Mount.
Along the way, Meher Baba admired the rich agricultural land and asked many questions. "What is being grown, how was the land irrigated, are there orchards?"
"Baba was talking as if He were a real estate agent," Agnes cracked.
Read MoreIt was a foggy day when Avatar Meher Baba arrived at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. “It wasn’t clear. You couldn’t see out across the vistas,” remembered Leatrice Shaw Johnston who was at Meher Mount that day.
“The steep hill of Meher Mount was shrouded in mist as our bus climbed tortuously upward, and when we stepped out we saw, instead of the celebrated view of the Ojai Valley, only a rolling sea of fog, recalled Filis Frederick.
Later, with everyone gathered around Him in the ‘Baba Room’ of the guesthouse, Meher Baba gestured toward the outdoors and said…
Read MoreAgnes Baron, Meher Mount co-founder and lifetime caretaker, describes Avatar Meher Baba's 1956 visit.
She takes filmmakers Irwin and Edwin Luck on a tour of the property, including Baba's Tree and the 'Baba Room' where Meher Baba gave darshan (His blessing) on August 2, 1956.
The 14:56-minute film was made in 1970 and has been restored. However, the sound is still difficult in some places. It’s easiest to watch the video and get the flavor of Agnes Baron’s personality while reading read along from the transcript.
Read MoreAfter the two buses reached Meher Mount, Meher Baba called everyone into the ‘Baba Room’ of the guesthouse.
“…we all went inside and sat wherever we could, all sort of crowded around Baba, but in a comfortable way,” remembered Darwin Shaw. “Baba sat where everyone could see him. He seemed very relaxed and happy to be among his lovers.”
With everyone seated around Him, Meher Baba said, “I want you all to close your eyes for five minutes. Do not think of anything, just think of Baba.”
At another time, He smiled and said, “This afternoon, you all have a chance to laugh and feel relaxed. …here today, we feel relaxed, happy. I come down to your level so that we can laugh and be free together; but do not forget at the same time that I am the Highest of the High.”
Read MoreWhen Avatar Meher Baba was at Meher Mount in 1956, He specifically did not give discourses because it was a day of relaxation. He explained to the group with Him, “Do not expect any discourse from me today. Yesterday, I told you all that you would play and feel relaxed” here.
However, at one point, He noted the following…
Read MoreMeher Baba repeatedly stressed how fortunate His followers were to be with Him that day at Meher Mount - August 2, 1956. It was a time of relaxation and laughter in the presence of the Avatar of the Age. The following is from first-hand accounts of the day by Filis Frederick, Darwin Shaw and Jeanne Shaw with photographs from Darwin Shaw.
“Thursday, August 2 [1956], was a day we had all been looking forward to, a day when Baba would be free of interviews, when we could all be more closely with him in the beautiful setting of Meher Mount,” wrote Darwin Shaw in his book, As Only God Can Love.
“Everyone was in a happy mood for the day’s outing,” Darwin continued.
Read MoreMeher Baba in the USA, 1956 is filmed by Charmian Duce Knowles and produced by Sufism Reoriented ©1972. In the late 1960s, assisted by Henry Mindlin and Charmian’s future husband, Duncan Knowles, she added a soundtrack. Charmian and Duncan provide the narration.
The entire film is one hour and 23 minutes long. Meher Baba’s visit to Meher Mount starts at 50:21 minutes into the film and continues for approximately six-and-one-half minutes.
Read MoreBunty Kelley Bernstein was one of the dancers trained by ballet professional and instructor Margaret Craske, a close disciple (mandali) of Avatar Meher Baba. In the Winter 2014 issue of Glow International: A Journal Devoted to Meher Baba, Bunty shared her own stories of being with Meher Baba.
The following excerpt is about her time in 1956 when Meher Baba visited Meher Mount during His three-day trip to Southern California. He stayed at at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood and went to Meher Mount on August 2, 1956.
Read MoreJeanne Shaw, who was with Meher Baba at Meher Mount in 1956, describes her precious experience with Meher Baba at Baba’s Tree.
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