The warning was for Hurricane Hilary with the “best case” scenario being a tropical storm. Caretaker Ray Johnston had prepared Meher Mount for the storm.
What happened? There was a 5.1 earthquake with the epicenter about 2,000 yards from Meher Mount.
“It’s big one,” Ray said, when he picked up the phone just moments after the 5.1 earthquake.
Just as everyone was bracing for Hurricane Hilary — the first tropical storm since in 1939 — the earthquake struck the Ojai Valley at 2:41 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
“The aftershocks keep coming,” he later texted. They ranged in magnitude from 3.1 to 3.9 with an estimated 30+ aftershocks continuing throughout Sunday night.
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The following article along with four photographs of Meher Baba were published in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, August 1, 1956. Meher Baba, who was staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, met with the press on July 31st to answer questions. The article appeared at the top of the front page of the local news section of the Times.
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The birds at Meher Mount are irresistible.
Whether you’re a dedicated bird watcher or a novice, there’s something about being at Meher Mount. You want to grab a pair of binoculars and go see what birds you can find.
And if you’re a photographer, you are always looking for opportunities to capture their beauty on camera.
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The following story is about drilling a well and how it represents faith versus conviction. Eruch Jessawala, one of Meher Baba’s closest disciples, frequently told this story to pilgrims visiting Meher Baba’s home in Meherazad, India.
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When Meher Mount received the gift of a sadra worn by Avatar Meher Baba, Sam L. Ervin, board president, was moved to write this poem.
A sadra (also sadhra) is a thin muslin shirt traditionally worn by Zoroastrians. Meher Baba adapted the sadra into an ankle-length garment which He regularly wore.
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February 25th marks the birthday of Avatar Meher Baba, born Merwan Sheriar Irani in Poona (now Pune), India on February 25, 1894. Every year on this auspicious day, followers of Meher Baba gather to celebrate His Advent.
This birthday message was given by Meher Baba for His 75th birthday in a family letter dated January 26, 1969, just days before He — the deathless one — dropped His physical form on January 31, 1969.
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Meher Baba has been a touchstone for me since 1974 – an authoritative guide on my soul’s map during my almost constant travels. For the past almost 50 years, as my travels increased and my spiritual aspirations deepened, Meher Baba continued to be a constant marker for my life’s GPS.
At each important turn, He has played a part, created direct routes, sometimes detours – all usually without my knowing it had been done until I had reached my “destination.”
My destination this year in 2023 has been an unexpected return to Meher Mount as a temporary caretaker.
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“When Beloved Baba walked this earth as the beautiful God-Man, He left His imprint in everything and everyone He touched. The dishes that He ate from and the cups that He drank from, the clothes that He wore, the games that He played with… these tangible links to Him come to us today suffused with His fragrance.
“Baba’s sadra, His alphabet boards, His precious hair – each is a unique and irreplaceable link to His human form.”
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On January 31, 1969, Avatar Meher Baba — God in human form — dropped His physical form. Even though, in hindsight, Meher Baba had given hints to His close disciples (mandali) that He would leave His body, they were surprised and grief stricken.
This story takes place soon after Meher Baba dropped His body, and the mandali were dealing with their heartache. Mani S. Irani, Meher Baba’s sister, shares an incident that helped her with her grief.
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There are three kinds of certainties — Yakin — regarding the existence of God. They are:
(a) Intellectual certainty = ilmul Yakin
(b) Sighted certainty = ainol Yakin
(c) Realized certainty = haque Yakin
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Water, by being in love with death, gives life to all things;
Desiring absorption in the ocean it flows, and sings.
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Water is a life-giving force. And it’s frequently used as a spiritual symbol or metaphor — often in music.
The “Songs of Water & Spirituality” playlist is a selection of songs in which water has a connection to the Divine.
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In the Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism, the 101 Names of God are given as a prayer.
"If you repeat this prayer with love, no other prayer remains to be said,” Meher Baba said. “Anyone can repeat these names with love, irrespective of the religion he belongs to.”
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"Let your love flow on ceaselessly,
like a stream down the mountain on its way to the Ocean.
Obstructions there will be, of pleasures, of pains.
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The fact that one cannot live without water means water is life. In the Sanskrit language this is literally so. Another word for water is ‘life’. Jivanum.
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Meher Baba spelled out, “Within you is dirty water too, and I have also to take it out, to make room for the fresh water of my love. Thus, in different ways, I am taking out the dirty water from everyone. I am training you, so that you may one day dive deep into my Ocean and obtain the treasure.”
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With gestures… you know when Baba would look into your eyes and do the gestures. Though I was a very little child, I used to understand Baba because his eyes used to speak to our hearts.
He tells me, “Do you know how much trouble I have to take to make this water?”
I said, “No Baba, I don’t know.”
And then he tells me…”
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“The spiritual meaning of water lies in its reflection of the human spirit and the interconnection of all creation.
“We are all aware of the necessity of water. From keeping us alive to quenching our thirst, to washing the dirt from our bodies and our food, not to mention its role in producing that food, our survival depends on water.
“But what does such a valuable life force mean spiritually? Is there any spiritual essence or spiritual meaning of water?”
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It was foolish of me to believe that the intense yellow, orange, and red hues of Friday’s glorious sunrise anticipated a serene day at Meher Mount.
It was a perfect day to enjoy the fresh air on this sunny, crisp 47-degree morning.
The day stayed beautiful, but it was not serene.
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Agnes Baron’s only trip to India was in September 1982 to talk to Meher Baba’s mandali (close disciples) about the future of Meher Mount.
“What I didn’t realize at the time,” Bill Le Page said, “there was no resolution in her mind regarding the future ownership of Meher Mount.”
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