(April 1932) Baba went for a walk to the beach after lunch. Pointing to the ocean, Baba remarked to the group present: I am like the ocean you see before you – always ready to receive anything, good and bad. All your thoughts, feelings, all and everything, lay them at my feet and be free! I am like the sunshine …
MERGING IN THE OCEAN IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO DISOBEY
Silla Hormuzd’s birthday was celebrated on April 20th (1940) with fresh mango ice cream. Besides an abundance of mangoes, Amboli had plenty of poisonous snakes, whose bites were said to mean certain death. Baba ordered all not to move about in the dark without a lamp. Once, Kitty and Nadine forgot their lanterns, and the next day, Baba took them …
TO SUMMARIZE THE MANZIL-E-MEEM PERIOD
TO SUMMARIZE MANZIL-E-MEEM: Prior to the ten-month stay in Bombay, Meher Baba’s relationship with the mandali had been one that exists between good friends. Those who acknowledged him to be their Master or Guru were unaware of the significance and absolute necessity of obedience to all his orders. In Manzil-e-Meem, this relationship completely changed. The mandali were made to be aware …
BABA’S MESSAGE – THE DREAM OF MATERIALSM
On Wednesday, April 18th (1962), Baba gave this discourse on the Dream of Materialism: The condition of the world, the strife and uncertainty that is everywhere, the general dissatisfaction with, and rebellion against, any and every situation shows that the ideal of material perfection is an empty dream and proves the existence of an Eternal Reality beyond materiality. For if …
YOU CANNOT BE A SLAVE TO YOUR OWN WISH AND REVERE ME AT THE SAME TIME
(1924) AS THE DAYS went on, things became harder, and because of the intense heat, arduous physical labor and each man’s own strong personality, tempers would flare. To make the mandali gain more control of themselves, Baba stated the following two rules: Each morning every member of the mandali should touch the feet of every other member and say, “You are …
THE PILES COMMITTEE
(1951) BABA SUFFERED INTENSELY during his seclusion in Mahabaleshwar. His hemorrhoids (dubbed “piles”) and a fissure were painfully inflamed. (1) He was also passing a lot of blood in his stools. Baba sat for hours in seclusion despite his painful condition, and though his body suffered, the work did not. He never allowed his body to prevent him from fulfilling his duty …
JHOPDI – THE AGRA KUTI
A meeting was called during the afternoon of April 15th, (1924) to suggest a name for Meher Baba’s newly built room. He suggested the name Jhopdi (simply meaning, the Hut), which all seemed to like; and so this one-room hut built for the Lord was accordingly christened. It was also referred to as Agra Kuti – the First Hut. Another …
IT IS YOU WHO NEED ME UNTIL YOU BECOME ME
Although different men and women definitely disliked one another, each in the group promised to try to live Baba’s words. Thereupon, Baba continued: If I find disharmony and find you not prepared to die, then it is better that you all pack up and go. You have not come here for name and fame. I have so many disciples from the …
IT IS TIME WE STARTED DYING
Despite the group having been together for four months now, differences and petty quarrels persisted in the Nasik ashram. On the afternoon of April 13th, (1937) Baba mentioned this problem and explained the difference between needs and wants: As I said this morning, “It is time we started dying.” Dying not the ordinary death, but the death of low desires. It is all bliss everywhere, …
. . . BUT DON’T TELL ANYONE
(1942) Gaimai began doing the cooking for the women, along with her daughters, Meheru and Manu. She had the habit of adding sugar to add flavor to the food, and she added some to Baba’s food. One day, someone complained, and Baba sent for her and for Eruch. He asked Gaimai, “Tell me the truth: do you put sugar in …
WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY?
In Karwar, (April 1940) Baba gave this explanation to the women about spiritual poise: What is spirituality? It is the undoing of what you have been doing since ages. You always thought of selfish motives for eating, preserving your life, and attending to every need with zeal. All these lives you have made a habit of looking to yourself. If the …
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD WE NOT HAD ICE CREAM
In Panjim, Elizabeth asked Baba one day, “Very good quality ice cream is available here. May I bring some for all?” Baba replied, “That is an excellent idea; but it should not cause colds and affect your throats.” Baba sent for Nilu and asked, “What remedy is there to prevent getting sore throats from eating ice cream?” Nilu replied, “Garlic …
IT IS EITHER UNITY – ONENESS – OR DUALITY
Mahatma Gandhi had his own ideas of what constituted “non-violence” and “non-violent resistance,” and he did not truly understand the gist of Baba’s message on the subject. Baba sent Chanji again to Delhi to see Gandhi, which he did on April 3rd. Chanji returned to Dehra Dun and several letters ensued between himself and Gandhi about this subject. Gandhi had …
MESSAGE FOR THE PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL
Despite Baba’s having avoided being filmed upon his arrival in London, the Paramount Film Company would not leave him alone, and he eventually acceded to their request for a filmed interview. A film of Baba was taken on April 8th from 5 to 6 P.M. in the garden of the Davys’ home. Baba wore a white robe, which had been sewn by his American lovers …
EVEN WHEN FEELING ROTTEN, REMAIN CHEERFUL AND APPEAR HAPPY
It was quite cold at Manjri Mafi and Motichur. Due to the lack of proper clothing and diet, remaining on only dal and chapatis once a day, both the men and women companions’ health gradually deteriorated. All sorts of ailments began plaguing them. Pendu had pleurisy and pain in the chest; Eruch, lumbago and a sprained foot that was becoming …
WANT WHAT I WANT
(1959) Deshmukh broached the subject of a certain young man he had chosen as a husband for his daughter, Sanjeevani. Baba replied, “I don’t like it; he is not suitable.” Earnestly, Deshmukh rejoined, “Baba, the fellow is very good. He is educated and comes from a good family.” Seeing that Deshmukh had already settled things, Baba relented, “If that is …
GOD EXPERIENCES THREE STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
During the train ride, at two in the afternoon, (April 1947) Baba gave the following explanation for an hour. Brother Jal read the alphabet board, as Baba dictated: God has experienced three states of consciousness: Forgetfulness, Helplessness and All-powerfulness. In the state of Forgetfulness, God – unconscious of His infinite power, bliss and existence – was perfectly at peace. This state …
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS CALL ME DUMB?
(1948) . . . an amusing incident took place. Baba was conversing with Baidul, Chhagan, Eruch, Gustadji and Kaka. As Gustadji was keeping silence, he was “talking” with his fingers, and Eruch, who was the most adept at putting his gestures into words, was interpreting for Baba. Because Gustadji had enjoyed a bumper breakfast that morning, he was in a …
HE NOW KNEW FOR CERTAIN WHO MEHER BABA WAS
DURING the programs at Madras, thousands filed past Baba after taking darshan. One man took darshan on the night of April 3rd (1947) and was about to walk away when Baba interrupted the flow and called him back. Baba spelled out to him, “I know you.” But none of the local lovers were acquainted with this gentleman. The next morning, …
KEEP THIS ONE THOUGHT CONSTANTLY WITH YOU . . .
Baba had directed the Westerners to do an hour of meditation each morning. On April 2nd, (1937) before leaving for Meherabad, he urged them to take the meditation seriously, and he also stressed to them that they should always think of him in everything they did. He stated: Try to do it very, very seriously as if your very spiritual …
BABA’S PRASAD
(April 1, 1959) Deshmukh used to be the butt of everyone’s jokes, Baba included. On April Fool’s Day at Guruprasad, Baba presented him with a lavishly wrapped present which Deshmukh took to be something quite precious. When he carefully unwrapped the bundle, which had seven layers of different colored wrapping paper, he found an ordinary stone. Everyone laughed, but Deshmukh …
NO ONE WITH AN INFLATED EGO CAN STAY WITH BABA
Daily, Eruch and Bhau had to leave Rosewood for the Judge’s bungalow at 5 A.M. to attend to Baba’s personal work. Baba ordered Krishnaji to bring tea each day at 6:30 A.M. from Rosewood for Kaikobad, Eruch, Sidhu, Ali Shah, Nilkanth and Bhau. He did as ordered, but brought tea for everyone except Bhau, for whom he felt disdain. Baba …
THE PRICE OF KNOWING ME IS LOVE – LOVE, PURE AND SIMPLE
On March 30th, (1930) some devotees came to Nasik to see Baba who expounded on the nature of love to them: Love me and you will know me; but I am such a Reality that it is extremely difficult to know me. The price is love. No repetition of God’s name, no penance and no meditation is necessary – only love, and …
BABA SET THEIR MINDS STRAIGHT
From Jabalpur, Amiya Kumar Hazra and Ram Lakhan Sharma were sent for by Baba. Hazra, in an attempt to humble his own ego, had given up his job as a college professor and was serving as an apprentice soapstone carver in Bhedaghat, about thirteen miles from Jabalpur. Hazra’s leaving the college caused much misery to his parents. After obtaining his master’s …
UNLESS A SNAKE IS KILLED BY A HUMAN BEING, IT REMAINS ALWAYS A SNAKE
The same day (March 28, 1938) a five-foot-long snake was seen outside the kitchen with a sparrow in its mouth. Baba was called, and he came with a few of the men. One man struck the snake on its back, and it released the sparrow which flew away. Baba gave the final killing blow, crushing its head. Later in the …