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On May 24, 1952, near the small town of Prague, Oklahoma, Avatar Meher Baba shed His blood on American soil. With Him and sharing in His sacrifice were some of His closest disciples, including His cherished and most beloved Mehera.

Meher Baba explained that this American accident would “result in benefit to the whole world.” He said on other occasions that during this Advent it would be necessary for the Avatar to undergo this Self-sacrifice. Baba was seriously injured as a result of this event, and combined with the more severe injuries sustained in the 1956 automobile ‘accident’ in India, was never able to walk without pain again for the rest of His life.

The date of this event was foretold by Baba many years earlier. At Harmon on Hudson, in 1932, Meher Baba gave Elizabeth Patterson a small pink wildflower and told her to always keep the flower and write down the date, that some day she would know the meaning. It wasn’t until years after the accident that Elizabeth discovered the flower He had given her that day, and written next to it in her Bible, the date, “May 24, 1932,” exactly 20 years to day that she would be driving the accident vehicle.

The following story of Meher Baba’s accident was excerpted from the article “Meher Baba’s Accident in America” by Jeff Maquire, originally published in The Broken Down Furniture News, and reprinted by permission of the author. Portions of the article were based on research and writings of Julia Ross, David Fenster, Adele Wolkin, Kitty Davy, C. B. Purdum, Filis Frederick, and Philip Lutgendorf.
(Excerpt from Web Site)

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These meetings are informal gatherings which usually comprise of prayers given by Meher Baba and a few songs by by local artists Pam and Danny Rubenstein and Maraiya Potter. Then different poetry by Meher Baba, Hafiz, Rumi, or other mystics is sometimes shared as well as any news. Usually a selected book by Meher Baba is read, round robin style, or movies/videos of Meher Baba or His Mandali are shown. The host of the meeting is usually the guide of the meeting, but Meher Baba followers/lovers have no religion or formal structure.

Meher Baba attached the highest significance to love for God. He gave no importance to rites, rituals or ceremonies. Divine love, he said, recognizes no barrier of caste, creed, religion, race, sex, or nationality but spreads directly from heart to heart. While affirming the validity of all paths to God if sincerely followed, Meher Baba directed his own disciples and followers to lead simple, natural lives. He directed them to attend faithfully to worldly responsibilities, while remembering God inwardly and dedicating all thoughts, words, and deeds to Him. Meher Baba’s worldwide following continues to love and honor him, not merely as a great spiritual teacher, but as the Divine Beloved — God in human form.

(Excerpt from website)

Tempa Bay Website

. . . Special buildings, used by Meher Baba during his three visits in 1952, 1956, and 1958, offer settings for individuals to visit for quiet reflection, and are preserved as much as possible as they were during his visits.

There is a library and a meeting place, where a variety of written and audio-visual materials and programs offer many opportunities for learning more about Meher Baba and his message of love and truth.

Five hundred acres of dense forest adjacent to the Atlantic ocean and two fresh-water lakes provide a peaceful natural setting. Situated throughout the retreat are residential cabins for overnight visitors, kitchen facilities, and numerous walking trails.

For those who know of Meher Baba, the Center most importantly speaks to them of his special love. Elizabeth said: “The Center was a beautiful place of nature before Baba came, but after he came there was a ‘plus’ quality…We feel he is always here—not in a supernatural way, but in a perfectly natural way.”

In fact, Meher Baba said of the Center: “I never leave. Remember, I do not leave because this is my home.”

Phone Gateway office: 843-272-5777 (seven days a week 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST)
Address: Meher Spiritual Center
10200 North Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 , U.S.A.

Myrtle Beach

Meherana Center

Meherana (“Meher Come”) is a retreat center located on 289 acres in Mariposa County, California, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, an hour’s drive from Yosemite National Park. The property features rolling hills, clear streams fed by melting mountain snow, and abundant forests of oak and pine.

Meherana currently puts on two major gatherings per year called Sahavas, which means “in the company of the Master”. Sahavas are held in the Spring and in the Fall, and offer camping facilities with outdoor sanitation systems. Many visitors stay in one of Mariposa’s wide range of lodgings and then join the campers for daily activities.

Smaller retreats, including one for women, are held once or twice per year. Work retreats are also held the 3rd weekend of each month to help with maintenance and development. Individual visitors may make reservations to retreat at Meherana, though the facilities are still under development and the atmosphere is quite rustic.

The main development goal is to increase the number of tent cabins for year-round retreat use for people with an interest in Avatar Meher Baba. Milestones include the construction of a meeting/dining hall and kitchen facility, cabins for pilgrims, recreation facilities, a library and archive center, mediation area, a children’s play area, and an orchard and garden.

Meherana is registered as a 501(c)3, charitable non-profit organization in California.

(Excerpt from WebSite)

Meherana Center

… A weekly meeting is held every sunday from 11 AM to 1 PM and a poor-feeding programme is held every last sunday of the month in which free meals are provided to the needy. Special programmes are also organised on special-occasions such as Baba’s Birthday (25th Feb.) , Silence Day (10th July) and Anual Mela (1st,2nd,3rd Dec.).

The centre maintains a library which provides books and other literature on Meher Baba which can be issued by the Baba-lovers. Centre is also working for the cause of humanity and provides free medical facilities to the needful through a Charitable Dispensary. Apart from this,free tailoring and stiching classes are conducted for girls and widows so as to enable them to earn their livelihood.

Delhi Centre always tries to co-operate and associate with other institutions similarly devoted to the cause of humanity and Avatar Meher Baba.

For any other relevant information regarding the activities of the centre, contact: -

Avatar Meher Baba Centre,
50-A Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
MB Road,New Delhi-110062.

Contact Nos:
Mr. Manoj Sethi (General Secretary): 09810123853
Mr. R.N. Malhotra (President): +91-11-29230988

Delhi Center Web Site

.. For more information you can contact :-

MEHER BABA UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL CENTRE, Byramangala,
Abbanakuppe Village, Ittamadu Post, Bidadi Hobli, Ramanagaram Taluk,
Bangalore 560109
Monthly, Every 2nd Sunday – 10.30 AM to 12.30 PM
(Mr.V.Deva Rao – 080-27202160, +919880311569)

MEHER BABA JAYANAGAR CENTRE,
1186/14, 35th ‘C’ cross, 26th Main, 4th ‘T’ Block, Jayanagar,
Bangalore 560041
Weekly, Friday/Sunday – 4.30 PM to 6.00 PM
(Mr.A.N. Rajagopal – 080-26640433, +919845697738)

MEHER PREM KUTIR,
No. 17, Devendrappa Layout, Dwarakanagar, Chikkabanavara Post,
Bangalore 560090
Weekly, Sunday – 5.00 PM to 6.00 PM
(Mr.P. Mohan Rao – 080-57612547, +919986354805)

For further information, please contact below. JAI MEHER BABA !

Email :

meherkk (at) gmail.com

Phone : +919845496461

Bangalore Center Web Site

…. Meher Baba, who was alive then, called a meeting at Meherabad and gave, what he called his Universal Message and asked his lovers to spread this message of love and truth to all. A Baba devotee from Bhopal, who attended that meeting, decided to start a centre at Bhopal with the help of other devotees and wrote to Meher Baba seeking his blessings. Meher Baba, replying in his letter of 29th August 1959, gave his encouragement and blessings after which, the Bhopal centre came into being.

Currently, the centre holds regular meetings every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 to 8.30 PM and on Sunday’s from 8 to 9 AM. In addition to these meetings, the centre organizes special programmes which include celebration of Meher Baba’s Birthday on the 25th of February, the Silence Day on the 10th of July and continuous repetition of Meher Baba’s Name for 19 Hours without break on four fixed days in a year.

The Centre maintains a library of Books on Meher Baba. Mr. Harry Ducdolcha, a Baba lover in the US, has also presented some books to the Library. The Bhopal Centre has also published four books on Meher Baba.

(Excerpt Information source Bhopal Center website)

Bhopal Center Web Site

The El Cerrito Center’s bookstore, Meher Baba Books, carries a broad selection of books by and about Meher Baba, from standards like The Discourses and God Speaks, written by Baba, and the 20-volume biography by Bhau Kalchuri, to the narratives and poetry of women and men of the East and the West who came into his contact and recorded their experiences. We also have a wide variety of photos, prints, and videos of Meher Baba, music CDs by talented Baba followers, jewelry, cards, and more.

Watch for our monthly sales! We are open Saturdays 10 to 4, and during other scheduled events. All are welcome to browse, read, enjoy a coffee, or chat!

An extensive library of Meher Baba books, and a library of Meher Baba videos, as well, are available for loan through the Meher Baba Center of Northern California. The checkout procedure is described in the documents. The first list details the books, and the second list details the videos. Suggestions for donations follow both lists. (Excerpt from Web Site)

Meher Baba Northern California Center

. . . Currently, Meherdham, which means “abode of compassion”, offers the opportunity for refreshment of the spirit to followers of Meher Baba and other interested spiritual seekers in an atmosphere of natural beauty and Aloha. The Center is available for retreats, activities and service projects to both individuals and groups attracted to Avatar Meher Baba’s principles of love and service. Meher Baba, the embodiment of Aloha, has said that the appreciation of beauty and a love of nature could inspire that awakening.

Meherdham is situated on five acres of Hawaiian homestead land located on the beautiful, unspoiled island of Moloka’i located just three miles from the Ho’olehua Airport on the mid upland side of the island. Meherdham offers day and overnight visitors an opportunity to celebrate Meher Baba and his creation in one of the most unique spots on earth.

The present Meherdham is the result of the vision and work of Stan Alapa and his helpmeets in life, wife Shirley, and daughters, Ohelo, Luana and Kau’i. A lifelong spiritual seeker, Stan learned of Meher Baba shortly after Baba dropped his body, and attended the Great Darshan in India in 1969 where he was given the above mentioned Baba treasures.

Stan returned to Hawaii with a strong desire that the Hawaiian peoples would come to know of Meher Baba. The treasures he was given formed a major impetus for his desire to establish a lasting center for Meher Baba in Hawai’i. Murshida Ivy Duce (appointed by Meher Baba as the first teacher of his Sufism Reoriented) whom Stan had also come to know, emphasized that he must carefully preserve these items, not only for the spiritual growth of local Baba lovers, but for the well-being of the Hawaiian islands.

After searching for a suitable location for nearly 30 years, toward the end of his life, Stan finally settled on his own back yard. In 1998, he dedicated the family’s combined homestead lands to the cause of his beloved Meher Baba and began the process of development. In September of 1999, Meherdham was officially named and dedicated by one of Meher Baba’s still living close disciples Bhau Kalchuri. Articles about Stan, the treasures and the dedication are featured in the November 2002 edition of Glow International – a journal devoted to Meher Baba.

Meherdham today is still very much a work in process and owes its existence entirely due to the labor and devotion of the Alapa family. Because it is being developed on Hawaiian Homestead land it was not possible to achieve a 501-C3 tax exempt status. Thus Meherdham’s future permanency in its present location is in doubt. But perhaps, some day, the land may be available for purchase and then we will see what Baba has in mind!

Meher Baba in Hawaii

Meher Baba visited the Hawaiian Islands on four occasions: 1932, 1935, 1956 and 1958. Each time, Hawaii was a stopover on the four around-the-world trips he took in his lifetime. The 1932 trip was the most extensive, when Meher Baba in his typical fast-paced manner spent two and a half very busy days on Oah’u. After that first trip, Meher Baba happily told his women disciples in India how “picturesque” Hawaii was and “how lovely” the palm trees were. In the midst of Meher Baba’s work for creation, he had a moment to relax and enjoy the beauty of Oah’u.

Here we have provided details on each of Meher Baba’s Hawaiian visits. We also have provided some helpful information for Meherdham visitors who may wish to see “the Baba places” on Honolulu.

Besides his four stops in Hawai’i, Meher Baba proposed an additional trip for 1941, and although he did not come, in retrospect his focus on Hawai’i at this time seems to have historical significance.

The first visit, June 9 to June 11, 1932

To those of us who live, or have lived in the Islands, it has always been very happy news to know that Meher Baba has graced these shores. We knew that he had stayed at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki and thought that he had visited the aquarium and perhaps the zoo, but had few other details. Since the Moana Hotel is still in business, Baba lover, Stan Alapa, had even gone to great extents to learn what room Baba had stayed in. But no records have ever been found.

It wasn’t until Volume 5 of Lord Meher was published that we Baba lovers in Hawai’i gained a solid list of details. In this issue, on pages 1668 and 1669, glorious facts about dates, times and itinerary are given.

We learned that Meher Baba arrived in Honolulu on Thursday, June 9th, 1932 at eight in the morning aboard the Monterey, four days out of Los Angeles on its maiden voyage. With Baba were Quentin Todd, Chanji, Kaka, brothers Adi Jr. and Beheram, and a boy named Carl Phillips

Carl Phillips had been selected as the prospective “suitable” boy to take on the trip to China and shared the ship cabin with Baba. He is described as “disobedient and self-indulgent”, however, and as he “proved a veritable nuisance,” it was decided to send him back at the first opportunity.

Baba had also called Rustom Irani from China to meet him in Honolulu, so Rustom was waiting at the dock. Baba met with him privately and sent him on to Australia that same day aboard the Monterey (thereby forging links with Australia for the future.)

During their stay in Honolulu, Baba and the group stayed at the Moana Hotel located on the most famous stretch of beach in Waikiki. Following their arrival, after resting for two hours, they walked to a “coconut grove in the gardens of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel which was next to the Moana and saw a splendid performance by native Hawaiian dancers and singers.” Afterward, they drove across the middle of the island through the pineapple groves and stopped to drink “copious amounts of pineapple juice.” That evening, following dinner, they attended a movie at the Empire cinema.

The next day, on Friday, Baba “went for another drive in the afternoon through Honolulu to the Nuimalu Hotel and later to view a large fish aquarium.” That evening then went to see a play.

On Saturday, their last day, Baba, Chanji and Todd went to have breakfast at “Mrs. Walter Dillingham’s villa, La Pietra, on a hill near the area called Diamond Head.” They arrived at 7:45 am. and left at 9:00 am. to take Carl and Quentin Todd, who were returning to Los Angeles, to their ship.

Baba, Chanji, Kaka, Adi Jr., and Beheram left for China on Saturday, June 11th at noon, traveling on the Empress of Japan.

The Second Visit, January, 1935

On October 18, 1934, Meher Baba departed for the west for the eighth time in three years. He said that a primary purpose of his visit was to help disciples he had entrusted with producing a commercial feature film based on spiritual principles. After intensive working on this film project and conducting interviews in Hollywood, Meher Baba suddenly announced his work necessitated his returning to India. Although his western devotees in California were heartbroken at the news of an unexpected separation, on January 7, Baba departed by rail for Vancouver, Canada, stopping briefly in San Francisco and passing though Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Accompanied by his disciples Chanji, Kaka, Adi Senior, bother Jal, and a cocker spaniel named “chummy”, Baba embarked for Hawaii from Vancouver on January 12 at 10 a.m., aboard the Empress of Canada. On January 17, Baba mailed letters to his “Lovers left in America” from Honolulu before continuing on to Asia. *

The Proposed Visit, December, 1941

In the fall of 1941, prior to the U.S. entry into World War II, Meher Baba indicated that his work required him to cross the seas and visit America again. After sending communiqués to his American disciples regarding the proposed trip, he cabled to them:

MYSELF AND UPASNI (his master) MET AFTER 23 YEARS AND MOMENTOUS SPIRITUAL DECISIONS NECESSITATE CROSSING OCEAN MIDDLE OF DECEMBER LATEST, FUNDS INSUFFICIENT MUST CANCEL AMERICA. THEREFORE DEFINITELY PREFER HONOLULU , PHILIPPINES , OR ANY THE PACIFIC INCURRING LESS EXPENSIVE FARE.

Margaret Craske, an English disciple living with Baba in India and serving as secretary for these dictations, shortly thereafter realized the possible significance of the correspondence: “On December 7, 1941 , the eyes of a horrified world were drawn to Honolulu and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor .” **

The Third Visit, August 7, 1956:

In the summer of 1956, Meher Baba took a one-month world tour of the west. Flying from San Francisco to Australia on Pan Am Flight 841, he and four disciples arrived in Honolulu at 5:15 p.m. Since the layover was to last three-and-a-half hours, one of the disciples asked if they might walk along the path outside the airport and close to the beach. Baba, however, insisted that the disciples “stay put” and watch the crowds in the international airport. After some time, a well-dressed couple approached Baba and asked if he might come to their house for food and rest. Though pleased with their invitation, Baba replied that they lacked sufficient time before re-boarding the plane. Feeling that Baba had initially refused the notion of a walk because of anticipating this contact, the disciples again requested going outside. The wisdom of Baba’s further insistence to remain in the terminal soon became apparent when the couple returned with large brown bags with food for Baba and his companions. After Baba responded with fond affection, the couple left with no further words. Then Baba gestured, “Now let’s go for a walk.”

Eruch Jessawala, one of Baba’s close mandali, faithful companion and interpreter, who was present at the time, tells this colorful tale in his book, That’s How It Was: Stories of Life with Meher Baba. In later years, whenever anyone from Hawaii would arrive at Baba’s home in India, Eruch would tell this story and ask, “Have you ever heard anything about this couple? Does anyone know who this couple was?” But the couple was never heard from again, and nobody has ever learned who they were. ***

The Final Stopover, May 31, 1958

In May 1958, Meher Baba made his sixth and final visit to America in this advent. Since 1931, he had spent a total of 200 days there, more time than in any other country outside of India . On May 31, Meher Baba and his disciples left from San Francisco for Australia on QANTAS Flight 743. At 6:15 p.m., they arrived in Honolulu where they had a four-hour layover. When they departed the Honolulu airport late that evening it marked the last time that Avatar Meher Baba was on American soil. A little over a year later, on August, 1959, Hawai’i became the 50th state in the United States…and of special current interest, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States was born in Honolulu in 1961.

(Excerpts from the website)

Meher Baba Hawaii Center

Baba stayed in the Jubilee Hills area during the New Life period from 27 May to 24 October 1951.

Address:

End of Road no. 36,
Near Madhapur,
Jubilee Hills,
Hyderabad

Avatar Meher Baba Hyderabad [Koti] Centre:

The centre was inaugurated on 15th July, 1973. It is situated in the heart of the city. Recently the hall was extended and renovated. The renovated hall was inaugurated by Bro. Bhau Kalchuri on 18th March, 1999. In this connection silver jubilee celebrations of the centre celebrated with a Baba-ful sahavas.

Address:

Avatar Meher Baba Hyderabad [Koti] centre,
Door No: 4-7-297/A,
Esamia Bazar,
Hyderabad – 500 027

Email: ambhyd (at) yahoo.com

Meher Baba Hyderabad Center Website