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2vfeher l3aba’s 76th Birthday Celebrafion
FEBRUARY 28, 1970
BARBIZON-PLAZA THEATER
NEW YORK CITY
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ARRIVAL THROUGH DENIAL (Enlightenment begins in self-denial and ends in self-revelation)
by Meher Baba Before enlightenment shows one clearly who one is, there are the false-self assertions : I am a man, my name is Jack; I am a woman and my name is Jill. Before SELF can assert Reality, all false-self assertions must be denied. And since his body is the source of his identity as Jack, a man, and the cause of false-self assertion, he must deny his body-wants. The body wants food and drink— so food and drink must be denied. The body wants rest and sleep—so rest and sleep must be denied. The body wants to sit, to walk about —so sitting or walking about must be denied. But it is impossible to deny for long the body’s wants. The better way, the way that is evermore delightful and easy, is to begin to forget oneself—until self-forgetfulness becomes so complete and absolute that nothing is remembered except the Real Self. The various spiritual disciplines have been evolved to help one forget one’s false self; and when faithfully practised they not only advance one on the Path of Forgetfulness, but, because of the law of action and reaction, all those closely related to or connected with the selfforgetting self experience some spiritual advancement. The more the self-forgetting self forgets himself the more he is remembered by all those connected with him; and the more these remember him, the more they forget themselves. Now, one of the easiest ways of cultivating self-forgetfulness is to concentrate on a picture of the Master, for this helps the aspirant shift to some extent his concentration on himself to one who is the being and form of Perfection. And when the picture upon which he concentrates becomes alive, this
is called Illumination. And this seeing of the alive picture brings about further forgetfulness of himself. Soon he has no more thoughts about himself at all; his whole mind is focussed on the Uwving face and form of the Master who is the eternal Beloved; and eventually he merges in Him forever. He then knows that he himself was all along the Reality of his own concentration. This is Selfrevelation. And in this is real Selfassertion: “I Am That”. The forgetter of himself has become the rememberer of who he is. And all those who forget themselves in remembering him are also liberated. As it has been said of old thattf one member of a family attains emancipation, with him are emancipated generations of his past and also his present connections. Self-denial is arduous, forced; and self-forgetfulness is easy and natural. Self-denial would be the quicker way if it could be done; but it is impossible. Even if the aspirant succeeds in overcoming, say hunger, after awhile he begins to enjoy fasting; and this is a new want— he wants to fast. So he must deny his pleasure in fasting and eat, though even the sight of food may nauseate him. Or again he succeeds in conquering sleep and enjoys wakefulness—he wants to remain awake. And if he is to master that want he must sleep though to sleep seems like losing all which he has so hardly gained. There becomes no end to denial and counter-denial; and even the strongest will and the stoutest heart will break down on this path. But Self-forgetfulness can be practised by everyone and its way is easy and delightful and safe because it is always under the tender regard of the Master.
PURSUITS by Francis Brabazon When a man pursues the secrets of the things contained in space, He is chasing the flying shadows of the Beloved’s face. When a man dares dive deep within himself sharply eager for seeing, He comes as last to the experiencing of Self’s pure being. We look out from the prisons we have built over a billion years Not knowing that their very stones can be dissolved by love’s tears. When men were strong they were not ashamed of tears’ meekness; Now that we have become half-men we call them weakness. It is good to look out, search, examine every spoor Till one picks up some man-tracks leading to the Beloved’s door. Our arrival there is the purpose of every road Whether we go as freemen or as beasts under a goad. More blessed are the stones of the road that takes us to the sight of God’s face, Than a man who pursues the secrets of the things contained in space.
A thousand times I’ve said: What a beloved you are! A thousand times I’ve fled from your glances Meher— Only to return to the shelter of your smile. Certainty is mine—yet never can I be sure Save of one thing: one day I will arrive at Nowhere, And you will be everywhere. And I shall sing. On that glad day of Grace when my song has become one note— The pure note of your Name, the heavens will tremble And blush with shame because they caused me to dissemble Before you, beloved Meher. A thousand times in joy I have set out for your door Hoping that you would employ my hands to sweep your floor— Only to find that you had spread a feast for me. Certainty is mine—yet never can I be sure Save of one thing: one day I will arrive at Nowhere, And you will be everywhere. And I shall sing. Francis Brabazon
-; 4 vfeher 73aba
A Short Biographical Sketch
(“Meher” means “mercy,” or in Persian “sun,” and is the name by which he was called as a child; “Baba” means “father”) is Merwan Sheheriarji Irani, born at Poona, India, on February 25, 1894. One morning in May 1913, while a student at Deccan Col lege, he was bicycling down Kedari Road when he looked up and met the eyes of an old woman sitting under a neem tree. He knew who the woman was, Hazrat Babajan, reputed to be a very holy person to the inhabitants of the area who held her in very great esteem. She beckoned to him, whereupon he left his bicycle and went over to her. She arose and embraced him though not a word was said. He remained sitting with her for about fifteen minutes and then left her. That was the first meeting between Meher and Hazrat Babajan. After that first meeting he visited her every night. One night in January 1914, when he made his usual visit, she kissed him on the forehead. Babajan was later to declare, “This child of mine will after some years create a great sensation in the world and do immense good to humanity.” After returning home Meher lost consciousness of his body. It was not until November of that same year that Meher re gained a little consciousness and behaved, it was said “as an automaton possessing intuition.” Years later, Meher Baba identified Hazrat Babajan and four other holy men with whom he subsequently came into contact, as the Perfect or God-Realized Ones whose function was to “unveil” the superconsciousness in him. Babajan, he said, gave him God-Realization—the complete merging of his consciousness in the Infinite Ocean of Divine Love, Knowledge and Bliss—thus enabling him to realize by his actual experience, the Infinite Existence which is God. It was a period, as mdicated above, when he was completely unconscious of the things of the world. However, it was at the end of December 1921 that Upasni Maharaj, one of the five mentioned above, returned Meher Baba completely to normal consciousness of the world with full retention of his God-Realization, and signified it with a short address. “Merwan,” Upasni Maharaj said, “you are the Avatar and I salute you.” “Avatar” is a Sanskrit word meaning “One who is sent” and thus it can be equated with other words that apply to what is regarded as a similar and special phenomenon, namely, Messenger, Christ, Son of God, Messiah, Rasool, Prophet, etc., even though these terms are variously interpreted. But Meher Baba has given his own unique explanation in his book GOD SPEAKS, whose theme is Creation and its purpose. Whatever may have transpired during Meher Baba’s rela tionship with the five individuals mentioned, the fact remains that it was plain to many who came into contact with Meher Baba thereafter that at the very least he possessed an unusual understanding of the spiritual life and a deep and rare insight. As a result he drew disciples to himself very readily whom he trained for an arduous life of selfless service through moral discipline, love for God and spiritual understanding. It was some of these early disciples who gave him the name ‘Meher Baba’ which means ‘Compassionate Father.’ After years of intensive training of his disciples, Meher Baba established a colony near Ahmednagar, India, that is called Meherabad. Here his work embraced a free school where spiritual training was stressed, a free hospital and dispensary,
M
EHER BABA
and shelters for the poor. No distinction was made between individuals, and all mingled in common fellowship through the inspiration of the Master. At Meherabad many of his Eastern and Western disciples who were of different backgrounds received their training under his personal guidance. Meher Baba told his disciples that from July 10, 1925 he would observe Silence, and since that day he has maintained this Silence which he said was necessary for universal spiritual reasons. His many spiritual discourses and messages have been dictated by means of an alphabet board which was dis carded on October 7, 1954, and he now uses unique hand gestures which are interpreted by his disciples. Meher Baba has travelled extensively throughout India giving his ‘darshan’ or spiritual blessing to hundreds of thousands and contacting many of a special category of advanced spiritual pilgrim whom he has called “masts” (pronounced “musts”) or God-intoxicated souls. He has also travelled many times to the Western world and visited several countries. His first visit to the West was in 1931 and his last visit to America which he has visited six times and more than any other country, was in 1958 when he and his disciples stayed at the Center established in his name at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In November 1962, Meher Baba reversed the current of his travels by inviting followers from all over the world and India to enjoy a few days of his ‘darshan’ and companionship at The East-West Gathering which was held in Poona. In spite of all this activity Meher Baba has consistently maintained that his “work” is neither to teach nor to found a new religi’on, but to.awaken the sleeping soul of man to a higher state of consciousness of man’s Real Self which is God. He is therefore committed to no “ism” whether of religion or of politics. He has pointed out that while he appreciates all “isms” for the many good things they seek to achieve, Truth, while equally including them, transcends all of them and leaves no room for separative divisions, which are all equally false. For the unity of life is integral and indivisible and it will remain unassailable and inviolable, in spite of all conceivable ideological differences. Meher Baba has said that when he breaks his Silence he will speak “One Word” which will go to the world as from God, not as from a philosopher, and that it will go straight to the heart. The effective force of this “Word” and the reaction to it, he has said, will be in accordance with the magnitude and receptivity of each individual mind. What is so impressive about Baba, as his disciples and followers call him, is the LOVE which radiates from him and permeates through all of his activities. It is through the power of LOVE, which is utterly selfless, that he awakens in those who come to him a new, deeper and far more beautiful understanding of life whose purpose he says, is that the individual should realize the Godhood inherent in himself. As C. B. Purdom, author of Meher Baba’s recent biography THE GOD-MAN, 50 aptly said, “Meher Baba is beyond the scope of familiar categories and ordinary experience is insufficient to account for him except on his own terms. It is sufficient to be in his presence to know the Truth. He does not need to speak; he has the power of Truth in him. Meher Baba is the Master of one knowledge, which is God, but that knowledge includes everything else.”
NOTE : Avatar Meher Baba dropped his physical body 12 :15 P.M., January 31st, 1969.
THE AVATAR’S PRAYER by Meher Baba
0 Parvardigar, the Preserver and Protector of All, You are without Beginning, and without End; Non-dual, beyond Comparison; and none can measure You. You are without colour, without expression, without form, and without attributes. You are unlimited and unfathomable, beyond imagination and conception; eternal and imperishable. You are indivisible; and none can see You, but with eyes Divine. You always were, You always are, and You always will be; You are everywhere, You are in everything ; and You are also beyond everywhere and beyond everything. You are in the firmament and in the depths, You are manifest and unmanifest; on all planes and beyond all planes. You are in the three worlds, and also beyond the three worlds; You are imperceptible and independent. You are the Creator, the Lord of Lords, the Knower of all minds and hearts; You are Omnipotent and Omnipresent. You are Knowledge Infinite, Power Infinite, and Bliss Infinite. You are the Ocean of Knowledge, All-Knowing, Infinitely-Knowing; the Knower of the past, the present and the future, and You are Knowledge itself. You are All-merciful and eternally benevolent; You are the Soul of souls, the One with infinite attributes ; You are the Trinity of Truth, Knowledge, and Bliss; You are the Source of Truth, the Ocean of Love; You are the Ancient One, the Highest of the High; You are Prabhu and Parameshwar; You are the Beyond-God, and the Beyond-Beyond-God also; You are Parabrahma; Allah; Elahi; Yezdan; Ahuramazda; and God the Beloved. You are named Ezad : the only One worthy of worship.
Program 1—Welcome Address
Michael Loftus, Master of Ceremonies
2—Avatar’s Prayer
Dr. Harry L. Kenmore
3—Women’s Arti
Julie McNall, Violin
4—Dances “Natanam Adinar” & “The Lord’s Prayer”
Matteo
5—Message from Mehera
Annarosa Karrasch
6—Okame to Gombei (Dance)
Matteo
7—The Significance of the Mandalis Visit
Dr. Harry L. Kenmore
8—Begin The Beguine
Nola Larkin
9—Birthday Address
Adi K. Irani
10—The Whole World In His Hands
Leonard Willoughby
11—Medley
Combo
12—Birthday Address
Meherjee Karkaria
13—Pal Of Our Mandali Days
Dr. Harry L. Kenmore
14—Jai Baba
Bernice Ivory
15—Prayer of Repentence
Dr. Harry L. Kenmore
16—Finale—Happy Birthday to Meher Baba
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l3aba’s 9ift One late afternoon, about the fifteenth of July (1969), Mehera was standing by the east window of her room at Meherazad looking at some newly planted shrubs and thinking of her beloved Baba. Sdddenly her attention was drawn to the Umar tree just a few feet from the window and she saw to her amazement the likeness of Baba’s face etched on the tree trunk. At first she thought it was due to the way the light played on the tree trunk helped by her imagination; but no, it was Baba’s face with all the beauty, serenity and compassion that was His. Mehera told no one for a few days, but each day when she looked, beloved Baba’s serene image was still there. Mani was then called to look at the tree and also others of the household, and without being told, each in turn saw’ Baba’s face so clearly. This is indeed a reminder to us and to all His lovers that Baba is with us always. Mani took some photos so that all could share in this wonderful happening. It is so very interesting to see during the course of the day, due to the shifting of light and shade, how beloved Baba’s expression changes and also the outline of His head-dress, sometimes it is a crown with a peacock’s feather, sometimes an Arab’s, or sometimes the scarves as he used to wear them. Of course the news spread from place to place among villagers and town-folk, far and near; those who are Baba lovers and those who are not have been coming to pay homage before Baba’s image on the Umar tree. What is of special significance is that among the Hindus the Umar tree is considered sacred as it is the seat of ‘Dattatre”, that is, of Brahma—the Creator, Vishnu—the Sustainer and Mahesh—the Dissolver, and now that Avatar Meher Baba’s image is to be seen on this tree the significance is supreme. On one particular ocasion, all the school children of the nearby village of Pimpalgaon-Malvi came to pay homage and the garden of Meherazad resounded to their shouts of Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai! What a compassionate Gift our beloved Baba has bestowed upon us. Avatar Meher Baba be praised! Amen.
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THE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
We repent, 0 God Most Merciful, for all our sins ; for every thought that was false or unjust or unclean; for every word spoken that ought not to have been spoken; for every deed done that ought not to have been done. We repent for every deed and word and thought inspired by selfishness, and for every deed and word and thought inspired by hatred. We repent most especially for every lustful thought and every lustful action; for every lie; for all hypocrisy; for every promise given but not fulfilled, and for all slander and backbiting. Most especially also, we repent for every action that has brought ruin to others ; for every word and deed that has given others pain; and for every wish that pain should befall others. In Your Unbounded Mercy we ask You to forgive us, 0 God, for all these sins committed by us, and to forgive us for our constant failures to think and speak and act according to Your Will.
Meher Baba
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This whole program is given under the auspices of “Society for Avatar Meher Baba.” Board of Trustees : Dr. Harry L. Kenmore, President; Mr. John Bass, 1st Vice-President; Mr. Fred Winterfeldt, 2nd Vice-President; Mrs. Ella Winterfeldt; Mrs. Annarosa Karrasch.
THE READING ROOM AND OFFICES OF THE SOCIETY FOR AVATAR MEHER BABA 121 WEST 72ND STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y. SUITE 2A-B.