|
|
Weekly Reflections No. 34 - Tweaked Archival Edition
Due to some formatting irregularity (involving fonts) in the Constant Contact interface, we are now re-issuing Issue No. 34 in this "tweaked" version. July 3, 2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Goher 1998, From Bob Ahrens private collection
|
Baba nodded and explained further:
"It means turning one's heart and mind inside out -- becoming empty and naked. To be empty means to be rid of all desires, and it concerns the heart. To be naked concerns the mind, and means not to care for the opinions, criticism or censure of others in one's pursuit of the true Goal."
Baba asked Kenmore what he understood by this. He replied, "Not to be attached to worldly things."
Baba added, "It is correct. Only if you become deaf, dumb and blind to the world can you get God. Ego cannot then attack you from any direction. "
Lord Meher online, p 4590
|
Weekly Reflections No. 34
from Meher Baba Books
(Los Angeles, California)
July,3rd, 2015
|
Hello Dear Companions:
Greetings from Los Angeles, California. Wishing you well in Beloved Baba's Love and Compassion.
Well, it is time for us to meet again for our weekly appointment with Meher Baba -- this time to remember Him through his
personal physician and close disciple, Dr. Goher Irani.
This mini-circular is now celebrating the 34rd week since its inception. A little more than eight months! It is such joy to connect with Baba-lovers and devotees through sharing Baba's life, words and stories from His close ones.
This week's circular is devoted to the life of Dr. Goher Irani, who "went to Baba" on June 30, 2004. Next week we will cover the topic of Meher Baba's silence, as July 10th is approaching.
Dr. Goher played a unique role in this advent of the Avatar. She was one of only four women allowed to accompany Baba on the New Life. She lived in Meherazad, and towards the end watched Baba suffer with a particular helplessness, as there was not so much she could do as a God's Doctor. It offers us an incredible peek into the painfully joyous life of His close ones, as one friend said. Can you imagine how Baba's close circle witnessed all the many phases of Baba's Universal work -- his travels, schools, mast work, sahavas, darshans, and all the activities that engaged Baba?
Speaking of Sahavas, today the Los Angeles Avatar Meher Baba Center's Urban Sahavas wll begin at 5:00 pm with a "Baba flag" ceremony. This year our annual summer Sahavas gathering will include Jamie Newell (guest musician) and Charles Haynes (guest speaker; Charles is seen here with Meher Baba).
If you have already registered and are coming, see you at the Center! We will have fun in Baba's companionship. He is hosting, not us. Best host ever.
|
|
|
Charles Haynes with Meher Baba during the Sahavas held at Meher Spiritual Center in 1958. Photo: Avatar Meher Baba Denver group
|
|
|
|
Jamie Newell, Singer / Songwriter / Guitarist
|
As you may recall, in recent circulars we have also been reflecting on the topic of "Women In the West and their Roles". Filis Frederick notes in
The Awakener Magazine
(a periodical she edited and published) that "In the early Twenties, Meher Baba predicted His work in the West would be done by women, and in the East by men." Filis wrote a great series of articles on this topic, from which we continue to draw. This week, we begin to cover the life of Murshida Ivy O. Duce. It will be present
ed in two parts.
We hope you enjoy these small occasions for reflecting on the divinity of Beloved Baba's words and life. You may email us at:
with any questions and/or requests. Keep Happy.
In His Love and Service,
Mahoo Ghorbani for Meher Baba Books
|
Dr. Goher Irani's Rememberance
|
|
|
|
Photo courtesy of Etzion Becker
|
Dr. Goher passed away on June 30, 2004.
Avatar Meher Baba took His precious Goher R. Irani into His warm embrace on June 30, 2004 at 12:40:15 p.m. in Meherazad. Goher passed away due to congestive heart failure; she was 87 years old. Cremation will be at Meherabad on July 1st at 10 a.m. By Baba's order, her ashes are to be interred on Meherabad Hill by the side of Baba's Samadhi.
"Goher" means "jewel", and the quality of Goher's unique service to her Beloved Master has been a shining inspiration to all who came to know her. Both disciple and doctor, she brought to life Baba's precept of "selfless service". As Baba's personal physician, she cared for Him with total dedication night and day, as well as tending to His beloved Mehera and the resident mandali. How fortunate she was to have lived with Baba and served Him until the very end.
In more recent times, Goher reached out with great love, kindness, warmth and compassion to all who came in her contact. This naturally included not only the Baba-family but also the local villagers, who she lovingly cared for through the Meherazad dispensary for over 30 years.
In dearest Goher's life of love and service, and in the countless number of hearts she touched, Beloved Baba has given His lovers a sublime example to cherish. His jewel will be sorely missed.
AVATAR MEHER BABA ki JAI,
Meheru, Katie, Arnavaz and Meherazad family
|
|
|
|
August 1979, Dr. Goher seeing a patient at the Meher Free Dispensary; Robert Ahrens private collection.
|
Anniversary of Dr. Goher's Passing
On 30 June 2004 Dr. Goher Irani passed away from our physical world. She was surrounded by the remaining mandali and the incredible caretakers at Meherazad. I was present, also, which was most fortunate for me.
Dr. Goher joined Meher Baba as a resident at Meherazad in June 1947, after her medical studies were complete (which Baba had paid for, incidentally). He told her to come and "bring all your luggage". She remained with her only Beloved for the rest of His physical life and as a resident at Meherazad until her passing. She was Baba's personal physician for the first 20 years of her professional career and the last 20 of His physical presence.
|
|
|
Dr. Goher and Goher's sister Katie Irani are standing, Dr. Bob Ahrens is sitting with patients - Meher Free Dispensary, 1979.
Courtesy of Bob Ahrens.
|
Goher was one of only 4 women allowed to accompany Baba on the New Life, setting off with Him on the morning of 16 October 1949, and was in the trailing car in 1952 when it came upon the horrible scene of the auto accident near Prague, OK, with Baba being held in Meheru's arms as he lay on the roadside where He had been thrown. She had been saddened that she was not driving in Baba's car across the US; it soon became clear why she was spared, as she assisted in His and His beloved Mehera's treatment and recovery.
In Baba's later years, as His physical suffering increased, Dr. Goher's role was very difficult. Often she had to look on, helpless, as Baba's physical suffering resisted all treatment. She slept outside His bedroom door, ready for His clap or the night watchman's call if she were needed. Having treated some of the mandali as a doctor myself, I had a small taste of what she must have experienced in a much more intense manner.
|
|
|
Dr. Goher in the 1970s, Meherazad, India. Photo: Courtesy of Meher Fund
|
For those who came to Meherazad after Meher Baba's passing, she was an example of dedication, intense humility, and vibrant gentleness. Many health-care professionals got their start and/or deepened their understanding of what medical care actually means by working with her in the Meher Free Dispensary, which she had begun in 1970.
As were each of the mandali, she was a unique standard-bearer of Who He Is and how we can attempt to serve Him.
Jai Meher Baba!
Dr. Bob Ahrens
|
|
|
|
Dr. Goher at Meherazad / India.
Photo: AMBCSC Archive
|
ONLY PALLIATIVE AND NOT A CURE Since the time I came to live permanently with Baba I've seen nothing but His physical suffering. All the close ones living with Him saw this. One can't compare Baba's physical suffering with that of an ordinary man. Baba would not complain much, but we could see how much He suffered. One main problem was heartburn. For so many years Baba had been on so many long and severe fasts, and had such irregular diets due to His travels and mast work, that I was afraid of a peptic ulcer but He would refuse any investigation or checkup. And we felt so helpless because we knew He was suffering with this constant pain and uneasiness in His stomach. Then He would make light of it and make us forget that He had any pain. Whilst He was working, either mast work, poor work, universal work, or during seclusion, Baba did not spare His body. "My work comes first," He would say. Like so many who do not know about Perfect Masters or the Avatar, when I first came to be with Baba I assumed that He as the Avatar, being the personification of Perfection, was beyond being affected by ill-health or the usual things that affect ordinary human beings.
|
|
|
Meher Baba photographed in Nagpur on November 11, 1944
Glow International - online
|
In Raipur in 1944 Baba told me He had pain in the heart region. I did not understand then how Baba as God could have this pain. He then explained that Perfect Masters assume illness, while He being the Avatar must undergo all the physical pain and discomfort and illness which the ordinary human body has to undergo. Baba said whenever He complained of any illness I must take Him seriously and give proper treatment. So through the years, because of the strenuous mast work and many fasts, Baba's digestion was seriously affected and we treated Him accordingly. In the earlier Days Dr. Donkin (Don) and Dr. Nilu were there, and from 1947 I was there also. But naturally when the damage was done, treatment could only be palliative and not a cure.
Dr. Goher
from Judith Garbett,
Lives of Love: The Women Mandali of Avatar Meher Baba
(1998),
"Goher", p. 7
|
|
|
|
Standing L-R: Arnavaz Dadachanji, Rano Gaily, Meheru Irani
Sitting L-R: Naja, Mehera Irani, Mani Irani, Goher Irani
|
CHICKENS AND MESSAGES Dr. Goher Irani
After Satara I came with Baba to live at Meherazad with Mehera, Mani and Meheru. Rano and Kitty also came at times. In those days Baba used to sleep in a small room in a field nearby. He did not give me any medical job - He had a poultry farm made with different varieties of hens and ducks, and told me 'Now you have to take care of these!' And I was so frightened - I had never held a hen in my life and was afraid they would peck me. But I did it because Baba told me. I had to see to their feed, that the pen was kept clean, and that they would lay eggs; but Baba never let us eat that poultry. In those days Baba saw to "every" detail - anything that came to Meherazad, any bazaar for whatever we needed, and the food we had. So when the chicken feed was finished I had to go and tell Baba. I went over to the mandali side. Baba was sitting in Kaka's room on the bed, and He was talking to Moorti from Calcutta about the sixth and seventh planes. I just entered the doorway, and without thinking, or listening to what Baba was telling Moorti, I immediately said 'Baba, the chicken feed is finished.'
|
|
|
Meher Baba and Kaka - Photo: Meher Baba Travels website
|
And Baba looked up at me so surprised, so seriously at first, then started laughing, and said 'Here I was talking to this man about the sixth and the seventh plane and was so engrossed in it, and suddenly you come and tell me about the chicken feed!' And Baba laughed so much. Even to this day Moorti remembers this and often reminds me. For years afterwards Baba would also often remind me. There were no men on the women's side of the ashram. I was a sort of messenger, a go-between for the men and women mandali. All day long the bell would be ringing. Kaka would go to the gate and ring the bell - I had to come and take away bags of vegetables; or I had to convey any message that was to be given to Baba if He was on the women's side. If Baba was on the men's side and had to call me, the bell would ring, then I would have to convey the message to Mehera if He wanted a glass of water or something, and then I would bring it to Him from Mehera. So all day long that was my job, plus looking after the chickens. Judith Garbett, Lives of Love: The Women Mandali of Avatar Meher Baba (1998), "Goher" pp. 5-6
|
Meher Free Dipensary
The Meher Free Dispensary was founded in 1970 on the principles of love and service exemplified by the life and work of Meher Baba. Dr. Goher Irani, who began the Dispensary, demonstrated in her own life and work a balance of love and practicality which serves as an example to the individuals working there today. The Meher Free Dispensary provides free medical care to the poor and under-served living in an area of Western India, near the city of Ahmednagar, in Maharashtra State, India.
|
|
|
Eruch Jessawala and Dr. Goher, when she sees patients in the original room where the Dispensary began in Meherazad/India. Photo: Courtesy of Meher Fund
|
Dr. Goher supervised the details of the Dispensary and trained the present staff until her death in 2004. The Dispensary is now administered through a non-profit foundation which oversees clinic operations and plans for the future.
The Meher Free Dispensary operated out of a single room until 1978, when patient demand necessitated the construction of a multi-room facility. Over the years, as the number of patients coming to the Dispensary steadily increased, even that building could not meet the growing medical needs of the region.
|
|
|
D
r. Goher and Dr. Anne Moreigne of France attend to a baby, 1980s.
Photo: Courtesy of Meher Fund
|
In 2006, the Meher Free Dispensary opened a beautiful, new 7,350 square foot 18 room facility. Because of this expansion, the Dispensary was able to comfortably handle almost 25,000 patient visits in 2011.
|
|
|
Front Entrance of New Meher Free Dispensary in Meherazd, India.
|
As a family practice, the Dispensary treats patients of all ages for acute and chronic illnesses, as well as pre-natal and post-natal care and other services. Common medical problems in the region include diabetes, epilepsy, various infections, and health issues arising from poor nutrition and lack of sanitation. The Dispensary also provides partial or total reimbursement to needy patients when outside examinations, treatments, hospitalizations or surgeries are required.
|
|
Waiting Room of the Meher Free Dispensary, February 2007.
Photo: Courtesy of Meher Fund
|
The Dispensary currently has four full-time and two part-time physicians, and approaches healing using a combination of allopathic (traditional Western), ayurvedic (traditional Indian), homeopathic, Chinese, and chiropractic methods. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals from around the world also volunteer their services at the Meher Free Dispensary, supplementing the permanent staff.
|
|
Dr. Bhandarkar checks Soroush's t
ongue,
visiting Meher Free Dispensary in December 2011.
|
The Meher Free Dispensary is supported entirely through donations from those who feel drawn to help, including via the Meher Fund, Inc.
Meher Fund Inc. is a non-profit charitable [501(c)(3)] organization dedicated to supporting the Meher Free Dispensary in rural India.
Visit them at www.MeherFund.com
|
Heroines of the Path By Filis Frederick
|
|
|
In the mid-1970s, Murshida Duce lived in Walnut Creek, California, near the
Sufi Center she established there. This photograph was taken in her home.
Image used by kind permission of Sufism Reoriented.
|
Filis continues her account of the lives of notable Western women disciples of Meher Baba, with the story of Murshida Ivy O. Duce:
VI. Murshida Ivy O. Duce
Baba once said, "The world is My ashram," and some of His devotees He has kept continuously in the world. Ivy Duce was certainly typical.
Born on the same day as Baba, February 25, but in 1895, Ivy had a conventional childhood which she turned Topsy-turvy for her day by studying law. She also had a lovely soprano voice and studied singing (Baba once asked her what she really wanted to do in life and she answered "To be a singer.")
Following her law career, she traveled, often by mule-back, in South America as secretary to an oil engineer, and that is how she met Mr. Duce, who later became an executive of the Aramco Oil Company. This worldly position required her to change her domicile frequently, to travel, to entertain high-ranking diplomats, sheiks, and businessmen.
|
|
|
Young Ivy Judd loved to sing and had a wonderful voice. When she met Meher Baba in January 1948, he told her he wanted her to be a Murshida, a real spiritual teacher, and build up Sufism. She said, "All I ever wanted to do was sing." Baba replied, "I sing - down through the ages I sing. But this was your destiny in this incarnation, and this is why I have drawn you here!"
Image used by kind permission of Sufism Reoriented.
|
Inwardly, however, she was seeking enlightenment. After experimenting with astrology, Tarot, and an unsuitable "guru," she became the mureed or student of Murshida Rabia Martin (named for the famous Sufi Saint) whom Inayat Khan had chosen to continue his Sufi work. As I mentioned previously, Rabia had come to live with us in New York and learn about Meher Baba. After accepting Him as Avatar, she informed her students; many left, but Ivy was one of those who stayed "in Baba," together with Lud Dimpfl, Don Stevens and Samuel Lewis. (Sam, too, lived with us in New York and was caretaker of the Center in Myrtle Beach for a
year.) Rabia never lived to meet Baba, but appointed Ivy as her successor, (a decision which turned Sam Lewis away from Baba, unfortunately).
Ivy asked Baba if she could come to India and meet Him, and Baba acquiesced. This was in January, 1948, just before the New Life and His ashram was still intact; Elizabeth and Norina were still there. Ivy had come to visit us several times in New York, together with her beautiful and charming daughter Charmian, and that is when I first met them both.
|
|
|
1948 in Meherazad. Standing (L-R): Goher, Mehera, Meher Baba, Elizabeth, Ivy and Norina. Seated or kneeling (L-R): Mani, Charmian and Meheru. Image used by kind permission of Sufism Reoriented.
|
She has described her meeting with the Avatar in her autobiography How a Master Works. Baba not only gave her inwardly a taste of His infinite love but clarified her position as Murshida or leader of the Sufi Order. He affirmed it was her destiny, and "reoriented" its whole structure to be one-pointed on Him. "He said that as long as I didn't claim to be a saint or anything, and if I remained totally honest, He would guide me," she told a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. She describes her experience in Baba's home: "I got up to examine (some photos) and as soon as my mind was off guard and on the photos, I suddenly felt as if a javelin had been hurled at me, and I fell back into my chair while my heart seemed to be turning upside down over and over. I burst into sobs but was aware that the Master had crossed the room and stood behind me. He bent over and kissed the top of my head where the pituitary gland is. The Sufis describe a spiritual experience known as 'overturning the chalice of the heart,' which is to empty the heart of all except God, and I assume this condition was also initiated by Baba." On her return from India I invited her to come tell us her experiences in meeting Baba. She said she would come if we accepted her as our teacher. I said Baba was our only teacher (Baba had instructed us to be open and democratic in structure) and she declined. A few months later she changed her mind and we had a delightful evening. She began to attract a following in New York and several people in our group joined the Sufis; some of her mureeds left and joined our group. Naturally this caused some friction and misunderstanding. Following my Quaker heritage, I tried my best always to reconcile differences, feeling there are as many paths to God as there are individuals. When Baba came in '52, Ivy brought her mureeds to meet Him, including those from the West Coast, Washington, and one from Australia, Francis Brabazon, the poet, who had heard of Baba through Rabia Martin and her [Rabia's] mureed, the Baron Von Frankenberg. Baba sent Francis home at once - he caught the last boat out for six months. Later, he left the Sufi order and went to India to live with Baba.
|
|
|
Women disciples with Meher Baba at the Meher Spiritual Center (Myrtle Beach) during Meher Baba's visit in 1952. From the left: Adele, Filis, Mani, Sparkie, Murshida Duce, Baba, Mehera, Delia, and Meheru.
Image used by kind permission of Sufism Reoriented.
|
After the accident in Oklahoma, Baba wired for Ivy to come and help, and she and Charmian flew to Prague. Ivy's immense practical experience was invaluable to the travelers, some of whom, though not hurt, were in shock at the unexpected violent turn of events. It was Ivy who sent us the first detailed bulletin on Baba's condition, also Mehera's and Elizabeth's state, for which we were all grateful. It fell to Charmy to wash Baba's clothes in a laundromat, and I recall with a chill her saying "There was so much blood!" Charmy had wanted to drive Baba across the U.S. - she had the trip all mapped out - I recall the tender, enigmatic look He gave her, with His "No."
|
|
|
Meher Baba talks with Murshida Duce in New York City in July 1956. Image used by kind permission of Sufism Reoriented.
|
Later, in July, it was in Mrs. Duce's apartment that we saw Baba again. Actually many people came who had missed Him in Myrtle Beach. For three days Baba, in double cast, in intense heat, gave His darshan. By Baba's request all were asked to read the large sign placed in the anteroom:
"I am equally approachable to one and all, big and small,
To saints who rise, and sinners who fall,
Through all the various Paths that give the Divine Call,
I am approachable alike to saint whom I adore
And to sinner whom I am for,
And equally through Sufism, Vedantism, Christianity,
Or Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, and other 'isms'
Of any kind, and also directly through no medium of 'isms' at all."
Next week we will cover "VI. - Ivy Oneita Duce" (Part 2).
from The Awakener Magazine online,
Vol. 20, No. 2 (1983), pp. 31-35, used by permission.
Born : 25th February, 1895.
Died : 9th September 1981
Married to Terry Duce
Children: Charmian
Nationality: American
|
|
|
|
"Take my Heart" -- D
igital Artist: Cherie Plumlee
|
Oh, my dear nightingales,
I want to hear your song.
Don't feel disappointed with the old age of spring
and don't make Me disappointed in you.
Drink the cup of My pleasure, and,
having derived strength from it, continue singing.
Allow others to hear your song too.
You will be able to revive the youthfulness of spring;
but to accomplish this you have to drown in
My Silence and find My Song.
Letters From The Mandali of Avatar Meher Baba
|
Dr. Goher at Meher Free
Dispensary
This video was recorded by Irene Holt,
in August 1989.
Goodbye for now. See you at our next appointment, next week.
Keep Happy in His Love. Have a good weekend. We will be attending Baba's Sahavas here in LA.
[Weekly Reflecdtions No. 34, tweaked Archival Edition]
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Meher Baba Books (Los Angeles)
www.meherbababooks.com
Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California
1214 S. Van Ness Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90019
|
|
|
