Weekly Reflections No. 44 - Oct 23 - Celebration of Bhau Kalchuri!

I did not ask for Wine -- but by His kindness He gave it.

What grace! This empty life became an offering at His feet.

--Bhau Kalchuri

Weekly Reflections No. 44

from Meher Baba Books

(Los Angeles, California)

Oct, 23, 2015

Hello Dear Companions and Friends:

Greetings from Los Angeles, California, once again. Hope all is well in Beloved Baba's love and compassion. 

This 44th issue is a tribute to Bhau Kalchuri. The fragrance of divine love and full life o service to Avatar Meher Baba.

This Week

In this Issue of the Weekly Reflections is 
comprised of a garland of loving Remembrances of 
Bhau Kalchuri (January 13, 1927 - October 23, 2013)
, who proved to be 
Avatar Meher Baba's last living Mandali
 (close resident disciple), and whose company, stories, voluminous writings, talks, chats, and shared devotion to Beloved Meher Baba positively impacted all of us. Bhau Kalchuri has lived a remarkable life as an intimate disciple of Meher Baba, the God-Man of this age.

Bhauji's departure from our midst likewise has left may memories with us all -- hence t
his Sunday
 -- two years after he re-joined Meher Baba (October 23, 2013) -- we will get together to reflect on and celebrate the life and writings of, Bhau Kalchuri, with 
glimpses of his life and sharing from his many friends in the community. He visited LA Baba Center for almost 21 years annually, starting in 1985. Bhau had close to 45 trips to the west spreading Baba's message of Love and truth to His followers and the public. 

What a great life he lived. It is a blessing that he no longer endures
 bodily suffering in his service to his beloved master, Meher Baba.

We hope you enjoy these small occasions for reflecting on the divinity of

Beloved Baba's words and life. You may email us at:

[email protected]

with any questions and/or requests. Keep Happy in His Love.

In His Love and Service,

Mahoo S. Ghorbani ...

for Meher Baba Books

~ Celebrating Bhau Kalchuri ~

- Remembering Bhau Kalchuri with Love and Gratitude -

Bhau Kalchuri (January 13, 1927 - 23 October 2013), born Vir Singh Kalchuri, was an Indian author, poet, trust administrator, and one of Meher Baba's mandali (close disciples). He was also the principal biographer of Meher Baba's life.

Kalchuri was born one of eight children of a well-to-do Rajput family in Katangi in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. He excelled in his studies at Nagpur University, completing master's degrees in public administration, law, and chemistry. But before he could realize his career plans, Bhau unexpectedly turned to spiritual interests following a visit to the tomb of a famous holy man, Tajuddin Baba, in Nagpur.

After meeting Meher Baba in 1952, Bhau joined him permanently in 1953, at age 27 the youngest resident mandali of Meher Baba's ashram, where he served in various capacities, including night watchman and Hindi correspondent. Meher Baba taught Bhau to write a Hindi form of the Persian ghazal and also gave Bhau several other writing assignments, many of which he completed only after Meher Baba's death in 1969. In 1973 Bhau became a trustee of the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust. He later became its chairman, and continued in this capacity until the end of his life.

Kalchuri was best known for his exhaustive biography of Meher Baba, Lord Meher (also known as Meher Prabu), a twenty volume 6,472 page chronicle based on diaries kept by Baba's followers from as early as 1922, as well as interviews. He was also author of Avatar of the Age Meher Baba Manifesting and The Nothing and the Everything, the latter a book on spiritual mechanics based on notes given to him by Meher Baba. He also wrote several plays and books of verse. Bhau wrote in Hindi and English.

Starting in 1985, he made extensive speaking tours both inside and outside India, predominantly the United States, but also many trips to Europe and Australia. He was interviewed in both press and radio and also appeared in Roger Nygard's film The Nature of Existence.

Near the end of his life Bhau was less mobile, owing to poor health, although he kept in touch with the worldwide Meher Baba community via Internet chats and messages.

Publications

~~ English published

Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba.Meher Baba's New Life
Avatar of the Age Meher Baba ManifestingWhile the World Slept
The Nothing and the Everything
Let's Go To Meherabad
Mastery in Servitude
Meher Geetika
Meher Roshani
Meher Sarod
Nectar for the Children
Ocean Waves, Volume I and II
The Spiritual Training Program
Sun Rays
The Awakenings of Bhau Kalchuri from Beloved Avatar Meher Baba

~~ Hindi

Divya Leela (play)
Jai Meher (play)
Meher Darshan, (biography of Meher Baba in verse), 1984
Meher Jyoti (Flame) (songs)
Meher Leela (biography of Meher Baba up until 1965 in verse)
Prem Mahima (The Glory of Love) (play)
Subkucha aur Kuchnahn (conversational rendering of The Everything and The Nothing by Eruch Jessawalla)
Vishvas (Faith) (play)
You Alone Exist (prayer)

--From Wikipedia

-- THE PRASAD OF ENLIGHTENMENT --

O Baba, what an impact of Your love we have received through Your compassion in our hearts, which long and long to see Your sweet smile! There is nothing in the world which can give us so much joy as that sweet smile of Yours.

Everything in the world is like dust before our eyes; and only You exist as the Real One to whom we can dedicate all in our lives, keeping You in our remembrance and forgetting the things of the world.

We cannot express in words what compassion and love You bestow on us, making us feel all the time that there is nothing in the world and that You alone exist.

Your motto of "Mastery in Servitude" which You fulfill through Narayan Seva (service to Unconscious God in creation) will become a ray of divine light for the world when You manifest universally, and the world will then realize what a service You render to the creation eternally.

This is the prasad of enlightenment You have given to us during Your centenary, and we feel this is a great gift that You are giving to the world gradually.

-- Bhau Kalchuri

MASTERY IN SERVITUDE, p. 92

Meher Sarod cover - Bhau Kalchuri

Oh Meher, God-Incarnate
this is dedicated to the Original Song
to be tuned by everyone in the creation
to fulfill the purpose of life.

Each afternoon when I went to be with Baba, He would anxiously inquire, "How many ghazals did you write today? Read them out to Me." As I read to Baba He would gesture, describing each line. For instance with "My boat is sinking in a mid-ocean storm," Baba would spread His arms like an ocean during a storm. With "Don't you hear the voice of my heart shouting for help?" Baba would gesture as if calling for help. When I read, "What has happened to my heart's cup? I am weeping to find it empty." Baba pointing to His heart, would make the gesture for tears. I felt this reading followed by Baba's motions was like a song accompanying a dance.

But much more than Baba's gestures, it was the expression on His face and in His eyes that amazed me. It was as if Baba Himself was actually passing through all the suffering of the lover's situation that I described. At those moments, Baba's heart was weeping blood. His heart was restless. He was suffering from the pain of longing and separation. I was awed to see Him like this.

Although it seemed that all of Meher Sarod would just come to me, really speaking, it was inspired by my experiences at that time. One has no idea what I was passing through during that period with Baba. It was something terrible. I felt separation from Baba. Yes, separation-even though He was right there with me. I would feel separation; I would feel that I was far far away from Him. I would attend to Him, speak to Him, even eat with Him, but that feeling that I was somewhere far away persisted. That feeling that He was the Ocean and that I was simply talking to His man-form would always be there as pain.

When I would read the ghazals, Baba would sometimes ask me to repeat a certain line that He especially liked, or sometimes the entire ghazal. Often Baba would embrace me, kiss me and say, "Have you any idea what you have written; how touching it is? Kabir has written exceptionally - his meaning is deep, but the language is lacking. But here, there is both language and depth. You have no idea what you have written. Your writing flows like a river."

The ghazal form has the name of the author (as the lover) included in every poem. From the start, Baba was very particular that my name was included in the last couplet of every ghazal. Sometimes I would leave it out and Baba would insist on it being there. "Why did you leave your name out?" He would ask. "Write it in; it has to be there." At times Baba would even compose the lines and insert my name in them!

Bhauji at Meherana ~ June 2009 - Photo: Eddie Brooks

For two months, the writing of ghazals went on, and by the time Baba and the mandali returned to Meherazad in July of 1968, Meher Sarod was considered finished. Nevertheless Baba continued to give me one line every day. With these particular couplets I would sometimes compose a ghazal and read it to Baba but for the most part I just wrote down these lines and kept them aside. It was after Baba dropped His physical form on January 31st, 1969, that I completed writing ghazals from those lines of Baba's which created the book titled Meher Roshani.

It was Baba Himself who gave the title Meher Sarod. Sarod is a musical instrument, but here the word means "song". In October of 1968 Baba asked Keshav Nigam from Hamirpur to have Meher Sarod published in Hindi, and by the first Amartithi in 1970 the books had been printed and distributed in India.

-- Bhau Kalchuri

Ahmednagar, 1979

Eruch Jessawala and Bhau Kalchuri

~ TEARS FROM THE BONDAGE OF LOVE ~

Yesterday evening, I went to Beloved Baba's Tomb to offer the loving messages I had received from His dear ones.

When I returned to Sheela's, dear Heather came to read out certain things in connection with the Trust. Something had happened, and I'd received a really abusive letter. The Meherabad Mandali felt very hurt on my behalf, as that letter was directed towards me as well as other Trustees. I had already replied to it, but the Meherazad Mandali thought it better to give a proper reply.

A reply was written, and Heather brought it to me. She read it out, and we talked.

"I felt disturbed because of that letter. I spent a restless night," I told her. "But the next day, when I thought it over, I sent a short, loving reply to the party concerned. I felt as if I had been relieved from a burden. I felt very, very happy thinking about how this party has helped me, so that I became free from such a burden connected with the Trust."

Later on, I took dinner very late and then went to bed at 11:00 p.m. I reflected on how much the Meherazad Mandali loves me, and how we are united in His love. No one can understand this, because this unity is internal. This unity can never be broken under any circumstances. I closed my eyes, and tears came out of them from the bondage of love. Again, I felt very, very light, as if the burden was lifted. Then I slept.

~~ Bhau Kalchuri

AWAKENINGS, p. 39

Avatar Meher Baba with the Kalchuri Family

(Bhauji standing, daughter Sheela,son Mehernath, wife Rama)

~~ Brother Bhau -- the Back-Story ~~

On a chance visit to Bombay in 1919, Baba came across a young Persian lad named Khodadad Farhad Irani . He had strikingly handsome matinee-idol looks and a burning ambition to become a movie actor. Obsessed with the idea, he spent months making audition rounds from one movie studio to another. But casting directors never chose him for even one role.

The young lad had become so disappointed and depressed that he'd never make it, he contemplated suicide. It was during Khodadad's deep inner turmoil that Baba was walking through the city and came across the dejected young man sitting by the side of the road.

He stopped to gaze at him. "Who are you, m'friend, and why so sad? You look like you haven't a hope in the world!" Khodadad glared back, "What business is that of yours? Who are you, anyway?" " Oh, " Baba smiled, " Actually, I own a film company in Poona. "

-- Khodadad Farhad Irani ( Nervous ) - MeherBabaTravel.com --

"I'm just here in Bombay auditioning actors," Baba continued. "You wouldn't happen to know anyone looking to work with a bright upcoming production company, would you?" Khodadad couldn't believe his ears. He stood up excitedly, "Yes, sir! I've been looking for that job myself these past three months!" Baba said, "Fine, you're hired. Can you come with me now to Poona?" Khodadad immediately agreed and was taken to Poona then and there.

But when they arrived, Baba said, "Well, first off, I want you to work in my toddy shop. Ah, but that's just temporary. My film company's in its final stages of formation, and as soon as it starts up you'll be working there full time." Khodadad happily agreed.

- Khodadad Farhad Irani -

<> But being in the spiritually intoxicating atmosphere of Baba, the young man soon forgot all about his previous acting ambition and became totally dedicated to his new boss's activities. Khodadad would appear uneasy and nervous at the slightest mishap, and even more so in the Master's presence. Thus, Baba nicknamed him "Nervous."

[ drawing from Lord Meher, p. 269]

Now one of his duties at Meherabad was to bring ell-water buckets with a pole on his shoulders. Outside of Gustadji, he was the only man allowed near the women's quarters. One day as he was pouring the water into a tub, he began speaking to Mehera.

He asked if she knew who Baba really was -- of his great state as a Perfect Master and how fortunate she was to be called to serve him. He went on to tell her some wonderful incidents occurring around Baba. Little did she know they were being watched.

The next day as Mehera was washing utensils, she saw Baba approach. Transfixed by

Mehera Irani

his beauty, she stood watching for a few moments. "He came so fast, as if walking on air," she later recalled. Baba began chatting with her and casually mentioned observing her talking with Nervous the day before. "Yes," she said, "he was telling me about your life and how lucky I am to be near you." Baba said, "Yes, he loves me a lot and is so dear to me."

Shortly after this, Baba left Meherabad touring India with his men. They were in Quetta, Pakistan when Nervous came down with typhoid fever. Baba went to him several times a day, but despite the best care under two medical specialists, he died on July 16, 1924, becoming the first Mandali to pass away in Baba's service. After his burial, Baba sent the Mandali to enjoy a movie in honor of Nervous' dreams of becoming a great movie actor.

[ drawing from Ramjoo's Diaries, pp.349-350; Mehera-Meher, Vol. 1, pp.16-17 ]

-- Young Bhau --

Thirty years later, Baba indicated that Nervous had rejoined him yet once again to serve amongst the Mandali, having reincarnated as Bhau Kalchuri, whom Baba would claim as his most loved among all his men disciples -- his "St. John," and my good friend since 1981 for over 32 years now.

In one of his weekly online Sunday chats, Bhau revealed that his time had come, and he will come back for just one more lifetime before Realization in Baba forever.

-- Ed Flanagan

~~ THERE IS A FLOW OF LOVE IN IT ~~

One day Baba asked me to write something and I said to him, "Baba, I am neither a writer nor a poet. I don't know the language properly. Why do you give me such work? There are many good writers and poets in India, and if they come to you they would write sublime things."

Baba considered this and then asked, "Do you know any of these writers and poets?" "Yes, I've heard of them," I answered. "They're very popular." "All right," said Baba."Write to them about me, and if they are interested I may call them." So I wrote letters to several well-known poets and writers.

Baba appeared anxious to bring them in his contact, and I naively thought that they would definitely come because Baba was showing so much interest in them. After a few days, polite letters were received from a few of the people that I had written to. Their letters were read out to Baba, which he was happy to hear, but he did not give any instructions to be conveyed to them.

I felt disappointed. I was convinced that some of these writers and poets would come in Baba's contact, so I sent them Baba's messages and also wrote personal letters to them on my own. Again I said, "Baba, I'm sure some of these famous literary people will definitely come to you, and if they come they will write very sublime things about you."

Baba listened and inquired, "Do you have any of their writings?" When I answered that I did, he asked me to bring them and read them out to him. I did so, and Baba commented, "What is there in these writings? It is mostly dry. Only the language is good, nothing else. Is there any flow of love? Tell me the truth."

I kept quiet and Baba gestured, "Never write to them again. They will not come to me."

He then continued, "Do you think I ask you to write in vain? Do you have any idea about your writing? There is a flow of love in it; it flows and flows. Remember that I like your writing. What more do you want?"

After that I just kept quiet and continued writing.

-- Bhau Kalchuri

WHILE THE WORLD SLEPT , pp. 62-63

~~ You Alone Exist ~~

The complete original classic video from 2005 in full. Avatar Meher Baba's Prayer Poem describing the unlimited attributes of God. Music by Jim Meyer, Video by Peter Nordeen and Bob Fredericks.

Dictated by Avatar Meher Baba to his close disciple Bhau Kalchuri, this stunning prayer-poem expressively describes the all-pervading nature of God through many attributes, from simple to sublime. This 24 minute music film features a number of rare film clips of Avatar Meher Baba creatively woven together in tandem to the rhythm of the musical prayer.

Great production by all.