Meher Baba Books Los Angeles



"MY HEALTH IS VERY BAD BUT YOUR LOVE WILL HELP TO SUPPORT ME DURING THE  DAYS OF EAST-WEST GATHERING STOP PASS ON THIS INFORMATION TO ALL    CONCERNED TRAVELING WITH YOU

AHMEDNAGAR , INDIA , OCTOBER 23, 1962
MEHER BABA "



Weekly Reflections No. 46
from Meher Baba Books
(Los Angeles, California)
November 6, 2015 

Hello Dear Companions and Happy Friday to you,

Greetings from Los Angeles, California, once again. Hope all is well in Beloved Baba's Love and Compassion. Everything happens according to God's Will, and it is best for us to surrender and follow His wish. 

This 46th issue is about Baba's 1962 East-West Gathering. 

During Meher Baba's second visit to America, in His message issued on May 19, 1932, while revealing at His "mission to the West," He said that among His greatest miracles will be the bringing together and blending of the realistic West with the idealistic East.



He repeated that the balance of head and heart must be maintained; the head for discrimination, the heart for feeling. whereby it is possible to realize infinite consciousness in in every phase of life.

The performance of this greatest miracle came to life when the East-West Gathering was held at Guruprasad, Pune, from 1st to 4th November 1962. On that occasion, while addressing over five thousand of His lovers from the East and West seated at His feet, thus bringing about the union of the East and the West, Meher Baba said:

My dear Children. Your coming from different places and from across oceans has pleased me. And although  no sacrifice to be  near me is too great, I am touched by the sacrifice that some of  you have made.

Those who have not been able to come should not feel  disheartened, for my love is with them as always and specially so at this time.





Baba continued "You have come from great distances not for some convention or conference but to enjoy my company and feel afresh my love in your hearts. It is a coming together of children of East and West in the house of their Father."

One of Baba's major works in this advent was to dissolve all distinctions of religion, race, caste and creed, all divisions of rich and poor, saint and sinner, and all walls of national boundaries. This event and all the preparations before it are a good witness to why Meher Baba came on Earth at this time. 

We hope you enjoy these small occasions for reflecting on the divinity of  Beloved Baba's words and life. You may email us at:  info@MeherBabaBooks.com  with any questions and/or requests.  Keep Happy in His Love. Have a great weekend. 

In His Love and Service,
Mahoo S. Ghorbani ... for Meher Baba Books
 
~  The 1962 East-West Gathering (Part 1)  ~

Editor's Note:

The East-West Gathering was a special international Sahavas with Beloved Baba, spanning 6 days in His company at the start of November in 1962. Prior to this Gathering, Meher Baba had been working largely in seclusion for some time. This event was intended not for the masses, but rather for His lovers from both East and West. At one point, He described it as the most important gathering of His current incarnation.

The East-West Gathering is well documented in several places, and the accounts are so rich and interesting, we will extend our coverage of this topic beyond the current issue of Weekly Reflections. In this issue (comprising Part 1 on this topic), we draw from the extensive narrative written by Filis Frederick, who attended the Gathering and soon thereafter shared her account of it in The Awakener, the journal she edited and published.






~ Notes on The East-West Gathering ~
of Baba Lovers In Poona, India,
November, 1962

-- November 1- Morning Session -- 

On this morning around 9 o'clock in the main hall the 144 Western men and women gathered together around Baba for the first time. Virginia Rudd asked Baba how He had slept. Baba replied, "I cannot go to sleep now, or I would wake up in 700 years!" Baba then embraced each one of us individually, including several of the men who had not yet met Him. He said of Clarisse (Adams), "You are exactly the same!-and Ena (Lemon) too!" 

He asked Lennie Willoughby if he remembered the song he sang for Baba in 1958, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and asked him to sing it again.

After the song, Baba said, "Tomorrow there will be no embraces, other-wise we will  fill up the session only with embraces-and I will be limp!"

Eruch said the Easterners were now arriving at Guruprasad and collecting in the  waiting hall for the afternoon session. Baba then made a personal comment here and  there to those in the group. He asked Bunty Kelly, "Are you worrying about little  Margaret?" (her 3-months baby). He said, "Worry about Me! Let Me worry about her!" B aba commented on how thin Tex Hightower, the ballet dancer, was, and said "He loves Me very much." 

Then He asked, "Ben, are you awake?"-continuing the joke about Doctor Hayman's
drowsiness from the 1958 Sahavas. He told Henry Kenmore and Ben to keep near Him. He told Dr. Chamberlain He was very happy he could make the trip. He said to Warren Healy He was pleased with the pamphlets Warren had printed. He asked several of us if we had slept well. When Charles Purdom replied "No," Baba asked, "Were you thinking of Me?" He inquired after Joseph Harb's health; and told Ruth White, "Do not think of anything but Me, so when you drop the body you will be with Me."
   -- The Awakener Magazine, Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, p. 11        
Used by kind permission of The Awakener Online
(The same applies to all other passages from The Awakener Magazine seen below.) 

 

-- November 1- Morning Session Continued --

Eruch said Baba had called all the Western men (yesterday) for half an hour just  to have His  embrace, "Then He gave the men 2 hours, when you women were not here."

Baba began: "What is the aim of life? it is to see God and become one with God.

If God is, then we must see Him. That is our sole aim. There are different ways  of seeing  God, called Yogas. Some try to see God through meditation and  concentration  on the 
Absolute within. That too is a very long process. And this process of concentration  does not 
help you to rip open the veil that separates you from the Beloved and allow you to see God within. "There are many yogis all over the world. Many of them try to gain bliss through extraneous means and become drug addicts; many of them get addicted to smoking hemp. 

After one or two puffs they get a feeling of elation, then the effect wears off. Different types of yogis try to see God through different means, and naturally, they get different  experiences.   But these are in fact only different kinds of hallucination. There are many  fakes who dupe people and advertise their so-called experiences, although they are nothing  but hallucinations. People flock around them to have some experience also, and thus they have  their own circle of followers. They pass around a pipe of drugged tobacco, and then their  followers smoke these pipes and begin to have 'experiences' too!

"One in a million, through intense concentration, does see God within himself; then for him  nothing exists any more; he sits absorbed within. Even a yogi who is genuine and who gets  absorbed in this real experience cannot reach the Goal, the aim of his life, unaided by the Perfect Master. It is all made so complicated, and books on Yoga have made it still more complicated."

He continued: "No amount of reading or understanding can lead to God-Realization. You must be made to see God; when you get that conviction through sight by the Grace of a Perfect Master, then you are ready for Union with God." To Anita He added, "Do you want to be one with God?"

Anita replied, "I just want to see You!"

Baba smilingly chided, "How can you have two things-see Me here, and see Me as I really am?"

Baba: "How very complicated a simple thing has been made! I am giving you a hint-the easiest way to achieve the Goal of life is to leave all and follow Me through love. I don't mean that you should leave your house and family and come here! Don't do that! (Laughter) I mean that you be in your house and with your family but love Me as I want you to love Me-love Me above all. That is the simplest way. Another hint-a still more simple way to attain the Goal is to obey Me . . . obey Me implicitly. Is it possible? That is simpler than the simplest thing. Try. If you try, I help you.

"It is because of My love I have drawn you all to Me. If I did not love you, you would not come to Me or care for Me. It is not your love that has brought you to Me, it is My Love that has drawn you to Me. Good old Margaret, she helped two other lovers to come to Me."

( The Awakener Magazine, Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, pp.11-12)


 


-- November 1-Afternoon Session -- 


We adjourned to our several hotels, reconvening under the sun-struck cloth pandal of Guruprasad. At 2:40 p.m. Baba appeared on the platform to shouts of "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai," as the entire audience stood, about 5,000 Eastern and Western Lovers of Baba. About 1,000 were from Andhra State, and Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Westerners were seated at the front, men on one side and women on the other. On the platform with Baba were seated Yogi Shuddhanand Bharati, the Maharani Shanta Devi of Baroda, the young boy Balak Bhagavan, the four interpreters, and also Adi K. Irani and Eruch Jessawala. Eruch conveyed Baba's greeting:


"Baba wants me to convey to you all that He is very happy that you are here. Your love has brought you here but it is really Baba 's love that has drawn you to Him for this gathering."

This was translated at once into Hindi, Marathi, and Telegu by separate interpreters. Dr. Kenmore then stood and after embracing Baba, recited the Master's Prayer in English. At the close Baba said, "Your prayer has made a few feel that God is present here. May My love make you feel one day that God is in everyone."

Baba continued addressing the gathering: "I have been seeing the Westerners and giving them My embrace and love and also discourses. Today is the first day of the East-West gathering. I want the Easterners to come to Me, one by one, and to put their hands on My knees and I will pat each one. That will amount to My embracing and meeting the Easterners. Come, come one by one. All of you will not be able to come to Me today; those left over can come near Me tomorrow.

"The purpose of this gathering is not to give discourses or messages to My lovers. Many discourses and messages have been given in the past; another volume of My discourses will soon be printed in Australia. More than all messages or discourses, your love for Me will bring you to Me as you should come to Me."

Source: www.MeherBabaTravel


After the translations and a song from the Poona Bhajan Mandali, the Australians approached Baba, then the Easterners, women first, came up to the platform and took Baba's darshan. In the traditional way, they took off their sandals and this caused some delay and congestion. Then, very suddenly, it began to rain, in fact to pour, and Baba gestured to Mr. Ramakrishnan to hurry the line. In a very few moments we were soaked and Baba gestured for the Western women to go inside Guruprasad. Here began a new kind of East-West exchange as the women mandali gave the Western women dry clothes and we hung up our wet garments. It was quite a colorful scene as Mehera, Mani, Goher, Rano, Naja and Meheru tried to find garments to fit us. I was wearing a gauze skirt and petticoat held up precariously by one pin. I thought one good sneeze would be my undoing.

O
utside, the microphone shorted out and Baba gestured, "Even though there is no mike, think of Me." When we returned to our seats it was through squishing mud. But the Eastern women, many with bare feet and a child on the hip, were still patiently standing in long lines for Baba's darshan. It was announced Baba would greet Easterners until 5:00 p.m., then the Westerners; and then arti would be performed. Those who missed His darshan could come up to Him for darshan tomorrow, but no one should do so tomorrow who had been to Him today.


                                                                    (The Awakener Magazine, Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, p. 22)

 


Source: www.MeherBabaTravel


-- November 2 - Morning Session --

Arriving early at Guruprasad, I sampled the "Baba-wares" in the stalls by the gate-calendars, photos, booklets, lockets, and Baba Bhajans set to English tunes, Dr. Deshmukh's contribution. I was happy to meet him at last, a tall genial man in a black Parsee cap.

At 9:00 a.m. we were again gathered around Babas gadi in the hall of Guruprasad. It was a beautiful sunny day. Baba began by asking, Who got wet yesterday?" All raised their hands. "Did any one get a cold? No? It was a nice dress rehearsal!" Baba gestured. Everyone enjoyed the joke.

Baba: "Elizabeth, you looked very nice in that brown dress of yours!" Mrs. Patterson: "It came back to me after ten years!"

Baba: "It was a real East-West gathering! I could greet only one-quarter of the visitors; today I will complete the three-quarters remaining. So be early today-come at 2 o'clock. Be ready for the rush and struggle! These crowds are nothing. You have no idea of the mass darshan programs. I had to satisfy thousands and I did. Those who have come are only the close ones who obey the instructions . . . that is why they have been given badges. When I give public darshan, the masses don't realize I am in a human form . . . they fall on Me. . . the Mandali have to stop them from breaking coconuts at My Feet, throwing colored powders and rice over My head. They do not realize the Kum Kum (colored powder) can get into My eyes . . ."

Baba continued to inquire solicitously about our health. He told us how "Energy" (Marian Florsheim) and Mrs. Bahjejian had had passports and money stolen from their hotel rooms. Baba gestured, "Isn't it surprising Energy has lost something?" and she replied, "If I lost everything I could stay here!"

Baba explained that the word of a big meeting like this gets around and the toughs and pick-pockets are lured to town. But on His mass darshan tours when there were 60,000 or more there were no thieves in the crowd. Once a man had his arm around Eruch's neck and tried to take the rupees out of his pocket. Baba made Eruch give the notes away. "It is your fault, not their fault," He told Eruch.

Yesterday, Baba told us, there were 5,000, not the 3,000 expected, many came at the last minute. So He has more work today. He asked us if we noticed the boy with the red loin-cloth who came up on the platform, Balak Bhagavan, and said he was revered as an "avatar'' in Central India. Baba had to explain to him that he should not accept homage, that he had no authority to do so without attaining the Goal and the experience of the state of "I am God." "He came to pay his respects to Me, he loves Me very much," Baba said. "There are so many saints of this type in India. There was a man claiming to be My Chargeman, and asked for money from My lovers. He holds classes on spirituality but he himself doesn't know the Path, its difficulties, the love, let alone God-Realization. Very recently he visited Canada and made the people believe that he was a Spiritual Master!"

                                                     -- (The Awakener Magazine, Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, p. 24)




 Source: Awakener magazine


-- November 2 - Afternoon Session -- 

Promptly at 1:45 we took our seats in the pandal. 1,000 more chairs had been added. On the platform the Poona Bhajan Group was singing in praise of Avatar Meher Baba. By Baba's chair were Yogi Shuddhananda Bharati and the Maharani of Baroda. At 1:46 Baba entered as we all rose, 6,000 strong, crying, "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai! Baba embraced a tall Sikh, then gestated, "It may rain!" Darwin Shaw stepped to the microphone and read Baba's message as follows:

My Dear Children, 

Your coming to Me from different places and from across oceans has pleased Me. And although no sacrifice to be near Me is too great, I am touched by the sacrifice that some of you have made to come here.

Those who have not been able to come to Me should not feel disheartened, for My love is with them as always, and especially so at this time. I know how they are longing to be near Me even for an hour, and how helpless they are in their circumstances.

You have come from great distances, not for some convention or conference, but to enjoy My company and feel afresh My Love in your hearts. It is a coming together of children of East and West in the house of their Father.

All religions of the world proclaim that there is but one God, the Father of all in creation.

I am that Father.

I have come to remind all people that they should live on earth as the children of the one Father until My Grace awakens them to the realization that they are all one without a second, and that all divisions and conflict and hatred are but a shadow-play of their own ignorance.

Although all are My children, they ignore the simplicity and beauty of this Truth by indulging in hatreds, conflicts and wars that divide them in enmity, instead of living as one family in their Father's house. Even amongst you who love Me and accept Me for what I am, there is sometimes lack of understanding of one another's hearts.

Patiently have I suffered these things in silence for all My children. It is time that they become aware of the presence of their Father in their midst and of their responsibility towards Him and themselves. I shall break My Silence, and, with My Word of words, arouse My children to realize in their lives, the indivisible Existence which is GOD.

Throughout the years I have been giving many messages and discourses. Today I simply want to tell you who are gathered here in My Love to shut the ears of your minds and open the ears of your hearts to hear My Word when I utter it.

Do not seek My Blessing, which is always with you, but long for the day when My Grace will descend on all who love Me. Most blessed are they who do not even long for My Grace, but simply seek to do My Will.

                                                     * * *



Baba gestured the translations should be completed before the rain started. He said there was no need for a Gujarati translation, and He called for the Easterners to come for their embrace, starting with the women. Colorfully dressed, many carried flower and tinsel garlands which they placed on His wrist and then Eruch lifted aside. One was made entirely of sweets and nuts. It was hot and every so often Eruch would tenderly wipe Baba's face and neck. Sometimes a lost child was held up by the  mike to be claimed by its family.  Then the men and boys took their turn-Sikhs, Moslems, Jains, Parsees, Hindus, Christians, of every size and description. Sometimes a proud father would stop and introduce his whole family. One or two cripples on crutches hobbled painfully up to the dais to have the Beloved Master's darshan. Once Baba teased, "Ben, are you awake? Keep awake so I can keep awake!"
 
At 3:15 rain seemed to threaten again and Baba dictated: "I am very happy you stayed in your places and everything is going well. Even if it rains I want you to remain silent and disciplined." At 4:00 p.m. the Australians, whose plane had been cancelled by the war emergency, arrived at Guruprasad and came up to the dais for their first embrace from Baba. He also embraced a devotee who had to leave the following morning for a meeting of Parliament. Baba asked all of us, "Are you feeling tired? If so, I will stop. I'm not tired.'' Voices all through the hall joined in a loud "No." Baba then said we had to thank the Indian climate for the slight showers that fell again as they helped somewhat to cool the oppressive heat. At 4:30 a special song was sung. At 5:00 Baba stopped the line of devotees and asked those who had not yet met Him to come at 2.00 p.m. the following day, and the others to come at 2:45. The colorful  arti  song-ceremony again ended the day of  "Avatar darshan."

                            -- (The Awakener Magazine, Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, p. 33)





  Source: www.MeherBabaTravel

-- November 3 - Morning Session --
 
Some of us were at Guruprasad early this morning 8:30 a.m. and we witnessed the affecting scene of the little band of Andhra villagers and some fisher-folk greeting Baba on the outer porch. Baba had sent for them at the bus station, where they were about to leave without having had His embrace. Now as they squatted around Him in a colorful semi-circle of men, women and children, He asked them to sing something for Him. This was their spontaneous song:
 
"I bow to You in Your infinite aspects. Infinite Bliss, Infinite K nowledge,  Infinite Power are in this Human Form of Yours. You are my real father and mother. I long for that day  when  I become One with You."  Eruch said even Baba was moved with the devotion expressed in their song. A prasad of sweets was passed out and after each one had the privilege of embracing Baba, they left.
 
At 9:00 the Westerners were again seated before Baba in the inner hall. He said today He would give time to individuals or groups, to be with Him exclusively as He called for them. For tomorrow, (the 4th), there would be no time for individual talks, but there would be a performance by a noted singer.

Three men now entered and Baba explained these were the workers who had arranged to bring all the Andhra lovers to Poona on a special train. The workers had not yet seen Baba, although it was the third day after arrival. He reminded them He had once told some of the mandali twenty years ago, "There will come a day when you'll want to come from far away and you will not be able to see Me." Now He embraced each of the three Andhraites and said, "The only work you three have to do now is to see that it doesn't rain here!" They embraced Baba with such love that He gestured after they left "I'm limp in the arms, but by 1 o'clock I will be strong again to embrace the people."

Two more men came up for an embrace. Baba said they loved Him very much. He then" reminded Dr. Hayman He had promised him five minutes today. "Today's the day, Ben! Shall we send all these people away?!" At Baba's request, Lenny Willoughby sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" as we all clapped the rhythm. Baba gestured, "The words are true. Its a fact. I am very happy to have the whole world in My hands. It seems so quiet, calm, peaceful . . . just a little speck!" We all smiled with Baba about the 'little speck' in His hands. Now different groups, and individuals who belonged to no group, had their turn alone with Him. To the Sufis Baba said:



"The only thing I must give is The Word . . . next year. That is the reason why I plan to stop everything next year. I will not call for either Easterners or Westerners . . . no one! I will prepare for the urge to break My Silence. It is simple, but I must have that urge. You do not know how eager I am to give that Word! I am preparing everything. I must see to the affairs of the whole world. Meanwhile I stress that when I give that Word, all of you who love Me will know it in your hearts. Much will be revealed to you then. God is the Truth. So why worry about the future? Didn't you hear yesterday what Hafiz said 'Why worry-it never means anything'? Murshida (Duce) . . .give up some of your worries!

"Do your duty, but don't feel worried about it. Remain 100% happy, 100% honest! Do the best you can; then at night, relax and forgot about everything. Keep happy-that is your duty! And remain honest, don't compromise. When you do, you get a fear complex in the heart . . .

"I am telling the whole world not to worry. The time is fast approaching when I will give the Word. The whole world will know about it; and there will be many changes. You have no idea how insignificant your worries will become then; so why not stop worrying today? Try to live until I give the Word. You may worry yourself to death unnecessarily-and then when I give the Word-you won't be there!"

Some of the young ones were concerned about their careers. The whole world is bound by worry," said Baba. "I am full of worries-you have no idea what real worries are! But with Me there is Infinite Bliss and that sustains Me; otherwise it is a burden."

                                                    -- (The Awakener Magazine, Volume 9, Numbers 1-2, p. 35)     
           





Avatar Meher Baba (My Heart is Set) East West Gathering 1962
Click on the photo. 


Photographs of Meher Baba and lovers in 1962 East West 
Gathering in India. The song is "My Heart Is Set".
Great work by Mischa Rutenberg. Enjoy. 

                 






- Francis removes the sandals from Baba's feet. - 


"The East West Gathering"


"On the first of November Nineteen sixty two
the sun which had become a last quarter moon broken to
pieces by clouds  again became itself in brightness.

On the fist of November Nineteen sixty two
the River which had become a chain of waterholes
again brimmed its banks.

On the first of November Nineteen sixty two
the Vintner who had scrawled across his wineshop-window 'No
further stocks'  again opened His door and beamed on His customers.

On the first of November Nineteen sixty two
the Singer who had shut Himself in His room
again went to the theater and sang his divine songs.

On the first of November Nineteen sixty two
there was laughter and weeping from clear-seeing across
heart-scapes  and whispered love-talk though the narrow streets of the
City of Love.

On the first of November Nineteen sixty two
thousands of nightingales sang to one Rose
and that Flower multiplied itself into thousands of blossoms
in order to satisfy the possessiveness of love.

On the first of November Nineteen sixty two
Thousands of hearts to God-man flew
And nested as His Feet--- and each knew
One moment can a whole life time undo."

Francis Brabazon
page 2.
(copyright to Avatars Abode Trust)


                           


-- Both images are : Courtesy of  Raine Eastman-gannett

        

         







 


 


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The Life of Avatar Meher Baba's Sister, Mani
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Heather Nadel's two volume book about Mani is now available. She wrote from her many years of working closely with Mani as her personal assistant. The story takes shape from Mani's Blue Bus Tour and New Life diaries, from recordings of her talks in Mandali Hall, from her letters and from many other first-hand materials. Includes 400 photographs and reproductions. 
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The Valiant Life of Charles B. Purdom
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Beloved Songs
Jim Meyer
CD
Price: $15.00

 

    


Message given by Meher Baba on November 2nd 1962,
the second day of the East West Gathering held
in Poona, India. In it Meher Baba speaks to those
who gathered from both the East and the West to
spend 4 days in the house of their Father.




                                                                  **********


Time to say good bye. Keep Meher Baba with you at all times, and be Happy. See you next week. 






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