Dear Meher Center Family and Friends,
Greetings from Meher Center.
This week, we celebrate the life of Mani S. Irani, Meher Baba’s sister, whose birthday is December 15. She was a life-long disciple and companion of the Avatar, whom she would refer to as her ‘God-brother.' For those who knew her, she was a bright light in the service of her Beloved. All she did was for Him. And she lovingly radiated the most playful and humorous energy that uplifted everyone around her.
Once when my wife Wendy and I were visiting her at Meherazad, India in 1995, she spoke very personally about her mother, Shireen, and how she suffered at the hands of the Parsi community because of rumors about her son Merwan and husband Sheriar. “And she used to get so nervous and upset," Mani said. “Once she had even heard a rumor that Baba had been imprisoned. She was so upset that she couldn't put her sari on properly, her hands were so shaky. She said, 'What should I do Sheriar, what, what?!' Sheriar said to send a telegram.” Mani said, “She not only sent a telegram, she went to Meherabad to see for herself that Baba was alright.”
One day, when she was a child, Mani was sitting with her father, in their home in Poona, when her mother came home from the bazaar. She was visibly upset because of rumors about her husband, who had been swindled by his business partner, and her son, whose followers were claiming that He was Zoroaster, come again.
“My father said, ‘Shireenmai, what do you do when you are walking on the road and smell a heaping pile of garbage near you? It attracts you, but do you go over and rub it all over yourself? Do you engage with it? In the same way, when others fling their garbage at you, their rumors, walk away from it. Pay it no mind.’”
This story had a deep effect on Wendy and me, and has stayed with us all these years.
On another note, WMBF, a local television station in Myrtle Beach, recently aired a segment on Meher Center. Click here to watch it.
We look forward to seeing you at Meher Center soon.
In Baba’s love and service,
Buz Connor
For Meher Center board and staff
Center Program Note: We will hold an outdoor concert at the Center this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
