Receiving His Love

The Young Adult Sahavas held at Meher Center from November 8th to the 11th was a weekend full of opportunities to come together in Baba’s love for young adults. Through discussion groups, workshops, skits, the Dhuni, visiting Baba’s House, hearing Wendy speak of her time with Beloved Baba, making garlands, nature walks, chai, delicious food, we spent time in Baba’s presence and with one another.

Rushing from the parking lot to our opening meeting, I was aware of how immersed in the world I had been and how I looked forward to leaving it behind. But it’s not always an easy task and it often (well, in my case) requires the help of the Beloved. And so, I asked Him: Please help me to leave the world behind and be fully present to receive your Love.

About fifty of us gathered in a large circle to reintroduce ourselves and come together in Sahavas. The theme of the weekend was: “Do not search for God outside of you. God can only be found within you, for His only abode is the heart.” ~ Meher Baba.

One of the personal highlights for me was watching Meher Baba’s Grace, a film of Baba that happens to be my favorite. With beautiful music by Cindy Lowe and Judith Shotwell as the backdrop, Baba is so radiant, joyous, and humorous in this film that every time I watch it, I feel that I am right there with Baba, and He is right here with me. The film is especially significant to me as it brings back memories of watching it every night at Meherazad with Arnavaz Dadachanji (one of Baba’s close disciples), when I had the great fortune to be one of her caretakers at the end of her life. Watching this film as a group set the tone of what would be a love charged weekend.

I was entertained to hear the multitudinous ways Baba continues to bring His lovers to Him in a discussion group that I led. The topic of my discussion group was how Baba directs us in our life which was inspired by a recent dream I had of Baba when I was in Portofino a few months earlier. In the dream, Baba looked so sweet, radiant, and innocent in His blue coat. I was driving Baba and the message I received from the dream was: Do not drive ahead of Me. I will direct you and show you where to go. We then expounded on this idea and ways we see or feel Baba directing our lives.

On the first evening we all broke into groups and did skits for each other using a Baba quote that each group picked at random from Meher Baba Calling. Our quote was, “The more you have of My Company and receive of My Love with an open heart, the more whole-heartedly you begin to accept Me. And the more you see of Me, the more convinced you become that you understand Me less and less.

“Exerting yourself to comprehend My Divine Game through the process of understanding opens up vast fields of speculation in which you wander and arrive sooner or later at a dead-end, finding yourself hopelessly lost.

“If My actions cause confusion, it is because of your lack of complete trust. Therefore, uproot all doubt and remember well that whatever I do is for the best. All My actions are My Divine response born of My Divine Love.

“I never make plans, never change plans. It is all one endless plan of making people know that there is no plan.”

As I think back on our skit put together in the brief thirty minutes we had, I marvel at how Baba created a perfect skit for us – both in characters and in the storyline! It was one that we were all proud of! And it was surely Baba’s doing, crafting it through us.

Baba was alive in so many precious moments during the Sahavas and no doubt for each person these moments were unique to their personal experience. For me, He came alive not only in His film but in dear Wendy’s talk where she taught us many of His gestures and with the sparkle in her eyes, I saw Baba’s sparkle. He was present in the songs we sang to Him at His dhuni and at His house. He was present in discussion groups where I learned how Baba made Himself known to His lovers and how He captured their hearts. He was present when I fell down the stairs and was carried like a baby by one of His lovers. He was present in the glisten of the lake and the sunrays through the trees. He was present in the love-songs we sang to Him in our hearts.

By the closing day, Baba’s love was palpable. We sat in the Barn to sing, reflect, and gather in His love. A beautiful garland made at the Sahavas cradled the Beloved’s face on His chair. A bowl of flowers lay next to His pillow for us to offer to Him. I was touched to witness a young lady carefully pick a flower to offer Him. The day before she had been in my discussion group where I had shared a story about how Mehera taught me to take much care when picking a flower for Baba, and to talk to this flower so that it would be beautiful for Baba. Now I sat there, watching how Mehera’s love for Baba had flowed from Mehera to me, to this beautiful soul, and back to Baba. A circle of love had been completed as this young woman carefully picked her flower and offered it so sweetly to Baba.

And with that the Sahavas came to a close, but His company didn’t end there. He came with me as I ventured back into the world with a heart full of love and prayer upon my lips to hold onto this love and His presence for as long as Baba would grant me this gift – until the thirst would come again to draw ever-closer to Him.