“Obey Me, whatever I say”
Faredoon Driver joined Baba at Manzil-e-Meem at the age of 18. He was later given the name “Padri” by Baba because of his lanky, priestlike stature. One of the “Four Pillars of Meherabad,” Padri remained on at Meherabad after Baba dropped the body, maintaining the ashram, practicing homeopathic medicine and providing a steadfast example to pilgrims of obedience. In this conversation with Padri recorded at Meherabad in 1972, he shares stories and lessons learned from a life spent following his Master. The recording ranges from a humorous story of a failed attempt to deliver Upsani Maharaj a horse and a bull, to an ardent exchange on the difference between ritual and a code of conduct in the presence of the Master.
Audio, 45:46
Meherazad, India, September 1972
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded on 12/9/2022
“A joyous going forward”
In this recording, Mani Irani, Meher Baba’s sister, tackles the topic of death. She shares with us how death is a joyous occasion for the departed, even if it is painful for those left behind. She helps us understand with anecdotes about Baba’s own dealings with death throughout His lifetime, and His repeated message that death is no different than changing clothes; that death is always a relief for the soul who has moved on. As Mani says, “It’s always … a joyous going forward. It’s never anything else.”
Audio, 11:58
Mandali Hall, Meherazad, India, August 10, 1985
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded on 12/2/2022
“Everything that happens to me is Baba’s wish”
In part two of this talk, Mehroo Billimoria shares several meaningful experiences with Meher Baba, starting with her daughter’s encounter with Him following a severe case of diphtheria. She goes on to talk about humorous incidents that took place around Baba, Baba’s understanding of her eldest son (who ended up taking care of her at the end of her life), and a special encounter with Baba in 1956.
Audio, 23:18
Meherabad, India, 1980’s
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded on 11/11/2022
“If you rely on Baba, just blindly, He’s sure to be at your side. He will never leave you”
In part one of this talk, Mehroo Billimoria describes how she found out about Meher Baba in 1942 from her supervisors at work. She was only 24 years old. Like many others who were to meet Baba, she prepared a list of questions. She planned to quiz Him on Zoroaster. The moment she saw Baba, the questions evaporated: she fell in love with Him. Mehroo speaks of her faith and reliance on Baba and how even in the darkest of times, when she reached out to Him, He was there.
Audio 22:57
Meherabad India, 1980’s
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Click here to read transcript.
Uploaded on 11/4/2022
“Just sing out”
In 1927, Baba composed a simple prayer made up of seven names of God: “Hari, Paramatma, Allah, Ahuramazd, God, Yezdan, Hu.” He first had it repeated by the Prem Ashram boys, and later sung by the women Mandali. After Katie Irani retired in 1978 and followed Baba’s order to move to Meherazad, she would wake up in the early hours to pick flowers for Arti and clean the Blue Bus. This is her own tune to the “Seven Names of God” that she sang on some of these sacred mornings.
Audio, 6:30
Meherazad, India, November 30, 1999
Courtesy of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California
Uploaded on 10/21/2022
“A whiff of freedom, what true freedom means”
In this brief, informal chat in Mandali Hall, Eruch and Mani share glimmers of the beauty and toil of the New Life. They begin with the “Song of the New Life,” written by Baba and Dr. Ghani in 1949, talking about its translations and its central role as a collection of Baba’s orders. Then they share some of their own experiences of humor and hardship during the New Life, and glimpses of its inscrutable and immortal meaning.
Audio 19:45
Meherazad, India, August 2, 1990
Courtesy of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California
Uploaded on 10/14/2022
“The love that Baba expressed and showered was something very, very unique in one’s life”
In this talk, Adi K. Irani, Meher Baba’s Secretary and close disciple, describes how he was drawn to Meher Baba—through his mother Gulmai’s influence and Upasni Maharaj’s direction. He describes his early days with Baba beginning in 1921. Adi reflects on the love showered on him by Baba as well as the strict instructions given by Baba during the Manzil-e-Meem period.
Audio: 10:17
Meher Baba Bookstore, Hermosa Beach, CA, May 1970
Courtesy of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California
Click here to read transcript
Uploaded on 10/7/2022