Category Archives: Uncategorized
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The Gondola: Meher Baba’s Boat Part One
One morning in 1949, Elizabeth Patterson was sitting in Youpon Dunes reading the New York Times, as she did almost every day. At the end of a column in the business section was a misplaced classified ad with just three lines. It read: “Two gondolas for sale. $25 each.” And then it listed a telephone number. [1]…
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Meher Baba’s Declaration of Avatarhood
This year marks the 70th anniversary of a momentous year in Meher Baba’s life. In 1954, Baba held the Three Incredible Weeks sahavas, gave his Final Declaration, and gave up the alphabet board. But by far, the most awe-inspiring event of the year was His public declaration of His Avatarhood. Meher Baba was sixty years…
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Excerpt from Befitting a Fortunate Slave: Meher Baba’s Eruch Chapter: “Leaving the World”
ALTHOUGH ERUCH DID NOT COME TO BABA because he was interested in spiritual advancement, nonetheless, all his preconceived ideas of what it meant to leave the world were being shattered one by one once he joined Baba. As a young man who by nature was an observer, Eruch didn’t know what to make of it…
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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,…
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A Timeless Connection
Every few years, as Gateway staff, I have seen a person from the local black community walk into the Center’s front office. Some come in intentionally to say hello, others bring their families to revisit a part of their childhood, or some just come in unintentionally in other capacities by virtue of working in the…
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It Will Come to Them
I wanted to share a short passage from the diary my wife Wendy and I kept in the 1980s and 90s. This conversation took place with Kitty Davy in January of 1987. We asked Kitty what she says to someone who comes to her with a problem or a question on how to follow Baba,…
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A Standing Ovation
Many of you may remember Walter Witkowski from the evening programs at Meher Center. Every Friday, without fail, Walter would go up to the small podium, right under the Meeting Place stage and introduce the program for the night. He was tall, lively, whole-hearted and very enthusiastic. When he read a Baba quote at the…
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How do You keep the Beloved Present in Your Life?
It is remarkable that since 1969, no priestly or political hierarchy has usurped leadership of the ever-growing (let’s call it) global Meher Baba Movement; but maybe it is still early days. Of course, there are Trusts, organizations, and groups assembled under His name but there is no over-arching body that demands allegiance. This, of course,…
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The Beloved’s Fragrance
Last week while listening to Eruch Jessawala speak about Baba’s fragrance at His tomb and-other places where Baba spent time, I marveled at Eruch’s ability to weave Baba’s words together and build upon them so beautifully and be able to do simply what Master storytellers do with years of practiced craftsmanship –create an image and…
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The Year My Mother Didn’t Dance for Baba
When my mother Ella Massie Marks was young, she had one great love: dance. “I lived it, I ate it, I breathed it,” she told me. “I worked at it five hours a day and if I had a rehearsal, another five hours a day. I never thought I wanted anything else in the world.”…