Bill LePage
Bill LePage first met Meher Baba in 1954. Over the years he has visited Meher Center from Australia as a guest and a guest speaker. He has also been a special guest at the Youth Sahavas for twelve years in a row! Here, he continues the tradition by reading his reflections about Baba’s continuing love and presence and the strength that He provides us with.
Video, 18:17
Zoom Recording, November 15, 2020
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
Wendy Connor
Wendy Connor first met Meher Baba when He visited the Center in 1958. She has spoken about her experiences of His love at Youth Sahavas gatherings throughout the years, as well as at the Young Adult Sahavas. This year, she shares a powerful statement that Mani made about following Baba, and an order that Baba gave her at the East-West gathering in 1962.
Video, 8:48
Zoom Recording, November 15, 2020
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
Meher Baba at Brookgreen Gardens and the Delmonico Hotel
The first part of this offering is an informal recording by Mike Loftus of Meher Baba’s visit to Brookgreen Gardens. We hear highlights of the afternoon, including the joyful crowd moving through the gardens as Baba notes sculptural pieces; Baba stopping under a tree to describe a memory of Buddha’s enlightenment; and Tex Hightower giving Baba sandals he made. Later, the recording switches to a press conference at the Delmonico Hotel in New York. Baba covers topics including His silence, the Avatar, and God’s presence in everyone. At the end of the recording, Baba leaves the room and Adi K. Irani continues to answer questions.
Audio, 49:13
Brookgreen Gardens, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 1956
Delmonico Hotel, New York, N.Y. 1956
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
“Being cheerful is an act of trust”
In this talk at the Shrine club in Myrtle Beach to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her meeting Meher Baba, Wendy Haynes Connor recalls the profound moment of that first meeting as a six-year-old girl, then her time with Him at the birthday party at Meher Center and finally at the East-West Gathering in 1962. This warm storytelling is rich with childlike wonder and memorable details, while also sharing her family’s journey to finding the Ancient One, together.
Video, 1:07:02
Myrtle Beach, Shrine Club May 22, 2008
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
“God talking to Himself”
This program begins with a translation of a ghazal that Meher Baba wrote in Persian; Farhad Shafa reads the original, and Dot Pierpont follows with an English translation. Then, Dot speaks about a trip to Iran and her experiences with the Baba community there. Kitty Davy shares brief stories about her time with Baba, and about the experience of Katie Irani, one of Baba’s Mandali, in Japan. The program ends with another reading of Baba’s poem, and a heartfelt rendition of a song by Rumi.
Audio, 49:49
Meher Center, June 1, 1970
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
“Be My living garland”
Dr. G.S.N. Moorthy was a scholar of Philosophy, an author and a prolific speaker. Baba lovingly called him “the talkative disciple of the silent Master.” Moorthy was a true skeptic who was allergic to the word Avatar when he first heard about Baba in 1940. Here, he shares his journey of doubt and conviction, his impactful first meeting with Baba and Baba’s message to him. His very interesting and profound stories are told here with humor and skilled oration.
Video, 1:25:51
Meher Center, Dilruba Reading Room, April 7, 2004
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
“Finding water in a desert”
Edith Bradbury had sensed the presence of God since childhood, but as an adult she began actively seeking Him. This search brought her by the late 1940’s to the Sufi leader Murshida Ivy Duce, who told her about Meher Baba. In this talk, Edith discusses her connection with Baba, including meeting Him for the first time in the Lagoon Cabin in 1952, when she fell tearfully into His arms.
Audio, 32:39
Meher Center Saroja Library, May 12, 1974
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives