“Baba was always looking for an opportunity to crack a joke…”

In this delightful talk, Charles Haynes shares stories about Meher Baba’s infinite sense of humor. From playful teasing of His close ones, to His delight in a good practical joke, to His thorough enjoyment in a funny story well-told, Baba loved to laugh, albeit silently. He especially liked it when people shared amusing things that had happened in their personal lives. Indeed, Baba made it clear that humor, for Him, was much more than joke: “What sustains me in my Universal suffering is bliss, plus my infinite sense of humor.”

Video, 1:14
Meher Spiritual Center
April 12, 2025
Uploaded June 13, 2025

An Evening of Stories and Poetry by Jon and Deborah Meyer with Fereshteh Azad

In this presentation, Jon Meyer reads inspiring and very touching stories from his upcoming book, His Brilliant Light: stories of Meher Baba and His close ones, as well as poems combined with images from their upcoming book: Quest of the Birds: the inner and outer journey. Fereshteh Azad then reads translations of Hafiz on this poetic evening of love for God.

Video, 45:22
Meeting Place at Meher Center, May 2nd, 2025
Meher Spiritual Center Archives
Uploaded: June 6, 2025

“The truth is the most powerful thing there is…”

In this humor-filled audio, Lud Dimpfl talks about his life with Baba and “the different things Baba put me through.” From money matters to false assumptions to the importance of honesty, Lud’s delightful stories offer a glimpse into how Baba worked with a determined and devoted lover.

Audio, 33:07
Meher Spiritual Center, July 18, 1975
Courtesy of Mandal Hall Talks
Uploaded June 2, 2025

“I realized for the first time in my life I was home”

The second part of Ann Conlon’s “fairytale” opens with her momentous first sighting of Baba after waiting five long years to meet Him. She expected to be able to see Him for only one hour, but that hour stretched to three hours and then five full days. With her dry wit, she recounts Baba’s delight in a rambunctious, enthusiastic crowd, several stories He shared and what they meant to her, as well as what seemed like a truly confounding direction. After Baba had invited her into a meeting with the men mandali, He told her that when He returns in 700 years to “make sure that you come back as a man so you can attend these exclusive meetings.” After everyone laughed and she left, Ann thought “Wait a minute…”

Audio, 26:08
Meher Spiritual Center, May 24, 1981
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 5/16/ 2025

“I sent Brownies to Meher Baba”

In this warm and intimate talk, Philip and Susan Lutgendorf share their lovely stories of a lifetime with Meher Baba. Philip starts this talk with the story about sending brownies to Baba in Meherazad in 1968. Baba replied to this gesture with a telegram of acceptance and sent love to all who shared this prasad in the New York group where Philip was going to Baba meetings. Many more stories of Baba, India and the mandali follow.

Video, 1:30:37
The Reading Room at Meher Center, April 19th, 2025
Meher Spiritual Center Archives
Uploaded 5/16/2025

Meher Baba in Spain A presentation by Christopher Wilson

Meher Baba singled out Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) as one of His favorite Western saints, and as a model of how to love Him. In October 1933, He took a group of His Eastern and Western disciples to visit places associated with her life in Avila, saying “I am so happy here.” In this presentation, Christopher begins with an overview of the life of St. Teresa, moving along to share details about Meher Baba’s time spent in Spain visiting the sites associated with her life. Accompanied by photographs, letters and in-depth explanations, the presentation is informative and brimming with love for the Beloved.

Video, 57:00
Meeting Place at Meher Center, April 9th, 2025
Meher Spiritual Center Archives

Uploaded May 9, 2025

“I felt this wave of love come from Baba to me…” Part 1

Ann Conlon wittily recounts how she missed her first opportunity to meet Baba in 1958 and her subsequent longing and regret.  And then, in 1961 was given an unexpected opportunity to travel to India. Despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles at work, the passport office, and the airlines she finally got to meet Baba. She called it her “fairytale.”

Audio, 22:46
The Meher Spiritual Center,  Meeting Place, May 24, 1981
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded May 9, 2025

Stories as Revelations of Divine Love

To kickstart his Artist in Residence Program, Charles Haynes talks about storytelling. What is storytelling? What role do stories play in relationship to Baba? In the Baba culture, stories often help us remember and love Him. Charles shares his favorite storytellers from the mandali, the experience of a story vs. an explanation, and the glorious ways in which people feel Baba’s love and divinity through stories of and about Him.

Video,1:13:45
The Meeting Place at Meher Center, April 7, 2025
Meher Center Archive
Uploaded 5/2/2025

“Baba spoiled me rotten”

Remember the little girl who was nicknamed 3B by Baba? Diane Cobb, the daughter of Lud Dimpfl, met Baba in 1956 in San Francisco. She begged Baba to give her a nickname. He thought for a while and came up with 3B which was short for “Baba’s Beloved Baby.” In this informal video, a grown 3B shares her memories of riding around San Francisco with Baba and other intimate stories of being with Him as a beloved child. She met Baba again in 1958 in Myrtle Beach and in 1962 at the East-West Gathering.

Video, 26:36
Courtesy of Irwin Luck
Uploaded 4/18/2025

The Four Yogas – A Presentation by Sevn MacAuley

In this presentation given at Meher Center in November, Sevn McAuley dives into the definition of the four types of yoga, and ties these spiritual paths into Meher Baba’s teachings. Extremely informative, and interwoven with stories of Baba and His mandali, this is not a presentation to be missed.

Video, 1:15:56
Meeting Place at Meher Center, November 29, 2024
Meher Spiritual Center Archives
Uploaded 3/7/2025