“Baba’s love, that’s all there is, nothing more”

In this light-hearted interview conducted at Meherabad in 1971, Mansari, Padri and Nana Kher share stories of their lives with Baba. Close ones in Baba’s orbit, they offer us a glimpse into the humor, joy and hardships of serving the Master.

Note: The audio was recorded on a cassette separately from the video. Due to the age and damage caused by exposure to the tape, there are syncing issues between the audio and video.

Video, 18:56
Meherabad, India, 1971
Courtesy of the Irwin Luck Interview Project
Uploaded 3/10/2023

“The froth comes to the surface”

This is the second part of the talk by Rano Gayley shared in last week’s offering. In it, she focuses on the late 1930’s and how Baba helped her learn to control her moods—from waking her up night after night with seemingly irrelevant instructions in Cannes to crowded and hungry moments on the Blue Bus Tour.

Audio, 47:14
Meherazad, India, October 1972
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 3/10/2023

“Everything that was beautiful was there”

Rano Gayley was an American artist who first met Meher Baba in 1933 along with her mother, Nonny. Although she wouldn’t have considered herself a seeker prior to meeting Baba, she spent the rest of her life in service to Him. She joined His ashram in 1937, and remained a close Mandali member until her passing in 1986. In this talk, Rano shares her story of coming to Baba and the early years that followed.

Audio, 47:14
Mandali Hall, Meherazad, India, October 1972
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 3/3/2023

“Trying my very best”

During a chat in Mandali Hall, Katie describes how she started cooking for Baba during the Blue Bus tours. She had “never been in the kitchen in [her] life” when Baba called her to Him along with Eruch’s sister Manu and asked them to cook for all 35 of the women on the journey. Despite their apprehension, both said yes. Katie would find joy in the kitchen for the rest of her life.

Audio, 5:34
November 30, 1999, Mandali Hall, Meherazad, India
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 2/17/2023

“Baba gives us the condition, but also helps us to abide by it”

Bal Natu first had Baba’s darshan on a train platform in Nagpur in 1944. He was granted Baba’s permission to visit the ashram anytime, and thus, in the later years, spent his time off from work staying with Baba at Guruprasad and Meherazad. He came to live in Meherazad permanently in 1977, delighting pilgrims with his stories of life with Baba. In this lighthearted recording, Bal shares a few anecdotes about Baba’s message on worry, wrapping up with a humorous story of a time he shared his own worry with Baba.

Audio, 12:37
Mandali Hall, Meherazad, August 11, 1987
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 2/10/2023

“So much Baba has given to the World”

In part two of this talk recorded in Mandali Hall in September, 1972, Naja continues to tell stories of her life with Baba. In her sweet and unassuming anecdotes, Naja shares with us a range of topics, from memories of lovers whom Baba helped overcome addiction, to the choice Baba presented to Naja herself to either stay and serve, or leave Him and return to the World.

Audio 22:23
September 1972
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 2/3/2023

“I am Eruch, the slave of the Lord of Love”

Eruch was Baba’s right-hand man, and dedicated his life in service to his Master. In this beautiful and heartwarming clip taken at Meherabad during the 1996 Amartithi, Eruch grants us a glimpse into his inner journey of loving Baba.

Video: 9:12
Meherabad, India
Courtesy of the AMBCSC Archives
Uploaded: 1/27/2023

“We have to continue to do what Baba wants us to do”

During an afternoon at Mandali Hall, Baba’s sister Mani gives a moving description of her struggle to accept that her God-brother had dropped His body, and how she learned to keep living for Him.

Audio, 9:59
Meherazad, India
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded 1/27/2023

“Everybody was drawn to Him”

Naja Rustom Irani was Baba’s cousin, and grew up on the same lane as young Merwan in Pune. At the request of Baba’s mother Shireenmai, Naja began preparing and serving food to Baba at the age of twelve or thirteen. This was the start of a lifetime of service to the Avatar. She became one of Baba’s early female Mandali members, and spent the majority of her life cooking for Him in the ashram. In this talk, Naja shares stories from Baba’s childhood in Pune, the time period after Babajan’s Kiss, and the gathering of His early Mandali and formation of Manzil-e-Meem.

Audio, 25:29
September 1972
Courtesy of Mandali Hall Talks
Uploaded on 1/20/2023

“Just follow His instructions”

In this talk, Bhau Kalchuri, Baba’s Mandali member and night watchman, tells stories about being with Baba. He focuses especially on the challenging (and sometimes humorous) ways that Baba taught him to follow His orders, no matter what. Bhau also discusses writing Meher Baba’s biography, Lord Meher.

Video, 47:46
Meher Center Meeting Place, July 3, 1995
From the Meher Spiritual Center, Inc. Archives
Uploaded 1/13/2023