"The people of this world are like the three butterflies..."

Your Friday photo is honor of National Learn About Butterflies Day…

This photo of a butterfly at Meher Mount was taken by guest caretaker Juan Mendez; Margaret Magnus suggested the poem by Rumi.

“The people of this world are like the three butterflies in front of a candle’s flame.

The first one went closer and said: I know about love.

The second one touched the flame lightly with his wings and said: I know how love’s fire can burn.

The third one threw himself into the heart of the flame and was consumed.

He alone knows what true love is.”

— Rumi

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Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar who was born in Afghanistan and wrote poetry in multiple languages, particularly Farsi.

Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature. This poem in particular talks about Divine love.

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"Birdsong brings relief to my longing..." - Rumi

Your Friday photo…

Photographer Juan Mendez captured an Anna’s Hummingbird in flight just outside the Visitor Center at Meher Mount.

“Birdsong brings relief
to my longing
I’m just as ecstatic as they are,
but with nothing to say!
Please, universal soul, practice
some song or something through me!”

— Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī

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This poem is from Birdsong: Fifty-Three Short Poems of Rumi translated by Coleman Barks.

In 13th-century Persia, where Rumi lived, music and poetry were central to religious expression. Birdsong, in particular, held symbolic significance, representing the yearnings of the soul.

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a poet and Islamic scholar. Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature.

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"All day I think about it, then at night I say it." - Rumi

Your Friday photo…

As night fell, volunteer Stephanie Ervin took this photograph of the Visitor Center at Meher Mount and selected this poetic excerpt from Rumi.

“All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.”

— Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī

I've been visiting Meher Mount since I was very young. I’ve mainly spent time there during the day.

But on a sunny day in May when I visited with my mother Margaret Magnus, we stayed for a lively dinner. It was one of those evenings where the food was good, everyone was talkative and happy, and we all enjoyed each other's company. 

After dinner I stepped outside with Caretaker Ray Johnston. As we looked at the stars, I turned around. The sky was just turning a dark blue, and the outdoor lights on the Visitor Center glowed in a warm orange tint. 

The Visitor Center — which includes the living quarters for the Caretakers — is one of two buildings on Meher Mount’s 172 acres. The other is the Workshop with the adjoining Topa Topa Patio.

In this moment the Visitor Center, and Meher Mount itself, looked like a warm, safe haven against the darkness of night.

I've thought about this photo off and on since the night I took it because in a way, Meher Mount has been like an anchor in my life.

Even though I don't visit as often as I did in my childhood, Meher Mount is forever present for me.

It’s like a longtime friend I can always come back and see, like a port that can weather any storm. 

~Stephanie Ervin, Volunteer

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The quote is excerpted from “Who Says Words with My Mouth?” by Rumi and translated by Coleman Barks.

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar. Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature.

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"And the squirrel looks down and says, 'Hey.'" - Rumi

Your Friday photo is in honor of Earth Month and the wildlife at Meher Mount…

One of the first things visitors to Meher Mount encounter in the area around the Visitor Center is a tiny pond. It’s small, shallow and can be overlooked amid the grand vistas and pathways Meher Mount offers. But it plays an essential role as part of Meher Mount’s ecosystem.

This photo of a California or Beecheys ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) at the pond was taken by temporary caretaker Juan Mendez who also suggested the following Rumi poem rendered by Daniel Ladinsky.

“Hey!

The grass beneath a tree is content and silent.

A squirrel holds an acorn in its praying hands, offering thanks, it looks like.

The nut tastes sweet; I bet the prayer spiced it up somehow

The broken shells fall on the grass, and the grass looks up and says, ‘Hey.’

And the squirrel looks down and says, ‘Hey.’

I have been saying ‘Hey’ lately too, to God.

Formalities just weren’t working.”

— Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, Love Poems to God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, Rendered by Daniel Ladinsky

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar. Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature.

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"Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself." - Rumi

Your Friday photo...

At this time of year in 2023, a winter storm brought a rare dusting of snow to Meher Mount. It melted by the time most of the guests arrived for Meher Baba's Birthday celebration on February 25, 2023.  

The video and photos were captured by Kristina Somma who was a temporary caretaker at that time. The excerpted poem "Be Melting Snow" was suggested by Juan Mendez. Video production by Stephanie Ervin.

Click on image or click on this link to see the video.

“Lo, I am with you always means when you look for God,
God is in the look of your eyes,
in the thought of looking, nearer to you than your self,
or things that have happened to you
There’s no need to go outside.

Be melting snow.
Wash yourself or yourself.

A white flower grows in quietness.
Let your tongue become that flower.”

— Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī

Excerpted from "Be Melting Snow" translated by Coleman Barks.

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar. Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature.

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"...there is a field. I'll meet you there." - Rumi

This week’s Friday photo…

The viewpoint is from Avatar's Point overlooking what is known as the Prasad Orchard. The Pacific Ocean is in the background. The photo was taken by Caretaker Ray Johnston who created the heart in the field and selected the following Rumi poem.

AVATAR’S POINT at Meher Mount. (Photo: (c) Ray Johnston)

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.”

— Rumi

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar who was born in Afghanistan and wrote poetry in multiple languages, particularly Farsi.

Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature. This poem in particular talks about Divine love.

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