By Margaret Magnus

In 1944, Jean Adriel and Alexander Markey established the 500-acre New Life Center in La Crescenta, CA, dedicated to Avatar Meher Baba.

Then, sometime in 1946, Jean received word from Meher Baba that He wished for them to relocate to a place farther from the Los Angeles area, somewhere one or two hours outside a big city. [1] 

After a search, they found the property at 9902 Sulphur Mountain Road, Ojai, which came to be known as Meher Mount. 

The group reasoned by that selling the 500-acre New Life Center, they could afford to purchase the 173 acres in the Upper Ojai Valley. 

For $42,500 – or about $608,250 in today’s prices – the New Life Foundation acquired the Sulphur Mountain property on July 31, 1946. [2],[3] 

At least two of the area newspapers carried news of the purchase:

• “Shri Meher Baba to Establish Center in Upper Ojai Valley” (The Ojai, August 9, 1946) and

• “Baba Will Start New Foundation” (Santa Paula Chronicle, August 13, 1946).

The Ojai article began, “Of interest to the numerous valley residents who follow the history and development of the numerous religious groups that are prominent in the world today… is the news that Shri Meher Baba will come to Ojai from Europe within a few weeks to establish a center of his New Life Foundation up on Sulphur Mountain.” [4]

“Within the past few months several adherents of Baba, as the head of the group is generally called, have visited in Ojai,” The Ojai article continued, “and it is understood that now a dozen or more will come here from La Crescenta, Calif., to prepare for the arrival of their leader. (There are at present only a few small structures on the property purchased.)” [5]

There must have been a press release issued by the New Life Foundation because both newspapers report the following:

“’The Perfect Master,’ as Baba is sometimes called, is supposedly capable of miraculous powers. Among his followers is an Italian actress and wife of a prince [Princess Norina Matchabelli], who gave up luxury and glamour to follow Baba. [6]

“It is reported that Baba does not read books, but each day he looks over the newspaper headlines.  While and while doing so, He touches the printed lines with his fingers.  Through this contact, Baba influences the results of the events described in the article.” [7]

At the end of The Ojai article, “Shri Meher Baba has been in Europe for many years now and his arrival in America is regarded as a cause for rejoicing by his faithful adherents.

“He is quoted as giving out his intention to help the West spiritually making people understand religion in the sense of seeing one infinite existence prevailing throughout the universe and experience then the high consciousness and bliss in everyday life.” [8],[9]

Swami Yogananda, who lived in the area, visited the property in November 1946 and spent a few hours there.  He remarked: “This place is a dream Oriental paradise.  One does not even have to focus to hear the Om sound here.” [10]

Footnotes

[1] Bhau Kalchuri, Lord Meher: The Biography of Avatar of the Age Meher Baba, Online Edition, pg. 2555, accessed online on October 12, 2021. © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust.
[2] Briefacts, Oxnard Press Courier, August 1, 1946, page 2, column 2.  
[3] Grant Deed, Date Recorded 7/31/1946, Book 756, File/ID# 07560234, Page 234, Document 19460731407560234.
[4] “Shri Meher Baba to Establish Center in Upper Ojai Valley,” The Ojai, August 9, 1946, pp. 1 and 7.
[5] The Ojai, ibid.
[6] “Baba Will Start New Foundation,” Santa Paula Chronicle, August 13, 1946.
[7] The Ojai, op.cit.
[8] The Ojai, ibid.
[9] The Ojai & Santa Paula Chronicle, ibid.
[10] Kalchuri, op.cit., pg. 2556, accessed online on October 12, 2021.

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