"My love flows eternally to all humanity..." - Avatar Meher Baba
AVATAR MEHER BABA. (Artist: Charles Mills, Mills Studio)
In 1936, Avatar Meher Baba opened the 20-acre Meher Retreat ashram in Nasik, India, about 150 miles from Mumbai. He invited 15 followers from America and Europe to come live at the Nasik ashram.
“‘The Center will have nothing in common with the accepted notions concerning ashrams and spiritual retreats, with the strict, dry, rigid disciplines governing them,’” Meher Baba explained. “‘Its special feature will lie in its having My personal living guidance as Jesus gave His disciples… In short, I will personally guide each of you according to the aptitude, mentality and capability of each.’” [1]
Among the those at the retreat was Kitty Davy, who was later one of the pillars of the Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. She writes about their first Christmas in her autobiography, Love Alone Prevails:
“On the 25th of December we were all assembled at Nasik with Baba for one of the most blessed of all Christmases. We were thrilled to be with Baba again and on Christmas Day re-created the true festive spirit.
“Baba sat toward the middle of one side of the long narrow table, His plate encircled with many gifts brought for Him from the West. With child-like curiosity He carefully and methodically untied the parcels; then with a smile and often a twinkle, selected and presented to each a treasured gift. A few had been earmarked for special persons. We noted Baba preferred to make His own choices.
“After Baba distributed the Christmas surprises amongst us, He said:
A few moments of silence followed, then Meher Baba said, “‘I am continually crucified and I am continually taking birth.’”
Kitty observed, “One was conscious of the overtones of a sadness ever-present with Baba, yet simultaneously Baba’s gaiety and charm added a light and joyous touch.” [2]
References
[1] Kitty Davy, Love Alone Prevails: A story of life with Meher Baba, (North Myrtle Beach, SC: Sherair Press). Copyright (c) 1981 by Meher Spiritual Center, Inc., pg. 141.
[2] Davy, ibid., pp. 143-144.