9902 Sulphur Mountain Road
Ojai, CA 93023-9375
Phone: 805-640-0000
Email: info@mehermount.org
Wednesday-Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Buzz & Ginger Glasky
Sam Ervin, Preident
Ron Holsey, Vice President
Ursula Reinhart, Treasurer
Jim Whitson, Director
Richard Mannis, Director
Margaret Magnus, Secretary
Anecdotes, activities and stories about Meher Mount - past, present and future.
The need for the fireproof garage/workshop sparked a series of discussions which led directly to the development of a long-range master plan for Meher Mount.
Meher Mount had earlier begun long-range planning discussions by holding two community meetings – February 7, 2004 and May 22, 2004 –to brainstorm ideas that would help guide the master plan.
Read MoreThe idea of building of a new Workshop started on January 13, 2007, at a work party in honor of Agnes Baron’s 100th birthday. Agnes Baron, born on January 17, 1907, was a co-founder of Meher Mount who cared for the property for Avatar Meher Baba from 1946 until her death in 1994.
Whenever individuals are doing the manual labor that has been one of the hallmarks of Meher Mount - pulling weeds, trimming trees, cutting tall grasses by hand, and hauling trash and debris - the discussion always turns to how to make the tasks easier.
Read MoreThere are several photos of Avatar Meher Baba's 1956 visit to Meher Mount, including one in which Meher Baba is walking the property while the then Caretaker Agnes Baron points out various sights and facts. Eruch Jessawala holds an umbrella to protect Meher Baba from the sun.
Artist Karl Gallagher of Melbourne, Australia, painted that moment of Meher Baba's visit to Meher Mount.
In May 2012, the Board of Directors of Meher Mount adopted a Master Plan. Planning for the future of Meher Mount is a careful, thoughtful and daunting process.
The master plan provides a framework for planning, operations and future development of programs, activities and infrastructure.
It is designed to be broad enough to encompass all elements and aspects of Meher Mount, while also being focused enough to provide consistent direction and guidance over the long term.
Read MoreOn the occasion of Agnes Baron's 105th birthday - January 17, 2012 - Meher Mount published this photo as a part of a short biography of Agnes. After seeing this photo, former Manager/Caretaker Ray Johnston sent the following email.
Read MoreIt was a Monday or Tuesday when Meher Mount is officially closed. However, we were going to run some errands down the hill, and we had earlier opened the front gate for our departure.
Meanwhile, back at the Visitor Center/Caretaker Quarters, we were busy and not expecting visitors, so we weren’t watching for them. Somehow a couple of visitors slipped by.
Read MoreAs Manager/Caretakers at Meher Mount, my wife Pamela and I encountered a number of people who happened to visit seemingly for “no reason” at all.
Maybe they were inexplicably drawn up Sulphur Mountain Road or were just out for a drive in the mountains. Regardless, they were unknowingly led to Meher Mount, and ultimately, Baba's Tree.
These unintentional visitors came in all shapes and sizes, from students to seekers to tourists to long-time Ojai residents who seemed baffled that they “never knew this place was here.”
Read MoreEach has his own personal tale to tell of how he came to Avatar Meher Baba or in truth how Meher Baba came to him. Mine is simple. In 2002, on browsing through the small ads in Caduceus, a British metaphysical journal, I came across a somewhat familiar face.
The ad was placed by the U.K. Meher Baba Association and the face was Meher Baba’s. The quote beneath said more to me than all the literature that I had read to date on a 10-year spiritual quest.
This was an answer to my inner searching that spoke directly to the heart. What it said is long forgotten but what it contained embedded in me a spark that changed my life beyond recognition.
Read MoreLeslie Bridger, who was a Manager/Caretaker at Meher Mount from 2010 to 2013, writes poetry and was inspired to write this "Summer Song."
Read MoreIn May 2009, I spent my birthday alone sitting with this rattlesnake. I had recently experienced a time of profound personal challenge and change.
As I looked at its nine to 10 buttons [rattles], I thought of the years I had lived at Meher Mount – essentially the same period of time as the snake.
Read MoreLeslie Bridger, who was Manager/Caretaker at Meher Mount from 2010 to 2013, writes poetry including this one inspired by Spring in California.
Read MoreThat a small, yet steady, percentage of first-time visitors arrive at Meher Mount by sheer happenstance, rather than intention, seems to exceed the rational probabilities of this occurring as often as it does.
Some do say they felt drawn up the mountain for inexplicable reasons. Some are on a country drive hoping for spectacular views. Others are simply passing by and are curious. Whatever the reason, they found their way to Meher Mount.
Read MoreIt was our last day at Meher Mount in May 2006 after a year of caretaking. We were packing up the house along with our things on the porch at the side of the barn.
I spoke to Lilly saying that we should find a motel room nearby in Santa Paula, sleep there that night, and drive the rest of the distance to Flagstaff, Arizona, in the morning.
I reached for the phone to dial 411 for "information" to ask for motels nearby. Because I was so tired, instead I dialed 911 for "emergency!"
Read MoreOne sunlit Saturday, I called to let Agnes know I was planning to come to Meher Mount, and she asked me if I could give a ride to a friend of hers, Germaine Curchod, who lived in Santa Barbara.
I was intrigued about her relationship with Agnes, and wondered how they came to know each other. Agnes had never mentioned her until that morning.
Read MoreI once traveled to Meher Mount for a work party after the fire. It was pouring rain.
I parked my rent-a-car near the work site. Agnes Baron [then caretaker of Meher Mount] jumped into the car.
Read MoreThe fire at Ojai happened on Monday, October 14, 1985. I attempted to call Agnes Baron on that day to no avail. Then, I heard the news from friends that Meher Mount had indeed been destroyed.
The following weekend, I flew down to Los Angeles and drove to Ojai to visit Agnes personally and make sure that she was well. I met her in town at the house of a friend of hers [George S. Stuart] who had taken her in after her devastation. Agnes appeared quite composed and peaceful.
Read MoreOn two occasions I saw a mountain lion at Meher Mount, both times in exactly the same place. Both times I saw him cross the road, going down the slope of Meher Mount from right to left, and both times it was around dusk.
Read MoreOne evening at Meher Mount, just after dinner at dusk, we were sitting outside at the round table where we used to eat, and just enjoying the peace of Meher Mount.
While I sat alone with Meher Baba, looking at the sky, I noticed something moving towards me. It was a beautiful red fox.
Read MoreWhen my wife Lilly was pregnant with our son Cyprus and near the end of our stay as Manager/Caretakers in 2006, we would frequently hear owls at Meher Mount.
One morning, around 5:00 a.m., I woke up and made my coffee and heard an owl hoot-hooting.
Read MoreJohn Bryon had just finished building a fence for Agnes near the main entrance to Meher Mount. He then saw a man accidentally drive into the fence knocking it down.
John completely lost his temper and ran as fast as he could to catch the man in the car. He yelled and screamed at the man. The man apologized, and said he would fix the fence.
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