"...here today, we feel relaxed, happy." - Avatar Meher Baba, Meher Mount
Margaret Magnus
By Margaret Magnus
Meher Baba repeatedly stressed how fortunate His followers were to be with Him that day at Meher Mount - August 2, 1956. It was a time of relaxation and laughter in the presence of the Avatar of the Age. The following is from first-hand accounts of the day by Filis Frederick, Darwin Shaw and Jeanne Shaw with photographs from Darwin Shaw.
AVATAR MEHER BABA and Agnes Baron at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. Agnes, a co-founder and lifetime caretaker of Meher Mount, is clearly delighted — long after the shock and sorrow of Meher Baba’s auto accident en route to Meher Mount four years earlier — that Meher Baba has finally arrived at Meher Mount. Close disciple Eruch Jessawala is holding the umbrella, and Tex Hightower, one of the dancers who studied with Margaret Craske (a close Western disciple), is in the striped shirt. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
“Thursday, August 2 [1956], was a day we had all been looking forward to, a day when Baba would be free of interviews, when we could all be more closely with him in the beautiful setting of Meher Mount,” explained Darwin Shaw in his book, As Only God Can Love. [1]
“Everyone was in a happy mood for the day’s outing,” Darwin continued. [2]
AVATAR MEHER BABA with His followers at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. The building in the background was a farmhouse and garage on the property, which burned in 1985. In the picture are: (Left to right): Adi K. Irani (light grey jacket); Eruch Jessawala (dark suit); Bili Eaton (light scarf); Meher Baba (blue coat); Agnes Baron (orange skirt); Tex Hightower (striped shirt); Frank Hendrick (light grey suit); Marie Adair (black suit and pants); and Peter Saul (green shirt). Agnes Baron drove Meher Baba to Meher Mount in the ‘Woody’ station wagon pictured in the background while many of His followers traveled by bus. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
Two buses were chartered to bring the group to Meher Mount. Meher Baba and His men mandali (close disciples) — Eruch Jessawala, Adi K. Irani, and Meherjee Karkaria — rode with Agnes Baron in her ‘Woody’ station wagon.
When they arrived on the mountain, Meher Baba told Agnes, “I love Meher Mount very much and feel happy here.” [3]
AVATAR MEHER BABA just before He steps on a flagstone walkway at Meher Mount, now known as Baba’s Walkway. It is one of the few remnants of His visit after the 1985 fire destroyed all the buildings and vehicles on the property. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
After the buses arrived, Meher Baba called all into the ‘Baba Room’ of the guesthouse and said, "Next to Myrtle Beach, I love this place best."
Meher Baba asked several people in the group how they liked Meher Mount. One said, "It has a spiritual atmosphere." Another said, "It compares to Meherabad Hill [in India where Meher Baba’s Tomb Shrine is located]."
A third commented on the lovely fragrance. Filis Frederick, who wrote the account of Meher Baba’s trip to Southern California in her publication The Awakener, said, "It reminds me of the hills of Assisi [in Italy where St. Francis lived]." Jeanne Shaw agreed, "It has instant appeal." [4]
AT THE BROW of the hill at Meher Mount at what is now called Avatar’s Point which overlooks the Heritage Valley and the Pacific Ocean. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
Meher Baba nodded and added, “This land is very old, I have been here before.” He never explained what He meant by that statement. [4]
AVATAR MEHER BABA with the group following Him at Meher Mount in 1956. They appear to be coming from the guesthouse (situated behind this building and not pictured) where He had met with followers in what was called the ‘Baba Room.’ The house in view was were Agnes Baron lived and was completely destroyed in the 1985 New Life Fire. The current Visitor Center/Caretaker Quarters sits on this spot. (Left to right:) Eruch Jessawala, Bili Eaton, Adi K. Irani, Avatar Meher Baba, Enid Corfe, Agnes Baron, Fred Winterfeldt, Meherjee Karkaria, and Frank Hendrick. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
As each person filed out of the ‘Baba Room,’ Meher Baba, in a playful mood, pushed out Ben Hayman and Margaret Craske. A short while later, He appeared on the vine-covered porch wearing Elizabeth Patterson's coat and her red scarf wound around his head like a turban.
Jeanne Shaw wrote in her diary, Meher Baba “…looked at me and gestured, ‘How do you like it?” I exclaimed, ‘Baba, you look handsome!’ Elizabeth was happy that Baba wore her coat. Baba said, ‘Don’t part with this coat.’” [5]
ELIZABETH PATTERSON (center) in her white coat playfully worn by Meher Baba on their visit to Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. (Left to right): Unidentified; Elizabeth Patterson, one of the founders of the Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, SC; and Dana Field. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
Meher Baba repeatedly stressed the special opportunity for all to be with Him and have a ‘free’ day.
"Do not expect any discourse from me today. Yesterday, I told you all that you would play and feel relaxed [here]. One thing I want you all to know. You do not realize how very fortunate you are when I embrace you all.
“In India, when I go out to give my darshan [blessing], in southern India, Andhra State, traveling about from east to west, there are thousands who come for my darshan, and they all love me very much; a number of them are ready to lay down their lives for me at my signal. Yet they have no chance for my embrace or my close company because the rush is so great. When they approach me, the person behind is pushing them on, and the one behind him is pushing too; so, just for a second, they can have my contact and then it is finished. They do not have any chance of sitting near me or embracing me, although they love me very much.
“In Los Angeles, there was no time for you all to sit near me as you are doing today, for so many people came there and I was so busy. Therefore, I wanted particularly to have a [free] day here.” [6]
AVATAR MEHER BABA at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. With Him are (left to right) Ivy Duce, Sparkie Lukes, Meherjee Karkaria, Adi K. Irani, and Eruch Jessalwala. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
"You are so lucky to be with me so closely, because in India those who are ready to give their lives for me have to file past me to see me, and the crowds are so immense they have time only for a glance or a touch from me before someone pushes them from behind," Meher Baba said. [7]
HURRYING TO KEEP UP with Avatar Meher Baba (blue coat) as He tours Meher Mount with co-founder and lifetime caretaker Agnes Baron (light orange skirt) on August 2, 1956. Lud Dimpfl is the man in the suit in front. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
Agnes Baron took Meher Baba on a tour of the Meher Mount property. Everyone followed — panting to keep pace. One man was given the chance to hold Baba's umbrella, but Meher Baba would change directions so swiftly, it was hard for him to keep up.
AT THE SWIMMING POOL which is now a water reservoir at Meher Mount. (Left to right): Eruch Jessawala, Avatar Meher Baba, Bili Eaton (light scarf), Meher Mount co-founder and lifetime caretaker Agnes Baron (orange skirt), Adi K. Irani and Meherjee Karkaria. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
Meher Baba remarked on the opportunity to be with Him so closely in a relaxed atmosphere, "…here today, we feel relaxed, happy.
“I come down to your level so that we can laugh and be free together; but do not forget at the same time that I am the Highest of the High.” [8]
AT DAY’S END on August 2, 1956, visiting Meher Mount with Avatar Meher Baba. Margaret Craske is in the foreground carrying the white purse. She is talking with Kitty Davy and an unidentified woman. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
About Meher Mount, Meher Baba enigmatically said, “I will come here again.” [9]
On the way back to Los Angeles, Meher Baba asked Agnes to drive Him back the longer coastal route and He mentioned on the way that He thoroughly enjoyed the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean.
AVATAR MEHER BABA entering the ‘Woody’ driven by Agnes Baron as He prepares to leave Meher Mount for the ride back to Hollywood on August 2, 1956. Pictured with Him is Kitty Davy, a close Western disciple, and one of the pillars of the Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
Footnotes
[1] Darwin C. Shaw, As Only God Can Love: A Lifetime of Companionship with Meher Baba (North Myrtle Beach, SC: Sheriar Foundation, 2003), pg. 391. (c)Darwin C. Shaw.
[2] Shaw, ibid., pg. 392.
[3] Bhau Kalchuri, Lord Meher: The Biography of the Avatar of the Age Meher Baba, Online Edition, pg. 4065, accessed July 26, 2019. (c)Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust.
[4] Kalchuri, ibid., pg. 4065, accessed online July 26, 2019.
[5] Shaw, op.cit., pg. 394.
[6] Kalchuri, op.cit., pg. 4068, accessed online July 26, 2019.
[7] Kalchuri, ibid., pg. 4065, accessed online July 26, 2019.
[8] Kalchuri, ibid., pg. 4066, accessed online July 26, 2019.
[9] Kalchuri, Meher Prabhu — Lord Meher: The biography of Avatar Meher Baba, (Asheville, North Carolina: MANifestaton, Inc., 1998) Volume Thirteen and Volume Fourteen, Footnotes Volume Fourteen for page 5061.
AVATAR MEHER BABA and Agnes Baron (right) at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. Also pictured (left to right) Eruch Jessawals, Adi K. Irani, Enid Corfe (gray hair), Fred Winterfeldt (white shirt), Bili Eaton (light scarf), Jeanne Shaw (white hat), Frank Hendrick (grey suit), Tex Hightower (striped shirt),Marie Adair (in black), and Peter Saul (green shirt). (Photo: Darwin Shaw, ©Meher Nazar Publications)
List (Partial) of Visitors — August 2, 1956
Avatar Meher Baba, Eruch Jessawala, Adi K. Irani, Meherjee Karkaria; Darwin & Jeanne Shaw; Helen (Bunty) Bernstein; Charles Loren (Tex) Hightower; Charmian Duce Knowles; Ivy Duce; Fred & Ella Winterfeldt; Filis Frederick; Adele Wolkin; Elizabeth Patterson; Kitty Davy; Enid Corfe; Dana Field; Ruth White; Charles Reade; Dr. Ben Hayman; Lud Dimpfl & Bea Dimpfl; Marion (Energy) Florsheim; Don Stevens; Marie Adair; Peter Saul; Margaret Craske, Anne Ginsberg; Christine Wise; Hilda Fuchs, Marguerite Poley, Gladys Carr; Sparkie Lukes; John Bass; Beryl Williams; Frank Hendrick.