In His Service - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

Ongoing ContributionsNeeded to Support TrustActivitiesWe are happy to share that last year so many gavegenerously to the Trust, that work is progressingwell. All are invited to share in the effort offurthering the Objects given to the Trust by MeherBaba in the Trust Deed, and in this way the base ofsupport can be broadened. Remember that inBaba’s cause, contributions large and small arewelcome; contribute only what is appropriate foryour individual situation.In the United States and United Kingdom,contributions can be made tax-deductibly throughtax-exempt organizations. In the United States,contributions to the Trust are tax-deductible whenthe donation is sent to one of the eligible tax-exemptorganizations (listed below) that has a grant in placewith the Trust. When making your contribution,please indicate that you wish your gift to be usedto support that organization’s grant to the Trust’sFive-Year Development Plan.Persons in the US who wish to leave bequestsin their wills or who would like to designate theTrust as the beneficiary of insurance policies, IR As,or charitable trusts should contact Emory andSusan Ayers of the Avatar Meher Baba Foundation(at the address below). Emory and Susan can guidethem in the best language for assuring favorable taxtreatment.In the UK, tax-deductible contributions canbe made to the Meher Baba Association; pleasecontact Sue Biddu, Flat 2, 202 Falcon House, OldBrompton Road, London SW5 0BU, England(171-370-0909). In the US, the following tax-exemptorganizations have a grant programmes in placewith the Trust: Avatar Meher Baba FoundationInc., Attn. Emory and Susan Ayers, P. O. Box 398,Mystic, CT 06355-0398 (tel. 860-536-0303, emailEAyers88@aol.com); Avatar Meher Baba Centerof Southern California, Attn. Kanji Miyao,Treasurer, 1214 S. Van Ness Avenue, Los Angeles,CA 90019-3520 (tel. 213-731-3737); Meher BabaHouse, Attn. Keith Sheridan, 116 West 29th St.,New York, NY 10001 (tel. 212-563-5959); TheMeher Baba Washington Gathering, Attn. PamButler-Stone, 11227 Dewey Court, Kensington,MD 20895 (tel. 301-946-0236); Meher Prasad Inc.,Attn. Steve Edelman, 4364 Glengary Drive,Atlanta, GA 30342 (tel. 404-261-3563); Meherana,Attn. Christine Pearson, 5311 Italian Creek Road,Mariposa, CA 95338 (tel. 209-966-5078); MeherBaba Center of the Twin Cities, Attn. Pat Cook,4724 Zenith Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN55410 (tel. 612-920-2056); Meher Fund, Inc., Attn.Rick Flinn, 760 Cumberland Circle, Atlanta, GA30306 (tel. 404-892-3377); and Sheriar Foundation,Attn. Andy Lesnik, 3005 Highway 17 NorthBypass, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (tel. 843-272-7282,email Lesnika@aol.com).Baba lovers from countries other than theUnited States or United Kingdom should senddonations to the Trust directly.Drama Has Long Colorful HistoryFrom Baba’s TimeWhile dramatic expressionmay have embarkedon its own “New Life”through the MeherabadDrama Festival 2000, theroots of this activity inconnection with MeherBaba’s Advent trace backto His paternal uncleRustom, who directed afilm company and laterwas part-owner of a theatricalcompany in theearly part of the century.Meher Baba Himselfalways had a dramaticflair; and a number of Hisclose circle members hadtalents in acting, mimicry,story-telling, and othernarrative and dramaticarts. Baba’s younger sisterMani was a living fountainof skits, plays, puppetshows, and storiesthrough the years; NorinaMatchabelli, QuentinTodd, and Delia DeLeonhad extensive professionalbackgrounds in the theaterin Europe; and othersamong Baba’s mandaliwere often called upon byHim to provide entertainment,both prepared andimpromptu, and thus tolend fun and sparkle toashram life.A particularly memorablemoment in the historyof drama in Baba’stime was the renderingof the tale of RajaGopichand, the legendaryHindu king who, afterCreated in 1959 under Meher Baba’sdirection and bearing His signature onits Deed, the Avatar Meher Baba Trusthad, at its founding, two purposes. Itsfirst purpose was the provision ofmeans of support to certain nameddisciples of Avatar Meher Baba whohad dedicated their lives to Him andbecome His dependents in the materialsense. Its second, long-term objectivewas to maintain and develop AvatarMeher Baba’s Tomb and associatedproperties, which would one daybecome the centre of world pilgrimage,and to serve a range of charitableobjects.leading an opulent life,renounced the world andhis throne and became agreat sage. What was particularlyremarkable aboutthis performance, whichtook place at Meherabadon 25th September 1938,was that all the majorroles were played byinmates of the madashram! As WilliamDonkin describes it, thesemen had to be “coaxedand cudgeled” by Pleader(one of the mandali) intolearning “their parts, theircues, their gestures, theirpositions on the stage.”Attended by Baba loverswho came from Bombayand other places, the performancemarked a turningpoint in the history ofBaba’s “Mad Ashram.”After Meher Babadropped His body in1969, plays quicklybecame featured highpoints in the Meherabadand Meherazad pilgrimcalendar. Apart fromskits and short plays inthe Meherazad Sundayprogrammes and assortedperformances atAmartithi, the past threedecades have witnessedmore than fifty majorTrust-sponsored originaldramatic productions thatA scene from “Baba’s 100th Birthday Spectacle” at Meherabadhave entailed play-writingand the mastery of parts,scenes, costumes, andoften songs and dance.These were much encouragedby Mehera, anduntil 1988 a play was performedon her birthdayeach December 22nd.While in the past, playswere staged in the gardenTHE AVATAR MEHER BABA TRUSTIn 1975 these two functions weredivided: “Avatar Meher Baba TrustFirstly,” a temporary trust, took chargeof the support of the “beneficiaries,”and the “Avatar Meher Baba PerpetualPublic Charitable Trust,” registeredunder the Bombay Public Trusts Act1950, assumed responsibility forpilgrimage facilities and charitableworks. Over the past three decades it isthe Avatar Meher Baba P.P.C. Trust thathas become the primary site and focusof activities at Meherabad and otherparts of the Trust Estate.The Trust Deed calls for maintenanceof Avatar Meher Baba’s Tombat Meherazad and in theamphitheater, “tin shed,”and study hall onMeherabad Hill, in recentyears the Music and ArtsCentre, with its professionaltheater, hasbecome the principal sitefor dramatic performance,particularly on the occasionof Meher Baba’sbirthday on 25thFebruary. Recent noteworthybirthday playshave included “This ManDavid” and “How It AllHappened,” both basedon film scenarios createdby Meher Baba Himself,and “The Ancient One”and “The Time HasCome,” both based on aplay by Bhau Kalchuri.and the creation of pilgrim facilities; foreducational, medical, veterinary, andother charitable services; for estatedevelopment and procurement ofsources of water; for the propagation ofAvatar Meher Baba’s message of loveand truth through melas, lectures, publication,and the arts; and for spiritualtraining. The Avatar Meher Baba Trustis dedicated to the cause of AvatarMeher Baba in all its aspects and tothat awakening of His love that will bethe transformation of the heart and thedawning of a New Humanity.Donations and inquiries should be sent to: The Avatar Meher Baba Trust,Post Bag No. 31, King’s Road, Ahmednagar 414 001, Maharashtra State, India