In His Service - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

I N H ISS ERVICED ECEMBER 1998A N E W S L E T T E R F R O M M E H E R A B A DCurrent construction work onthe Archives, Museum, andResearch Building.The Avatar Meher BabaTrust has established aMaster Plan for thelarge-scale developmentof its estate over thenext five years. Thisplan envisions thecreation of a park-likeenvironment on MeherabadHill, through aprogramme (in this firstfive-year phase) ofextensive tree plantingthat will be complemented(in later years)with the creation of gardens,fountains, and permanentpavilions forpilgrim use duringAmartithi and othergatherings. The planalso projects the developmentof a new site forpilgrim accommodationin a quiet section of theTrust estate approximatelyone kilometer(or two-thirds of a mile)to the west of the Tomb.Trust EstateMaster PlanConstruction of roads,water reservoirs, andpipelines has alreadybegun, and the layingof foundations for newAmartithi and pilgrimfacilities should startwithin the year.The decision toembark on a large constructionprogramme atthis time springs fromseveral considerations,some immediate andsome long term. SinceMeher Baba Himself hassaid that Meherabadwould eventuallybecome the greatest centreof pilgrimage in theworld, mandali andtrustees have long beenaware of the need toprepare for the largecrowds and continuousstreams of pilgrims inthe decades ahead.Over the past fewyears, however, theovercrowding of existingfacilities has made thecreation of new pilgrimaccommodations amatter of increasingurgency. During theAmartithi EducationalGathering, whenmore than 10,000pilgrims stay at Meherabadovernight, currentlodging facilities allowfor only 13 square feetper person. For most ofthe remainder of thenine-month pilgrim season,the Pilgrim Centreis full to capacity, necessitatingthe accommodationof overflow in theDharamshala and hostels.And even HostelsD and C, which underordinary circumstancescan provide bedding forup to 50 and 90 visitorsrespectively, are oftenfull, particularly atSilence Day, Divali,Christmas, and otherpeak times.Another considerationthat has to be takenseriously into accountinvolves Indian land-useordinances, whichrequire that the Trustnow begin to utilize itsproperties for appropriatenon-agriculturalpurposes.For these and otherreasons, theChairman andtrustees haveconcludedthat the time is ripe forthe inauguration of amajor estate developmentplan, in preparationfor the fulfillmentof Baba’s words aboutMeherabad’s destiny inthe age to come.The Four ZonesThe Master Plan dividesthe Trust Estate intofour zones, as marked onthe accompanying map(see pages 3 - 4). Theseare: (A) MeherabadHill, (B) LowerMeherabad, (C) OuterMeherabad, and (D) theNew Pilgrim Site.Avatar MeherBaba’s Samadhi locatedon Meherabad Hill(Zone A) is and willalways be the heart andsoul of Meherabad andthe main focus of pilgrimage.Although theTrust Deed calls for theeventual construction ofa superstructure over theTomb, detailed planningin this regard would,according to the mandaliand trustees, bepremature at thisContinuedon page 2Letter from the ChairmanDear Brothers and Sisters,When God descends to earth in human form asthe Ancient One, the Avatar, the Christ, theRasool, the God-Man, He implants His footprint inevery heart. This footprint is the seed of HisDivinity which, in due time, germinates and blossomswithin everyone. At first only a few have thegood fortune of recognizing this universalAwakener in their midst. But slowly the numbergrows; and at the time of His manifestation humanityat large turns toward Him and receives thebenefit of His spiritual push.Although the Voice of God speaks eternally, inthis Avataric advent, Meher Baba observed externalSilence. Nonetheless, for the benefit of those aroundHim, words did issue from that Silence, first throughthe medium of the alphabet board, and later throughBaba’s unique system of hand gestures. At the sametime, to maintain external contact with those of Hislovers who were living apart from Him, BelovedBaba would dictate letters, messages, and circulars.In the early years Baba’s circulars appeared onlyoccasionally; but from the time of the New Lifeonward, circulars and family letters appeared withgreater regularity, providing a major channel of contactbetween the Beloved and His growing family oflovers worldwide.Almost three decades have passed sinceBeloved Avatar Meher Baba dropped His physicalform on January 31st 1969. Over these years manyof His close ones have returned to Him; and whiletheir absence is keenly felt, at the same time, newhearts have been drawn into His love orbit, and thecircle of His lovers continues to grow. Since it isbecoming increasingly difficult for those of usamong Beloved Baba’s mandali to spend time withvisitors and newcomers to the extent that we usedto do, the Avatar Meher Baba Trust has decided torelease this biannual newsletter, In His Service,whose purpose is to keep His worldwide familyinformed of developments at His Home atMeherabad and to provide a new external voiceand vehicle for the silent internal link.Just as Avatar Meher Baba, the Divine Master,descended from His God-state into Man-form inorder to serve His own creation, so it is for the sakeof service that His Trust was brought by Him intobeing and continues to be maintained today. Hiswork He alone can do; yet His service is His lover’sopportunity, and supporting His Trust is one of themediums of this service. Those who serve Baba’sTrust through their active efforts and those who doso through the heart-offerings that He givesthrough them are all alike contributing toward thework which He inaugurated when He created theTrust in 1959 and which He continues to sustainthrough His ever-guiding presence.V.S. Kalchuri (Bhau), ChairmanAVATAR MEHER BABA TRUSTBe true to the trust that I repose in youand remember Me wholeheartedly.My love and blessings to you.- AVATAR MEHER BABA’S 71ST BIRTHDAY MESSAGE25TH FEBRUARY 1965

Continued from page 1juncture. Attention has centred rather on thecreation of a larger Meherabad Hill environment,particularly in view of the crowds which the Hillmust accommodate at Amartithi time.The major thrust in this regard over theupcoming five-year period will be toward the“greening” of the Hill: Extensive tree planting willhelp to create an atmosphere of quietude and serenityand, during gatherings, will provide shade for pilgrimsduring the heat of midday. During the nextphase of development after the current five yearperiod, gardens and fountains will be created to helpbeautify the setting. Raying out radially like spokesof a wheel, six large pedestrian boulevards (in additionto the original path) will provide sight linestoward the Samadhi from various directions.Meanwhile, in this second phase, the stage andentertainment area, now located at the amphitheater,will be shifted to a new site about 300 meters tothe north of the Samadhi. Pavilions to be erected atvarious locations on the Hill will provide their ownsmall stages as well as video screens on which audiencescan watch darshan at the Samadhi and activitiesat the main entertainment centre. By thesemeans the crowds will be dispersed over a wider area,and a peaceful atmosphere can be maintained at theSamadhi itself. The circumference of this entire hillzone will be girded by a wall with seven entrances.Vehicular traffic will not be permitted inside thiswalled enclosure.The other major new development under thefive-year plan involves the creation of a pilgrim educationsite (D on the map), which will encompassextensive new Amartithi accommodations, a newpilgrim centre, and a new dharamshala. The localitiesselected for this development, about onekilometer to the west of the Samadhi along the topof two ridges on opposite sides of a dry stream bedand water catchment area, have a particularly sereneand lovely atmosphere and afford scenic vistas ofMeherabad Hill and the Samadhi. What makes thissite especially suitable for pilgrim accommodation isits quietude and removal from urban sprawl alongthe Ahmednagar-Daund highway.The two remaining zones, Lower and OuterMeherabad (B and C), will, under the Master Plan,play widely differing roles. Lower Meherabad, whichencompasses Mandali Hall, the Dharamshala, andother buildings immediately to the east of theAhmednagar-Daund highway as well as the strip ofland to the west of the highway as far as the railwaytracks, is of signal historical importance, since it wasa major hub of Meher Baba’s activities from the early1920s on. Apart from a new administration buildingand staff quarters, this part of Meherabad willwitness only limited development, so that pilgrimsand visitors in the future can savour the scene andatmosphere that Beloved Baba Himself created.Outer Meherabad (C), which extends to the eastof Lower Meherabad, has been designated as the primarysite for charitable activities, particularly the educationaland medical. At present the education building(housing the Meher English School), the hospital,the hostels, and most of the staff quarters are locatedin this zone. The current five-year plan calls for additionsto the education building and Meher HealthCentre and the beginnings of construction of aMeherabad college facility. The major development ofOuter Meherabad, however, will come in a later phase.LOWER MEHERABADPlan of ConstructionOver the upcoming three-to-four year period,the main thrust in the development effort willinvolve the afforestation of the Hill, the constructionof roads, pipelines, and elevated water tanks,and the creation of a new facility (with kitchens,bathrooms, medical and enquiry offices, water andelectrical supply, etc.) for the accommodation of upto 4000 pilgrims at Amartithi time. In the year 2000work will begin on a new Pilgrim Centre andDharamshala, for the accommodation of 56 and 120pilgrims (respectively) during the regular pilgrimseason. Meanwhile, construction on the Museum,Archives, and Research Building and other currentprojects will continue. The projected costs, scheduledover the next five years, come to $1,890,000 (orRs.7,87,90,000).The background landscape photo, taken from thedirection of the site for the new Pilgrim Centre (inzone D), shows the crown of Meherabad Hill (on theright). The large white tower building is MeherRetreat, close by Baba’s Samadhi.NEW PILGRIM SITESite for New Pilgrim CentreSite for New DharmashalaMEHERABAD HILLMeher Baba'sTombMuseum, Archives, andResearch BuildingAHMEDNAGER-DAUND HIGHWAYDhuniJhopdiTable HouseRahuri CabinMandali HallGilora Shah's TombMusic andArts CentreOUTER MEHERABADTop left: Baba’s Table-Cabin, where He wrotethe book in 1925. Bottom left: The Rahuri Cabin,originally used by Baba in the Rahuri Mast andMad Ashram andlater, by Baba’sdirective, transportedfrom Rahurito Meherabad.Bottom right:Mandali Hall, constructedin 1948,and used by Babafor group meetingsduring the followingtwo decades.Site for Amartithi PilgrimsNWESDAFarmers'EducationCenterRAILWAYBABCDPilgrim CentreHostelsHospitalCLeft: the main entrance to theMeher English School, an Englishmediumelementary and highschool encompassing the firstthrough tenth standards (or theentire pre-college curriculum) andenrolling 243students.Below: aMeher EnglishSchool class.Many of thesestudents comefrom Arangaon,the poor villageadjoining theTrust Estate.MeherEnglish SchoolBelow: the Meher Health Centre, a dispensary originally createdby Dr.Goher in the mid-1970s, that currently providesallopathic, homeopathic, acupuntural, and ayurvedic treatmentto 100 patients daily. Top centre and lower right: The MeherHospital, which currently houses a laboratory, staff and pilgrimclinic, dental clinic, and plays temporary host for specializedmedical programmes. Upper right: the Isolation Ward, forpatients requiring special care.The Amartithi gathering, an annual, three-day event commemoratingthe dropping of Avatar Meher Baba’s physical body on January31st, 1969, draws some 30,000 pilgrims sand visitors from throughoutIndia and the world. The programme reaches its climax in thefifteen minutes of silence, from 12:00 to12:15 p.m., on January 31st.A model of the Museum, Archives, and ResearchBuilding, currently under construction andscheduled for completion during the year 2000.

How To Make YourDonations Tax-Deductible.In an important development relevant tomany Baba lovers, the Avatar Meher Baba P.P.C.Trust has recently gained recognition as theequivalent of a U.S. public charity. This recognitionmakes it possible for individuals in Americato donate to the Trust in a tax-advantaged way,provided they do so through qualified domesticorganizations.Since Baba’s Trust became active in 1969, ithas depended for its financial support exclusivelyon love-gifts from Meher Baba’s world-wide family.Until now, however, though Indian citizenshave been able to claim tax deductions on donationsto the Trust which for them is a domesticcharity, it has not generally been possible for personsfrom other countries to do so. Only in theUnited Kingdom (among foreign nations) havetax deductions been allowable, for persons whomake Trust donations through the medium of theMeher Baba Association in London.Late in 1997, however, with the help of U.S.counsel, the Trust prepared an Affidavit which,together with supporting documentation, gaveevidence of its equivalence to a U.S. public charity.Though this Affidavit does not permit U.S.citizens and residents to donate to the trust directlyin a tax-advantaged way, it does make it easierfor U.S. tax-exempt Baba organizations to makegrants to the Trust which support its activities andprogrammes.What this means, if you are a U.S. citizen orresident, is that you can now support the Trust ina tax-advantaged manner by donating to an eligibleU.S. tax-exempt organization and by accompanyingyour donation with the request that yourgift be used in a grant or grants supporting Trustprogrammes.For a U.S. tax-exempt Baba organization tobecome eligible for such grant-giving it must firstcomplete certain legal formalities authorizing it todonate to foreign charities. The organizationmust then enter into a grant-giving agreementwith the Trust.To date six organizations–Sheriar Foundation(of Myrtle Beach, SC), Meherana (of Mariposa,CA), Meher Prasad (of Atlanta, GA), AvatarMeher Baba Center (of Southern California),Meher Baba House (of New York, NY) and theMeher Baba Washington Gathering (ofWashington, DC)– have completed this process.In short, Americans can now support Trust projectsin a tax-advantaged way by making contributionsto any of these organizations, as described above.Half a dozen other groups and organizations arecurrently working on the various formalities andmay soon become qualified to apply contributionstoward Trust grants.The Trust hopes that similar channels cansoon be opened up in other countries; prospectsare particularly promising in European countriesapart from the U.K. (where this option hasalready for some time been available) and inAustralia. The next issue of In His Service willcontain an update on these developments.Please note, however, that donations to Avatar Meher Baba TrustFirstly (for the support of the mandali and other beneficiaries)cannot be made through U.S. or U.K. tax-exempt organizations.As in the past, these donations must be sent to Trustwallas ordirectly to the Avatar Meher Baba Trust office in Ahmednagar.Meherabad:Past and FutureWhat today is known asMeherabad had been amilitary camp duringWorld War I. After thewar ended in 1918,however, this remoteoutpost, half a kilometerfrom the poor village ofArangaon, was abandoned.When MeherBaba and his mandalifirst visited it in April of1923, most of the buildingswere in ruin, andthe countryside wasinfested with scorpionsand snakes.Within three years,however, Baba hadcompleted the transformationof Meherabadinto a thriving communityof 500 souls thatencompassed an ashram,schools for children,shelters for the poor andleprous, a dispensary,and a hospital. Severalpermanent buildings –the Jhopdi and theTable-Cabin – had beenerected, and other dilapidatedor uninhabitablestructures – the PostOffice, Dharamshala,and Water Tower (nowMeher Retreat) – hadbeen repaired orredesigned.Except for a fewneems and banyans,Meherabad was largelytreeless in those days,and the plains extendingto the east, except for anoccasional farmer’s hut,were empty as far as theeye could see. A deepsense of peace and purity ence now,” Baba wouldpervaded the landscape. say to them. “In theOften in the early years, future, there will be aas Khorshed still remembers,Baba would set out you who are here withsea of people here. Soin His beautiful, swift, Me, make the most ofsweeping stride on long this opportunity: it willtreks across neighboring never come again.”fields and ridges and up Eruch remembers adetritus-littered slopes of day, probably in thedistant hills. In this way early 1940s, when he,virtually all of the Baba, and the mencurrent Trust Estate mandali were seated on(including the New the ground beside thePilgrim Site)must havebeen visitedCreated in 1959 under Meher Baba’sby Him at onedirection and bearing His signature on itstime orDeed, the Avatar Meher Baba Trust had,another.at its founding, two purposes. Its firstUnlikelypurpose was the provision of means ofthough itsupport to certain named disciples ofmight haveAvatar Meher Baba who had dedicatedseemed intheir lives to Him and become Histhose earlydependents in the material sense. Itsdays, Babasecond, long-term objective was toused to foretella timemaintain and develop Avatar MeherBaba’s Tomb and associated properties,when pilgrimswhich would one day become the centreand loversof world pilgrimage, and to serve awould flock torange of charitable objects.Meherabad inIn 1975 these two functions weregreat numbers.Manidivided: “Avatar Meher Baba TrustFirstly,” a temporary trust, took charge ofwould reminisceaboutthe support of the “beneficiaries,” andthe “Avatar Meher Baba Perpetualoccasions inPublic Charitable Trust,” registeredthe laterunder the Bombay Public Trusts Act1930s whenshe, Mehera,and other eastern and newly reconstructedwestern women disciples building that is nowwere seated around His Baba’s Samadhi. “Babagadi (or couch) under made a gesture indicatingthe area all aroundthe veranda of MeherRetreat at Upper Him,” Eruch recalls.Meherabad. “Enjoy the “‘The time will come,’quiet that you experi-Baba said, ‘when thisPadri (Faredoon Driver), an early and intimate disciple whom Meher Baba called one of the“four pillars of Meherabad,” is here depicted in the late 1970s gesturing in the direction ofBaba’s Samadhi on Meherabad Hill.PHOTO BY WIN COATESwhole vast expanse willbe filled with people.’Baba continued: ‘Now,when you go out and tryto tell people in theworld about MeherBaba, you find that mostof them have not evenheard of Me. But in thefuture you will have tosearch hard to find aperson who has notheard of Me.’ ”During 1955 Sahavas,THE AVATAR MEHER BABA TRUST1950, 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 Tomb and thecreation of pilgrim facilities; for educational,medical, veterinary, and other charitableservices; for estate development andprocurement of sources of water; for thepropagation of Avatar Meher Baba’smessage of love and truth through melas,lectures, publication, and the arts; and forspiritual training. The Avatar Meher BabaTrust is dedicated to the cause of AvatarMeher Baba in all its aspects and to thatawakening of His love that will be thetransformation 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.as Bhau remembers,Baba foretold thatMeherabad would eventuallybecome theworld’s greatest centre ofpilgrimage and thevicinity of Meherabad atownship. Instructingthe lovers gatheredaround Him to pay theirrespects at His Samadhi,Baba then said: “WhenI leave this body, it willcome to rest in theTomb on this hill. After70 years, this hill willturn into a place ofworld pilgrimage. Howfortunate you all arethat you are here in Myliving presence and thatyou have come up thehill with Me.”