Baba instructed Eruch to ensure that the song “Begin the Beguine” be played after his death. Eruch, unsure of the song, asked Mani to sing it for him, which she did reluctantly. When Baba passed away, Eruch ensured the song was played as instructed, first in the room where Baba died and later at his tomb. Meher Baba’s tomb was built from rubble after the British ordered the demolition of a building owned by one of his disciples. The tomb, designed by Arnavaz’s father, features murals by Helen Dahm and was constructed over the pit where Baba lived during a seclusion. After Baba’s passing, his body was placed in the tomb. A year before his passing, he introduced Mehera to his close disciples, allowing her to interact with them for the first time.

Eruch recounts a time when Baba wanted to swim in the ocean during a trip to a seaside rest house. Despite Eruch’s concerns about the dangerous conditions and the boys’ mischievous nature, Baba insisted on taking a shortcut across the water in a makeshift canoe. Eruch reluctantly agreed, summoning two boys with a carved-out tree trunk to ferry them across the bay. Eruch recounts an incident where he and Baba were in a canoe that capsized, plunging them into the fetid water. Despite the danger, Eruch managed to rescue Baba and bring him to safety, where they cleaned up and continued their journey. The incident resurfaced years later when the women noticed the state of Baba’s clothes and inquired about the incident.

Eruch believes Meher Baba broke his silence on the day he began it, as his silence was meant to be broken. He interprets Baba’s silence as a call for his love to break out in the hearts of his followers, allowing them to experience his presence and love. Eruch also shares a lesson Baba taught him about the power of soft speech and love, emphasizing the closeness and lack of distance between hearts in true love.

The use of “Meher Baba” instead of just “Baba” is emphasized to avoid confusion with other religious figures named Baba. While “Baba” is a common and affectionate term in India, it can be misleading to outsiders unfamiliar with Meher Baba’s identity. Meher Baba himself discouraged disrupting the devotion of followers of other religions, advocating for respect and understanding of diverse spiritual paths.

Eruch discusses Baba’s teachings on the “Me, Mine and I” concept, highlighting the irony of seeking freedom while remaining bound to the self. He finds a tape by Michael De Costa, featuring Baba’s words on this topic, both amusing and humbling.

Baba’s statement about inhaling and exhaling the universe is explained as a metaphor for creation and dissolution. Exhaling represents the emergence of creation, while inhaling signifies its absorption back into Baba, highlighting the simplicity, containment, and sustenance of creation by His breath.

Eruch Jessawala

Eruch recounts the challenges faced by the men who lived with Meher Baba, particularly the tension between the men and women who also loved Baba. He shares a humorous anecdote about Baba telling both groups to love Him as the other group did, highlighting the differences in their expressions of love. Eruch also reflects on the time after Baba’s passing, the busyness of managing the Trust, and the limited opportunities for reminiscing about Baba.

Meher Baba, formerly known as Merwan Sheriar Irani, was a compassionate and kind individual. His friends and acquaintances, finding it awkward to use his given name, began calling him “Meher Baba,” reflecting his compassionate nature. Despite his growing following, Baba instructed his disciples not to reveal his name or his origins, often referring to him as their “elder brother” from Bombay. In the early years, Meher Baba’s followers kept His identity a secret, even when He was recognized in public. He later revealed Himself as the Avatar, the direct descent of Godhead into the realms of illusion, and encouraged His followers to share His name with others. Meher Baba emphasized the importance of His name, stating that it was a treasure house and that His followers should not hesitate to share it.

Eruch recounts a journey through “No Man’s Land” to Quetta, Baluchistan, with Baba and a group of women. Despite warnings about the dangerous terrain and bandits, they traveled through a mountainous region on a dirt road, crossing the Indus River on a pontoon bridge. Baba instructed Eruch not to stop the bus until reaching Fort Monroe, and armed escorts were provided for protection. Eruch recounts a perilous journey transporting Baba’s close ones across a pontoon bridge in a heavily loaded bus. The journey was fraught with challenges, including numerous punctures, a rickety bridge, and the constant tension of navigating dangerous terrain. Despite the hardships, the experience ultimately strengthened the pilgrims’ faith and remembrance of Baba.

Ron and Mary, first-time visitors to Meherazad, share their journey to discovering Meher Baba. They were both drawn to His image on the cover of the book “Path of Love,” which they had seen years before meeting Him. Eruch explains that Meher Baba’s grace and compassion are beyond human comprehension, and that His ways are His own, often referred to as His “royal prerogative.”

Meher Baba tasked the mandali with finding an “ideal boy,” a seemingly impossible and humiliating quest that persisted for years. Despite many attempts and various candidates, the ideal boy remained elusive. Eventually, Baba revealed that the ideal boy was a picture of himself from his youth, bringing the search to an end.

Eruch discusses the role of suffering in spiritual growth, comparing it to the grit used to clean a vessel. He shares a story about Buddha and a grieving woman, illustrating how suffering leads people to seek spiritual guidance. Eruch also recounts a personal experience with Meher Baba, emphasizing the inevitability of suffering and its transformative power. A distraught queen, grieving the loss of her daughter, sought Baba’s help to bring her back. Baba, through Eruch, assured her that she would see her daughter again in a dream, but only if she loved and remembered Him. Over time, the queen’s visits to Baba became more frequent, and she eventually found peace and acceptance, realizing that her attachment to her daughter was an illusion. A devotee named Harishchandra, experiencing intense suffering due to court cases, his wife’s illness, and his daughter’s wedding, sought Baba’s blessings. Despite Baba’s insistence that His presence was the ultimate blessing, Harishchandra persisted. Baba, moved by his devotion, eventually blessed him, leading to the resolution of his problems and a flourishing life.

Eruch Jessawalla

A story is shared about a boat ride in the Arabian Sea where Baba pointed out the receding shore and said, “I am that ocean.” A pilgrim recounts finding a picture of Jesus saving Peter from drowning in Baba’s room, a picture she had prayed to since childhood. Baba often pointed to this picture, reminding the mandali that He would always be there to save them from sinking, not drowning.

Eruch discusses the challenges of managing correspondence and the increasing workload at Meherazad, especially with the influx of visitors. He reflects on how the presence of pilgrims helps him remember Baba, emphasizing that their support is invaluable. Eruch also mentions the unexpected assistance from Westerners and the lack of worldly knowledge among the mandali members, attributing everything to Baba’s guidance.

Eruch Jessawala

Dr. Deshmukh, a visitor to Eruch’s mother’s house, admired a picture of Baba and borrowed the frame to have a copy made. This upset Eruch’s mother, who believed Baba was upset by the removal of His picture. When Baba later visited their new home, He instructed them to perform arti before the picture, acknowledging it as a true representation of Himself.

Eruch recounts a time when Baba, during a gathering in Poona, engaged with an American woman who was on a world sightseeing tour. Baba inquired about her travels and shared His own love for sightseeing, emphasizing that the true beauty lies within oneself. He explained that the purpose of creation is to remind us of Him and that our failures provide opportunities for His infinite compassion.