Meher Baba

Meher Baba was a prominent Indian spiritual master of the 20th century.

Born Merwan Sheriar Irani on 25 February 1894 in Pune, India, he was the son of Irani Zoroastrian parents. His father, Sheriar Irani, was a Persian Zoroastrian who had wandered in search of spiritual experiences. As a young boy, Merwan was a multi-instrumentalist and a poet. He was fluent in several languages and enjoyed the works of William Shakespeare and Percy Bysshe Shelley. He even formed the Cosmopolitan Club to stay informed on world affairs and support charity. He later identified himself as the Avatar, which he described as the total manifestation of God in human form.

His spiritual path underwent a profound transformation beginning at age 19. This period of transformation lasted for seven years. During this time, he had encounters with several significant spiritual figures. He met Hazrat Babajan, an elderly Muslim saint, who kissed his forehead and predicted he would become a leader. This event led to a nine-month trance that he described as divine bliss. He also encountered Upasni Maharaj, who helped him integrate mystical experiences with ordinary consciousness. Other figures he met included Tajuddin Baba, Narayan Maharaj, and Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Meher Baba later categorized these five individuals as the "Perfect Masters" of the age.

By 1922, he began gathering his own disciples. They gave him the name Meher Baba, which translates to "compassionate father." In 1922, his followers established Manzil-e-Meem in Mumbai. A year later, they moved to an area near Ahmednagar called Meherabad. This location became the central ashram for his work. During the 1920s, he established a school, a hospital, and a dispensary at Meherabad. These services were free and open to people of all faiths and castes. He taught that the goal of all beings is to realize their own divinity and the oneness of God.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Meher Baba's life was his commitment to silence. From 10 July 1925 until his death, he maintained a period of silence.

He used different methods to communicate during these decades. He first used chalk and a slate to write messages. Later, he used an alphabet board to dictate his thoughts. By 1954, he communicated entirely through a repertoire of hand gestures using an interpreter. He also refrained from using written language for much of this time. While he explained the reasons for his silence only vaguely, it remains a major topic of discussion among his followers.

Meher Baba's teachings offered a specific view of the universe and human consciousness. He described the phenomenal world as an illusion and taught that the universe is imagination. He believed that God alone truly exists. According to his view, each soul is God passing through imagination to realize its own divinity. He used a map of consciousness that combined Sufi, Vedic, and Yogic terminology. He also worked with individuals he called "masts." These were people who appeared irrational or insane because they were intoxicated by higher spiritual planes.

Meher Baba claimed these individuals held an elevated spiritual status.

Starting in 1931, Meher Baba began traveling to the West, including Europe and the United States. During a 1931 trip to England on the SS Rajputana, he met Mahatma Gandhi three times. In the 1930s, he also met many Hollywood celebrities and artists. He became a figure of great interest in the United States during that decade. By 1971, his following in the United States was estimated at 7,000 people. Some commentators suggest his movement was actually larger than the more visible Hare Krishna movement was in 1975. His influence even reached pop culture through the slogan "Don't worry; be happy."

Meher Baba died on 31 January 1969. He was entombed at Meherabad in a tomb known as a "samadhi."

His tomb has become a major site of pilgrimage for those known as "Baba lovers." His intellectual legacy includes important written works such as *God Speaks* and *Discourses*. He also established the Avatar Meher Baba Charitable Trust in India. His life and teachings continue to connect various religious traditions and spiritual seekers globally.