Monica Meets Meher Baba

Meher Baba was a spiritual master, born a Zoroastrian. He taught the universal language of love. His Samadhi in Meherabad is a place of international pilgrimage. I read about how Meher Baba was spreading his message of love and how much Nan’s deceased son Karl loved being with him. I read about the surreal experiences at the shrine. My curiosity grew and I had to see the shrine and experience it for myself.

It was a warm Sunday afternoon I called my friend and convinced her to take the 2-hour drive with me to Meherabad. I am grateful that she has the same adventurous nature as me. We reached Meherabad easily; the Samadhi is on a small hill. The minute I walked towards the Samadhi I felt immense peace. It was very difficult to express in word the magical effect that place has on you. It is very quiet and calm there were no mobile phones are allowed. In a small stone is the shrine of Meher Baba with his beautiful painting on the wall bearing the most loving smile. As I entered the shrine I was overwhelmed with the feeling of love and joy and was smiling ear to ear.

We drove back home and I continued reading and once again had the desire to visit the shrine. This time I requested Baba to show me his presence. I too wanted to experience the love and miracle; besides I was testing him.  Accompanied by my brother, mother and daughter we left early in the morning. At 6 am there are prayers at the Samadhi and we hoped to reach in time for that.

It is said that when you visit a holy place or meet a holy soul human beings tend to cry. The tears are supposedly cleansing one’s Karmic actions and other than this there is no other logical reason why one feels overwhelmed and is in tears. Trust me these are not tears of sorrow.

Devotees are permitted to play various instruments and sing songs of worship in any language. That breezy morning there was a foreigner playing a beautiful melody on what looked like a flute. Tears kept flowing from my eyes. I was in love with Meher Baba, with Meherabad with this gentleman. The ritual got over and I waited outside the shrine patiently for Baba to show me some sign any sign. This gentleman walked over to Puja and me, gave both of us a very warm and loving hug. Then he said to me: “You have a purpose in life, never forget that and keep smiling”. I was amazed and till date can feel the love from that one hug and I knew Meher Baba had me as a devotee for life. I shared the experience with my mother and brother who were amazed too.

I had now graduated to the second book and here I read about Hazrat Baba Jaan. Deceived by her name I always thought this was a male Muslim Saint only to be corrected that she was a female from Afghanistan. She is notable as the original master of Meher Baba. Her shrine is on one of the busiest roads of Pane and I would have passed the shrine a million times in my life without paying much heed other than an occasional bowing down of the head as respect to a holy shrine.

I decided I had to make a dedicated visit to the shrine and see what Baba Jaan has to offer. I parked my car and as I was locking it had a thought to carry money in my hand and so I did. I walked against the crowd to the shrine and there came a lady in front me and asked me for money without hesitation I handed over what I held in my hand. The lady accepted with a smile. Something made me turn, but I could not see the lady, I continued to the shrine Upon entering the shrine I saw the picture of Baba Jaan, mind you until then I had not seen her face and I had goosebumps. The lady who I had just handed money to was none other than Baba Jaan herself. I was dumbfounded.

Almost nearing the end of the books I decided on one more trip to Meherabad to test Baba. For this trip, my dad came along. As we walked uphill to the shrine a man coming down came and gave my father a hug and wished him a happy birthday. My father in his state of shock turned to me and asked if I had informed the stranger about it being his birthday and I said no. So yet again Meher Baba had shown his presence and quietened my curiosity.