,, MASTERY IN SERVITUDE” Painting by Charlie Morton

AVATAR MEHER BABA CENTER OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

ii veStreet,&iifThstJanuary - March 1996

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FROM THE EDITOR

A Real Lover ofGod is as a thirsty man under the scorching sunin the desert who values water more than pearls, flesh ordiamonds. So also a real Lover ofGod only thirstsfor Him andconsiders everything else as dust before Him.A Real Lover ofGod is not afterfame, name or wealth. He onlyyearnsfor God his beloved. He who does not possess thisattitude isfull ofsetfishness.

Avatar Meher Baba 1923

EDITORIAL AMBCSC. A time for more changeshas occurred. The editing and production of the LampPost has moved back to Los Angeles with this edition.The entire Board of the Avatar Meher Baba Center ofSouthern California wish to wholeheartedly thankChristina Riley for her superb hard work and professionalskills in producing and editing the LampPost these lasttwo years. She has spent hundreds of hours freely andlovingly given in service to our Beloved’s cause. Weknow that it will be very difficult to replace her expertiseand would request that our loving and supportive readersbear with us during this change. We have a number ofplans for our LampPost, but it may take a few issuesbefore we settle into our new format. We will continue towelcome letters to the editor and definitely wish world-

‘ wide contribution for it’s contents. Because of a differentmethod of printing, we have changed the size; hopefullyit meets with your approval. Our Distribution is nowonly to those who have firmly stated that they wish toreceive it. However, there was an egregious error in thedesign of the pink cards we sent out to the people whohad not returned their original LampPost requests toremain on the mailing list. This was to be their lastchance, to make absolutely sure we did not drop someonewho really wanted to stay with us, but who had not gottenaround to sending such notification in. We have receivedmany of these pink cards back saying “Yes ! Please keepme on your mailing list!” But unfortunately they didexactly as the pink card told them: they cut along thedotted line, thereby removing their name and address! Sowe have no way of knowing from whence cometh thesecards! So if you hear any of your friends complaing thatthey have not received their Love Street LampPost,please tell them to call us, and give us their name andaddress. We do apologise profusely for this confusion! Itwas done with the very best of intentions, hut ‘the plansof mice and men often go astray The magazine has beenvery lovingly and generously funded by most of thosewho wish to receive it. Thanks to this, funds are in handnow for a full year of quarterly distribution. We will

slowly expand the readership over the next several years.

Letters to the Editor is a very important part of our!your magazine, so please continue to send your comments and contributions to the Editor,

Avatar Meher Baba Center ofSouthern California,10808 Santa Monica Blvd.,Los Angeles, Ca.90025.

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ii ,E&IveLcfre#&fl4;IbstIn This Issue

Bookstore Editor: Dma Snow Franklin FeaturesCalendar Editor ( Program Chairperson): Billy GoodrumChildren’s Corner Editor: Adele WolkinPoetry Editor: Vicki Warner 2 FROM THE EDITORArt Editor: Prem MakeigAnnouncemcnts Editor: (yet to be filled)Distribution: Clea Sucoff and Harry Thomas 4 BABA’S DEAR KATIE VISITS AMERICA

B BiLly GooDRur1

Share your artwork, photos, poetry, letters, articles, humorand ideas with us. Please submityour written work on computer 6 CENTER REPORTdisk along with a print-out (we accept 3.5” computer disks only).Or typewrite it , double-spaced, single-sided, on clean, whitepaper. 8 MANI SPEAKS ON THE WORTH OF—

BY WENDY WARDDEADLINES:

November 15 (Jan.- March issue) 10 DON STEVENS BRINGS WORDS OF WISDOMFebruary 27 (April - June issue) BY BILLY G00DRUM

May 15 (July - Sept. issue) 12 COLLECTION OF MEHER...August 15 (Oct. -Dec. issue)B LINDA ZAVALA

1 3 THE NEW WORLD CULTURE (Part II)ADDRESS CHANGES I SUBSCRIPTION REQUEST:BYHARRYTHOMASClea Sucoff, 3122 Arizona Avenue,#C, Santa Monica.CA 90404

(310) 828-1182. 14 CALENDER OF EVENTS

BOOKSTORE: 16 CHILDREN’S CORNERDma Franklin, do Avatar Meher Baba Center of So. California,1 0808 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles,CA 90025Between 7pm & I I pm, phone (31 0) 837-641 9; or 24-hour fax 1 8 A BABA NIGHT’S EVE(31 0) 839-BABA.

DONATIONS 20 BOOKSTORE. .

BY DINA FRANKLINLampPost Donation, Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern

Cailfornia,1 0808 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025. 24 1995 SERVICE COMMITTEE REPORT

WEST COAST MEETINGS25 YEAR-END PROGRAM REPORTIn Orange County call Lynne or Steve Berry (714) 966-1262.

. BY BILLY G00DRuMIn the Inland Empire call Jay Mohler (619) 366-9330.In Ojai call Peter Justin (805) 646-4159 (Wednesdays,7;3oprn)In Santa Barbara call Donna Karpeles ( 805) 682-1877.In San Diego call Scott orAnne Makeig (619) 436-7155. (monthly)In Fresno call Sharon or Phil Scott at (209) 449-0877. (every first,second and third Wednesday of the month)In San Francisco call Mary Weiss or Peter Ravazza (415) 221-8724(Wednesdays, 7pm)In Northern California call (510) 845-4339 forfull scheduleIn Portland, call the Wilson’s (503) 873-2048. (every Fridaynight, Discourses meetings every other Sunday afteroon)In Sacramento call Marilyn Buehler at (916) 925-4451.In Seattle call Joyce/Tom Geoffroy (206) 283 -7027. (Fridays ,8 p m)

The LoveStreet LampPost keeps the Southern califomis Avstar Meher Bsbs Community abresst of Center sctivities, .slong with nstionsl end international friends; it represents anhistorical context; and It provides a forum for contemporary accounts of life with Meher Baba. as Master and Guide • The LoveStreet LampPost is free, given in the spirit and with the intentionof spreading Avatar Meher Baba’s Message of Love and Truth • A publication of the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California. 1 0808 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90025Published quarterly (January, April, July, October) • All contents © 1995 by the Avatar Meher Baba Center of So. California, except where noted . Call 310 474-9454 for membershipinformation, late-breaking program and events information, a copy ofthe Bookstore catalog, to get on the mailing list, to receive upcoming Fly-to-India Sweepstakestickets oriustto say hello.

BABA’S DEAR KATIE VISITS AMERICABy Billy Goodrum

There is a feeling to be found in the presence ofBaba’s closest Lovers that can not be found anywhereelse. The Love and energy that emanates from the heartsof the Mandali is truly one of the most splendid wondersin this world. It is what draws so many of us to Indiatime after time, to lay our heads at the Samadhi and visitwith those who devoted their lives completely and utterlyto Baba and his wishes. To have one of the Mandali visitus here in the U.S. and infuse their Love into our oftenchaotic lives is indeed a great blessing from Baba. Thatis exactly what hap-pened in October ofthis year when Baba’sdear Katie Irani cameto visit us.

Katie arrived in LosAngeles on October 3,greeted at the airportby a happy, flowerbearing, singing (ledby Fred Stankus)contingent of BabaLovers that wereclearly ecstatic to seeand greet her. Al-though tired from along flight, Katie wasall smiles and hugs and happy to see so many familiarfaces.

Katie spent the first 12 days of her U.S. visit here inLos Angeles. It was a wonderful time of sharing inBaba’s Love. We were treated to several afternoon andevening teas at Jacko and Becky’s home, where Katiewas staying. There was also an evening program at theCenter on Saturday the 7th. We all had nice opportunities to visit with Katie before she headed up to Mariposafor the first New Life Sahavas Program, held I 3-16October at Meherana.

At the Sahavas program Katie shared with us herexperience of the New Life in which Baba had sent herout to work in the world, Bombay to be exact. With hercharacteristic eloquence and humor she described to uswhat it was like to suddenly be thrust into the workadayworld after many years of living and traveling with Baba.It was only after being hired to work at the JapaneseConsulate in Bombay did she realize how careful Babahad been to prepare her for the work she encountered.Her day to day experience of the New Life was not sodifferent from what many of us encounter in our daily

lives: rush to the office, work hard all day, come hometired, go to bed and then wake up and do it again. TheSahavas was a beautiful program, full of Baba’s Love andhumor.

After returning to L.A, Katie took one days restbefore heading to Mexico City to spend time with theBaba Lovers there. She was hosted by Arsenio and JulieRodriguiz who made her stay there most enjoyable.Aresenio brought some of his colleagues from the UnitedNations to have dinner and meet Katie and hear about

Baba. The wordspreads.

Katie returnedbriefly to L.A., restingone day before shetraveled to Santa Fe,New Mexico to visitwith her cousin Frenyand family membersShireen and JayBonner. Katie enjoyedher stay and uponreturning remarkedthat Santa Fe remindedher of Ahmednagar:hilly and dusty.

Upon her return tothe Southland, Katie stayed in the home of Shireen andMehernoush Lorkalontari. During that weekend, onNovember 4, was the dinner-auction at the HollywoodRoosevelt Hotel. Katie attended, very beautiful in hersari, and brought much Love and joy to those who werein attendance.

rA happy group at the M ia Sahawas

I especially for Baba’s beloved Katie Irani

The following week Katie returned to Jacko and

The group enjoys the fruits of their labor (or is it vegetables...)

PAGE 4

Becky’s and gave wonderful talks at the teas there. Shehad a night on the town on the west side organized byLois Jones, staying late and closing down the restaurantwhere they were dining.

One of the highlights of Katie’s visit was thecooking class held at MichaelRamsden’s house on November 1 1.Over twenty five people showed upwith cutting boards and knives inhand to participate in this class ledby one who cooked for our BelovedBaba. Truly a Master class incooking. Katie came into the noisyfray and took charge in a mostimpressive fashion, instructingindividuals to prepare vegetables andspices for the dishes and how toproperly mix the ingredients. What atreat! Much laughter, many tears(there were lots of onions to cut) andin the end a magnificent Indian feast.

That same night Katie gave alovely talk and led Baba’s Arti at theCenter. I am amazed at the rigorous schedule she main—tamed here in Los Angeles. Always wanting to givemore and more time and Love to the Baba Lovers here.

The next day Sam Ervin and Margaret Magnus gavea very nice tea and Katie delivered one of herjoyous andhumorous talks. She then, as always, took time to greetand hug everyone in attendance. The energy was veryhigh and spirited that afternoon and everyone enjoyedthemselves.

On November 1 6, Ekaterine McGuire made aspecial arrangement for Katie to visit Shambala WildlifeRefuge. She was treated to a private tour by actressTippy Hedron, who is the director of Shambala. Tippytook the time to personally escort Katie around the

premises and show her the lions,tigers, elephants and other animalsthat are in residence. At a lakesidepicnic Katie spoke about Babaand Tippy and her associates tooka very keen interest, one manvisibly moved to tears.

Katie had very pleasant andrestful house visits at the homes ofNasarin and Mamoud Ajang inPalos Verdes and at the home ofHardip Chowdri and his family inOrange County. This final weekin LA included a tea at TerryLucas’s Rose Cottage as well as afinal tea at Jacko and Becky’s.Katie’s final event was a greatThanksgiving Feast at Meher

Mount, organized by Fred and GiGi.It was truly a wonderful time to have Katie here

with us. She gave tirelessly to us all. I think that when Iam 75 years old myself, I will look back at this time withKatie and the other Mandali as one of the most precioustimes in my life. It is inspiring and a blessing to be withthose who are so much a part of Baba’s work of Love inthe world. Jai Baba.

Katie held a Cooking class for over 30 people at the home of Michael Rounsden.(She had toinspect 4 kitchens to find one suitable!)

PAGE 5

Center Report

AVATAR MEHER BABA CENTER OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YEAR END REPORT

As we approach this year end 1995, it is possibleto look back on our 21 st year as an incorporated nonprofit Religious Foundation and just say WOW! What awonderfully joyful year! Such Loving Blessings from ourBeloved Avatar Meher Baba.

. Full implementation of Board two year terms.

. Continued Progress in the re-organization ofCenter membership and Board operations.

. A highly successful loving Sahavas.

. Wonderful worldwide support for the Bookstoresales through the new catalogue and Love StreetLampPost.

. Some amazing communications with the worldwide Meher Baba community through theLove Street LampPost.

. Successful and fun and entertaining fund-raisingevents all year: Spring Fling/Fly to Myrtle

Beach Sweeps.Sahavas/Fly to India Sweeps.Mehermas/Fly to India Sweeps.Hollywood Roosevelt Dinner-Dance-Auction! Two Yard Sales.

. Individual support for many special!specificevents.

. Amazing programs all year. How fortunate andblessed we were:Leatrice Johnston, Don Stevens,

Henry Kashouty,Ella and Peter Marks,Dara and Amrit,Merwan Mehta,Adele Wolkin, Buzz and Wendy,and then our Beloved’s Beautiful

ambassadors Bhau Kaichuri and Katie Irani.Whocan forget those Talks, Teas, Dinners, PotluckDesserts and many intimate moments where ourBeloved made Himself most present with us. Andthen there were our Regular Meetings celebratingHis Life and Messages of Love and Truth.

. Continued Growth of the New Center Fund withcommitted participation in the plans to bring thenew center to fruition in I 996.

. Such incredible support from the membership inlove and service to make all the above happen.Which of course only happens because Hepermits it.

LOOKING TO 1996.There is much to be done. Our current Center needs

sprucing up, our archives need a long range plan inkeeping with our goals for the future. We need to create acomplete inventory of all Center assets. We still need toreview all Center policies and procedures, catalogue andindex them. Our lending video and audio library are innew hands and their use will grow. We will reach out tomany others by expanding our catalogue and Love StreetLampPost distribution to those who desire it. All ourmembers will be part of the input and decision makingprocess for the New Center fund drive and purchase. TheBy-laws will need further changes to nominating corn-mittee terms and to finalize the new Board structure.

We welcome Kevin Connor to the Board for thefirst time. He will take over the Finance Directorship. Wealso welcome back to the board for 1996!7 Dma Franklin,Mehernoush Lorkalantari and Michael Ramsden, whohave served many times before. Current Board memberswho will be completing the 2nd year of their term are;Billy Goodrum, Wendy Ward, Clea Sucoff, Adele Wolkinand Richard Stermer.

We want to encourage as many as possible toparticipate in Center Activity in this Labor Phase of theNew Life for the New Humanity. Service in His Cause,that He may work in you and you may keep Him in yourheart and mind.

SPECIAL THANKS TO our much used telephonetreewallahs and wallees - what a job you have done thisyear.

To our mailing wallah in chief, Harry Thomasand to all mailing wallah!ees. You have no idea howmuch you have meant to Center operations

To our LampPost Editor Christina Riley, for hertwo years of dedicated hard labor editing and producingthe LampPost; and to all the contributors and departmenteditors.

To Trish Shannon and Janine Johnson for theirextra work with Adele for the yard sales not to forget theother workers too!

To Mike, Debbie, Chris, Pris, Richard, Joyce,Billy, Greg, Gaye, Rosalee, Maureen, George and all theother singers and performers who shared their love forAvatar Meher Baba with all of us.

PAGE 6

“Real happiness lies in making others happy”

________________________________________________

Meher Baba

To all the pop-up stage crews who suddenlyappear and then disappear without a word of thanks.

To Chris Pearson for his 21 years of SahavasRecording and to Charlie Morton for his 21 years ofrecording over 500 special events.

To Linda Zavala for her continued support of theArchives and the Auction and to all those other auctionwallah/ees.

To Fred and Jeff who need no further introduction for keeping us smiling at Sahavas and Auctions andmany other places too.

To Kanji Miyao for stepping in this year to takeover the Treasurer’s job and to Karma Page for acceptingresponsibility for our new fund investments.

To Rose Choi for her help with the bookstore

comers alike.To our perennial host Jacko for once again

hosting a Mandali member.To Becky Caraco forjoining in the cause and to

Jacko’s mom Dora for allowing all the talks and teas,pool parties and pot-lucks at her home. And to all theother hosts and hostesses in Los Angeles: Shirin andMehemoush, Nasrin and Mahmoud, Lyn and Jeff,Hardip, Lois and any others not mentioned.

It’s incredible how our Beloved has drawn so manytogether to labor this last year at His Center And this isnot all by any means ! - Clean-up and set-up crews, on thespot volunteers, performers - unseen but giving ofthemselves and their love for Meher Baba. And finally athank you to this years Board; Adele, Clea, Dma, Donna,Lois, Wendy, Billy, Richard and Michael. Have anothergreat year in His Love.

books and financesTo Rocky Rodgers for updating our By-laws and

Articles of Incorporation and especially to Rob Ward forso much background work for the board and fundraisingin particular.

To Larry Fletcher for his many years of labor,setting up and running our first video and audio lendinglibrary.

To the whole Sahavas Committee and especiallyto David McNeely for his Sahavas Treasury role thesepast many years.

To Rosalee Dunphy for continuing to be asplendid caretaker who graciously greets new and old

t Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai.

FROM: DISCOURSES BY MEHER BABA

The emergence of higher love from the shell of lowerlove is helped by the constant exercise of discrimination. Therefore, love has to be carefully distinguishedfrom the obstructive factors of infatuation, lust,greed and anger. In infatuation, the person is apassive victim of the spell of conceived attraction forthe object. There is an active appreciation of theintrinsic worth of the object of love.

Katie speaks to an authralled crowd at one of her many talks at our center.

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L1’r

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o * r z:xc*b c* . . c4C* . r? :(

MANI SPEAKS ON THE WORTH OF BELOVED BABA’S PERSONAL ITEMS

I recently had the opportunity to ask Mani aquestion that I feel is of great importance to posterity.Mani chose to answer this question in Mandali Ha14 whileit was being tape recorded. The following text is anexcerpted transcript of that discussion by Mani on 9September 1995, on the topic of the proper disposition ofBabas personal items. Mani gave a beautiful talk withmany lovely anecdotes of life with Baba. This transcriptdoes not contain her entire tailç and has been edited dueto space limitations in The Love Street LampPost. Inaddition, the quality of the tape recording made it difficultto understand a few words during her talk. Rather thanmisinterpret het I chose to remove those statementswhich contained words that were inaudible. I haveendeavored to leave nothing out that was necessary toconvey her message. All words here are Manis, with theexception of a few which are enclosed in brackets, andthese are to clarify the context when a previous inaudiblesentence had been removed.

— Wendy Ward—

Wendy: There was an issue that came up recently atthe L.A. Center. We have an auction each year to helpraise money for the Center. I was calling around, askingpeople if they would like to donate. People donate thingsfrom services, to little items that they have at home orlittle treasures. This one particular person offered a veryloving gift, which was, well, it’s a pretty incredible gift,that put questions in our minds about whether things likethis should be auctioned, and what should be done withit. This was a gift to help the center, but it was Babahair; seven strands of Baba’s beautiful hair. There wasnaturally a lot of questions that came up about what weshould do with this. The idea of auctioning Baba’s hair,of treating part of Baba’s body this way, raises questions.If that were auctioned to raise money for the Center,should it be given to the highest bidder? That hardlyseems right either. So then the question came up as towhether or not it could be a sweepstake, so that Babawould choose who would get this gift, and still therewould be some help for the Center. But it all boils downto, for a lot of people, whether any item like this shouldever be dealt with in this way; I mean, it’s Baba’s.

Mani: I’m very happy you asked that question. I’mhappy it has come up. I feel also, once again, it is Babawho has brought this up. Because there can be variationsof the same question, that are bound to come up later on,and you might not be sure and there would be, you know,arguments, and discussions, and trying to figure out whatwe had said and what it wasn’t, you see. And my question, then, this is a question from me, that you are asking

PAGE 8

about Baba’s hair, a partof Baba’s person. It’sgood that the questionshave come up fromeach one, that youhaven’t totally acceptedthe fact, O.K., so this iswhat we’ll do, it’s forthe highest motive, Iagree. We all agree. Youknow, this is for Baba’swork. One then has tolook at it from thatangle. And the firstperson who comes tomind as I mull over this

question, trying to give you an honest and unbiasedanswer, because I have not faced myself with this question before (it hasn’t come up), and that is Mehera. Whatwould Mehera’s reaction be? What would Mehera thinkof that? And from Mehera, every time, when she gave astrand of Baba’s hair to anybody, I would be immovable,just watching Mehera. Interaction, with not only theperson, whom she was giving the hair to, but with thehair, itself. With Baba. And the way she would hold it,the way she would say a few words before she gave it.And then when she put it in their hand, she would usuallyalso have her hand over it. And tell them how very, veryprecious and PRICELESS it is. And then she would tellhow, when she was a child, and her father had taken herto the, now I don’t remember names, so I’m not going togo into the names in case I’m wrong, but in this mosque,a place where the worship of one hair of the prophetMohammed, one strand of the prophet Mohammed’s hair,it was placed. And there these caretakers of the hair, thedevoted ones, would stand around this construction, thisstructure, and wave peacock feathers, with such reverence, with such love, with such care, and incense burn-ing, and chanting, and this is for one hair, after all theseyears. And honestly, when one is there one thinks, is itreally about Mohammed’s hair. There’s not a question ofdoubting, but I’m talking about the number of years thathave gone after that precious item. And then, they openthe thing, and there is a beautiful silver casket, and youstand around in awe. And they open that, the lid of that,and there’s another smaller one, casket, in there. And youopen that and there’s a box, a silver box. And they openthat, and all along, while they open it, as a very specialgesture for you, it’s with prayers, with incense.

And so she, she would tell them, don’t take it

which contained a hair from beloved Baba’s head. So shesays:

Jai Baba, Mani dearest . Charlie Morton saidlast night that Mani would love to hear this, sohere goes. Pitch black. Pell inell. Everythingdown. Only God knows where the contents of thenight table ‘s drawers are. 1 ask Baba help, forfinding the little flashlight, with fingertipsgingerlyfeeling around theflooi Thefirst thingfelt was the little cardboard box containing a bitofBaba : haii Exit earthquake. Earthquake stop.It is an indescribable, timeless moment. Soloving, so powerful. So speechless with wondeiIn His love.Then, she quotes Rabindranath Tagore, who

translated the Songs of Kabir, “One hair of his body isworth billions of suns.” So what price do you put on that?And somehow I was so struck by it; it’s like Baba hasprovided this for this moment, for this question. BecauseI love this so much, I made a copy of it and put it bywhere it might be handy.

Anything belonging to Baba’s person. A tooth.You know, there is a whole stuppa, a beautiful stuppa,with one tooth of the Buddha in it. So that’s what I meanto say is, hair, tooth, nails, all these have no price, eventhough I like, I love the motive[for the raffling of Hishair], I know what’s prompted it, but it is not right. It isnot right. Never for that.

Ah! You can, if someone has done something, inthe cause of Baba, in a big

Mani: That’s, that’s an object, touched by Baba. way or in a deep way, andYou know, not something belonging to Baba. you have been touched by it,

you do give. I have given.I’ve given. But I’ve also given along with it a responsibility. But I think that there should never be a, this is achance, isn’t it? A raffle is a chance. Come really downto terms. And none of Baba’s things [should ever be leftto chance]. Baba says My center is in the hearts of Mylovers, which is why an outer center is made. You don’tneed money for My center, you can sit under a tree, andjust talk of Baba. That’s true. But now that His lovers aregrowing, He’s making it very clear to us that He has tohouse them, to be together. “Where My lovers gathertogether, I am there.” So all that is fine. There is nothingthat is objected anywhere else. Except that hair, and tooth,and nail . . . A signed book,all right, all right, I guess.Wendy: A photo Baba touched, or something like that?

continued on page 12

naturally. Don’t take it for granted, what you’re holding,in your hand. You have the good fortune to receive it,please, do you realize, how precious, how PRICELESS itis? So, every time when Mehera gave, whether it was oneof our Indian or western sisters, or brothers, I would justwatch. For me, the importance of the hair was reflectedthrough what Mehera said, how Mehera looked, howMehera handled. She would also tell people, if you aregoing to use that hair, in a locket, if you’re removing thathair from the cover, which says ‘Beloved Avatar MeherBaba’s hair,’ if you take out the little plastic bag from inthere, please what you have to do is, first of all, washyour hands, clean, pure, put a white cloth down (that waswhen the hair was darker; later when Baba’s hair wasmore gray; any color that shows up the hair), and thenremove it [Baba’s hair].

I have also worked on it with Mehera, along withMehera, when we would make these curls of Baba’s hair,from combings, or broaches, and little hair clips. Shemade a hair clip for me, I made a broach for her, wemade it for others, all that; the total absorption, it surpasses any meditation that you can think of. When Babawould be away in the West and we’d be doing this, He’dgone to Canada, He’d gone to the United States, there wewere in our cloistered life, and that absorption struck memore than anything else. That somehow rang the truevalue, the true good fortune, the destiny, that we werehandling.

All that comes tomind, when this question

____

comes to mind. So, anotherquestion comes is, when youreceive a hair, what value is it to you? How is it a resultof a real longing? That’s why now, if somebody asks forhair, I ask them to ask next time. And see how much thelonging grows.

So then, another thing about the hair thing,before I tell you about the answer to your, there was aletter from Marguerite Poley, an old-time Baba lover inL.A. During the time when there was an earthquake inL.A., and you know it was pitch black, and in a fewseconds everything was topsy-turvy. Normal life was, nolonger anything was normal. It was pitch dark in thenight, and the lights had gone out, and Marguerite wason the floor, on her knees, groping for a flashlight, a torchas we say. And while she was groping, the side table alsofell down with a crash, but she couldn’t lay her hand onthe flashlight. She didn’t. She laid her hand on a box

PAGE 9

DON STEVENS BRINGS WORDS OF WISDOMBy Billy Goodruni

I was extremely excited when I learned that DonStevens was going to be paying a visit to the Los AngelesCenter. My first contact with Meher Baba was throughthe book Listen Humanity, which Don narrated. It hasbeen ten years since reading the book that brought Babainto my life; yet I had not had the opportunity to meetDon. I learned through my conversationswith other Baba Lovers and correspondence with Don, that Listen Humanity hasfunctioned as an introduction to Baba formany, many people.

If there is such a thing, Don Stevenswould most likely be considered theforemost scholar of Meher Baba’s writ-ings. After meeting and spending timewith Baba, Don, along with Ivy Duce,edited GOD SPEAKS. He compiled theMandali’s stories of the New Life for avolume on that phase of Baba’s work. Heoften worked with Baba on other literaryprojects and has also completed four

books of his own, the most recent beingSOME RESULTS. Mind you, all of thisactivity was sandwiched in with a demanding career as an executive inthe international petroleum industry, as well as leadingMeher Baba groups throughout Europe.

Given the scope of Don’s literary output and the timing

of his trip to coincide with the release of his latest book,the book signings at the Center were a rousing success.Not only did our bookstore sell out of SOME RESULTS,we sold out of almost every other book that Don had

anything to do with. Don very generously and happilysigned books for everyone, never seeming to tire of theline of people and mountain of books.

On each of the nights (Sept. 7 and 8), the booksignings were precursors to group meetings with Don. Atthe first nights meeting, Don covered three main topics.

He began by giving us an update on theEuropean groups activities, where he isso closely connected. The second topicwas on the importance of Baba’s words.Who could be more qualified than Donto share insights into Baba’s words andwritings? He recounted how Babaspecifically stressed to him the utmostimportance of reading and studyingBaba’s words, in particular GODSPEAKS.

The third topic was Baba in ourdaily lives. Don shared three verybeautiful and personal stories of hisexperiences with Baba. I will notattempt to paraphrase the first two storiesas they deserve a more detailed description than this article permits. I believethe gist can be found throughout Don’s

writings, perhaps even in full detail.The third story; however, was profound and moving

and Don told it with perfect detail. He explained how,for the first twenty four hours after Baba’s death, MeherBaba surrounded him with numerous happenings,charged with his highly characteristic flavor and sense ofhumor. These incidents indelibly established the fact ofBaba’s continuing presence in Don’s life.

The second nights meeting was a discussion group ona list of topics selected by Don. Having never experienced one of Don’s discussions I was amazed, at the easein which he guided the conversation and pushed us pastsuperficial thoughts and knee-jerk responses. Hisknowledge and mastery of Baba’s writings becameimmediately clear. It was not, however, a mere intellectual understanding, but an understanding balanced withstrong intuition and heart.

Don is one of the pillars of Baba’s work. He generously devotes himself to spreading Baba’s message ofLove. At his own expense he travels around the worldsharing his experience of being in Baba’s presence,

I continued on next page

Don led a very interesting & thought provokingdiscussion. Wish he was here more often!

PAGE 10

WORDS OF WISDOM

___________________________

YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AMONG THE BEAUTIFULcreating wonderful events like the ones held on these twonights in Los Angeles. We thank Don for his visit and the There are many beautiful ones in this world,Loveandenergythathebroughttous. but none are as divine as You.

JaiBaba. I . . . . .Tulips signify the beginning of spring, andYou my beloved are a tulip who blooms all year long.

None steals hearts like You,with one glance as You do.It’s not just me, the whole world says:You are the most beautiful among the beautiful

The waves in Your hair is not comparable to the sea’s,the grace of Your face can’t be found in desert calm.

The softness of Your eyes,the compassion of Your smiles,are unmatched to the loveliness of the morning dawn.

None steals hearts like You,with one glance as You do.It’s not just me, the whole world says:You are the most beautiful among the beautiful

Sales of all of Don’s books were very brisk in the Bookstorethat night - especially for his latest one ‘ Some results ‘. Author Unkown

4,}7 \

PAGE 11

MANI SPEAKS ON THE WORTH OF BELOVED BABA’S PERSONAL ITEMS

continuedfrom page 9

Mani: That’s, that’s an object, touched by Baba. Youknow, not something belonging to Baba. I, I wouldhesitate, even with a sadra. A sadra can pass around.Loaned. So that everybody has a chance. You know,sometimes we must, we are apt to put Baba’s workabove Baba. Let’s never make that mistake. Every-thing has a place; everything has a time. And Hewants it, obviously; otherwise there wouldn’t be thaturge, that enthusiasm, that wish to do it.[His work].That’s fine, and He’s directing, let’s not think thatwe’re thinking, or you’re thinking. He’s doing it, He’sdirecting it, He wants it. When He wants it, He makesit very clear. I love the Sufi saying when they say,“When He wants you to ride, he will provide youwith a horse.” But certain things it is good to haveclear in one’s mind, that these things are never at anytime to be auctioned, or raffled, anything belonging[to Him] what will happen later?

You know, Meherabad for us for many yearshas been a place where we have stored Baba’sprecious things. Sadras, sheets used by Him, pillow-cases. And one day, there it was, I still remember, asquare glass case in which we would stuff Baba’ssadra, because there were more than could fit in.You know, Mehera would kiss it and fold it and thenpush it. Now it was getting rather tight. So she askedBaba, she said, “Baba, do we still have to go on,continue, keeping your sadras in Meherazad? “ Shethought if Baba said no, then we can use it for otherthings, for little curtains, or anything, you know. Andyou know, Baba said something very seriously. Thatagain also surprised me, because it was a moment thatstood still. Baba said, “Yes, yes, yes, yes; keep. Keep.

Later on, for a piece of My sadra, they will fight.”So, what we have learned, this has been instinc

tive, natural with us. Because, as I said, I’ve seen Meherahandle Baba’s items, I’ve learned a lot of these thingsfrom Mehera. I’ve loved Baba always, from the cradle.But there are many ways of loving. And how to loveBaba, I have learned to love Him. I’ve seen Meheraprepare a drink of water for Baba, drinking; a glass ofdrinking water; I’ve been amazed, you know? What is it?What’s the big deal about preparing a glass of water andgiving it to Baba? Not Mehera. I think if you talked toher at that time, she wouldn’t have heard you. The glasswas washed, just so. It had to have this particular thinsoap. Then she had to wash her hands with that soap, andthen this pure white muslin cloth which she had foldedand put in this particular cupboard would come out,dampen it, and wrap around that glass, so it’s the righttemperature. I tell you, once Baba had said to her, longago, “What is this, the water smells of garlic.” She wasshocked. She had given a glass of water for Baba todrink, with the smell of garlic. She stopped peeling garlicfrom that day on. Never by mistake, should ever, Hiswater smell of garlic. She stopped. She cooked, she dideverything, but the garlic had to be done by somebodyelse. There are many levels, there are levels of loving,there are levels of serving.

But you should have a place[for Baba], inwhatever you work, whatever you earn, whatever youenjoy; whatever! He must never be left out. He mustnever be out standing the kitchen door. He must be in. Hewill be, but you must always invite him. And there’smany ways that that can be arranged.

COLLECTION OF MEHER STORIES... At Mehera’sbirthday time the inspiration came to begin collecting Meherastories to be used for sharing at Mehera oriented programs andteas orjust to read once in a while. So this is where you comein. Does anyone out there have a story, a dream, a poem, avision of Mehera that you would like to share with the Babacommunity? Please send it to me and I will type it, and begincompiling into a booklet to be shared with whoever requests acopy. Over time, who knows, it may even become a book.Enclose your story, your address and phone number.

COLLECTION OF MEHERA SLIDES... I havealready started a slide collection of Mehera through the generosity of others who were willing to part with their slides for a

PAGE 12

brief time so they could be copied. So do you have a favoriteslide of Mehera you would be willing to share? Here’s how: 1.Send a duplicate, 2. Have an internegative made and send it 3.If you can part with the slide, I will pay the cost for theinternegative and new slide. With prints, you could send aphotocopy first for consideration or send your negative or acopy. I know most of you don’t want to part with your personalphotos but I will be happy to work with you on this. Let’smake something happen ! Please Respond:

Dr. Linda Zavala195 So. Oak Ave.Pasadena, Ca. 91107818.975.8322

PART II OF

The New World Culture Harry Thomas

, Please Note - InPart I , a sentence error was made.on page 9, paragraph 1, line 6, it read “And, let us ponder<world> exploration and settlement. “ World should beamended to off-world; as in outer space - atfirst interplanetarv, then latei intergalactic.

Intro:Part I ended with three options for new economic

system. 1) Our present one reformed. 2) A new economicsystem but one still employing currency. 3) A new system also,but one without currency.

Let us examine all three systems in greater detail.Our present economic system is corrupted. This is

glaringly true when you examine third world conditions,especially in Africa and parts of Asia and Latin America,where machinations at high international business andgovernmental levels, by means of economic directives,are responsible for their plight. Given the degree ofcorruption suffused through the system, one mightwonder if reform is desirable, or even possible. Majorstructural and psychological adjustments would beneeded for this present system to accommodate a NewWorld Culture. The question can legitimately be asked,would a fervent reform effort be worth it? Which leadsus to considering Option #2.

This would be a totally new, currency based economic system. It would be designed to either eliminate orgreatly reduce constant fluctuation in the marketplaceand in financial sectors. This would greatly ease peoplesmental states. It could also be designed to guarantee thatexploitative measures aren’t enacted against the populace. For history has informed us, He who controls thecoins, controls the crowds. Discussing the currency, itundoubtedly would be backed by a precious metal,preferably gold at a fixed price, and there would be anequal ratio between the note value of that currency and itsworth in gold. In this economy, people would be paidfairly and everyone’s prosperity would be insured by thesolid integrity of this system aided by a team of altruisticmanagers who would distribute the world’s wealthequitably. In this economy, there would be no moneyworries, manipulations, leveraged tactics and the like. Itwould be a system aligned to a spirit of generosity andinclusive goodness.

Numerous contentions might arise, for example,

would there be a host of differing currencies, or a singular world currency? If the move is toward a worldcurrency, will this necessitate a central bank? Whichcountry or countries will stock the gold? Who willdesign the currency notes and establish its value?

If there’s to be multiple currencies, then a culturaldimension enters the picture. Like flags and anthems,currency is an external aspect of a nation’s culture, hence,it fosters nationalistic thinking. Also, if there are vane-gated currencies, will one dominate, reminiscent oftodays dollar? Will some be stronger than others, like thedeutsche mark and yen? And if so, doesn’t this perpetuate a ranking mentality since national prestige is oftentied to the strength of one’s currency?

There are also possible difficulties owing entirelyto the mathematical nature of money. The prominent onebeing, the reenactment of many of todays number games;interest rates, valuations, insurance policies, tradingtables, shifting prices, inflation, investments, speculation,banks, tax brackets and a sundry of economic terms andpotential realities.

Also, currency being a mathematical construct, byentering onto the path of numeration which $1 wouldcommence, one’s consciousness is propelled into amathematical continuum. Beckoned onward by the sirencall for a successive accumulation of wealth, this practicecould well be resurrected.

A currency system would necessitate a branch ofthe citizenry who’s occupation would maintain theoperation as well as people involved with other aspects ofthis system. As citizens, we’d be required to carrymoney, or credit cards, which adds an encumbrance to

continued on page 26

PAGE 13

CALENDER OF EVENTS

January 6, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis meeting is devoted to discussion of Beloved Baba.All are welcome.Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

January 6, 8pmNEW YEARS ARTIWe will begin the New Year with Baba’s Prayers, songs of devotionto the Beloved and a film. All musicians are encouraged to participate.Please bring refreshments to share afterwards.

January 13, Saturday 8pmCONCERT WITH CINDY LOWETonight Cindy Lowe will be here from the Bay area to entertain uswith music from her new album “After All This Time” as well as oldfavorites including her beautiful adaptation of The Beloved God prayer.The new album will be available in the Bookstore.

January 20, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis meeting is devoted to the discussion of Beloved Baba.Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

January 20, Saturday 8pmKEEPING ABREAST WITH BABATrisch Shannon shares with us her holistic healing path with Orientalmedicine and the latest western research on cancer. Overcoming healthproblems with Baba’s guidance and practical solutions.

January 27, Saturday 8pmFILM NIGHTHow very fortunate we are that Beloved Baba has given us so manybeautiful films of himself in the physical form. Tonight CharlieMorton will show some of our favorites.

January 31 , Wednesday 8pmS’ AMARTITHI

Tonight we observe the anniversary of the day our Beloved AvatarMeher Baba dropped his body in 1969. Hosted by Lois Jones andTamara Mark.

February 3, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis program is focused on and dedicated to Beloved Baba. All arewelcome. Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

February 3, Saturday 8pmHIGHER TRIVIAL PURSUITWhat was Mehera’s favorite color? What movie did Baba say he’dlike to see 7 times? Test your Baba knowledge tonight as Jeff Maguirehosts an old favorite.

February 1 0, Saturday 8pmGUTTA NIGHTCome to Fred Stankus’ famous Gutta night meeting for an evening offood, fun, high spirited humor and friends all focused on Beloved Baba.

February 1 7, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis meeting is devoted to discussion to Beloved Baba. All arewelcome. Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

February 17, Saturday 8pmFILM NIGHTCome and behold Baba’s radiant form on film. Hosted by ourflim-walla Charlie Morton.

February 24, Saturday 8pmBELOVED BABA’S BIRTHDAYCome for a night of celebration and devotion on the eve ofBaba’s Birthaday.

February 25, SundayAVATAR MEHER BABA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONToday we celebrate the birthday of our Beloved Baba, with music,dance and stories. Time and location to be announced. Contact LindaZavala to volunteer and participate.

March 2, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis meeting is devoted to discussion of Beloved Baba. All arewelcome. Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

March 2, Saturday 8pmBABA’S ARTI Tonight we will perform Baba’s Arti with Baba’sprayers, songs of devotion and a film. Musicians are encouraged toparticipate. Please bring refreshments to share afterwards.

March 9, Saturday 8pmMASTERY IN SERVITUDETonight we will focus on and discuss Bhau’s latest book Mastery InServitude. Hosted by Michael Ramsden.

March 16, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis meeting is devoted to discussion of Beloved Baba. All arewelcome. Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

March 1 6, Saturday 8pmADELE’S ARCHIVESOver her long and intimate relationship with Meher Babaand his Mandali our dear Adele has amassed a vast collection of archives.Tonight she shares with us some of these treasures.

PAGE 14

March 23, Saturday 8pmFILM NIGHTCome and see films of our Beloved Avatar. Hosted by our trustedflim-walla Charlie Morton.

March 30, Saturday 6pmFARSI LANGUAGE MEETINGThis meeting is devoted to discussion of Beloved Baba. All arewelcome. Coordinated by Dr. Mamoud Ajang.

March 30, Saturday 8pmFARSI NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONTonight Mehemoush Lorkalontari will host a traditional FarsiNew Year Celebration. This is always a treat and not to be missed.

Baba picked strong women in more ways than one! seen here areKitty Davey and Margaret Craske, taken in Nasik 1936

With tread soft as moonlightYou enter my heart,

illumining my pain and ignorance,but gently

so as not to blind my naked eyes.

Truth is crystal clearin this world of shadowsbut it comes in small sips

for You alone know how much,or how little, my heart can hold.

In Your silent wayYou force nothing on me,

only offering, little by littlewith infinite patience and love;

Your hand ever outstretchedso that one day I may grasp it

and see the Sun.

0, Beloved Moon!Until that morning when the Sun rises

don’t let the clouds hideYour beautiful face from me!

Simon Reece

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Please see Bookstore articlePlease see Bookstore article

PAGE 15

CHILDREN’S CORNER

“I want you all to be

Dear On

Your Song

Children, Children, sing a song,

“Baba, Baba,” all day long

You can sing it in your heart.

“Baba, Baba,” let us start.

Now a bird is singing too,

“Baba, Baba, I love you.”

A little breeze just whistled by,

“Baba, Baba, here am I”happy”Meher Baba

Love your daddy!

Love your mommie!

Baba wants you

Sweet as honey

. ‘4;

,—

PAGE16

EIidOUEVEN IF YOUDON’T WIN

A CAT SHOW

HOW DO THEYMANAGE WITH ONLY

TWO LEGS?

Baba’s Garden of Love

Did you plant a seed of Love to-dayupon this planet earth?Did you water it with kindness,Good thoughts to give it birth?

God chose you for this very taskAnd needs us, everyone!You can make His garden growFor love is like the sun.

If

If you were a rock

You could not walk.

If you were a flower

You could live on a stalk.THOUGHT ONLY1

If you were a fish

You could not talk.

If you were a bird \You could be a hawk ‘,

If you were an animal

You could live in a zoo.

If you are smart, you are happy,

Because you are you!

Friend Cat

Love your friend the

pussy cat,

Love to stroke his

Furry head.

Baba feels your gentle touch,

Kitty purrs instead.

PAGE 17

“A BABA NIGHT’S EVE”

DINNER! DANCE. . .Was held at the HollywoodRoosevelt Hotel

This year we met in the very room and mezzanine area where Baba greeted many new lovers for thefirst time July 3 1 through Aug. 1 , 1 956. The eveningbegan with a silent auction, a lovely catered dinner andthen the real excitement began to mount when our veryown Bobby Manonash and Ed McMaya started thebidding for the live auction.

Some of the special items were: a test pressingalbum by Peter Townshenddedicated to Baba entitled‘Happy Birthday” . Booksautographed by the Mandali,Laker’s VIP seats, L.A.Eyeworks really trendy eye-glasses with sunglass clip. Alovely head sculpture of Bababy Jurgis, an out of printedition of “Not We But One”

which had many handwrittenmessages with autographs bythe Mandali, a rare and verylovely black and white photo ofBaba and Mehera together inthe early days donated byMeheru, ans a video tour ofmany Baba sites in India. Also,seat to the upcoming AcademyAwards with a special male gentleman escort and finallymany talentedpeople in the health field contributed theirservices.

We were very honored to have Ms. Katie Iraniwith us and special out of town guests; Bill and DianaLePage and Jane Brown. One of the guests commented itwas fun, joyful, humorous and delicious. Adding to theupbeat quality of the evening were those Baba “boys”who sported tuxedo’s looking ever so handsome andBaba’s “girls” wearing glittery evening wear. It made onethink of Baba’s birthday at the Delmonico Hotel in the50’s when everyone was dressed to the “nine’s” in anticipation of being with Baba. And, yes, Baba was palpablypresent this evening.

After the auction The “Om Boys” entertained uswith their very rhythmic and lively dance tunes. JaneBrown and Debbie Ashe sang while we danced. The

Grand Prize Drawing, a flight to Meher Spiritual Center,was won by Ms. Tracy Bleahu of Pacific Palisades. Thiswill be Tracy’s first opportunity to visit Baba’s home inthe west.

This was the most successful Auction fundraiser theCenter has had to date. And, of course, it was onlypossible with Baba’s Grace and His loving presence, themany helping hands, great ideas, creative bursts ofenergy, and just a little touch of gladly given slave laborfor the One in the Many. Chairwoman Wendy Ward, withassistance from Mike Ramsden, Rob Ward, Karma Page,

Visiting from Avatar’s, abode are Bill and Diana LePage seen here withKatie Irani and Michael Ramsden

Lois Jones, Rose Choi, Dma Franklin, Clea Sucoff, BillyGoodrum and Linda Zavala rounded out the core groupof Baba wallas.

Drawn by ShawdiManouchehrpour,Wendy announces thewinner of the granddoor prize: the trip tomyrtle Beach spiritualCenter goes to TracyBleahu

PAGE 18

Dancing the nightaway capped off amemorable night.

Wendy Ward- chairwomenand chiefslave andorganizer ofthis fabulousevent, stopsfor a momentto pose withShireenLorkalantari,Katie andMichael

..

-eJane Brown, singer extraordinaire, flew in from Myrtle Beach.

Our Bookstore wallitakes a break from thewild and crazy dancingto sit with a friend...(one of Baba’s favorites)

PAGE 19

Jai Baba and welcome to the Bookstore!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas andHanukkah.I hope my being in Australia for December didnot inconvenience any of you, or disrupt yourBaba gift giving plans.With this LampPost following so closely on theheels of the last very overdue issue, you maythink we have nothing much new to tell you.Not so! There is always something happeningin the Baba world. Let me start with two newalbums that wereplaced in my handstwo days ago. . . .theyhave been on the‘continuous play’ ofmy tape deck eversince! How to describethem is a difficulty!Each track is different,a different kind ofmusic. Do you likeGregorian chants?Then you’ll love it,but it’s notGregorian chants. .. .do you like listening toWhale song? Then you’ll love it, but it’s notwhale song. There is some flamenco, greatacoustic guitar, some tracks that sound somewhat Middle Eastern, perhaps the meuzzin’scalling the faithful to prayer; then there is theRomanza, a classical Spanish composition,perhaps the most beautiful piece of music in theworld under the name of Anonymous. Listen-ing to this in a room with candlelight, I feel Ican see souls ascending to heaven. ‘Hyperbole’,you say? Don’t take my word for it, do yourselfa favor, buy this, or these tapes and see foryourself. In fact, I am so taken with this music,and feel it is so different ( but comfortingly,faintly familiar,) to anything I have heard be-fore, that I will cheerfully refund your money ifyou wish to return the tape, telling me you didnot care for it. So what is it you say? The musician, composer, singer and producer is anEnglishman by the name of Simon Reece. The

instruments he employs to great effect includeClassical and 12 string guitars, Santoor, Cello,Sitar, Ramuntar, Tuned copper chimes,Tampura ( I thought that was something youate?!) Rain stick, Bottles “and other bits.”He also thanks the birds at Meherabad. I hadforgotten how incredibly loud, varied, andbeautiful they sound. It is as though as manybirds as possible assemble around the Samadhiand the Pilgrim Center to sing the praises of

our Beloved. Hearingthem on this tape willtake you right backthere.Sun and Moon has twosongs that Simonsings with words, TheGujerati Arti, wordsby Meher Baba and Iwilifly to you, wordsby Mehera. On theother tracks, thosethat have vocals, theyare just that, vocals,

no words. And a beautiful ethereal sound it is.On the jacket is a poem Simon wrote that is soclose to the way I feel, it brought chills to me.(See box)Echoes of the Infinite features a stunning fullcolour photograph Simon took of a temple atsunrise reflected in the water, at Jaisalmeer inRajasthan on the cover and is dedicated: “Forthe Eternal Love of Meher Baba.” Simon recorded this album at the Vigeland Mausoleumin Oslo Norway, and says “The incredibleacoustics of the towering chamber produce asense of space and timelessness which is almostnot of this world.” As a musician, he says,“merely playing and singing in this sublimeenvironment awakens unfathomable inspiration.” What Simon was feeling certainly comesthrough to the listener. These recordings weremade with just one microphone and nothingwas added afterward to enhance the sound.Most musicians would spend thousands to get

Katie checks out the Bookstore with Christie Pearson,the hostess th the mostest and Adele Walkin

PAGE 20

this sound from a commercial studio! The tapestarts with three Jai Babas echoing in the chamber.The optimal way to listen to these two tapes isin a tranquil setting,(no children runningscreaming through thehouse!) soft lights, andcandles. Be prepared tobe totally transportedto another realm. Theyare $10 each.

I loved MarkTrichka’s review of BuzConnor’s The Glory ofLove , but there was amistake in the pricing:the cost of the tape is$12 unfortunately no one can afford to pro-duce a tape for $5.95. . . .maybe in the Seven-ties

Another correction: Direct Cinema, thedistributors for the documentary Meher Baba theAwakener havechanged the price from$25 to $30 (but it’s stillcheaper than its original price!)

The newlyreleased book I toldyou about in our lastissue, Much Love , byT.K. Ramanujan, has abeautiful passage onpage 209 I wanted toshare with you:One of Baba’s lovershad asked Him how he could retain constantcontact with Him. To the lover Baba replied,“Do you feel constantly hungry? When you feelhungry you take food, and then you forgetabout the food. So work for me in such a waythat you feel hungry for me. Sometimes think ofMe, sometimes work for Me, sometimes talkabout Me, but not all the time. If you go on

eating continually you will get indigestion!Before you go to bed say ‘Baba I entrust to theLord all that I did, thought or spoke, good andbad, to you.’ When you get up, say ‘Baba I now

begin entrusting allthoughts, words anddeeds to you.’ Say thisjust twice each day forfive minutes, but withall your heart in it. Dothat, and make Meresponsible for all youdo or think. Then youare free. . . .but you mustdo it honestly. Thismuch will be more thansufficient to maintainthe contact with Me. I

am the ocean. I can accept both flowers, coconuts and also filth. So throw everything in theOcean with all your heart. This is a great thingif done wholeheartedly, otherwise it goes inyour own pool of water which gets filthy be-

cause of your dirt.” Thebook is full of gems likethat. $20.. . .when it’savailable!

A number of you‘arts and crafts people’have bemoaned theabsence of the littlestick-on photos of Babawe used to get from JoyMeher. I found out thatFuji film no longerproduces that product,and no other filmcom

pany has come up with that format. If anyonehears about such a product, please let me know.But to fill in the gap I have made available an8x10 sheet of miniature black and white photosof Baba, each one is one by one and a half inchor smaller. These are for the very creative

continue on the next page

PAGE 21

Jai Baba and welcome to the Bookstore!Continued from page 21

people who weave beads or embroidery aroundthem, or put them into various brooches. Theyare $8 per sheet with about 36 usable pictureson it.

As many of you know, the Bookstorecarries back issues of that wonderful magazineFilis Frederick produced for Baba starting wayback in the Fifties. We have quite a few copiesof two of the most popular editions: Baba inHollywood and Women of the West.Baba in Hollywood is Volume XVIII-1 and chronicles in detail the manypeople and places Baba visitedwhen He was here in 1932, ‘34 and‘56. Did you know, for instance,that Mary Pickford was so takenwith Baba that she and her husband Douglas Fairbanks threwHim a great party at their magnificent home ‘Pickfair’. Years later, inthe Fifties, Adele Wolkin wasvisiting a Veteran’s hospital in theBronx. There she met Mary, whowas also visiting with her husband, Buddy Rogers. Adele askedMary if she remembered Meher Baba. “Oh ofcourse”, the famous star replied, “He was amost wonderful man!” In the Forties, NormaMatchabelli met Talullah Bankhead at somefunction. Talullah, in her noted gravely voiceasked, “Has Meher Baba broken his !?*%#@!?Silence yet?” When Baba was in Hollywood in1935, Greta Garbo was most anxious to meetHim. In fact, she stayed up all night to be readyfor her early appointment, but at the last moment, fell asleep and missed it! Baba corn-rnented that she was a very spiritual person,but was veiled from it in this life. All this andmuch much more, including copious photos.

Filis celebrated The Awakener’s 30thanniversary by publishing a very special Volurne XX-2 entitled Women in the West. In theearly Twenties Meher Baba predicted that Hiswork would be done in the East by men, and inthe West, by women. In this edition, Filis gives

some wonderfully detailed stories of the mostprominent of the ‘Western Mandali’: PrincessNorma Matchabelli, Countess Nadine Tolstoyand Elizabeth Patterson. She also has stories totell about Delia de Leon, Kitty Davy, MargaretCraske and many other fascinatingpersonalities. . . .all powerful women who gavetheir all to serve their Master. The magazinesare $5 apiece.

For those of you who boughtSong of Huma when it first cameout a few years ago, and all of youwho have tried to buy it recentlyand found it is ‘out ofprint’ Rejoice! Elaine Cox, theproducer of this beautiful tape,tells me that volume two is almostready. In fact, by the time you readthis, I may have it on the shelves.

*..For those of you unfamiliar withthis title, Huma was the pen name

I Meher Baba took when, in His very

,2arke* Leroy early years, he wrote poems andsubmitted them to the newspapersand magazines. These haunting

love songs to God have been exquisitely sung,acappella, by the women Mandali, and set tomusic by Elaine, using the very best of professional musicians, when she brought the mastertapes back to the States. It has been a trernendous job, not to mention extremely expensive,putting it all together. For Elaine, the labour oflove is it’s own reward, but our joy in the hear-ing of this work is also very gratifying! $10.

The ethereal photos of our Beloved thatappear on pages opposite are from the Harmonon Hudson video (recently discovered Paramount Newsreel footage of the 1932 visit ofMeher Baba to America). In this video we seeBaba drawing water from a well and drinkingit. Recognizing how extraordinary these rareimages of Baba are, Sheriar Foundation hasmade available a selection of eight 8 x 10 blackand white photographic prints. They are $12.00ea. or $80 for the set.

PAGE 22

For fans of the international magazineThe Glow, Naosherwan Anzar has given us ahardbound edition, incorporating all the issuesfrom May of ‘85 to May of ‘90. The Glow always has articles of great interest, and the fullcolour covers of various artist’s rendition of ourBeloved are more than just beautiful to look at,they are, each one, worth framing. The specialbound edition is $50.

The Bookstore packed upand traveled three times last year.The first time was to Meherana inMay when Bhau Kalchuri was theguest. For the Sahavasees, to seethis full fledged Bookstore in atent, seemingly just sprung intobeing overnight, is always asuprise. To get it that way requiresa tremendous amount of work onthe part of many people. First,volunteers are called in to pack upeverything from our Los Angeleshome. Then it is loaded on a truckand driven up to the Sahavaslocation, be it Pilgrim Pines for ourLos Angeles Sahavas or to Meherana - a sixhour drive away. Then starts the fun of unpack-ing it all and creating magic. None of this couldbe accomplished without our many helpers, butmostly with the unflagging help of the indefatigable Michael Ramsden - a man who feels as Ido, that we are truly blessed to be allowed toslave for our Beloved in this fashion. The factthat you all so much enjoy having the TravelingBookstore in your midst, is just a wonderfuladded bonus. Last on the list of plusses is thatthe profit from the sales goes towards helpingkeep our Center afloat, and also allows us tomake a healthy donation to Meherana.

We had intended to show you more ofCarolyn Parker’s beautiful work with Rosesand the Beloved in our last issue, but we ranout of space. Hopefully there will be room inthis edition to show you more. Carolyn has alsojust had a book published which we are carry-

ing in our Bookstore. It is a very beautiful‘coffee table’ book dedicated to Baba (Tajudin’s“The Heavenly Rose”) and titled The Poetry ofRoses. It is magnificent full colour photographsof the many, very varied and unusual roses thatCarolyn cultivates in her garden. It is her bookfrom start to finish: Carolyn grew the roses,picked them, arranged them in a multitude ofartistic ways, photographed them and then

chose the poetry to accompanyeach photograph. The poems arefrom many and varied poets,among them: Hafiz, Rumi,Shakespeare, Malcolm Schloss,Shelly, Wordsworth, EmilyDickinson and many more. Truly abeautiful book. To look at it youwould swear the price would be$40-$48 . Imagine my delightwhen I found we could sell it for avery low $20! What a really beau-tiful gift this book would make,either for yourself or a loved onewho appreciates the beauty ofroses. I immediately bought three

from the first shipment!!When I spoke to Raphael Rudd recently

to reorder the Skydancer CD (unfortunately notavailable at this time, but I have plenty of thetapes), he told me some very exciting news:Fifteen years ago he was in The Boathouselaying down some tracks. Anyone familiar withEnglish Rock has heard of The Boathouse! PeteTownshend recorded many a famous album, asdid other English rockers, in this Studio thathad once been a boathouse on the ThamesEmbankment by Twickenham, just outside ofLondon. Raphael was playing his usual fabubus piano and harp, Pete was on guitar andthey had a ‘pick up’ drummer you may haveheard of Phil Collins!! Can you believe it??!!Is this going to be a huge commercial success orwhat? ! Raphael will finally get the outside

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A beautiful rose creation byCarolyn Parker.

PAGE 23

1995 SERVICE COMMITTEE REPORT The L.A. Baba Family

First of all, we are happy to report that Gus (MarionGust) and George Gerdes each came through open heartsurgery with flying colors ! Gus had bypass surgery inFebruary, and George had surgery on a valve in September. Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and wellwishes.

In August, Tony Hage, Lois Jones, Rosalee Dunphy,Will Guston, and Chris and Pris Haffenden visited DanaField at his nursing home. Dana and the other residentswere treated to a feast of videos of Beloved Baba andyummy goodies! Although we had to do a little coaxingto get him up and out of bed, once he joined the party,Dana had a great time. He was very happy! Chris andPris entertained with their wonderful “Still Yet More”chamber music. Several residents in wheelchairs reallyperked up when Rosalee took them by the hand anddanced with them!

Jacko and Becky Caraco welcomed little AdamMeher to Beloved Baba’s world in July. By the time you

read this article, the Caraco clan will be heading forMariposa. Jacko has re-located his acupuncture practicethere, and the Caracos will be the new occupants of theCaretaker’s house at Meherana. We will miss them all.

We have several years worth of fond memories of themyriad of events the Caracos so graciously hosted at theirhome.

Jacko, Becky, and Adam, we wish you well as youbegin your “new life” journey together. Avatar MeherBaba Ki Jai!

Outreach

Unfortunately, the Seedling, where we previouslydonated time, food, clothing and money to help familiesin need, has closed. The Seedling was located in SouthLos Angeles. In addition to helping families on a dailybasis, the Seedling provided ample food, toys and othergifts to 500 families every Christmas.

The St. Joseph Center, in Venice, coordinatesprojects similar to those of the Seedling. We are workingwith them this year, and we’ll give a full report in thenext issue of the LampPost.

If you know of anyone in need (of food, clothing, orjust a little moral support), please contact the ServiceCommittee via the Center: (310) 474-9454.

Jai Baba and welcome to the Bookstore!

recognition he deserves, and the name of MeherBaba will be spread farther and wider. Theworking title of the album is “The Awakening.”It has Pete singing four songs, one of whichis entitled In Praise of the Avatar. All tracks are Raphael’scompositions. It is projected tobe ready around March. Re-member folks, you read it inyour LampPost first! I havejust finished speaking with theHead of Promotions for therecord company and he ismost interested in hearinganything he can about MeherBaba. This, from Raphael

having told him about who He was while theywere talking business and discussing the recordingWell, I think that is a great note to go out on.

Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!!!

See you, in the Bookstore,

PAGE 24

YEAR-END PROGRAM REPORTBy Billy Goodrum

This year I have learned that it can be beneficialto be naive. A year ago, after being elected to the Boardof Directors as one of four people running to fill fouropen seats, I became head of the program committee.Being new to such matters, I sought out the assistance ofthose who had preceded me as program heads. DebraAshe helped me tremendously and showed me the ropes;do’s and donts, ideas, hints and educated me in generalregarding this new position I found myself in.

I also talked to Jeff Maguire, who had served asprogram head prior to Debra. He suggested one way tokeep the programs interesting was to invite guests thathad spent time with Baba. Taking his advice to heart, Ibegan to think who our Center may want to invite asguests for the year. Two names immediately popped intomy mind: Katie Irani and Don Stevens. So I asked theBoard to authorize me to extend invitations to them. Iwrote Katie and after some time (she was waiting forGoher to return from medical treatment in Atlanta) I

- received her letter accepting our invitation. Needless tosay I was ecstatic.

Before I ever got a chance to extend an invitationto Don Stevens I got a call from Adele Wolkin. She hadjust received a letter from Don saying he was going to bein Los Angeles in the latter part of the summer andwanted to do a program at the Center. Baba had certainlymade my job easier. Thank you Baba.

The other day at one of Katie’s programs atJacko’s house I remarked to Jeff how sound his advice toinvite guests had been. He looked at me and said that hehad meant people like Rick Chapman or Robert Dreyfuss(from the Bay Area), not Mandali. We both laughed andacknowledged that it was a bit of good luck that I hadbeen so naive in my interpretation of his advice.

Baba has blessed us with an entire year full of

wonderful guests: Beloved Baba’s dear Mandali members Katie Irani and Bhau Kalchuri came to inspire uswith their Love for Baba. Don Stevens, LeatriceJohnston, Henry Kashouty and Dara and Amrit all cameand shared with us their experiences with the Beloved.Thanks to guests Ella and Peter Marks, Merwan andRukshana Mehta, our own Adele Wolkin and musicalguest Buzz Conner for making our Sahavas so memo-rable. Other musical guests throughout the year haveincluded Richard Pikoff and Gabriella Tal. Thank youall.

I want to thank all the many people that havehelped with programs throughout the year: all those thatgave and participated in programs as well as those whoattended. Thank you all who had events in their homesand who accommodated guests.

Dr. Mamoud Ajang has done an excellent jobleading the Farsi meetings. Sometimes after the meetingsI see those that attended streaming blissfully down thestairs and I find myself wishing I could speak andunderstand Farsi. Thank you Dr. Ajang for yourcommittment and dedication to coordinating thesemeetings of spirited devotion to Baba.

Much thanks to Adele for consistently encouraging me and contributing excellent program ideas and toLois Jones for helping with Katie’s arrangements. We areforever indebted to Jacko and Becky for sharing theirhome with so many of our guests and with the group atlarge. We will miss Jacko, Becky and Adam tremendously when they move to Mariposa. Much, muchappreciation to our Board President Mike Ramsden whogives each board member plenty of creative freedom andis always willing to help anytime and anyplace it may beneeded. If anyone has program ideas or would like to doa program please contact me. Jai Baba.

“When mind soarsin pursuit of the things conceived inspace, it pursues emptiness; but whendives deep within himself, he experiencesthe fullness of existence.” AVATAR MEHER BABA

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PART II OF

The New World Culturecontinuedfrorn page 13

our physical life and an unnecessary layer of complexityto our psyche.

Plus, the inherent possibility of manipulation at theapex levels, and at lower levels of the system, would bethere, but perhaps this could be minimized or eliminatedby a splendid design concept.

All of which delivers the discussion to Option #3, acurrency free system. In an examination of the naturalworld, it’s apparent that everything is given free ofcharge. Sunshine, air and water are provided freely, andresources, in a pure state, can be extracted and utilizedwithout cost. This situation alters with the implementation of commercial venues which intercede betweenneeds and supplies. The instituting of this market deviceis the central feature of an economic system, with moneybeing its fuel. A currency free society most accuratelyreflects a pristine relationship with the earth. At thisEdenic level, the access to resources is direct and free. Itmust be restated, that the scope of economic freedom inthis model extends to every avenue of activity.

Food, naturally, would be free, as well as allresources from water and land to timber and gold. Alsoincluded would be all clothing and shelter needs. Medicine would join the list, as would all medical and healthservices. All products of human imagination would haveno costs attached. This would include crafted works likepottery and jewelry and works of art; and extend toinformation, communication and transportation systemsand devices, both public and private. Also, all energyneeds would be supplied freely. Without exception, allresources, goods and services would be unconditionallyfree. Immediate ramifications would arise from thissystem. There would be an immense simplification oflife, and we could realistically witness the dismantling ofcurrency based social ranking. We would be unencumbered from engaging our consciousness in money basedmathematical calculations. And most of all, we wouldexperience ecstatic levels of freedom which wouldautomatically add to our happiness.

Saying this type of system is unrealistic is under-standable, but what must be understood, is that a cur-rency free system accomplishes the same objective as thefully distributive one, only by different means. The fullydistributive system imparts sufficient money to its

citizenry to enable them total access to resources, goodsand services. In the currency free system, this identicalstate is realized by making all resources, goods andservices free. They both accomplish universal prosperity,it’s only the method of conferral that is different. Theflaw in this economy would be the misuse of privilegethat unlimited access to resources and services wouldallow. This, potentially, could encourage frivolous orwasteful lifestyles that exploit the prosperity of thesystem to the detriment of the users personal well beingand to the commonwealth. This problem could bechecked within a currency system by restricting funds tothat individual or group. One could assume, however,that measures could be enacted within a currency freesystem to counteract this type of behavior.

Returning to the notion of a money free society, Iwould suspect that acceptance can be rendered at lowerlevels of the spectrum, food and raw materials. But incontemplating work efforts, or providing items forpeoples needs or creating crafted objects or works of art;where labor, market savvy or invention is involved, howcan people not be compensated?

This concern is legitimate, but largely stems fromthe delusion of ownership. The worker “owns” hisenergy, the businessman his wares and the artist, inventoror craftsman, his outpourings. Under the current economic system, and by our way of thinking, an exchangeof currency transfers ownership of that personal commodity to the purchaser. Now the purchaser owns thisresource. But if scrutiny is applied to the examination, aDivine Context is apprehended which supersedes allpetty notions of ownership. And this applies to highlyadvanced systems of technical craftsmanship.

Air travel involves a complex arrangement ofinterlocking activities. Traveling freely seems ludicrous,but if properly analyzed, this assessment is challenged.Let’s compile a case. By factoring in all the elementsthat make air travel possible, it becomes obvious to whatextent Divine Agency was responsible. At the mostbasic level, molecular cohesion holds all the materialstogether which are used in construction. And, all materials, even process related ones like metal alloys andplastics, have their ultimate origin in the natural world,which man is not responsible for.

The mind that conceived the airplane, orjet, was

PAGE 26

D * c*b . cjJ * C*b c? C*b * c

not only designed by God, but suffused with the ideas toconstruct this vehicle. The human body, also engineeredby Infinite Intelligence, was given sufficient adroitness tobuild this craft. Laws of physics, like gravity and airresistance, make flight possible. The electromagneticspectrum allows radar andradio to operate withintheir respective wavefrequencies. And, humansenses allow the pilots tofly, the ground and supportcrews to function in acoordinated effort, and thepassengers to experienceflight. In this orchestrationof events and realities,man’s ability to create andsustain this system, isentirely contingent uponoperating within a DivineContext that not onlysupports and sustains hisefforts, but which inspireshim with the continuedideas that have beenassigned to “progress.”

Viewed from thisvantage point, it’s apparentthat this Divine Agency isresponsible for everything,the creation and placementof the materials, theirability to be transformedinto other states, thephysical laws and proper-ties and our capable humanvehicles equipped withsenses and a receptiveintelligence. Minus thisDivine Context, air travelcould not have beeninvented or maintained.From this perspective, manis actually an extension of this Divine Agency of Creation and not an encapsulated being who creates independently of this Agency, and subsequently, owns his creations.

Seen from this more complete understanding, thisDivine Agency is totally responsible for all of our creative acts and manifested systems. By this reasoning,these human generated systems are not only an extension

of this Divine Agency; theyare this Divine Agency,operative in this capacity.

Assigning anthropomorphic designations, onecan state that not only is theLord responsible foreverything, and controlseverything, but equallyimportantly, The LordOwns Everything! Fromthis vantage point, all labor,resource items and craftedworks, not only have theirorigin in the Lord, but theyare owned by the Lord.

So from an AbsoluteProprietary Position, andwithin the framework of atransaction, the Lord is theonly one we can pay forresources, goods andservices. But assumingtranscendent indifferenceand having no need for anyrecompense, how could thispractice be started?

From the foregoingargument, it would appearthat a crucial step towardsrealizing a currency freesociety, is establishing aneconomic system that isGod-Centered and not man-centered. How this couldrealistically be formulated,

remains to posterity if this path is chosen.

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Paradigm for Rulership and Control

GOVERNMENTIntergovernmental

Departments

MilitaryIntelligence

AgenciesLAW

Police & Penal

BUSINESS

Media

Question: Can the New Humanity be superimposedupon this system?

Follow-up Thought: The main actors of theseinterconnected spheres of activity would have to betransformed - nearly enlightened for the New Human-ity to operate in accordance with the Avatar’s Vision-ary-Will.

Following Still: Given this degree of necessarytransformation why must this system be maintained?

Further: Just as this system was invented, implemented and refined; can’t an equally valid andworking system be invented? One totally different andmore conducive to the New Humanity?

PAGE 27

PART II OF

The New World CultureContinued from page 27

Another critical step is the full understanding thatconferring happiness brings the greatest return on happiness, and that giving ones labor, talent or crafted works tosociety, freely and joyously, would not only constitute anelevated form of selfless service, it would actually be aform of worship.

But whichever economic system comes into being:our current one reformed, a totally fair currency systemor one currency free, is not the important issue to engageour attention. What’s vastly more significant is that theLord Himself is leading us towards a Coming Civilization of His Design.

When the new world culture blooms, our attentionwill turn collectively towards the Lord, and as we realizeour commonality in spirit, our legacy of diversity will betransmuted into unity; as we celebrate our new life, in thefelicitous harmony of knowing, that freedom, happinessand being one, are verities of the soul. This essay will

conclude with the words of Meher Baba, who is usheringin this Grand Adventure.

“The new world culture, born from the new human-ity and its integral vision, will automatically involve acultural synthesis. The vision that inspires the newculture will be comprehensive.”

“The world will soon realize that neither cults,creeds, and ceremonies on the one hand, nor passionatestriving for material welfare on the other, can ever bringabout real happiness but that selfless love and universalbrotherhood can accomplish it.”

“The future of humanity is in the hands of thosewho have this vision...”

AVATAR MEHER BABA CENTEROF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA10808 Santa Monica BoulevardLos Angeles, California 90025

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