New Life (Meher Baba)
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The New Life was an enigmatic period of renunciation, pilgrimage, and spiritual adventures undertaken by the Indian guru Meher Baba on October 16, 1949. [1] Baba selected twenty companions to join him in this self-described life of complete reliance on God, telling his companions, "Life during that period will be lived at the mercy of the world. It will be a life of complete helplessness and hopelessness." [2]
After making provisions for those dependent on him, Meher Baba and his companions otherwise gave up all property and financial responsibilities. They then traveled about India incognito, without money, begging for their food, carrying out Baba's instructions and living in strict accordance with a set of "conditions of the New Life." These included absolute acceptance of the circumstances of their lives, and consistent good cheer in the face of any difficulty. Those companions who failed to comply were sent away. This phase of Meher Baba's life culminated in early 1952 after more than two years.
About The New Life, Meher Baba wrote:
This New Life is endless, and even after my physical death it will be kept alive by those who live the life of complete renunciation of falsehood, lies, hatred, anger, greed and lust; and who, to accomplish all this, do no lustful actions, do no harm to anyone, do no backbiting, do not seek material possessions or power, who accept no homage, neither covet honor nor shun disgrace, and fear no one and nothing; by those who rely wholly and solely on God, and who love God purely for the sake of loving; who believe in the lovers of God and in the reality of Manifestation, and yet do not expect any spiritual or material reward; who do not let go the hand of Truth, and who, without being upset by calamities, bravely and wholeheartedly face all hardships with one hundred percent cheerfulness, and give no importance to caste, creed and religious ceremonies. This New Life will live by itself eternally, even if there is no one to live it. [3]
An account of the New Life is documented in the book Tales of the New Life with Meher Baba, 1976. [4] It is also described in detail in Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, 1986, by Bhau Kalchuri. [5]
[edit] New Life Companions
At the age of 55 Meher Baba embarked with twenty companions, four women and sixteen male mandali. They are listed here with their respective ages at the time where known. [6]
- Mehera Irani, 42
- Mani Irani, 31
- Meheru Irani, 22
- Goher Irani
- Adi Sr., 45
- Ali Akbar (Aloba), 33
- Anna 104, 60
- Babadas, mid 40s
- Baidul, 56
- Daulat Singh, 59
- Dr. William Donkin, 37
- Eruch Jessawala, 33
- Ghani, 58
- Gustadji, 59
- Kaka Baria, 58
- Murli Kale, 30
- Nilu, 45
- Pendu, 45
- Sadashiv Patel, 60
- Vishnu, 45
[edit] References
- ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986, p. 3429
- ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986. pp. 3445
- ^ Purdom, Chalres B., "The God-Man: The Life, Journeys & Work of Meher Baba with an Interpretation of His Silence & Spiritual Teaching", George Allen & Unwin, 1962. p. 187
- ^ Jessawala, Eruch, Irani, Mehera, Irani, Mani, Irani, Meheru, "Tales from the New Life with Meher Baba," Meher Baba Information, 1976
- ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc., 1986 pp. 3429 ...
- ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986. p. 3435
