Meher Spiritual Center
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| Meher Spiritual Center | |
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| Motto: | A place of pilgrimage for all time |
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| Founded: | 1952 |
| Location: | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |
| Website: | mehercenter.org |
The Meher Spiritual Center is a 500 acre spiritual retreat nestled in a pine forest along the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Briarcliffe Acres near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Center was established by Elizabeth Chapin Patterson and Princess Norina Matchabelli in the early 1940s to provide a place for spiritual renewal to visitors and to provide information about Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba. Its stated purpose is to exist as a retreat for “rest, meditation, and the renewal of the spiritual life.”[1] The Meher Spiritual Center is also designated as a state wildlife sanctuary with more than 200 species of plants, 100 species of birds and 44 species of animals.[2] The Center has two lakes, many nature trails, and a mile of unspoiled Atlantic shoreline.
The Center has a house built for Meher Baba which is still called "Baba's House." Meher Baba stayed there during his three visits to America in the 1950s. Meher Baba inaugurated the Meher Center in 1952 and also visited in 1956 and 1958.[3]
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[edit] History
Meher Baba requested that the land for his Center in America meet certain criteria including that it have temperate climate, freshwater, arable land, virgin soil, and that it be a gift of love. Elizabeth Patterson and Norina Matchabelli originally sought land in other parts of the United States including California. But no land met all the requirements. Eventually Elizabeth Patterson's father, Simeon B. Chapin, who was one of the original developers of Myrtle Beach, gave her the land as a gift. He felt that it was not suitable for his resort plans since its lakes obstructed access to the beach.[4]
[edit] Cabin names
All the buildings on the Meher Center have names, including residences and maintenance buildings. These include Meher House, Happy House (now burned down), Dilruba, Sheriar Gate House, the Cove, Cedar Nook, the Original Kitchen, the Meeting Place, Caretaker's Cabin, Lake Cabin, Log Cabin, Cabin On the Hill, the Lantern, Near Cabin, Far Cabin, Studio, the Bungalow, the Twin Cabin, the Hermitage, Farmshed, Green Cottage, Look Out, the Boat House, the Coop, the Barn, the Garage, the Refectory, Saroja Reading Room, Lagoon Cabin, Guest House, and Baba's House.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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