New Life (Meher Baba)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Meher Baba with a disciple (Adi Sr.) begging during his New Life period
Meher Baba with a disciple (Adi Sr.) begging during his New Life period

The New Life was a period of renunciation, pilgrimage, and spiritual adventures undertaken by the Indian spiritual teacher 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.

When pressed by inquisitive people for further explanation during the New Life, Meher Baba instructed his New Life companions to say this much: "Hopelessness means renunciation of all hopes. Aimlessness means renunciation of all aims. Helplessness means renunciation of all help. No master, no disciple, means renunciation of spirituality. And the New Life I have in mind eventually means absolute renunciation. Therefore, if any one asks you what this New Life is, say, 'Absolute and perfect renunciation.' If they ask, 'Renunciation of what?' say, 'Of everything – aims, hopes, help and life itself.'"[3]

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.[4] ”

An account of the New Life is documented in the book Tales of the New Life with Meher Baba, 1976.[5] It is also described in detail in The God-man, 1962, by Charles Purdom,[6] and Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, 1986, by Bhau Kalchuri.[7]

[edit] New Life Companions

In October 1949, 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.[8]

Women companions

  1. Mehera Irani, 42
  2. Mani Irani, 31
  3. Meheru Irani, 22
  4. Goher Irani

Men companions

  1. Adi Sr., 45
  2. Ali Akbar (Aloba), 33
  3. Anna 104, 60
  4. Babadas, mid 40s
  5. Baidul, 56
  6. Daulat Singh, 59
  7. Dr. William Donkin (only Western companion), 37
  8. Eruch Jessawala, 33
  9. Ghani, 58
  10. Gustadji, 59
  11. Kaka Baria, 58
  12. Murli Kale, 30
  13. Nilu, 45
  14. Pendu, 45
  15. Sadashiv Patel, 60
  16. Vishnu, 45

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986, p. 3429
  2. ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986. pp. 3445
  3. ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc., 1986 pp. 3481
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ Jessawala, Eruch, Irani, Mehera, Irani, Mani, Irani, Meheru, "Tales from the New Life with Meher Baba," Meher Baba Information, 1976
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc., 1986 pp. 3429 ...
  8. ^ Kalchuri, Bhau, "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986. p. 3435

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Avatar Meher Baba
Publications Meher Baba in 1941
Meher Baba in 1941
Traditions
Organizations
Centers and retreats
Terms and concepts
God-realization · Perfect Master · Involution · Mast  · Sanskara · Mandali · New Life
Major figures
Contacted masters
Films
Tribute albums