The events of Meher Baba's life are well documented. Typically he lived and travelled in company with the circle of his closest disciples ('mandali'), both men and women, from whom he demanded absolute obedience. (It should be noted, however, that Baba was celibate, and demanded that his mandali be celibate as well). He and his mandali voluntarily assumed a life of extreme simplicity, almost to the point of poverty.

He spent long periods in intense seclusion, fasting, and meditation. But Baba would intersperse these periods with wide-ranging travels and public gatherings, and works of charity.

Early years

Meher Baba was born in Pune, India. His given name was Merwan Sheriar Irani. He was the second son of his father Sheriar, a Persian who had been a wandering Sufidervish before settling in Pune, and Sheriar's young wife, Shireen.

Though Merwan had mystical inclinations and experiences, he was more interested in sports (especially cricket). At the age of 19, he met a very old Muslim woman, a spiritual master named Hazrat Babajan, who kissed him on the forehead on a street in Poona. Shortly after this, he also had direct contact with four other "Perfect Masters": ( Tajuddin Baba of Nagpur, Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon, Sai Baba of Shirdi, and Upasni Maharaj of Sakori).

Meher Baba explained that Hazrat Babajan was a Perfect Master whose kiss unveiled him spiritually, establishing him in a state of consciousness he termed God-Realization: the continuous and permanent experience of Infinite Knowledge, Infinite Power and Infinite Bliss. He said that Sai Baba and Upasni Maharaj had helped him to integrate this experience with normal consciousness, thus enabling Baba to function in the world without diminishing his experience of God-realization.

After working for seven years with Sadguru Upasni Maharaj, Merwan started to attract a following of his own. His early followers gave him the name: "Meher Baba," or Compassionate Father.

Manzil-e-Meem and Meherabad

In 1922, Meher Baba and his followers established "Manzil-e-Meem," (the "House of the Master,") in Bombay. Baba demanded strict discipline and obedience from his disciples. Baba spent this period in meditation and fasting. After a year, Baba and his disciples moved to an area few miles outside Ahmednagar, which he called Meherabad. This ashram would be come the center for his work.

With his disciples he undertook long pilgrimages on foot, contacting and washing the feet of the poor and lepers as he travelled.

Prem ashram

In 1924, Meher Baba created a resident school at Meherabad, which he called the 'Prem' ("love") Ashram. The school drew multi-denominational students from around India and Iran.

Silence

From July 10, 1925 until his physical death in 1969, Meher Baba was silent. He communicated first by using an alphabet board, and later by hand gestures which were interpreted and spoken out by one of his mandali (devoted disciples), usually by his disciple Eruch Jessawalla.

Meher Baba said that his silence was not undertaken as a spiritual exercise, nor as a vow of silence, but undertaken and maintained solely in connection with his universal work. “I am never silent. I speak eternally. The voice that is heard deep within the soul is My voice...the voice of inspiration, of intuition, of guidance. To those who are receptive to this voice, I speak.

“Man’s inability to live God’s words makes the Avatar’s teaching a mockery. Instead of practicing the compassion he taught, man has waged wars in his name. Instead of living the humility, purity, and truth of his words, man has given way to hatred, greed, and violence. Because man has been deaf to the principles and precepts laid down by God in the past, in this present Avataric form, I observe silence.”

First contacts with the West

In the 1930s, Meher Baba began a period of extensive world travel, circling the globe many times. He made frequent trips to England, Europe and America. It was during this period that he established contact with his first close group of Western disciples.

On his first trip to England in 1931 he travelled on the SS Rajputana, the same ship as Mahatma Gandhi. Meher Baba and Gandhi had many private conversations. In the West Meher Baba met with interested individuals who had heard of his spiritual status and his work in India, many of whom were notable celebrities and artists.

In the late 30s, Meher Baba invited a group of western women to join him in India, where he arranged a series of trips that became known as the Blue Bus Tours. When they returned home, many newspapers treated their journey as an occasion for scandal.

Discourses

During the course of early gatherings of his mandali (disciples) and followers, Meher Baba would give discourses on different spiritual subjects. These were later compiled and organized by his disciples into a multi-volume set and published as Discourses. The Discourses address all aspects of the spiritual life, and provide practical and simple direction for the aspirant.

Work with 'masts'

In the 1940s, Meher Baba did extensive work with a category of people he termed "masts," (short for "Mast-Allah" or intoxicated with God) These individuals are essentially disabled by their enchanting experience of the higher spiritual planes. Although outwardly masts appear irrational or even insane, Baba claimed that their spiritual status was actually quite elevated. By meeting with them, he allowed them to move forward spirtually.

Baba visited literally thousands upon thousands of masts throughout the world, and occasionally set up ashrams where they were cared for. The best-known of these masts, known as Muhammad Mast, lived at Baba's encampment at Meherabad until his death in 2003.

The New Life

In 1949 Meher Baba began an egnimatic period which he called the New Life. Following a series of questions on their readiness to obey even the most difficult of his requests, Baba selected 20 companions to join him in a life of complete "hopelessness, helplessness and aimlessness." During this time, Baba acted not as the Master, but as a companion.

He made provisions for those dependent on him, and otherwise he and his companions 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 life, and consistent good cheer in the face of any difficulty. Those companions who failed to comply were sent away.

Automobile accident in U.S.

Meher Baba ended the New Life after a period of intense seclusion, and once again began a round of public appearances and extensive travel throughout India and the West.

In the early 50s Meher Baba established two centers outside of India: Meher Spiritual Center, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Avatar's Abode, near Brisbane, Australia.

On May 24, 1952, Baba's car was struck head-on near Prague, Oklahoma. He and his companions were thrown from the vehicle and suffered many injuries. Baba's leg was severely broken and his face smashed. The injured were treated and returned to Myrtle Beach to recuperate, including work done at the Duke University Hospital.

Highest of the High

In September, 1953 Meher Baba gave his "Highest of the High" declaration.

On February 10, 1954 in Meherastana U.P., India, Meher Baba publically declared his Avatarhood for the first time by spelling out on his alphabet board during a gathering, "Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai".

In September of that year, Meher Baba gave a 'men-only' sahavas at Meherabad which later became known as the "Three Incredible Weeks". During this time Baba issued a number of messages and discourses, the most significant being "Meher Baba's Call".

In October of 1954, Meher Baba discarded his alphabet board and began using a unique set of hand gestures to communicate.

In 1956 he visited Myrtle Beach and other places in the US as well as the newly opened Avatar's Abode in Australia.

Automobile accident in India

In late 1956, outside Satara, India, the car in which Baba was driving went out of control, and a serious accident occurred. Meher Baba suffered a fractured pelvis and other intense injuries, and one of the other passengers was killed.

This accident seriously incapacitated Baba. Despite his physician's predictions to the contrary, after great effort Baba managed to walk again, but from that point was in constant pain and was severely limited in his ability to move.

Baba made one more trip to the West in 1958. On this visit, he often needed to be carried from venue to venue.

Seclusion and East-West Gathering

Baba returned to India, and began more periods of fasting, meditation and seclusion. One might have expected such seclusion to be restful; on the contrary, Baba's seclusion work was draining and exhausting. He claimed to be doing work on behalf of the spiritual welfare of all humanity.

In 1962, Baba gave his last public functions, a series of meetings he called The East-West Gathering. At these meetings, at which his western lovers were invited to meet his Indian disciples, Baba gave darshan to many thousands, despite the physical strain this caused on his broken body.

"God in a Pill"

In 1966, at the height of the Psychedelic era, Baba allowed individual visits by three young western academics, who asked about the spiritual aspects of drugs. In response, Meher Baba wrote a pamphlet, God in a Pill, in which he stated that drug use was spiritually damaging, saying that if enlightment were possible through drugs, then "God is not worthy of being God". At his request, the three returned to the West and spread this message, which increased Baba's notoriety among the young. It was during this period that the popular poster of a smiling Baba, captioned "Don't Worry, Be Happy" became widely distributed, even appearing in day-glo versions.

Final Seclusion and Amarthiti

From the East-West Gathering onward, Meher Baba's health deteriorated steadily. Despite the physical toll they took on his body, Baba spent long periods in seclusion, fasting and meditating. His physical condition grew steadily worse.

In 1968, Baba completed a particularly taxing period of seclusion, and emerged saying that his work "was completed 100% to my satisfaction". By this point he was confined to a wheelchair. Within a few months his condition worsened, and he was bed-ridden, his body wracked by intense muscular spasms that had no clear origin. Despite the care of several doctors, the spasms grew progressively worse.

On January 31, 1969, Meher Baba took his final breaths. This day became known as Amarthiti ("deathless day"). Meher Baba's body was laid in his Samadhi, and covered with ice, sawdust, and roses, was kept available to the public for one week before its final burial.

Last Darshan

Before his passing, Baba had made extensive preparations for a public darshan program to be held in Pune, India. His mandali decided to proceed with the arrangements despite the physical absence of the host, saying that "God had invited them, and they were free to keep their appointment". Several thousands attended this "Last Darshan", including many hundred young people from the US, England, and Australia, who had been affected by Meher Baba's anti-drug message, and by his other teachings.

Cosmology

His cosmology, which has echoes of Sufism and Vedanta, as well as Christian mysticism is summarized in the 1954 book, [[GOD SPEAKS]], much of which Meher Baba dictated using an English languagealphabet board. He personally recommended the book to a number of his followers, saying it was the most important book for this age.

Evolution and Involution

Meher Baba's cosmology is based on divine unity, that diverse creation merely displays forms of an Infinite Oneness. “I tell you all, with my Divine Authority, that you and I are not "WE," but "ONE." The Oneness of Reality is so uncompromisingly unlimited and all-pervading that not only “We are One,” but even this collective term of “We” has no place in the Infinite Indivisible Oneness.”

Baba says that the goal of life is conscious realization of the absolute oneness of God. Meher Baba’s work as Avatar is to awaken this Oneness in each heart.

Meher Baba compares God to an infinite, shoreless Ocean that has only unconscious divinity -- unaware of itself because there is nothing but itself. To know become aware of its divinity the Ocean formed drops of itself called “drop souls”, each asking the question “Who am I?” In pursuit of the answer, to gain conscious divinity, each drop soul evolvea through experience.

The soul evolVes through seven kingdoms: stone or metal, vegetable, worm, fish, bird, animal, and human. The drop soul experiences and discards forms in all these kingdoms, accumulating sanskaras, or impressions. The final form of the soul's evolution is as human. Only human consciousness can achieve awareness of divinity, according to Meher Baba.

During its evolution, however, the drop soul also accumulates numerous false sanskaras, which prevent the drop soul from automatically realizing its true identity as God (Ocean) once it attains human form. To gain its true identity, the drop soul traverses an inward spiritual path called involution that gradually eliminates all false sanskaras.

Once the false sanskaras are gone, the goal of knowing itself conscious divinity is attained. The drop soul once again becomes merged in the Ocean. It is has now answered the question of “Who am I?” with “I am God”.

The first drop soul to answer this question is the Avatar. He is responsible for each drop soul after him,

Sanskaras

As the drop soul progresses through lifetimes, it becomes shaped by impressions or sanskaras. These sanskaras may give the soul a false separateness from God or Self.

Sanskaras are described as binding or unbinding, natural or unnatural. Actions, such as murder, create unnatural binding sanskaras. Even good actions can create binding sanskaras. Eating, for example, is a natural sanskara, but overeating is unnatural.

Sanskaras are individualized and so there is no way of determining the effect of a particular action. An action may be good in on instance and bad in another, based on the person's intent. The law of Karma (cause and effect) balances good and bad actions and their subsequent sanskaras.

Inevitably, the soul seeks actions that lead to good unbinding sanskaras, that is, to a greater focus on spiritual consciousness, and so the soul seeks finally seeks the contact of a Perfect Master. Meher Baba stated, "The wiping out of sanskaras can be effected only by the grace of a Perfect Master."

The Avatar, according to Meher Baba, is the eternal living Perfect Master.

The Avatar

Meher Baba claimed to be the Avatar, a Sanskrit word meaning "descent of God", the ancient soul who is literally God in human form. Meher Baba stated that the Avatar is the "Being of beings" - the same ancient soul taking birth in human form every 700 to 1,400 years.

Meher Baba's followers believe that the Avatar incarnated, in this cycle of time, as Zoroaster, Rama, Krishna, the Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Some followers believe that Abraham is also the Avatar incarnated in a previous cycle of time.

Role of the Avatar

Meher Baba describes the Avatar as aforce that changes spiritual activity for all souls. "He is like a gauge against which man can measure what he is and what he may become. He trues the standard of human values by interpreting them in terms of divinely human life."

In spiritual terms, the Avatar provides an evolutionary push forward for all living souls. Through the Avatar's spritual work, souls lose some of their bindings and reach their re-union with God more quickly. "In his own way, the Avatar unfailingly fulfills his incarnation by giving a spiritual push to his age." The Avatar helps each individual to break free from his or her bondage in his or her own way."

In practical terms, the Avatar lives a human life which provides for future generations a model for moral action. While the Avatar is omnipotent and omniscient, he completely inhabits his human form, and lives entirely within its constraints.

Followers of Meher Baba

Meher Baba traveled around the world several times, attracting followers on all continents.

Although he sometimes participated in large public gatherings. Meher Baba generally discouraged his followers from evangelizing on his behalf. Therefore there are few centers or organized activities associated with Meher Baba.

There are no special requirements, rites or rituals associated with becoming a follower of Meher Baba; nor are there any specific duties, rites or rituals required of his followers. Many of Baba's followers observe a few common practices, however.

Gatherings of Baba followers, when they occur, are typically informal and highly social in nature. Special effort will be made to gather together on Amarthiti, the anniversary of Baba's physical death, and on Baba's birthday. Most of Meher Baba's followers observe "Silence Day" on July 10 of each year, in accordance with Baba's request, by keeping verbal silence for 24 hours. Three prayers written by Meher Baba O Parvardigar, the Prayer of Repentance and the Beloved God Prayer are repeated morning and evening at his Samadhi, and are often repeated at gatherings of his followers. At Meherabad, his followers maintain Meher Baba's practice of lighting a Dhuni fire in a fire-ring in Meherabad on the 12th of each month; after prayers, participants throw sandalwood twigs dipped in ghee into the flame as physical representations of desires they wish to relinquish.

Influence on Pete Townshend

Meher Baba achieved additional fame in the west through the work of Pete Townshend of the Who. Parts of the rock-opera Tommy were inspired by Townshend's study of Meher Baba. Townshend's first commercial solo album Who Came First was dedicated to Meher Baba, and he participated in several limited release albums (notably a solo effort I am, 1972). Supposedly the song Baba O'Riley, written for an unfinished project entitled Lifehouse contained synthesiser passages in the style of American minimalist composer Terry Riley generated by the programming biographical details of Meher Baba's life. The song opened the album Who's Next.