New Life (Meher Baba)
Encyclopedia
The New Life was a period of renunciation, pilgrimage, and spiritual adventures undertaken by the Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba
on October 16, 1949. 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."
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.'"
About The New Life, Meher Baba wrote:
An account of the New Life is documented in the book Tales From the New Life with Meher Baba (1976). It is also described in detail in The God-Man by Charles Purdom
(1964), and within Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher by Bhau Kalchuri
(in volume 10 of first English edition, 1996; in volume 5 of the Hyderabad, India edition, 2005). The author Bhau Kalchuri
's account has also been expanded into its own 726-page book, Meher Baba's New Life (2008).
From 15th to 24th October 1951, for ten days, Meher baba maintained periods of fasting, meditation, and seclusion inside a rock cave on a hill top, surrounded by a dargah of Harzat Baba Fakhruddin, and an old temple of Vishnu
, near Khajaguda
also known as Khojaguda. On 16 october 1951, Eruch Jessawala
, one of the five companions, carried with him a box of five models containing a temple, a mosque, a church, a pagoda and a fire-temple known as agyari inscripted with alabaster
on a marble
stone. The five models represented major religions of the world: Hinduism
, Islam
, Christianity
, Buddhism
and Zoroastrianism
. Eruch arranged them on a ledge inside the rock cave.
Meher Baba conveyed that the spiritually significant work was done on behalf of the spiritual welfare of all humanity. Mano-Nash is simply Nirvana by another name, and the core group that passed through this stage with Baba was Enlightened in the Buddhist sense, as indicated by Meher Baba
himself..
In the afternoon of October 24, 1951, Baba with the five companions viz., Gustadji, Baidul, Pendu, Eruch and Daulat Singh left the memorable Khajaguda Pahad with their baggage. It took the group about a month to reach the most memorable and significant Seclusion Hill at the back of Meherazad
by foot from Khajaguda
hill to Meherazad hill.
The Glimpses of the God Man by Bal Natu cites Baba's message on annihilation of mind during the Man-O-Nash meeting at Hyderabad:
. They are listed here with their respective ages at the time.
Women companions
Men companions
Meher Baba
Meher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
on October 16, 1949. 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."
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
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
incognito, without money, begging
Begging
Begging is to entreat earnestly, implore, or supplicate. It often occurs for the purpose of securing a material benefit, generally for a gift, donation or charitable donation...
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.'"
About The New Life, Meher Baba wrote:
An account of the New Life is documented in the book Tales From the New Life with Meher Baba (1976). It is also described in detail in The God-Man by Charles Purdom
Charles Purdom
Charles Benjamin Purdom, usually credited as C. B. Purdom , was a British author, drama critic, economist and editor of an English periodical called Everyman. Everyman covered books, drama, music and travel and featured articles by renowned authors such as Ivor Brown, Arthur Machen, G. K....
(1964), and within Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher by Bhau Kalchuri
Bhau Kalchuri
Bhau Kalchuri is an Indian author, poet, trust administrator, and one of Meher Baba's mandali . Bhau Kalchuri is also the principal biographer of Meher Baba's life....
(in volume 10 of first English edition, 1996; in volume 5 of the Hyderabad, India edition, 2005). The author Bhau Kalchuri
Bhau Kalchuri
Bhau Kalchuri is an Indian author, poet, trust administrator, and one of Meher Baba's mandali . Bhau Kalchuri is also the principal biographer of Meher Baba's life....
's account has also been expanded into its own 726-page book, Meher Baba's New Life (2008).
Culmination of New Life and Mano-O-Nash
The New life was culminated in the bitter semi-desert plains of North west India, during October to December 1951, through a new phase called Man-O-Nash (Annihilation of Mind) . As indicated by baba, the Man-O-Nash work was carried out for “the abnegation of the personal will in the Divine Volition.”From 15th to 24th October 1951, for ten days, Meher baba maintained periods of fasting, meditation, and seclusion inside a rock cave on a hill top, surrounded by a dargah of Harzat Baba Fakhruddin, and an old temple of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, near Khajaguda
Khajaguda
Khajaguda also known as Khojaguda is a Village in Serlingampally Mandal of Hyderabad, India. It is part of the old city of Hyderabad. It is in the vicinity of the IT suburb manikonda.-Vicinity:...
also known as Khojaguda. On 16 october 1951, Eruch Jessawala
Eruch Jessawala
Eruch Byramshaw Jessawala , born in Bombay, India, was a close disciple of the silent Indian master Meher Baba, and one of his mandali. Jessawala was also the primary interpreter of Meher Baba's , and later his unique sign language.- Early life :Jessawala was born in Bombay to Zoroastrian parents,...
, one of the five companions, carried with him a box of five models containing a temple, a mosque, a church, a pagoda and a fire-temple known as agyari inscripted with alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
on a marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
stone. The five models represented major religions of the world: Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
. Eruch arranged them on a ledge inside the rock cave.
Meher Baba conveyed that the spiritually significant work was done on behalf of the spiritual welfare of all humanity. Mano-Nash is simply Nirvana by another name, and the core group that passed through this stage with Baba was Enlightened in the Buddhist sense, as indicated by Meher Baba
Meher Baba
Meher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
himself..
In the afternoon of October 24, 1951, Baba with the five companions viz., Gustadji, Baidul, Pendu, Eruch and Daulat Singh left the memorable Khajaguda Pahad with their baggage. It took the group about a month to reach the most memorable and significant Seclusion Hill at the back of Meherazad
Meherazad
Meherazad was the last residence of the Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba and is today a place of spiritual pilgrimage outside Pimpalgaon village, approximately north of Ahmednagar, India. More accurately, it is located at . Meherazad estate comprises about .Meher Baba lived at Meherazad from...
by foot from Khajaguda
Khajaguda
Khajaguda also known as Khojaguda is a Village in Serlingampally Mandal of Hyderabad, India. It is part of the old city of Hyderabad. It is in the vicinity of the IT suburb manikonda.-Vicinity:...
hill to Meherazad hill.
The Glimpses of the God Man by Bal Natu cites Baba's message on annihilation of mind during the Man-O-Nash meeting at Hyderabad:
New Life Companions
In October 1949, at the age of 55, Meher Baba embarked with twenty companions, four women and sixteen men mandaliMandali
Mandali from the Sanskrit mandala meaning circle, connection, community, is a term that Meher Baba used for his closest disciples.-Inner circle:...
. They are listed here with their respective ages at the time.
Women companions
- Mehera IraniMehera IraniMehera Jehangir Irani was Meher Baba's closest mandali . Meher Baba said she was the purest soul in the universe and that she loved him as he ought to be loved...
, 42 - Mani IraniMani IraniManija Sheriar Irani was the younger sister of Indian spiritual master Meher Baba, and one of his mandali. She was chairman of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust and the author of 82 Family Letters....
, 31 - Meheru Irani, 22
- Goher Irani, 33
Men companions
- Adi Kaikhushru Irani - "Adi Sr.", 45
- Ali Akbar - "Aloba", 33
- Jagannath Gangaram Jakkal - "Anna 104", 60
- Babadas, mid 40s
- Rustom Jafrabadi - "Baidul", 56
- Daulat Singh, 59
- Dr. William Donkin (only Western companion), 37
- Eruch JessawalaEruch JessawalaEruch Byramshaw Jessawala , born in Bombay, India, was a close disciple of the silent Indian master Meher Baba, and one of his mandali. Jessawala was also the primary interpreter of Meher Baba's , and later his unique sign language.- Early life :Jessawala was born in Bombay to Zoroastrian parents,...
, 33 - Abdul Ghani Munsiff, 58
- Gustadji Hansotia, 59
- Kaka Baria, 58
- Murli Kale, 30
- Dr. Nilu Godse, 45
- Aspandiar Rustom Irani - "Pendu", 45
- Sadashiv Patel, 60
- Vishnu Narayan Deorukhar, 45