Fire as the power of love

In Zoroastrian cosmology, Ahuramazda and Ahriman vie in eternal conflict over the moral and spiritual universe. The principles of light and darkness are ever circling each other in eternal conflict. One of the most interesting points about Zoroastrian cosmology is that Ahuramazda requires human intervention to subdue Ahriman. It is not possible for the power of light and beneficence to dominate darkness and greed without man’s help. When man agrees to the precepts of “good thoughts”, “good words” and “good deeds”, the power of light ascends; when man refuses to follow these precepts, Ahriman ascends.

Zoroaster lived, according to Zoroastrian oral tradition, some 9 to 10 thousand years ago. (Western scholarship avers he lived only some 2,500 years ago.) It is the world’s oldest religious/ spiritual tradition. Zoroastrians believe that Abraham was a Zoroastrian and prophet who gave rise to Judaism, and in turn gave rise to Christianity and Islam, through their respective prophets.

Zoroastrianism holds the elements sacred, especially the element fire. It is the original primordial tradition in which Nature is held to be a direct manifestation of God; but fire is the most tangible manifestation of God’s presence as it represents the power of love to defeat darkness and confusion. Thus, Zoroastrians are said to worship fire in their fire temples.

When Ahriman ascends, Nature becomes unstable. When man no longer holds the divine precepts and no longer regards fire as the burning symbol of divine love, chaos erupts across the land. Kings and rulers become tyrants, and the people suffer.

When fire is corrupted and becomes infernal, when as a symbol it is inverted and becomes a power of greed and darkness, all the elements rebel in protest.

We are now living in that time when all the elements, and especially fire, have gone mad in grief for their abuse at the hands of humans who no longer hold the precepts of good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

Global warming is an infernal hymn to Ahriman, the power of greed, destruction and chaos. And only humans can intervene on behalf of Ahuramazda.

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I walk up the hill

I walk up the hill
To hear the loud still
Voice of my master:
In your heart I dwell.

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Mother Kali

One of the great literary treasures of the last century is “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna”. This magnificent diary by one of Ramakrishna’s Bengali disciples is a magical window into the spiritual beauty and veracity of traditional Indian spirituality as personified by this singular Perfect Master. This book is priceless: There is no other book like it for its power to convey para bhakti, or supreme divine love.

Ramakrishna was devoted to Kali, whom he considered his Mother. Kali is the most marvelous and perfect illustration of the divine as the power of Nature in the Indian pantheon. Kali is mythic in that she does not take birth (form), except to manifest to her devotee; She is thus unlike Vishnu who takes birth as the Avatar, or the God-Man, i.e. the Christ, the Buddha, the Prophet, Rama and Krishna, etc.

Kali is the shakti (power) of Lord Shiva, who along with Brahma and Vishnu comprise the Indian Godhead; She is popularly considered a terrifying goddess of destruction who can confer boons that ease suffering to her devotees. But her spiritual meaning refers to her role as Mother Nature as the destroyer of form (bodies) so as to facilitate the growth of consciousness, life after life. She thus represents the inexorable drive for greater and greater consciousness through millions and millions of forms and lives that define creation: gas, stone, vegetable, worm, fish, bird, animal and human. She is the divine recycler.

Thus, to worship Kali is to worship the divine life force that animates and sustains all of life in its journey through form (bodies) toward union with God. Kali is the divine Mother inspiring all of her progeny to return to God and become God.

All death and destruction is a prelude to greater life. This is Kali.

We are now in the end phase of the Kali Yuga, the Machine Age. This is the age of greatest adharma, i.e. unrighteousness. This is the age of the greatest destruction of truth and harmony and well being of the Earth. This is the age of fire and the wrath of Kali as She destroys like never before the ignorance that worships form and not the spirit that would return to God as Bliss.

Kali is the supreme Mother whose love for creation will annihilate it, to liberate it.

 

 

 

 

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The End of the World

Meher Baba’s statement in the “Final Declaration” of 1954 that 3/4’s of the world would be destroyed was later amended to read that he had made this comment “in my language alone”. Thus, we cannot take his remark literally; But in light of recent statistics regarding climate change and degradation of the Earth’s habitat, his remark is certainly suggestive.

In fact, scientific research is already reporting that some %60 of vertebrates have perished since 1970. And climate science  is predicting global havoc on an unprecedented scale if global warming is not restricted to 1.5º C, although most scientists are confident that at least 3º C of warming is already in the pipeline. We are indeed facing global catastrophe.

And these climate science predictions are based on the assumption that greenhouse gasses will somehow be reduced dramatically, when in fact current global greenhouse gasses are presently increasing. So, what will be the outcome of global inability- led by the US, to not just not live up to the Paris Accord, but to spectacularly shoot past it by a factor of not just two, but maybe three or four? 3/4’s of the world could easily be destroyed by a global average temperature increase of 3º C- 6º C.

The world as we know it is going to be radically and traumatically transformed. What is not clear is the timeline because of the ambiguity of positive feedback loops. These can not be accurately predicted, although they are certain to powerfully accelerate traumatic global environmental and social transformation.

It is probably safe to say that within the next 50 years, we will see traumatic changes to the  world environment and population that will make the changes we have witnessed up to now, look like cake.

Meher Baba has said some very interesting things about America and the role it will play in his Manifestation. In his earliest trip to the US in 1931, Baba remarked that America was useful to him because of its energy, and that although that energy was largely misdirected, he would redirect it with great spiritual result. Meher Baba even said that “America will lead the world spiritually”.

At present, we can only guess as to what this might mean. It is extremely likely that what is  implied is that America will lead the world in going Green- except that this is not now the case. What will it take for the US to go Green, and lead the world in going Green? My best guess is that the only way for America to go Green- that is to abdicate fossil fuel and the “Machine Age”, is complete political and economic meltdown. In this light, King Baby Trump is a divine agent of ironic progress. He represents the symbolic end of American economic and political prowess- the imminent end of the American Empire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How the world cries for pie-in-the-sky and stellar bliss

How the world cries for pie-in-the-sky and stellar bliss,
but no heaven or starship can match the friend’s kiss.

God high in the empyrean is the distant father-
deaf and dumb until embraced as our very brother.

We have forgotten that God walks the earth as a man,
his body an infinite mercy revealing his plan.

He is the brother and friend who attracts his companions
to share in the work that is his daily crucifixion.

We have put him back in the sky, quoting some tired book
and invented rockets to go have an inquiring look.

The prophets and masters are like the stars at night-
beyond measure, showering grace upon man’s sight.

Darvish loves Meher whose name means mercy and sun,
whose friendship declares to the universe, we are one.

 

 

 

 

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We walk and walk with the friend by our side

We walk and walk with the friend by our side
and the pain of our love and longing hide.

We have no voice to be joyful about
but your silence to nourish as our lot.

The flame of love lit a fire in our heart
which has come to wholly define our art.

Like sandalwood, we place your name in fire
and your fragrance be all that we desire.

We have no hope but the promise of pain
and your remembrance again and again.

We have no where to go and nothing to say
in this wandering; This is how we pray.

Darvish has this complaint about the friend;
He is always present, but never found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The path to the beloved Master in love street

The path to the beloved Master in love street
ends with song rising in praise of his lotus feet.

We know we have arrived when the tune of our song
resounds in our hearts like a divine palace gong.

It was your whim at first that turned star into stone
and with a billion year evolved mind into a rune.

Now the articulate question of “who am I”
grinds for another billion year until mind dies.

The path of song brings us back to the state of dust
that falls and rests on your feet in loving trust.

We will then at last forever sing your bright name
as a star in heaven that shouts your eternal fame.

O Darvish, our journey is vast and without end
until our song expires in praise of the Friend.

 

 

 

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Review of the 60th Anniversary of Meher Baba’s 1958 visit to Avatar’s Abode

Meher Baba visited Avatar’s Abode from June 3rd to June 6th, 1958. The property had been recently acquired by Francis Brabazon and under his direction was readied for Baba’s visit.

“The Anniversary”, or “Anno” for short, commemorates with talks, song, dance, theatrical programs and film this visit of the Ancient One to the ancient continent of Australia. It is a singular sahavas.

Francis and the large team of workers who helped prepare the Abode for Baba’s visit worked at such breakneck speed to be ready for him that they neglected to prepare entertainment. This resulted in a lasting and concerted effort by Francis to emphasize the importance of entertaining the Beloved.

This anniversary lasted a week instead of the usual four days and was an extraordinary love fest of poetry, song, dance, theatre, art, film and talks. The poetic work of Francis was central to the programming.

Celebrants came from all over the world and from all over Australia.

One of the extraordinary aspects of the Anniversary is the inclusion of children. Australia is very family oriented and makes a remarkable effort to mentor children in the praise of the Beloved. This results in an exceptional pool of talent in the young Australians who are committed to the Abode’s remarkable legacy as represented in Francis’ work.

The roster of musical, theatrical and creative  talent was amazing: Raine Eastman-Gannett, Jim Meyer, Debbie Nordeen and the choir she rehearsed and conducted, the Wine Shop Singers, Bobbi Bernstein, Jim Frisino, Jacob Horsey, Ward Parks, Kris Hynes, Susan “Kazoo” Jamison, Angela Newcomb and her husband OJ and their daughter Amelie, Elischia Swan and Friends, Lady Longdrop (Kendra Keller), Jenny and Ross Keating, Merwan Stevens, Roshu Kaningri, Meherveena, Mehershoba, Meherpriya, Mihir Masterchief, Swaroop, Manjushra, Susan and Darrel Smith, Sage Andreasan, Lorraine Woods, Jeda Palmer, Eve Plant and others (I will pay for forgetting to remember everyone.)

The speakers were amazing: Peter Nordeen, a recently emerged metaphysical and historical speaker in the Baba community, Shridhar Kelkar, Bernard Bruford, Bill LePage, Geoff Gunther, Ray Kerkhove, Charmaine Foley, Cynthia Borg, Noel Adams and the amazing and unexpected appearance of Professor Meherwan Ali who vastly expanded the scope of the program’s agenda with reference to the paleontological context (dinosaurs used to roam the Abode).

The only dissonant note was the film provided by Sufism Reoriented which was prefaced by an address written by murshida Carrol Conner. The film was of a play that depicted the arrival of Francis in San Francisco to meet Rabia Martin, the murshida of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s Sufi lineage. The play was poorly scripted and directed. The only remarkable acting was that which portrayed Ivy Duce. The play was cast into the form of a Broadway musical for reasons unknown. Francis came across as a bumbling fool. But the worst part was the address by Carrol Conner which pathetically suggested that the reason why Sufism Reoriented did not take root in Australia was because of “a lack of sufficient resources”. This is a complete and unforgivable falsification of the facts. The leadership of SR has gone senile in its appreciation of Baba’s work with Francis in Australia. (Baba completely and irrevocably divorced Francis’ work in Australia from any relationship to sufism or Sufism Reoriented).

A special edition of “In Dust I Sing” by Francis was released during the Anno; This remarkable book of English language ghazals has long been unavailable but is now back in print with a very attractive cover painting by John Parry.

The food was excellent. The pandal protected us from the willy-willy (Australian tornado) that arrived with sudden force. By Baba’s grace it stood tall and strong. The work to put on such an event was considerable and those who made it possible are the unsung heroes of this occasion. This includes the various planning committees, the set up and take down, the chauffeuring of guests, the staging of  events, the cooking and clean up, the child care and so on.

Avatar’s Abode will always represent the ideal of honoring and entertaining the Beloved as the expression of family and community effort.

 

 

 

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The Death of America

America as the storybook lie is dying a horrible death. It’s like it is being strangulated over a 12 part multi season Netflix series. The America of fabricated dream is gasping horribly for air while losing control of its bowels as well. This is an awful but compelling show.

The rise and fall of the American empire in four hundred years is not much to brag about. It was devoted to the whore Progress, the modern god of corporate and industrial bliss. No god has been so elevated to have been so degraded, so quickly. She is a pathetic deity, a goddess of pocketbook change and twisted smile.

America was going to invent a New World based on genocide, slavery and indentured labor and call it Paradise. This is what we are clinging to: the American Dream as it bleeds into the American Nightmare.

The American story is about the abuse of Nature. It had its roots in England, but quickly surpassed its beginnings by extraordinary effort, which gave birth to the meme of Exceptionalism. America, as it turns out, was destined to do what no other nation could do: inaugurate the fag end of the Kali Yuga.

We have done something amazing! We have abused Nature with such rapacious extraction and infernal fire to generate capital like no one else. We are the armies of Mordor!

The volcanic orange fury of exalted greed has vomited the bipartisan Lord of Power, King Baby Trump, to bless us with his fuming diaper that will choke us to death.

 

 

 

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Beloved Archives Running A Con.

Nosh Anzar, shyster in chief at the archival and publishing enterprise dedicated to Avatar Meher Baba and based in NJ, has just announced he is auctioning off two dozen or so Baba artifacts, including a signed copy of God Speaks and a copy of Stay With God signed by both Baba and Francis Brabazon.

Anzar states in his online announcement that the upcoming auction is a fundraiser to purchase a bigger archival center. It is vitally important that Baba lovers not participate in this unethical attempt to yet again raise money for a project riddled with dishonesty. It would be aiding and abetting a dishonest project in Baba’s name to do so.

A central problem to this attempt to raise money for a bigger and better “House of the Beloved” is that it sets a precedent in the Baba archival world in monetizing priceless Baba artifacts. Another problem is that it violates the trust of the many donors to Beloved Archives that gifts in Baba’s name can be sold off to the highest bidder. A third problem is that Anzar has unethically obtained Baba artifacts and is now possibly liquidating them for cash. A case in point is the suitcase full of artifacts that Anzar wheedled from the feckless Peter Townsend of the erstwhile Baba centre, The Oceanic.

Delia de Leon gave in good faith to Townsend as the benefactor of The Oceanic many priceless Baba treasures including a signed copy of God Speaks and a copy of Stay With God signed by both Baba and Francis Brabazon. Are these the items now up for auction? Where are these items and the suitcase full of Baba treasures that Anzar so gleefully announced he had obtained to aggrandize his archival collection? Have they been returned to their rightful place, the UK London Baba Centre, or are they now up for sale?

This story is a shameless disgrace and a humiliation to the living memory of Avatar Meher Baba.

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