MAC Bulletin #3

MAC Picnic on May 4th

On May 4th, we hosted a picnic lunch at the site of the new Meher Archive building. The intention was to have a nice outdoor picnic on the soccer field, but the weather did not cooperate so we set up the auditorium with tables and chairs. Despite the fact that the whole building is under various stages of construction (and deconstruction), we had a lovely time and good food.

Some people who had never seen what MAC has been up to left comments about their impressions of the property and endeavor to make a multi-purpose center dedicated to Meher Baba in Asheville, NC.

Here are some of the sweet notes we received:

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“What daring of the Asheville Baba family to take on such a wonderful project as acquiring the Red Oak School. The loving endeavors of you all, combined with the potential of the site will, with Baba’s grace, bloom into a Baba Center that will lack for nothing.
Jai Meher Baba!”

• - Bernard Bruford, Woombeye, Australia
  

“A beautiful setting for many different types of gatherings, as well as spaces for quiet individual reflection. Great that you have also the area for outdoor activities. We are in awe of the work that has already been done, as well as the future vision. The caretakers’ cottage is lovely. Also I enjoyed seeing an old style American school!
Hallelujah!”

• - Jo Anne Bruford, Woombeye, Australia
  

Future Baba Room

“It was a blustery day, punctuated with burst of driving rain and hail. I wasn’t entirely sure I could make it to the Red Oak School, or should even try, given the treacherous conditions—but I knew how much love had been poured into creating a communal and archival space for Baba and his community in the West, and I couldn’t bear to let the opportunity pass by to see how things were progressing. “Baba,” I said, “if you want me to be there to support my community, I need you to make it safe enough for me to drive up there and back. Despite the great swaths of green, yellow, and red on the radar, the hail let up, and a quiet blanket of clouds settled just above the treetops. “You always get your way, Baba,” I thought with a gentle smile.

“I expected the sprawling red brick of the school, nestled in among the dense foliage of the Appalachian Mountains in the late spring; I also anticipated the dramatic renovations taking place, and the fastidious tidying that had consumed so much time and energy during the last week for a number of people in our community. What I did not expect— couldn’t have expected on this, my first trip to the red Oak School / MAC—was the overpowering impression that rushed over me the second I turned up the access road. It was as if the present moment was suddenly overlaid with the first moment I turned up the access road to Meherazad, on my trip to Baba’s home in the East. The two moments and the two places were, for a few brief moments, the same: the shady dirt road, of course, embraced on either side by lush green foliage, but even more importantly, a feeling of profound excitement, a feeling of coming home, and the unmistakable impression of Baba’s presence pouring through everything, like sunlight through the rising mist.

“As I walked through the MAC building, I was awestruck by the passion and vision of the people charged with its evolution and care, and a powerful sense that Baba had already taken full ownership of the MAC building—that He had fully accepted the tremendous gift given to him by His lovers, and made it deeply and completely His own. From the archival rooms to the the performance space, from the meeting room to the quiet meditation room, I felt Baba working through these people and the community that supports them to create a home for His lovers everywhere, a place where they could find Him, learn more about Him, and draw deeply from the well of His divine love. What a remarkable gift He is giving us all through the work of creating His Home right here!”

• - Hunter Flournoy, Asheville, NC

Future Meeting Room

“We were lucky enough to tour the space at end-of-August 2018, and then again last week. We were amazed at the incredible amount of work that had been done in such a short time—in demolition as well as in the various stages of renovation. So much thought and care (and love) have already gone into the planning and purposing of each space, both in and outside of the building. Planning is apparently being projected in centuries, and not merely decades...and that stopped us both in our tracks. May our footsteps all manage to retrace the way back!”

“We also greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet and greet the greater Asheville Baba community at the picnic.  it was a truly wonderful and Baba-full day for both of us.”

• - Paul and Shelly Steiner

“What a wonderful Baba-communion we had at the "picnic in the gym" at Red Oak School! It’s simply amazing to be out there in that building, to see
the steady progress being made, and dream about what great things Baba
might have in store for it.”

• - Michael Ivey, Asheville, NC

Future Archival Room

“I am so glad I drove up for the picnic at Red Oak School. It was great seeing our new Baba Archival building for the first time, and being with our Australian guests, Bernard and Jo-Anne Bruford, who were  there also. It was awesome to see how much has been accomplished. While talking about the future of this Archival site with another “guest," suddenly I saw ephemerally before me lots of people moving about in the auditorium of this wonderful building. From the first time I heard about Red Oak School at the Southeast Gathering in 2018 knew it would serve us all for ages to come.

“Thank you to those who have donated so much to make this happen, both financially and physically (Mastery in Action). It was awesome seeing how much has been cleared out, but also daunting to see what needs to be done. The work and financial opportunity to contribute to safeguarding Baba's treasures and making information available will be an on-going collaborative project for years to come.I feel fortunate to be part of it now, at the beginning. It is exciting.

“I think of all the peoples of all the Ancient One's Advents, coming now, centuries later, by the millions, to all the places associated with Him. With what is planned for and possible with this building, it will be well and thoroughly used.”

• - Cheryl Garnant,  Myrtle Beach, SC

“What a fun and relaxed time was had at the Community Picnic at Red Oaks School! Seeing the progress of the renovations, how many hands and hours have gone into the work, as well as, the many uses of the building was inspirational and motivating. Wow!!! The vision is manifesting!”

• - Deborah Burns, Asheville, NC

“I hadn't been out to the school for a few weeks and was surprised to see how much
has been accomplished since my last visit. A huge amount of effort must have been
expended for so much progress. And now, more than ever, the potential of this en-
deavor is becoming apparent—the eventual transformation of an 90-year-old school
into a first class Universal Meher Baba Center!”

• - Phil Ludwig, Asheville, NC

“Just recently a picnic was held at the MAC building. The work crew spent time organizing the building materials and cleaning up the space to make it ready for guests. In addition, a few rooms were staged to provide a sense of how they might look and be used in the future.

“The gym was set up with tables, chairs, pictures of Baba, flowers and food. With the black plastic removed from the windows the space was infused with natural light even on a cloudy day. For me it was delightful eating lunch with friends in a space that belongs to Baba and His lovers.

“The MAC board members took small groups of us on tours of the building. It was exciting to observe the amount of work that has already been accomplished in creating a sound structure. On the tour my group was taken into a room designated as a quiet meditation space. It had been decorated with a chair holding a large portrait of our beautiful Baba with spectacular bouquets of flowers standing along side. Baba books, paintings and photographs adorned the shelves and two upholstered armchairs were placed so that one could sit and reflect in Baba's love. The space was filled with His love. It reminded me of my experience in the Lagoon Cabin at the Center in Myrtle Beach.

“I have nothing but gratitude for those who work daily on creating a space in which we can share our love with each other and with new devotees.”

• - Debby Blackman, Asheville, NC

“I have been to the MAC building several times in this past year, helping with cleanup projects. When i entered the gym on the day of the picnic, I was struck with the sense that this place would never be the same again. The simple physical appearance of tables with white cloths, each with a centerpiece, signaled a shift in energy—a new phase, a promise of what is to come. What our collective efforts can and will do.”

• - Irma Sheppard, Asheville, NC

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FINDS FROM THE ARCHIVE

As Baba Lovers celebrate the 50th reunion of the 1969 "Last Darshan", here is a recent find from Neala Haze's photo archive. This is Guru Prasad in Poona, India during the second (Myrtle Beach) group.  If you look closely you can see Mani on the roof, filming.

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Do you feel inspired to join us at MAC?  Whether you live locally and have a few hours to spare, regularly or ad hoc, or you’re visiting Asheville for a week or two and would like to hang out with us for a couple of hours - there’s bound to be something you can do to help, and you’re always welcome!
If you’re currently without free time or you live far away, perhaps you’re in a position to support us financially?  if you would like to find out more please go to the “donations” page on our website here. Otherwise feel free to contact us here.
Thank you - your help and support is appreciated!