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The Shaw Family Collection
is an extensive family archive of rare correspondence regarding Avatar Meher Baba's early visits to the West, Sahavas programs in India, as well as letters about the formation of the Meher Spiritual Center. This short video is narrated by Darwin and Jeanne Shaw’s grand-daughter, Shari Keller. She tells the history of her family’s connection to Meher Baba, describing some of the treasures in this extensive collection of letters, cables, photographs, and original press clippings dating back decades. Darwin was a prolific note taker and the collection includes his hand-written notes which eventually became talks and books about Meher Baba. Jeanne and the Shaw children received treasured letters from Baba's closest women disciples, in which the familial warmth of Baba's love comes shining through. Meher Archive Collective has just begun the exciting work of sorting, categorizing, scanning, preserving and sharing this extensive collection. Baba's Grace is Always There
The touching letter shared in this video is from a close disciple of Meher Baba's to a woman going through a serious illness. On the subject of suffering Meher Baba said: "Nobody suffers in vain, for true freedom is spiritual freedom and suffering is a ladder towards it." Meher Archive Collective is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Meher Baba's legacy of materials, artifacts, and words for the benefit of humanity. Volunteer Work Days at Meher Archive Collective (MAC)
Volunteers come to do specific cleaning and sorting tasks, supporting the ongoing work crews that are renovating this 92 year old school building. Homemade chai and cheerful camaraderie are also on the checklist every volunteer day. Please contact us to join the next fun volunteer day. This Meher Archive Center building will house a Meher Baba library, community meeting room, offices, and work spaces for the ongoing archival work related to Avatar Meher Baba's life. Spaces will also be available for public rental. |
2021 Annual General Meeting
Meher Archive Collective’s annual general meeting was held on September 26, 2021. Updates were given highlighting building construction, financials, and committee activities. New board members and the archive coordinator were introduced. The keynote speaker was Peter Nordeen and a special video discussed the recent donation of the SHAW FAMILY COLLECTION. (See meeting timeline below.) Meher Archive Collective is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the materials, artifacts, and words associated with Meher Baba’s extraordinary life and work. Constructing the Vision Update
Take a tour of the Meher Archive Collective, highlighting the significant construction progress that was made in the last year, which includes much infrastructure work This 93-year-old solid school property is situated on 6 acres in western North Carolina. Meher Archive Collective is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the materials, artifacts, and words associated with Meher Baba’s extraordinary life and work. Phase 1: Constructing the Vision
This tour gives a short history of MAC and shows the renovation process that is taking place which will fulfill the potential of this wonderful building as a hub of Meher Baba activity. The MAC building features areas designated for MAC’s ongoing archival work related to Avatar Meher Baba's life, the New Life Library, Baba silent meditation room, a space for Volunteer activities, offices, community, reading, display rooms, a larger assembly room and spaces for public rental. |
The Importance of the Tangible, Physical Legacy of Avatar Meher Baba
Peter Nordeen
In no other avataric advent has the avatar left behind such a tangible legacy of His love. Besides the ultimate gift of His form, He has given humanity His messages, discourses, and words, and His close ones have recorded thousands of examples of His exemplary life and work. He has also given us precious treasures associated with the work He did while on earth, many times telling His disciples to keep them for the future.
Only Baba knows the true significance of any objects connected to Him. But as His lovers, we wholeheartedly appreciate the thoughtful, abundant legacy He has left us. In this talk, Peter Nordeen discusses this aspect of Baba's life and work, and then answers questions from online meeting attendees.
Total running time is 1 hour, 31 minutes, 14 seconds (01:31:14). Recorded August 9, 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Only Baba knows the true significance of any objects connected to Him. But as His lovers, we wholeheartedly appreciate the thoughtful, abundant legacy He has left us. In this talk, Peter Nordeen discusses this aspect of Baba's life and work, and then answers questions from online meeting attendees.
Total running time is 1 hour, 31 minutes, 14 seconds (01:31:14). Recorded August 9, 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Pilgrimage After the Time of the Mandali
Peter Nordeen
Peter Nordeen discusses his experience and understanding of pilgrimage to Meher Baba, as well as answering questions in exploration of Baba's life and work.
Total running time is 1 hour, 18 minutes, 12 seconds (01:18:12). Recorded August 9, 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Total running time is 1 hour, 18 minutes, 12 seconds (01:18:12). Recorded August 9, 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Circles of the Avatar
Peter Nordeen
Peter Nordeen, a long-time resident of Meherabad, India, discusses the significance of the Avatar's circle, how Baba works through them, and gives personal vignettes of the lives of Baba's close mandali members. Peter speaks about Meher Baba's Mandali — both men and women — and their significance in light of their relationship to the Avatar of the Age. As an historian of Meherabad, Meherazad, the Mandali, and Meher Baba's activities both in India and abroad, Peter has gathered stories directly from those who lived and worked with Meher Baba through the years. He has also gleaned facts, data and other information from archival records and other several other sources.
Total running time is 2 hours and 31 seconds (02:00:31). Recorded October 20, 2019 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Total running time is 2 hours and 31 seconds (02:00:31). Recorded October 20, 2019 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Eternal Ancient One
Peter Nordeen
Long-time resident of Meherabad, India, Peter Nordeen speaks about Meher Baba, the Eternal Ancient One; His Manifestation and other aspects of His Advent as the Avatar of this Age. As an historian of Meherabad, Meherazad, the Mandali, and Meher Baba's activities both in India and abroad, Peter has gathered stories directly from those who lived and worked with Meher Baba through the years as well as assembled facts, data and other material from archival records and many other sources.
Total running time is 1 hour, 22 minutes, 18 seconds (01:22:18). Recorded September 1, 2019 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
Total running time is 1 hour, 22 minutes, 18 seconds (01:22:18). Recorded September 1, 2019 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.