Q&A - Avatar Meher Baba's life and work - Ward Parks and Peter NordeenWard Parks and Peter Nordeen have closely contemplated Meher Baba's life and work for over fifty years. Ward is the editor of 'Creation and its Causes', a remarkable collection of early lectures by Meher Baba. Peter is the writer and producer of the biographical documentary, "God in Human Form - the life and work of Avatar Meher Baba." This invigorating, informative session was hosted in Asheville, NC, on July 22, 2023. The event was shared live on Baba zoom, and was recorded for Meher Archive Collective's oral history archive.
Master of Time - Daily Operations
This video features a very detailed 1948 letter from Elizabeth Patterson to Darwin Shaw about the development of the Meher Spiritual Center. This thorough letter of instructions about tasks to be done and daily operations, gives a flavor of the disciplined and natural qualities of Meher Baba’s close followers and their dedication to His cause. Meher Archive Collective is currently sorting and preserving the "Shaw Family Collection". Some of the most exciting treasures of this collection are the many letters which Elizabeth wrote to Darwin about the development of the Meher Spiritual Center. We look forward to cross referencing these exceptional written materials with other worldwide Meher Baba archive collections in the future. Video by Debbie Nordeen, narrated by Diana Goodheart and Renee Bussanich, music by David Stevenson and Karl Moeller 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. 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. |
Hurricane Helene was a once in a 1000-year storm that ravaged beautiful Western North Carolina on September 29, 2024. But Meher Archive Collective's 100-year-old building has stood the test of time, unscathed by the hurricane. The building and location were chosen for its higher elevation and solid construction. A 'Phase One' update is given by MAC renovation supervisor, Peter Nordeen. 'Phase One' includes the completion of all the Meher Archive work spaces in the MAC wing on the 2nd floor of the building. After 6 years of carefully preparing archive and work spaces in this substantial brick building, we are looking forward to moving in as soon as possible. Soon it will be bustling with the important work of preserving, archiving, and sharing Avatar Meher Baba’s exceptional life and work.
Renovations continue at the old school which is becoming the home of Meher Archive Collective. Take this video tour to see the amazing progress that's been made. Meher Archive Collective (MAC) is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing materials, artifacts, and writings about Avatar Meher Baba's 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. 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. |
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Pilgrimage After the Time of the Mandali
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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. |
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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. |
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Eternal Ancient One
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