Conversations about Meher Baba

Late Night Chat with Margi Connor & Peter Goodman: Sharing, April 13, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

Late night chat centered around our Beloved. A sharing of hearts led by Margi Connor and Peter Goodman.Jai Baba, family!In the last few weeks, we have had some intense, but engaging topics that have led to incredible discussion. Your insights bring so much to each chat, and I am so grateful. I thought having a lighter chat focus for this week would be nice. This week will just be a sharing of hearts to entertain Baba. You can share anything you would like. Anything from a song, story, experience, dream, or poem is welcome. I am so excited to be able to share in all that you bring. Talk to you soon.In His Love,Margi and PeterTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, please contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Jeff Wolverton: Effort and Grace, April 9, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But once a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for conversation, more readings, songs, quotes - you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Dear folks of Baba, This Sunday we will again explore Darwin Shaw’s book, Effort and Grace, which is an in-depth inquiry into the inner life with Baba. It describes one of the major approaches to Baba by one who was devoted to Him for over 70 years, which culminated in a glorious intimacy with Him. Darwin was always so encouraging and optimistic in what we can do to open up to Baba’s immediate loving presence. He asserts that many of the blocks to this intimacy can be removed by our efforts and by inviting Baba’s ongoing intervention and grace. We left off on page 23 with the section, “Coloring of our Thoughts,” in the chapter, Our Veil-Making Machine. Darwin often talked about how the contents of our subconscious minds (where the impressions of our past lives are stored) distort our conscious lives with hidden impelling feelings and desires. The layers of subconscious impressions block the rays of Baba’s sun from fully illuminating our conscious awareness. If in our past life, for example, we were persecuted for our religious beliefs, we might be closed to pursuing the spiritual dimension in this life. Many misconceptions persist because their roots are in the subconscious, and much of our spiritual effort has to do with becoming conscious and freeing ourselves of our subconscious. Darwin describes Baba as the benevolent Master, urging and guiding us in how to face these subconscious limitations. Each session evokes invaluable discussion that does not require having attended the previous sessions; each section stands alone and provides a window into the inner life of the lover/Beloved relationship and is virtually independent, like facets of one diamond—Baba. For those who do not have a copy of the book, below is an attachment for following along:https://issuu.com/ompoint/docs/shaw_effort_graceTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

All About Nowruz: Persian New Year, April 8, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

A presentation by Roxy about Persian New Year. Followed by poetry. Participants were invited welcome to share after.This event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Margi Connor & Peter Goodman: Self-criticism, April 6, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

Late night chat centered around our Beloved. A sharing of hearts led by Margi Connor and Peter Goodman.Jai Baba!The topic for tonight is self-criticism. I know for so many of us it is what holds us back from truly seeing how much Baba loves us. I think many of us often attribute the voice of our inner critics to Him. Have you been plagued by this voice throughout your life? Have you been able to come to a place that allows you to pay less attention to it?I believe self-criticism is what stops us from being truly connected to and accepting ourselves. We tend to aim toward self-improvement without acceptance of where we are in the moment. Often we are never able to see how far we have come because our voice of criticism is telling us we still aren't good enough. Remembering that Baba appreciates all the efforts we make and knows every slip we will have along the way can allow us to start to have more compassion for ourselves. I imagine it must hurt Him so much to see us be so mean to ourselves. Go back to a time you witnessed someone you loved deeply being extremely hard on themselves. Didn't it break your heart? Baba loves us even more than we love that person so imagine how much pain it must cause Him.Baba wants us to be loving and accepting of others, but how can we do that when we speak to ourselves in a critical manner? I know in my life, I really started to address my self-critical ways when I realized how much it was affecting my relationship with others. As much as I tried to be loving and accepting of others, that voice of criticism would bubble up and be directed toward them. Acceptance of others starts within. We have to learn to accept ourselves wholeheartedly so that we can live how Baba asked us to. Isn't that the least we can do for Him? He suffered so much for us and all He wanted was for us to love each other and think of Him. Can we learn to accept ourselves in order to do that for Him?I mentioned self-acceptance in the subject of this email because I feel it goes hand in hand with self-criticism. For many of us, that voice doesn't just "go away", but we can learn to accept it and pay less attention to it. There can be another critical cycle that happens when we decide we want to be less critical, which is that we criticize ourselves for being critical, again not being accepting of exactly where we are. Is it possible to hear that critical voice, surrender it to Him, and create a new voice that is louder? Can we talk to ourselves in a loving way? Is it possible to even reimagine how Baba talks to us-like we are the most beautiful children who matter so much to Him? Is it possible to learn to accept ourselves in all states knowing that Baba will bring "self-improvement" when He deems it necessary? Won't doing this allow us to feel closer, more accepting, and more loving of our fellow humans, knowing they are dealing with all the difficulties that we are?These are just a few questions to prompt the conversation tonight. I am so looking forward to hearing how all of you have navigated this tribulation. In His Love, Margi and Peter To join the email list for Late Night Chats, please contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Jeff Wolverton: Blind Spots, April 2, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But once a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for conversation, more readings, songs, quotes - you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic: Blind SpotsDear folks of Baba, We're all familiar with how easy it is to notice the blind spots in others, their weaknesses and shortcomings, but what about those in ourselves that we fail to see? How open are we to seeing our own blind spots? Of course, there are some who are inclined to always see faults in themselves—to a fault. But the ultimate purpose is not becoming more “perfect” but more self-aware in order to remove the obstructions to the flow of our love. Because of Baba in our lives, many of us have learned to be more self-aware. He has gone to great lengths in His discourses to describe many of the subtle manifestations of the ego, helping us examine ourselves more deeply: all the many forms of our selfishness, ambition, position, possessiveness, etc. Of course, there are some who are inclined to always see faults in themselves—to a fault. What things that Baba has said have helped you this way? Others could benefit from how you access these trouble spots. We often become aware of our weaknesses inadvertently by being confronted in conversations with friends and associates, spouses and relatives. How do you react if others are accusatory in their comments? Children, too, have a knack of blurting out their simple observations, which to adults can be devastating. Have you had similar experiences? Chances are that initially you're caught up short, resisting recognizing any flaws that are exposed. Things get awkward, as you find yourself in denial mode: "I don't always react defensively--I just like to clarify things, right?" What does it take for you to accept the plausabiltiy of their observations? A bit of time for it to sink in? What else? Does your trust in others play a part in how easily you accept their feedback? Subtleties inhibit understanding. You say to yourself, "Well, I'm not always doing/saying/thinking that. Or, "My behavior wasn't really so terrible, was it?" How can we see through these self-justifying thoughts, to recognize our self-delusion? More to consider: reacting judgmentally; inwardly feeling superior or proud; holding grudges. What ones come to your mind? How deeply should we delve into our shortcomings? Might we get mired in them, self-focused instead of being focused on remembering Baba? The ego gets to remain on center stage. Baba seemed to have left some of the mandali "in the rough", leaving their flaws untouched, perhaps as it would have taken away from their colorful personalities. Aloba, Baidul and Dr. Deshmukh come to mind. Have you ever tried enlisting the help of a friend by asking, "What do you think my worst habit is? I really want to know." If their response was less than direct, did they feel put on the spot, caught off guard? Or, did they want to protect your feelings? Is there a good way to get people who know you to give their honest assessment? Even when so-called blind spots might have been revealed to us, and we believe that we’ve worked on them them (a mighty task, breaking a habit), a sort of secondary situation can occur: when a blind spot mutates, disguising itself as a strength, do we think: "Sure, being judgmental used to be my style; now I'm careful only to be discriminating in my opinions." Or, "It's not feeling superior, I'm only feeling sorry for them." And, "I'm aware of grudges; but I've got to be sure I don't let myself be hurt again." Do you have any thoughts on this? When someone sincerely asks for feedback about their faults and shortcomings, how do you approach this question? How do we become and stay self-aware? I’m reminded of this well-known prayer, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; taking this world as it is and not as I would have it…"With invaluable help from dear friends, in His love, JeffTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Margi Connor & Peter Goodman: Attachments, March 30, 2023, on Baba Zoom

Late night chat centered around our Beloved. A sharing of hearts led by Margi Connor and Peter Goodman.Jai Baba!I would love to dive into the topic of attachments this week. We all have different sanskaras that lead us to have different experiences and perceptions of our life. Although we are attached to different people, places, or things, we all have one in common. That is the attachment to ourselves and who we think we are. Throughout our lives with Baba, He unwinds our attachment to different things. He often takes things from us that we have hinged our reality on to remind us that He is the only Reality. I have often thought of this analogy when it comes to life with Baba. It is as if He gives us a white board and tells us to draw the most beautiful picture we can possibly create. Once the picture is finished and we are so proud of the product, He takes His hand and wipes it all off, saying, "Okay, now do it again." Often we are left heartbroken, pleading with Him to bring it back, and complaining to Him how we poured our heart into it.I feel this is how He breaks down our attachment to the lives we create. We have to keep drawing a more and more beautiful picture each time, without getting attached to the final picture. We have to do it for Him, and if it is for Him, He has every right to wipe the board clean whenever He likes. In theory, this is easy, but sometimes we can't quite shake the attachments we have to things. Have you struggled with this?Baba, afterall, is the creator and destroyer of attachments. Doesn't He have the power to give and take away all your desire for things? Sometimes it feels as if He uses our extreme attachments to things to do our work. For example, if you are someone who is attached to the idea of being successful, wouldn't that allow Baba to use your resources for His work later on? Of course, it is our job to give everything to Baba, but don't we have to trust that He will take things in His timing? Perhaps, He needs that attachment, you can't quite shake. Recently, I have tried to get to a place of self acceptance with the attachments I have. I have gotten into the habit of saying, "Baba, I have an attachment to this, if it is your Wish, will you remove it?" I feel this gives me the surrenderance and trust that if I do feel an attachment to something it is because He wants me to follow it for His work. Have your attachments ever served Baba in ways you couldn't imagine? Did He take something away, just in His "delayed" timing?I can't wait to see where this chat goes!In His Love, Margi and PeterTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, please contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Jeff Wolverton: Effort and Grace, March 26, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But once a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for conversation, more readings, songs, quotes - you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic: Delving into Effort and GraceDear folks of Baba, This Sunday we will again explore Darwin Shaw’s book, Effort and Grace, which is an in-depth inquiry into the inner life with Baba. It describes one of the major approaches to Baba by one who was devoted to Him for over 70 years, which culminated in a glorious intimacy with Him. Darwin was always so encouraging and optimistic in what we can do to open up to Baba’s immediate loving presence. He asserts that many of the blocks to this intimacy can be removed by our efforts and by inviting Baba’s ongoing intervention and grace. This Sunday we continue with the chapter, Our Veil-Making Machine, beginning on page 22. Darwin, with his insights gathered from Baba, explores some of the major misconceptions that have their source in our subconscious and percolate often invisibly into our conscious daily life: we think of ourselves as only the physical body and project that onto Baba who is timeless and beyond the physical body; we think of this creation as real and block our access to the realm of the spirit which is our true identity; we believe to be true what our minds and emotions tell us and are grossly misled; most of us only intermittently access our intuition to guide us, which is the very faculty Baba says is always 100 percent correct! We often try to explain our world in terms of stereotypes and concepts rather than seeing things as they are. Clearing up these illusions with Baba’s guidance is the secret joy of this life and brings us so much closer to Him. Each session evokes invaluable discussion that does not require having attended the previous sessions; each section stands alone and provides a window into the inner life of the lover/Beloved relationship and is virtually independent, like facets of one diamond—Baba. For those who do not have a copy of the book, below is an attachment for following along:https://issuu.com/ompoint/docs/shaw_effort_graceTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Margi Connor & Peter Goodman: Anger toward Baba, March 23, 2023, on Baba Zoom

Late night chat centered around our Beloved. A sharing of hearts led by Margi Connor and Peter Goodman.Jai Baba!This week I would love to delve into the concept of being angry at Baba. This is such a tricky subject. He says that He wants our anger, but it can feel so disarming to be angry with your Beloved. I know in my experience being angry at Baba unhinges my whole world. When we are angry, we usually tend to turn away from someone, but how can we turn away from Him?In my life with Baba, I have been so angry with Him at times that I don't want to remember Him or even look at His picture. Have you ever had that experience before? How did He resolve it? Did you still try to remember Him?Perhaps that is the way He forces us to feel our feelings. I know personally I really don't like to feel angry. I try to avoid it at all costs, but when I am angry at Him it seems as if I have to actually experience the emotion to clear it and once again, feel close to Him. Does Baba exploit our Love for Him in that way? He knows we are only able to avoid Him for so long. Does He know that anger is such that if not felt and released then it creates havoc inside of us? Do you feel He makes us angry at Him so that we cannot avoid feeling it?Piggybacking on the topic from last week, shame, these two go hand in hand. Baba says lust, anger, and greed are Maya's game, so perhaps we try to deny our experience of them entirely. Do we suppress our anger because it makes us feel unlovable, and if we direct it towards Him maybe He will think less of us? I can only speak from the lens of my experience, and this has often been the case for me. Finally, when I do truly blow up at Baba, He accepts me in my anger with a loving embrace. He knows that we are not that anger, but the Divine Reality after all. It is just something we have to let go off to really be ourselves, so in His Grace He takes the brunt of it.I can't wait to hear how you have experienced and navigated this on your journey of getting closer to Him.In His Love,Margi and PeterTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, please contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Jeff Wolverton: Effort and Grace, March 19, 2023, live on Baba Zoom

We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But once a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for conversation, more readings, songs, quotes - you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic: Delving into Effort and GraceDear folks of Baba, This Sunday and next Sunday we will again explore Darwin Shaw’s book, Effort and Grace, which is an in-depth inquiry into the inner life with Baba. It describes one of the major approaches to Baba by one who was devoted to Him for over 70 years, which culminated in a glorious intimacy with Him. Darwin was always so encouraging and optimistic in what we can do to open up to Baba’s immediate loving presence. He asserts that many of the blocks to this intimacy can be removed by our efforts and by inviting Baba’s ongoing intervention and grace. In this session, we continue from page 18 in the chapter on “Our Veil-Making Machine.” Here Darwin explores several of the illusions we buy into that usually go unexamined in our lives. Most of us pursue desires and wants as a matter of course, little realizing how limiting they are to our inner freedom. We tend to project the disapproval we experience from the people in our lives on to Baba, thereby limiting His unconditional love. We take it as a fundamental fact that we are all separate from each other, and that there is no essential unity underlying all life. These are just some of the illusions Darwin delves into in this chapter. Each session evokes invaluable discussion that does not require having attended the previous sessions; each section stands alone and provides a window into the inner life of the lover/Beloved relationship and is virtually independent, like facets of one diamond—Baba. For those who do not have a copy of the book, below is an attachment for following along:https://issuu.com/ompoint/docs/shaw_effort_graceTo join the email list for Late Night Chats, contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily

Late Night Chat with Margi Connor & Peter Goodman: Shame, March 16, 2023, on Baba Zoom

Late night chat centered around our Beloved. A sharing of hearts led by Margi Connor and Peter Goodman.Jai Baba all!I wanted to start with these two quotes from Baba to set the stage for this topic."There is no creature which is not destined for the supreme goal, as there is no river which is not winding its way towards the sea.""Why worry? I love you as you are."I wanted to start off with these quotes because I believe so much shame in us comes when we forget these two truths. Baba loves us for exactly who we are, all of imperfections and shortcomings included.Shame is a very strange emotion that bubbles up in a spiritual life. In some ways, it can subtly guide you if you don't attach to it, but can also cripple you entirely. I feel many of us can get stuck on the idea of "doing what is right" or "doing what we should" rather than what our hearts are longing for. Many times what the heart craves is not what is "right" or the norm. Has following your heart ever led you astray? Have you done something that felt like the "bad" thing to do, but ended up working out for your Divine benefit?We often attribute the voice of our inner critic to Baba, which can cause us to forget that He loves us conditionally. It is very hard for the mind to accept Him as both-all accepting, but also that fatherly voice pushing us to do better. I know for myself, I swing on the pendulum of Baba loves me so much and Baba must be so disappointed in me. Is this something you have had a similar struggle with? Is it possible that He does play both roles, but perfectly? After all He is everything, so isn't that disappointment an aspect of Him? Or do you think that perhaps the disappointment is a complete facet of the mind? I love these two quotes because they really do take the power away from that voice of criticism. As lovers of Baba, we often feel a longing and pressure to do everything we can to be close to Him. This is wonderful, but when we inevitably fumble we can be so hard on ourselves, forgetting that even that is His Divine wish. The first quote in particular is so helpful because sometimes I find myself thinking about how badly I've screwed up and now I won't ever get to Him. It is a beautiful reminder that the perfection we seek is waiting for us, just in His timing and Grace.How do you manage the difficult balance of always doing your best, but not letting shame and criticism run your inner world? Is it possible to do your best and it not be what we think is "right", but rather what He has planned?I can't wait to hear all your experiences.In His Love,Margi and Peter To join the email list for Late Night Chats, please contact AngelaThis event was recorded live. To be first to be notified of a new video on this channel, please hit the red subscribe button, then the notifications bell. To join future live events, see www.babazoom.net. Please join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/meherbabafamily