Conversations about Meher Baba
Different hosts, different topics, sometimes featured guests: but always about loving Meher Baba in the present tense. Conversations are held live on Baba Zoom at various times. If you want to join the conversation, visit babazoom.net for more information, login information is available under the ”Virtual Meetings” page.
Episodes

Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Jai Baba all,Peter and I are once again so excited and honored to be able to be apart of this incredible sharing of hearts. Thank you all for the Love and acceptance you showered us in last week. So as we all know, our Beloved is quite the trickster and always has something up His sleeve. He really did an amazing switch around this time. We were going to have the lovely Aaron Hemeon come on to share his experiences of life with Baba. The Avatar had different plans. Aaron came down with a cold and had to bow out. He is totally fine, but recovering and lost a bit of his voice. Nevertheless, in true Baba fashion, with this, came a completely new and inspiring scenario for this week's chat.We will be having a group of Youth Sahavasees come on and share their experience of Baba. Each of them will share their experience of the Youth Sahavas and with Baba in the world. We then want to give all of you and opportunity to ask them the questions you wish regarding being young in today's world while having a connection to the Beloved. Some of them have also expressed wanting to be able to ask you questions regarding your relationships with the Baba. We hope this can be a sharing of curiousity and Love on both sides. We are so excited and really feel this will be a continuation of last week's topic as well as an opportunity to bridge the gap of generations. Our hope is that we can all connect over what our hearts share, our Avatar Meher Baba.In His Love, Margi and PeterTo join the email list for Jeff's 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

Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Jai Baba all, Peter and I are so delighted and excited to be able to facilitate this chat. We both hold all of you so closely in our hearts so it is a real honor. Jeff leaves some big shoes to fill.We just want to start by saying Happy Baba’s New Life Day. Jeff really hoped we would have a conversation regarding the “young people’s” life in Baba. We thought what an amazing way to pay homage to Baba’s New Life. We truly feel that all of us are living the New Life everyday. But unlike many of you, we, the young people, don’t have 40 years with the Beloved under our belts, and very few of us have met the manadali. Everything that connects us to Baba comes from the heart connection He blessed us with. Baba said, “This New Life will live by itself eternally, even if there is no one there to live it.” It is deeply rooted in Him.We are called to forge our connections with Baba out in the world by making Him our constant companion. How do you do this in your life? We wholeheartedly feel there is no difference between the older and younger generation besides the period of time in which we were born. There is a supposed separation made between age groups, but we are living parallel paths. We are searching for a deeper oneness with Him within ourselves. Is this how Baba brings us all together? Is this separation actually there or is this us trying to keep Baba for ourselves?We, the young people, want to assure everyone in the older generation that we are as radical in our Love for Baba as you all were and still are. After all, He is the King of Hearts. Age is not an exception to that. The main differentiation is that everything we do in our relationships with Baba is new and uncharted, hence always living what I call to be the New Life. Is this how Baba’s New Life is meant to manifest? How does it manifest in yours?Do you feel the history is relevant or is Baba an ever present force that cannot be limited to the past of His life? Are we the continuation of the ever changing living legacy of Love? Many of us young ones were sent to the Youth Sahavas not necessarily seeking, and “stumbled” upon His Love. Is there an unsaid jealousy that we didn’t have to reach that point of desperation that you all did in your search? Most of us were dropped off at the Youth Sahavas against our will and glanced into our glowing reflections in the mirror of Love. Is there a feeling that we may not feel the same about Baba as the ones who longed for God consciously in this life because we were born into it, therefore it may not mean the same? Are we limiting ourselves from each other's insight and connection because we feel one’s love is greater than the other’s? We know both sides of the coin. The younger generation doesn’t feel heard because there is a notion put upon us questioning how we could know anything about spirituality if we are so “young”? Can God’s Love be limited to age or is an endless recurrence spread throughout lifetimes? We have heard the longing of the older generation to share their stories from a plethora of life experiences with the Beloved. Perhaps we are here to build the Rainbow Bridge. Can we bring our Love together to help each other get closer to Him? After all we are all one, we are all Him. Are we merely carrying out the dance of Maya by claiming that there is a separation? Are we only hindering the oneness we all crave by creating separation between ourselves? There is no age in the spiritual game. Is this separation inevitable? Should we just shatter this idea of separation between ages and all come together? After all, aren't we all determined to be His?In His Love,Margi and PeterTo join the email list for Jeff's 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

Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
A short post-arti - Jeff Wolverton speaking on Upasni, the Holocaust, and Seven Names of GodThis 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

Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic - The Masculine and Feminine in Us The terms masculine and feminine can easily evoke a gender conflict, but Baba asserts that both of these qualities are in each one of us. If our identification with the gender of our body is too strong, that is, if we identify as strictly male, then the feminine qualities in us get repressed. The same is true for the feminine. Baba says when both the masculine and feminine are fully developed in us, we are approaching Realization. What are the qualities associated with the masculine and feminine? Baba says broadly that the masculine in us "excels in qualities of head and will", and the feminine "in qualities of the heart". One who balances both qualities in himself or herself will have a more integrated experience of oneself. Speaking very simplistically, the masculine in us is generally considered assertive and goal-oriented, while the feminine is receptive and relationship-oriented. The masculine relies, in Baba’s words, on the mind with its “sound judgment", “steadfast purpose,” and willpower, the feminine on the heart with its feelings, empathy and intuitions; they are “capable of intense love,” “devotion" and “any sacrifice”. Paradoxically, it is possible for a woman to be very masculine and a man to be quite feminine. Neither gender has a monopoly on the masculine and feminine. How do these qualities play out in you? Have you seen Baba develop the qualities in you that are usually considered the opposite of your gender? Have you found that because of the outer stereotypical and cultural definitions and restrictions of gender, the process of balancing the masculine and feminine within has been more challenging and difficult? Due to pressure or even fear from society, sometimes our usual gender qualities may be repressed in us. An effort has to be made to balance these qualities within. While seeking this balance, Baba says in the case of a man, that he “tries to understand a woman, not through the eyes of the male, but through an imaginative reaching out toward what the woman feels herself to be, in her own personal experience.” The same is true for women. Over recent decades, there seem to be two concurrent paths: the traditional stereotypical male and female gender roles alongside growing trends of individual expression. In what ways do you see variations on the traditional stereotypes? What looks and behaviors would have been unheard of just a few decades ago? Could this in anyway be moving toward “balancing out the attributes” that Baba refers to? Could it be that the current questioning and expression of gender today is the soul's attempt to balance the masculine and feminine qualities within? Have you been affected adversely by the stereotypical definition of your gender? In what ways? How does the societal culture of your country play into the experience of your gender? Could Baba be making an invaluable DISTINCTION between MASCULINE and FEMININE attributes, rather than the more limiting MALE and FEMALE genders? In that case, is there more room for acceptable overlap—for example, a strong-minded take-charge woman, or a shy devotional man? Haven't we already begun loosening the ways we see others? What role does detachment from gender play in balancing out our inner nature?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

Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic Cheerfulness in stressful times Baba has said, “Be cheerful in word and deed and in appearance. Most of all in appearance. It helps others.”Jesus has said, “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”Again, great help from a dear friend of mine. Bal Natu, one of the mandali, was fond of reminding those of us over-earnest ones that Baba wants us to ENJOY. Bal remained cheerful in spite of being almost continuously in poor health. Don't worry, be happy! Everyone agrees that this is Baba’s message. Those words are beautiful and re-assuring, but the only thing is, what do we do when faced with challenges that exceed our capacities: the unexpected death of a child or significant other; watching helplesslessly as a loved one suffers a drawn-out painful illness; the inability to support your family; having others unfairly turn on you; failing to live up to your ideals; being misunderstood; feeling a nameless anxiety; even just feeling bereft and without energy, for no clear reason. Is there a difference between happiness and joy? Is one deeper in the heart than the other? Is it possible to feel joy no matter what disturbing external or internal situation we face?How do we live and remain detached? Will others mistake you for being callous if they see you being cheerful in the face of adversity?Do you have a go-to way to express the "cheerfulness" that Baba calls for?How do you balance being honest about what you're going through with wanting to fulfill Baba's request to remain cheerful at all times?Isn't it being hypocritical to appear one way when your heart isn't in it?Do you ever feel resentful with what you feel Baba is putting you through?Is it okay to "fake it ‘til you make it?" Does that even work? What's your experience?How do you respond when seeing what you feel is the phoniness of someone always wearing a relentless smile?They say that helping someone else will do the trick. Tell us if that usually works for you.How hard is it not to give into moodiness when focusing on disturbing issues?If remembering Baba is your method of dealing with difficulties and crises, what do you do if it just doesn’t work?Eruch used to talk about not ACTING cheerful, but BEING cheerful. What does that mean?In His love, JeffThis 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

Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic: The Voice of Intuition Baba has said, “... I am never silent. I speak eternally. The voice that is heard deep within the soul is my voice — the voice of inspiration, of intuition, of guidance. Through those who are receptive to this voice, I speak." Many who have come to the Center over the years have shared communications from Baba, whether verbal or non-verbal, at critical moments in their lives, at moments of deep need and helplessness, and through His communications, help has come in facing the most difficult situations. Communications can come as a flash of insight that conveys an answer to a very complex situation. It can come as a deep and clear feeling within from Baba that indicates a direction to go when facing critical crossroads in our life, leading to a turning point that gives us courage when we need it most. After months of profound confusion, an integrating flash of resolution arrives in a moment. It may come unbidden or sometimes when we are calling out to Him in desperation. It can come as a unexpected confidence that has made it possible to stride forth in the face of a precarious situation. It might come as an intuition that alerts us to an impending danger: we might be entering a dangerous neighborhood or encountering a person who might not have our best interests in mind. It might come through another person, or even through a seemingly random sign in our physical environment. Baba has said that intuition is always 100 percent correct, but accessing our intuition is our great challenge. Intuitions have to be carefully and persistently distinguished from mental projections and the outspoken deliverances of the mind. Many have ways of accessing intuition and guidance from Baba that they have developed over the years, which they rely on religiously. Perhaps some of you would share those with us. It would be so helpful and instructive for all of us to hear from you your own experiences with intuition and guidance from Baba, how His timely interventions have made an immense difference at various times in your life. Your examples might have been life-changing or even life-saving, or just aids and assistance in everyday situations. All of these experiences are tangible evidence that Baba is ever aware of us in all the situations of our life. His timely guidance and intervention, as truly helpful as they have been, are most invaluable in that they create an intimacy and companionship with Him that is priceless and ever re-assuring, and His interventions inspire us to listen for His voice in our lives all the more! 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

Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic: Intimations of BabaThis topic was the suggestion of two dear friends of mine, and they have helped in framing it: Were there hints in your earlier life that foreshadowed your coming one day to Baba?As a child, did you ever experience something so unique that there was no logical explanation for it, so you just kept it to yourself; and years later it dawned on you that Baba had His hands in it?Are you familiar with the quote: "Coincidences are God's way of performing miracles anonymously”, that some of the events in your life were not just random but were orchestrated by some unseen presence?Is it possible that you might even have a memory of Baba Himself actually appearing in your earlier life in some way, in dreams, visions or in messages?Did you have, as some have felt, a conviction that Jesus was actually in the world again, and wondered how that could be?Did you have premonitions of things that eventually came to pass, and which at the time you accepted as normal—until you became aware of Baba?Have you observed people who impressed you as having some special gift, and now you wonder if or how they might have been connected to Baba?Do you feel that Baba had inserted little personal touches in your life that only you seemed to resonate with, and that helped you to keep going in spite of all difficulties?As a child, did you sense God’s presence sometimes, even feel watched by Him, and wonder if you might one day receive a more tangible communication with Him? Did you have a sense of having a "blessed destiny", a future that was not reflected in your usual experience and understanding of life?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

Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
We have some informal chat after every arti, the "post-arti party"! But twice a week, Jeff Wolverton joins us for some serious mining of the spiritual depths. Join us for spontaneous chat, more readings, songs, quotes, you never know what treasures will be uncovered! Topic: Persistent sanskarasDear folks of Baba, Many guests who come to the Center here in Myrtle Beach from places where there are no other Baba lovers are surprised to hear from other guests that they share many of the same persistent problems. They are even relieved sometimes to learn that they are not the only ones seemingly singled out by the universe to struggle with particular issues. Is there some area of your life in which you feel stuck no matter how or what you’ve tried to change it? Most of us have had to face in ourselves some complex that seems to persist in spite of all of our efforts to eradicate it. And this, in spite of giving the complex to Baba repeatedly. Are there examples of these issues that you have experienced, and have you had any breakthroughs that have finally freed you from such complexes? It might be something you're fully aware of as an obstacle. Something you know needs fixing. Or, maybe it's so subtle that it's hard to pinpoint—even though you may have your suspicions. Here are some examples of persistent complexes that can last for decades: Do you find that you're often annoyed at the slightest thing someone does—it might even be one person that you're routinely critical of? Or you find that you’re never able to live up to your ideals; no matter how hard you try, it feels like you're never enough? Do you have a fear of public speaking that has dogged you your whole life, and it never seems to get better? Do you get irritated, in general, maybe impatient, when you think others are not living up to your standards? Do you frequently procrastinate, putting off things that need to be done and then have to force yourself to carry out your responsibilities? Do you find that you never have enough time to catch up with a backlog of things to do, a frequent feeling of overload: you have too many projects ongoing but none fully completed? Have you gotten in the habit of adding on projects without quite wrapping up old ones? Are you an easy touch? Do you have trouble saying No? You find that people take advantage of you, and so you keep a distance from others? Do you often feel inferior around others, inadequate, or come away feeling that you might be unlikeable? Do you often react adversely when you’re around authority figures, especially when they pull rank on you or you don’t feel they are very loving? Do you frequently regret what you have said when talking to others and later find yourself re-living the conversations? Do you have difficulty in trusting others, believing that they are not really honest with how they express their feelings toward you, or you feel that they don’t have your best interests at heart? Do you find that your place is always a mess, even after asking Baba repeatedly for help? Do you just chalk it up to your own personal "style," no longer trying to do anything to change your habits? Any success stories after decades of struggle with some persistent complex? How did you finally rise above it? Or maybe you’ve just learned to live with your complex or issue and not pay it much mind, like not being good at certain sports. Is it a relief to hear that others also have persistent problems that continue for decades?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

Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Topic: Mahoo Shahriari’s India tripDear folks of Baba, This Sunday we have as our guest Mahoo Shahriari from the Los Angeles group in California. She came to Baba in the mid-1990s after a long time in her quest for God. She had the good fortune to spend many years with Adele Wolkin serving the Los Angeles Baba center. It was Filis Frederick and Adele who were the founders and pillars of the center there that drew a host of young people to Baba in the late 1960s and 70s. Mahoo has worked at the Center for over two decades, serving in various capacities such as president, bookwala, finance and program director. Many of us have had our pilgrimages to Meherabad and Meherazad postponed for years due to the pandemic. Mahoo recently had the good fortune to visit India after four years, and she has many memories and newly taken photographs of Baba’s beloved Meherabad and Meherazad that will transport those of us who have missed being on Baba's sacred ground of India. I am hoping if there is time that Mahoo will share some of her story of coming to Baba, which began in Iran and brought her to this country.In His love, JeffThis 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

Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Jeff Wolverton shares -The Mumbai group has asked me to share with them on the topic below: the Inner Journey —from head to heart to Soul —as gathered from Baba’s Mandali.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







