India
Ellora Cave...these caves and there are many were carved into the mountain as far back as 600 AD through and until about 1300 A.D. by the Buddhist and Jains
Inside one of the caves
In this place, Baba ended the New Life journey. We found it abandoned and so we went in
Gaelyn, Jay and Simon going in...Jay leading the way.
I think this is the Shrine of Sai Baba's master.
Gaelyn, me, Barbara, Jay pointing at Barbara and Simon.
Meherabad Pilgrims Retreat - MPR
My Room
The Valley of the Saints
View of Valley of the Saints from inside Sai Baba's cave.
Sai Baba's cave. The Highest of the Perfect Masters- God Realized Soul
Sai Baba's cave.
Daulatabad Fort (that was easy :))
Looking up at the Fort. We are going to climb up this hill
They did it...Gaelyn, Susan and Simon
I did it.
On the way up...Barbara and I struggled a little...mostly me. She was just keeping me company.
View from above
I am not sure where we are here. Here's Barbara and as usual Jay is leading the way. I am of course behind the camera.
Jay leading the way into the Dark Passage...Ever smelled Bats?!?!? They smell bad...very bad.
Pretty incredible, huh? Look at the details of these carvings
I think this one was called the Carpenter's Cave. Looks like whale ribs.
View from this bridge was pretty spectacular.
Barbara and Susan are Yoga masters. They are mimicking the yoga carving on the wall. Apparently yoga is an ancient practice. Wow.
Well now they are leaving. Hated to see them go but we sure had a great time together. I will never forget them or the time we had.
Bullock cart
Rickshaw - a 3 wheeler taxi
Child scavenging for food in Mumbai
Ahmednagar, India
Slums
Slums
Mumbai, Slums seen from the highway.
Pune, India
Bhau Kalchuri, the last living mandali (disciple of Baba)
Bhau invited me to his grandson's wedding
Groomsmen
The Bride
Look how elaborate her jewelry is. India is lavish (Sumptuously rich and elaborate)
On the left, my friend Melvin from New York... I have the funniest story about the guy in the yellow turbin. And here I am in my Sari.
Ring time...what an honor to be this close! There were over 2000 people in attendance.
They were so gracious as to stand there and hug everyone who came up to them. After all, these weddings last a long time...a very long time. The Reception started while the wedding was still going on.
Rani and Rodda Foley...from Australia The parents are Tony and Charmaine
This is little Katie Foley. She is about 7 years old. It was her idea to go up to Bhau and get that classic close up shot. I would not have had the nerve...hahaha.
Susan and Darryl Smith - They were soooo much fun.
Anything can be found on the streets in India: goats, cows, elephants, horses, etc.
I told you...Anything!
I told you...elephants too...nobody is surprised except me and my friend Sandy.
Really??? Did that just happen? India!!!!
Baba's sister Mani holding a dog and Baba holding a baby goat. Next, I love this painting of Baba... These and other paintings hang in the Dining Hall at MPR
Meher Baba...the cause of it all. It was Baba who in his own way invited me to Meherabad. I was treated as if he was so glad I had come. That's how I felt.
CLASSIC PHOTO. Meheru and Murshida Connor exchanging gifts.
Meheru was the last of the women Mandali of Baba's. She just passed 4/21/2012 into Baba's realm.
Meheru at Meherazad
Murshida Connor
My dear Nivedita. She gave me the most beautiful shawl. I wear it all the time.
Inside Baba's Samadhi
Here I am holding a baby goat with the shawl Nivedita gave me.
Put the baby goat down...his mommy wants him back.
Me, Navnit and Sandy in Pune, hanging out with Sam.
A day in Pune...Sandy and Sam.
Meher Mahal...Navnit's Baba House
It's almost finished. This is some time before the grand opening
Antique Doors from a fort!!
Navnit and his neighbor Pam
I had to show this close up....Baba bricks for the Baba House...Meher Mahal
Sandy in the Screen room at Nav's. This is the room on the top corner of the prev picture.
Colored salt
Nav in Prayer at the grand opening
Children from the Trust office in Ahmednagar.
On the train to Hamirpur, a 24 hour journey. 18 hours by train.
Oser from Norway, Nav, Mark, Gurdev, Sandy. Kalidas and Brendon are in another train car.
There are 8 of us: Brendon (2nd L), me, Gurdev, Navnit, Mark, Oser, Kalidas and Sandy. The man on the far left was there to greet us.
Three meals per day are prepared for us. They are cooked outside or inside on the floor.
Meherastana...Our reason for coming. It is the 58th anniversary of the date Baba announced his Avatarhood from this doorway in 1954. The hut has since been restructured over the existing hut.
A walk through the village after breakfast
A temple where Baba has given Darshan...it has an amazing feeling about it.
A visit to a home in the village...I believe this is the home of the village leaders
Here is Mark walking through a village home made of mud. This one is more typical. The floors are paved with fresh cow dunk by hand.
These homes made of mud had the prettiest painted wooden doors.
I like these doors
Gurdev talking to the villagers
Bullock carts are common here.
We are welcomed into their homes in the village.
Washing clothes
Washing dishes
The school. However poor there were quadratic equations on the board!!! Me and Sandy stood back trying to solve one. The group had left us as we struggled. Then the teacher came in and showed us..."Now, I remember." It was a long time ago. Anyway, even with so little, India still sends the scholarly into the world. You ever noticed that? Sanjay Gupta, Deepak Chopra, Navnit Batheja...lol. Yet most of all Meher Baba, the author of Infinite Intelligence!!!
The smaller children sometimes have this eye paint on.
VERY SPECIAL MOMENT: Both of these men have had personal contact with Baba during his lifetime. Look at what that means to each of them when they found this out about each other. Watch the sincerity and the awe as they pass the honor from one to the other. Look at how Nav is affected by just watching them!!! I am so very, very glad to have captured this truly special time with some truly special human beings. You have no idea...no words can explain!
The Man who touched God! Baba bowed down to him and 13 other boys, all 14 years old at the time. He gave each 14 Rupees (14 Boys, 14 yrs old, 14 rupees). He told us the story.
Gurdev, Ocer, Brendon, the Man, and Nav
We are leaving the village and the guys are so ecstatic with the happenings of the day they walk out holding hands...I wish I could explain. You just had to be there. There just are no words. I will never forget my time at Meherastana, Hamirpur, India. Baba said this place was his heart and I understand why.
