[Tavern-Talk] Sahavas Sayings

[Tavern-Talk]

SAHAVAS SAYINGS

When you first walk into Meherabad Mandali Hall, no matter which side 
you enter, you'll see a long wooden plaque divided into seven 
sections. In each section is a set of quotations from Meher Baba. 
When I first noticed these, I was surprised to realize that the Baba 
quotes are the same as those on the walls of the Barn in Meher 
Spiritual Center, Myrtle Beach. Here in Meherabad, there are quotes 
on the east wall (in English), on the west wall (in Gujarati), and on 
the south wall (in Hindi).

Although they are not labeled, we found out over time that these are 
known as the "Seven Sahavas Sayings", and that Baba had had them 
posted in the Hall for His 1958 Sahavas (and Marathi and Telegu 
translations as well). A Baba-lover who had been to that Sahavas told 
us that Baba had instructed the sahavasees to go into the Hall and 
read the Sayings. As Baba continued His 1958 Sahavas in the west at 
the Meher Center, I presume He had these posted in the Barn there 
too. (I remember my mother, who was not a Baba-lover, bursting into 
tears upon reading one of these quotes, "Real living is dying for 
God", on the wall of the Barn).

Last month, we all had cause to look at the Sayings anew, because it 
was the 50th anniversary of Baba's 1958 Meherabad Sahavas. There was 
a commemoration of that occasion here at Meherabad on 15th, 16th and 
17th February 2008, and over 750 Baba-lovers came for it. A special 
aspect was that among them were about 75 lovers who had actually 
attended the 1958 Sahavas, and many of them shared their firsthand 
experiences of that unique time.

Beloved Meher Baba said to them, "Sahavas is the intimacy of the 
give-and-take between lovers. It is not necessary to explain this 
give-and-take of the lover and the Beloved. To create an atmosphere 
of explanations and discourses is to mar the dignity of love, which 
is established in the closest of intimacy."

The participants say it was a real feast of Love. Baba gave His 
company for two weeks to about 1500 lovers from all over India 
(grouped by language). Although He was not at all well and had to 
walk with canes, Baba came from Meherazad every day to be with them. 
There were chances to receive His loving embrace, informal talks from 
Baba, including one on working for Him, bhajans and ghazals, prayers 
in His Presence, even opportunities for the lovers to entertain Him 
with song and dance, to pay their respects at His tomb, and to 
observe Him washing His own feet on His birthday. There was laughter 
and seriousness and a profound feeling of joy in Baba's intoxicating 
Love and companionship. Mostly it was keeping company with the Divine 
Beloved in the intimacy of His Love.

Meherwan Jessawala, one of the original sahavasees, remembered, 
"Baba... exhorted all to remain happy and cheerful during their stay 
at Meherabad, and to make the most of this unique opportunity of His 
Divine Sahavas. He told us that we should harbour no thoughts of 
home, family, work or business but to remain physically and mentally 
in His presence as much as possible because we would never get a 
chance of His close Sahavas like this ever again. His Sahavas was 
meant only to give His Infinite Divine Love to us, and in return to 
receive all of our love for Him, however imperfect and limited it be. 
So He said that we all should make the most of this unique 
opportunity of the give and take of Divine Love."

Later in his talk, describing Baba's reaction to a gift of marbles, 
Meherwan said, "Beloved Baba's face at once lit up with a big smile. 
Accepting them, He started to play with the marbles like a small 
child. Seeing this charming child-like and intensely human aspect of 
their Beloved at once lightened the serious mood of the sahavasees. 
This divine humour and child-like simplicity of the Beloved was what 
made Him so intimate and approachable, even to the most reticent 
among the participants. Beloved Baba indeed spread a veritable love 
feast before everyone. How difficult it is to describe in words the 
sheer spiritual beauty and wonder of the Beloved's Presence. Truly 
blessed were all of us who had the good fortune to have the actual 
experience of it."

A full description of this February's 50th anniversary commemoration 
at Meherabad will be appearing in the Trust newsletter, "In His 
Service". The three days were filled with remembrances from the 
original sahavasees, as well as songs and films, including a new film 
about the '58 Sahavas especially made for this anniversary. The 
atmosphere on the Hill was intoxicating.

And up on the stage-platform near Baba's Samadhi were posted the 
Seven Sahavas Sayings, along with photos of the '58 gathering, 
charts, and Baba's Wish, also given at this time.

It is a good season for rereading the Sayings. Sahavasees from 1958 
say that the sahavas with Baba was itself a demonstration of how the 
life of intimate companionship with Him could be lived. The Seven 
Sayings that He gave then, seem like further divine "hints" on how to 
keep Him close.

THE SEVEN SAHAVAS SAYINGS FROM MEHER BABA:

1)
Be angry with none but your weakness.
Hate none but your lustful self.
Be greedy to own more and more wealth of tolerance and justice.
Let your temptation be to tempt Me with your love in order to receive My grace.
Wage war against your desires and Godhood will be your victory.
------

2)
Real Happiness lies in making others happy.
The real desire is that which leads you to become perfect in order to 
make others become perfect.
The real aim is that which aims to make others become God by first 
attaining Godhood yourself.
-----

3)
Real living is dying for God.
Live less for yourself and more for others.
One must die to one's own self to be able to live in all other selves.
One who dies for God lives forever.
-----

4)
Love others as you would love yourself and all that is yours.
Fortunate are they whose love is tested by misfortunes.
Love demands that the lover sacrifice for the beloved.
-----

5)
Seek not to possess anything but to surrender everything.
Serve others with the understanding that in them you are serving Me.
Be resigned completely to My Will and My Will will become yours.
Let nothing shake your faith in Me and all your bindings will be shaken off.
-----

6)
Desire for nothing except desirelessness.
Hope for nothing except to rise above all hopes.
Want nothing and you will have everything.
-----

7)
This period of 'Sahavas' is the period of My suffering and helplessness.
My glorification will follow My humiliation.

= Meher Baba

----------------------------
AVATAR MEHER BABA ki JAI !!!

(Heather Nadel
for Tavern Talk
13 March 2008)


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Tavern Talk is the electronic newsletter of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust
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