[Tavern-Talk] Young Adult Sahavas 2008

[Tavern-Talk]

Young Adult Sahavas 2008

Seventy young men and women joined together in the first week of August 
at Meherabad for the seventh annual Young Adult Sahavas for 19 to 
35-year-old Baba lovers.  The majority came from various places in India 
and a smaller number from other countries.  The sahavasees stayed in 
Hostel C and had meals there as well, catered by the MPR kitchen.  The 
six days of sahavas provided a rich and full array of activities focused 
on love for Meher Baba.  The packed schedule had even these youthful 
lovers feeling happily tired by the end of the week.

Artful expression and service at Baba's Meherabad are two areas of focus 
for many of the activities.  This year the projects included sculpture, 
mask-making, dance and song-writing, helping with maintenance at the 
archives building and the Meherabad museum, and a visit to Meher English 
School with Jal Dastur to give gifts to the children.

Monday Bhau gave a talk to the sahavasees in Meher Pilgrim Centre.  
Tuesday at Meherazad Meherwan told stories of Baba, and a love-ful 
exchange with Meheru and Katie took place on the porch of Baba's house.  
The sahavasees performed in Mandali hall on Thursday's visit to 
Meherazad and the music was enjoyed by all.

A rousing game of cricket, a picnic outing at the site of an old Moghul 
estate now in ruins near Meherazad, where Baba had picnicked with the 
women mandali, and an afternoon of discussion groups about life with 
Baba were other daytime activities.  The evenings were equally full with 
Baba movies, bhajan singing, a "Baba Quiz" night, and a special dhuni 
for Sahavas held near Hostel D.

Thursday night was the Celebration, a beloved tradition in the sahavas 
week, held this year in the Meher Pilgrim Centre meeting hall (formerly 
the dining hall).  As the young people arrived after dinner hour, they 
were impressed to see the fabulous rangoli (colored chalk drawing) 
displayed in an 8-foot square on the floor of the MPC foyer, rendered by 
one of the sahavasees who is renowned for his work in this medium.  The 
hall was set up for performance with simple, colorful woven rugs on the 
floor and chair seating behind them.   

The sahavas participants had prepared quite a number of performance 
pieces to share with each other.  There was a lively bhajan group to 
start it off, followed by songs, a "Bollywood Dance" routine, jokes and 
skits.  The atmosphere was relaxed and fun, a sharing of hearts and 
talents among this group who had come together for just a few short days 
for the love of their Beloved.  

For it is the intimacy of His love and its expression through 
companionship that make Sahavas Sahavas.  Quite a few of the 
participants had been to more than one Young Adult Sahavas, and some 
have attended all of them.  Several couples brought their young children 
with them, adding a truly "young" dimension to the mix. For many it 
represents a different type of pilgrimage to Meherabad.  They may visit 
at other times for a program such as Amartithi or for a weekend stay of 
a couple of days, often with their family or group members from their 
home town.  At the Sahavas they spend a longer time soaking up the life 
of Meherabad, have a chance to offer service here, and perhaps spend 
more time at Meherazad. They have the opportunity to mix with their 
peers and forge new friendships with Baba companions from many places.  
Congratulations to the whole group for another successful time together 
in intimacy with Beloved Baba at Meherabad.

--Irene Holt
For Tavern Talk
9 Sept., 2008