At Harmon, where New York Central trains change from electric to steam engines, not far from Briarcliff, stands ready a retreat called Meherashram (Home of Compassion), where the pious of any and all sects may soon meet a long-haired, silky-mustached Seer who is called Shri (Mr.) Sadguru (Perfect Master) Meher (Compassion) Baba (Father).1 To his Indian co-religionists the Parsis, Meher Baba, 38, is the "God-Man" or the "Messiah." To many another follower he is simply the "Perfect Master." His U.S. sponsors, Malcolm and Jean Schloss who await him at Harmon, think and write of him in uppercase — He, Him, His, Himself. Next week the God-Man is to sail from England, arriving at Meherashram May 16 ...
For almost seven years Meher Baba has uttered no word. When he arrives at his U.S. retreat here his lips will be unsealed with much ceremony. Meanwhile he carries a small board with letters and figures to which he points when he has something to say. He intends to found retreats in New Hampshire and California. Meher Baba is supposed to have performed many miracles but now he wishes only to "make Americans realize the infinite state which I myself enjoy." His method of accomplishing this is cryptic yet reassuring, "Let God flood the soul. What I am, you are."2
Although Baba stayed in New York City for only three days, hundreds of people wanted to see him. Norina had been in charge of arranging Baba's schedule. More reporters came to interview him, and many accounts about the "Indian Messiah" were published in the local newspapers, which brought the interest of even more people to him. However, Baba did not meet every person; he only gave personal interviews and darshan to a select few.3
A journalist Baba did agree to see was Frederick Collins, whom Malcolm had contacted. He was invited to have tea with Baba at the Stokeses' home one afternoon. As the interview began, Collins asked Baba if he were married, and the following is Baba's reply and their conversation:
"Married? No. Sex for me does not exist. Modern marriage is too much of a business affair. No wonder it often results in divorce. Husband and wife should put each other first. It is essential for a happy family life that selfless love should predominate over lust."
"We in America have other problems right now besides sex," interjected Collins.
Footnotes
- 1.There was also a Christian revival occurring in Briarcliff, New York, during the same month Meher Baba arrived in America headed by a Dr. Buchman. The Time article's first paragraph read: "So hot was the blast of revitalistic piety that swept upper New York a century ago that the counties in which Mormonism, the Shakers, the Oneida Community et al. flourished are still sometimes called 'the Burnt-Over District.' Last week new religious thoughts were stirring in New York, at two points [in Briarcliff Manor and Harmon where Meher Baba's group was located] on the Hudson River."
- 2.Time magazine, 2 May 1932, p. 24.
- 3.One reporter wrote that Quentin Tod's "glibness makes up for his Master's silence." (New York Times, 19 May 1932.)