News and Events
To honor the significance of Meher Baba’s 1952 accident in the heart of America, the Heartland Center will present a virtual program on Baba Zoom. Please join us on May 24 from 7 - 8:55 pm (EDT).
Peter Booth, who spent many years living in Meherabad, will be our guest speaker. We are excited to hear his insights about the accident and Baba’s work in America.
Australian musician Jacob Horsey will also regale us with his intimate and moving songs.
Although it's impossible to fathom the significance of Meher Baba’s accident, He said of it:
"You must understand that this was God's will, and it will result in benefit to the whole world." (Lord Meher, online version, pg. 3097)
Also in remembrance of Meher Baba’s automobile accident, His lovers all over the globe will participate in a 7-hour international japa – continuous repetition of His name.
Simply choose an hour or half-hour (or any time period of your choosing) between 5:00 am and 12 noon on May 24th to focus on Beloved Baba by saying His name continuously. Others will also be repeating His name before and after your time, so that for 7 hours on the anniversary of that momentous day, Beloved Baba’s name will resound around the world.
Please click here to register for the Anniversary Program and/or the International Japa.
More information will be forthcoming in our newsletter and on Facebook and Instagram.
We look forward to seeing you there!
“I say on my divine authority that I am the only one pervading everything – the only one in creation. Don’t treat these as mere words from a learned man or a philosopher . . . . I am the Ancient One, the
Only one, and [you] should always repeat my name, think of me, remember me. I tell the same thing
not only to you all, but also to saints and advanced souls on the Path.” — Meher Baba
WORKSHOP BY WARD PARKS
“An Integrated Darshana: Creation and its Causes in the Context of God Speaks, Infinite Intelligence, and other Major Dictations of Avatar Meher Baba”
Six Days – October 8 - 14, 2023
The Heartland Center was pleased to host Ward Parks for this six-day intensive workshop.
The workshop sessions were organized into four major subject areas:
God Speaks in the foundation of Meher Baba’s darshana
Infinite Intelligence and In God’s Hand in the foundation of Meher Baba’s darshana
Cosmology in Creation and its Causes in the context of Meher Baba’s darshana
The spiritual path as described in Creation and its Causes in relation to Meher Baba’s other expositions on the subject.
Essential texts for the workshop included Creation and its Causes, Infinite Intelligence, and God Speaks, as well as other books and messages, especially In God’s Hand; Discourses (any edition); “How It All Happened,” part 5 in Early Messages to the West; Tiffin Lectures; Divine Theme; and Beams on the Spiritual Panorama.
Ward Parks giving his ‘God Speaks’ seminar at Avatar Meher Baba Heartland Center, 2016.
71st ANNIVERSARY SAHAVAS
9th INTERNATIONAL JAPA
May 23 - 24, 2023
Videos of the Heartland Center's two-day virtual Sahavas commemorating the 71st anniversary of Meher Baba’s 1952 automobile accident can now be viewed online (links below).
May 23 featured a film excerpt of Dr. Ned Burleson describing the challenges he faced treating Meher Baba and His injured mandali, followed by a live talk by Dr. Burleson's daughter Julia Margaret Burleson Brigham recounting her memories of Baba and the events after the accident. The program closed with the announcement of a critically important Heartland Center project, the Heartland Memorial Initiative.
May 24 included the 9th International Japa, Arti, and a panel discussion focusing on the significance of Meher Baba's sacred sites with participants Daniel Stone and Philip Lutgendorf.
The Sahavas was animated with heartfelt devotional music by Julie and Rusty Rust.
SAHAVAS VIDEO LINKS
Video recordings of the two-day program can be accessed through the following links:
–May 23 (with Dr. Burleson Film and Julia Margaret Burleson Talk):
https://vimeo.com/837177475
–May 24, Morning Arti: https://vimeo.com/838394804
–May 24, (with Sacred Sites Discussion): https://vimeo.com/840266615
TEA WITH JULIA MARGARET
During the anniversary gathering, the Heartland Center hosted a tea for the hospital staff and management where Julia Margaret Burleson shared her recollections of her father's work and his founding of the original Prague Clinic and Hospital.
A video recording of Margaret's talk at the tea may be viewed on Vimeo by clicking on the following link:
–Afternoon Tea with Julia Margaret Burleson: https://vimeo.com/837312472
An aerial view of U.S. Highway 62. Meher Baba’s accident occurred just before the driveway in the left foreground.
“The Greatest of My Sufferings”
The Heartland Center’s feature-length documentary film “The Greatest of My Sufferings” was previewed to great acclaim at the 11th Annual Meher Baba Legacy Program 'Discovering the Avataric Treasure' held at Meherabad, and again featured at our May 23-24, 2021, Virtual Sahavas. Titled after Meher Baba’s own words, the documentary begins with Baba’s early contacts with His Western disciples and culminates with His fateful 1952 automobile accident near Prague, Oklahoma.
Over two years in the making, the production is a multi-textured presentation of eloquent narration, poignant quotes, vintage and contemporary still photographs, graphics, audio and video recordings, and inspired music.
“A masterpiece of spiritual history... “
— Naosherwan Nalavala, editor, Glow International
To view “The Greatest of My Sufferings” on Vimeo click on the image above.
70TH ANNIVERSARY SAHAVAS AND
8TH INTERNATIONAL JAPA
Meher Baba gesturing in His unique method of silent communication.
May 23 - 24, 2022
The Heartland Center honored the 70th anniversary of Meher Baba’s 1952 automobile accident near Prague, Oklahoma, with a two-day virtual Sahavas.
The Sahavas was enlivened with offerings by gifted musicians Maraiya Latulippe, Patrick O’Neil, Bobbi Bernstein, John Collins, and Buz Connor. Sahavases joined the morning Arti on May 24th, which culminated with a moment of silence at the exact time of Meher Baba’s accident.
Wendy Haynes Connor, who shared her experience of Baba’s suffering conveyed to her personally through Mehera's vivid recounting of the 1952 accident.
Participants Daniel Stone, Pamela Butler-Stone, Preeti Hay, and Keith Sheridan offered diverse perspectives on the meaning of Meher Baba’s accident, from the universal to the personal.
SAHAVAS VIDEO LINKS
Video recordings of the two-day program can be accessed through the following links:
–May 23 (with Wendy Haynes): https://vimeo.com/719971010
–May 24, Morning Arti: https://vimeo.com/719956564
–May 24, (with panel speakers): https://vimeo.com/722203858
Burleson House
Jane Montgomery, the Heartland Center’s caretaker, has completed supervision of interior renovations of the Burleson House and she began receiving guests for day visits and overnight stays in May of this year.
Extensive work on the house over the last several years has included structural shoring of the house foundations, re-tiling of the roof, completion of the kitchen refurbishment, complete interior renovation of the library, and interior wall restoration and painting.
Morrison House
We’re pleased to announce that after four years of extensive renovation the Morrison House is again open to accomodate pilgrims.
Renovation of the house has included the lifting of the entire building for the replacement of its earthquake-damaged foundation with steel reinforced footings; replacement of the original brick facade with new weatherproof siding; rebuilding of the front veranda; new insulation and replacement of all windows; bathroom and kitchen renovations, and new electric and plumbing.
Our heartfelt thanks to all who have continued to support the Center throughout this challenging period—it is only through your loving gifts that the Center continues to fulfill its mission of preserving Meher Baba’s legacy in the heartland of America.