As the illustrator, i'd like to comment that the reader will find in these stories of her childhood, Mani's spirit was unmatched by anyone but her brother, Avatar Meher Baba.

This is a book that nourishes both mind and heart and takes the reader on a journey that will not end when the book is finished.

Meher Baba was not "just another guru." He was the Genuine Article. And to meet Him here, for the first time or the thousandth, is to experience His warmth, His intimacy, and His ineffable Love.

Charles Haynes has written a wonderful book for folks just discovering Avatar Meher Baba. The book is clear, concise, and describes Baba's life and his spiritual teachings. This is my favorite book to share with people who ask me, "who is Meher Baba?"

I believe Meher Baba is/was God. This book is a work of love for others who do. Beautiful.

A beautiful book and a work of love from the author/compiler. Read the last page. Lots and lots of pictures and mostly the whole book is all Baba quotes. A beautiful gift.

For many years, I have been reading aticles and books by and about Meher Baba-- a compelling spiritual figure who lived 1894-1969 in India. I specially like this book as it recounts, in simple and clear terms, the day-to-day experiences of several people over a three-week period when they stayed with Meher Baba (born Merwan S. Irani in Poona, MS, India). This book provides an insight into the life and work of a sadguru or "spiritual master" of remarkable sensitivity and compassion: one who possesses a truly delightful sense of humor! It helped me "come to peace" with what I once perceived as the world's "religio-political machines" and their grim depiction of God, and begin to see the purpose and harmony behind all faiths and all people. The books provides insights into Meher Baba's mind and heart which, along with his "Universal Message," helped me find my self.

Considering the fascinating nature of the topic, especially to Westerners who are not familiar with the strange behavior of masts, I was surprised at just how boring this book was. You're given extremely detailed info as to the appearance and habits of various masts but only from a dry, superficial and external perspective -- never any juicy insights into their subjective experience. Masts are categorized as a 1st level or 5th level, etc. but the basis for the categorization seems arbitrary and baseless to me and I've studied higher consciousness experiences for over 30 years. The descriptions nof Meher Baba's work with the masts can be summarized as caring for their physical needs, and that's it!! -- again no insights into the subjective interactions going on. Devotees of Meher Baba are likely to find some inspiration into these stories, but I recommend anyone else to stay away.

Very few ,books in world can be considered unique in all respects, this is one them .This book gives us an indepth insight in to the work of Meher Baba and throws light on mostly unknown phenomenon of Mast hood (if i can call it that) . It also documents the various masts and mastines (female masts) meher baba and the writer have come across in there extensive travails of India and abroad......It also gives us a more compound view on 5 MASTS baba who worked with more extensively than others ..

read this book it will enrich you and will wipe out some those unwanted sanskaras ...
and if you are baba lover it will give you a deeper insight into baba's work and life ...
JAI BABA , AVTAR MEHER BABA KI JAI
akshay mahajan...

A introduction to the fascinating topic of God-intoxication, and an extensive account of Avatar Meher Baba's contacts with God-intoxicated souls known as "masts" (pronounced "MUST").

God-intoxication, according to Meher Baba, occurs as one ascends, over many lifetimes, through the inner planes of consciousness. Upon attaining consciousness of the subtle and later mental planes, the soul loses the gross consciousness that ordinary people experience, leading to all manners of peculiar and erratic, but nonetheless frequently endearing behavior. There are accounts of God-intoxicated persons who took up residence in latrines for years on end, who chained smoked multiple-cigarettes, drank unheard-of amounts of tea, or collected wire, etc; and yet who were, according to Meher Baba, very advanced souls for whom the ordinary world did not even exist.

Personality types of masts are distinguished, including jalali ("fiery") masts given to outbursts of rather severe behavior and jamali masts who embody the gentle, motherly aspects of divinity.

The book is authored by William Donkin, a Western-trained physician, and is distinguished by a meticulous and rather scientific execution, without being at all dry in its presentation. Whole chapters are devoted to several of the most important masts, but an extensive appendix documents all masts contacted by Meher Baba, with at least a short note about each.

This book will make you rethink a few things!

Even if -- as with this reviewer -- you don't beleive everything he says and even if you are not prepared to follow his teachings as a disciple, Meher Baba stands out as one of the 20th century's great religious personalities. Some translations of his writings have been poor -- but not this one. It contains the magical simplicity of the teacher's words, and conveys it in a poetica manner befitting the way it was originally tramsitted.

Aimed at devotees of Avatar Meher Baba, this little book is an invaluable resource for first-time visitors to Baba's Samadhi (tomb) and the Pilgrim Center at Meherabad, Ahmednagar in the Maharashtra state of Cental India (about 8 hours East of Bombay by car). It provides background on the site and the normal routine of this holy place as well as basic etiquette information. Bhau Kalchuri, the author, is one of the few remaining "close ones" who actually lived with Meher Baba in and around Meherabad (and in neighboring Meherazad). His style is enthusiastic and easy to understand. If you're a Baba lover going to India for the first time, read this book!