Meher Mount

Meher Mount Meher Mount is a 172-acre universal spiritual center dedicated to Avatar Meher Baba. Meher Mount is a gateway to the Divine.

Visitors come to Meher Mount in Ojai, California, for pilgrimage, for celebrating Divine Love and Oneness, for loving God through nature, and for service.

"If I was going to make a movie of Meher Baba, I'd better learn to move fast. He moved so swiftly at times, it seemed hi...
05/29/2026

"If I was going to make a movie of Meher Baba, I'd better learn to move fast. He moved so swiftly at times, it seemed his feet didn't even touch the ground." -Charmian Duce Knowles

Your Friday photo is in honor of the 70th anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba’s visit to Southern California…

In 1956, Meher Baba circled the globe in 30 days, flying 30,000 miles and visiting five continents.

Charmian Duce Corrinet (later Knowles) was asked by Meher Baba to film His visit in America. The result of Charmian’s filming and editing is "Meher Baba in the USA, 1956," a film produced by Sufism Reoriented.

This photograph of Avatar Meher Baba at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956, is a screenshot from that film. He is with co-founder and lifetime caretaker Agnes Baron who is taking Him on a tour of the property.

The 70th anniversary celebration of that visit will be on August 1, 2026. To learn more about this event, click here: https://www.mehermount.org/events/2026/anniversary-sahavas

On Making the Film Meher Baba in the USA, 1956:

“Early one beautiful morning in July 1956, a group of us drove out to Idlewild Airport [New York] to begin what Baba had called a sahavas – time in the intimate company of the Master. I had been given a special charge for this visit… Baba had asked that I make a movie of it,” explained Charmian Duce Knowles in her book "Spread My Love."

Charmian described her film experience and equipment: “I had only held a movie camera in my hands once before… That and two years of still photography in college were my only training for making a film about the Avatar. I decided that what I lacked in experience, I could at least make up for in equipment.

“We had heard about a new movie camera [16 mm] that had automatic light control and that used film cassettes. It wasn’t even on the market yet, but a friend went clear to the factory in Detroit and managed to deliver one to me in New York City. It was the most technologically advanced camera of its time, but there were still drawbacks.”

When Meher Baba emerged from the airport, Charmian started filming. She said she quickly realized “that if I was going to make a movie of Meher Baba, I’d better learn to move fast. He moved so swiftly at times, it seemed his feet didn’t even touch the ground.”

You're Invited to the Anniversary Sahavas on Saturday, August 1, 2026.

Celebrate the 70th anniversary of Meher Baba's visit at the 2026 Anniversary Sahavas at Meher Mount on Saturday, August 2, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Featured guest singer-songwriter Adrienne Shamszad has chosen the theme “Letting Love In, Letting Love Out — Meher Baba in the World” for this special celebration.

You will love hearing Adrienne perform her soul-stirring love songs. Her influences as an instrumentalist and songwriter are rooted in folk, rock, and R&B.

Adrienne will start the day’s program facilitating a Courtyard Chat about welcoming Meher Baba into our hearts and bringing that love into our daily lives. You are invited to join in the conversation.

To RSVP, click here: https://www.mehermount.org/events/2026/anniversary-sahavas

Your Friday photo is in remembrance of Avatar Meher Baba’s automobile accident near Prague, Oklahoma, on May 24, 1952.“…...
05/22/2026

Your Friday photo is in remembrance of Avatar Meher Baba’s automobile accident near Prague, Oklahoma, on May 24, 1952.

“…the personal disaster, for some years foretold by me, took place in the form of an automobile accident while crossing the American continent… It was necessary that it should happen in America. God willed it so,” Meher Baba said about His accident.

This photo of Meher Baba was taken in August 1952 in Switzerland where He was recovering from the accident.

Meher Baba said the following about His universal suffering:

“The Avatar does not take upon himself the karma of the world nor does he become bound by it.

But he takes upon himself the suffering of the world which is the result of its karma.

His suffering for the world is vicarious. It does not entail entanglement with the karma of the world.

But humanity finds its redemption from its karma through his vicarious sufferings, e.g., illness, humiliation, accidents and the like. In his own ways, the Avatar unfailingly fulfills his incarnation by giving a spiritual push to his age.”

"You have come for My Sahavas, so forget your worldly commitments..." -Avatar Meher BabaMerwan Dubash passed away this w...
05/15/2026

"You have come for My Sahavas, so forget your worldly commitments..." -Avatar Meher Baba

Merwan Dubash passed away this week on May 9, 2026. Through Merwan's stories that described such simple acts as reading the newspaper aloud to Meher Baba or playing card games with Him, we got a glimpse of his intimate daily contact with God in human form.

Take a moment now to watch these videos that will make you feel as if you are in Meher Baba’s presence.

“My Experiences with Meher Baba” - Part 1 - Merwan Dubash: https://youtu.be/eWAEdabPc2U?si=pJdRvWq38x3xHFD7

“My Experiences with Meher Baba” - Part 2 - Merwan Dubash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrSn0GelomM

Merwan Dubash was the son of Adi and Rhoda Dubash. The family had decades of close contact with Meher Baba.

Born in what is now Pakistan in 1947, Merwan was named by Meher Baba and grew up under Baba’s guidance and orders.

He met Meher Baba for the first time when he was 18 months old. He had the great privilege of spending time with Baba on many occasions, including the Wadia Park Darshan 1954, East-West Gathering 1962 and three long visits with Meher Baba in Guruprasad, Pune, in the 1960s.

Merwan and his wife Ruby volunteered for the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust in Meherabad and Meherazad, India. Merwan was a trustee of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust from 2014 to 2020. He is survived by his wife, Ruby, and son, Neville.

Meher Mount will be closed Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15 due to road work. Meher Mount will be open again on Satur...
05/14/2026

Meher Mount will be closed Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15 due to road work. Meher Mount will be open again on Saturday, May 16.

"It's in the valleys that I grow..."This photo from Avatar’s Point at Meher Mount looking southeast to the Santa Monica ...
05/08/2026

"It's in the valleys that I grow..."

This photo from Avatar’s Point at Meher Mount looking southeast to the Santa Monica Mountains and Heritage Valley was taken by former caretaker Buzz Glasky.

This song was adapted by singer-songwriter Pam Rubenstein from the poem, “It’s In the Valleys I Grow,” by Jane Eggleston:

"Sometimes my life seems hard to bear,
Full of troubles, tears, and woe,
It’s then that I must remember,
It’s in the valleys that I grow.

If I never left the mountaintop,
And knew nothing more of pain,
I seldom would remember You,
And my life would be in vain.

I have so much to learn about,
And my growth seems very slow;
Sometimes I need the mountaintops,
But it’s in the valleys that I grow.

And I don’t always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I’m very sure of one thing,
My dearest Friend will see me through.

Forgive me for complaining, Lord,
When I’m feeling very low,
Just flash me a reminder:
It’s in the valleys that I grow.

Do what You must to make me strong,
And use me every day,
To share Your love with others,
And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord,
For this one thing, I know:
The mountaintops are glorious,
But it’s in the valleys that I grow."

If you would like to listen to the song, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRalUIbTidc

"Meher Baba indicted that he traveled in order to carry out His inner work of awakening." Today's photo is in honor of t...
05/01/2026

"Meher Baba indicted that he traveled in order to carry out His inner work of awakening."

Today's photo is in honor of the 70th anniversary of Avatar Meher Baba's visit to Southern California.

In 1956, Meher Baba circled the globe in 30 days, including flying 30,000 miles and crossing five continents.

During that time, He made a three-day trip to Southern California, including spending a day at Meher Mount in Ojai on August 2, 1956.

Why did Meher Baba constantly travel? Charles Haynes offers this explanation in his book "Meher Baba, The Awakener:"

"Meher Baba indicated that he traveled in order to carry out his inner work of awakening. He gave no importance to founding any organization in his name, and he advocated no particular method of spiritual practice.

Most of the press stories about him were favorable, but when unfavorable or sensational reports appeared in newspapers, he did not respond nor was he disturbed.

He moved about as one who had a particular timetable, requiring him to visit certain places and people at appointed times known only to him.

A good number of those Baba contacted during his visits to the West became his lifelong disciples. Many who met him felt an immediate familiarity and warmth.

Those traveling with Meher Baba came to realize that all of his external activities were crucial for his inner work. In many places he simply wished to work by silently walking through crowds.

In other places Baba wished to contact those he called his agents, advanced souls who, unknown to the world, silently worked for him in every part of the globe. Though they had not met him physically, Baba stated that these agents recognized him as the Avatar and received internal instructions from him."

04/24/2026

"When I asked what message to give to those who come to be with You here, I heard: 'Let God Come.'" -Sam Ervin, Board President

The Darshan Courtyard at Meher Mount was born of fire and ashes. The courtyard is in the space of the Baba Room where Avatar Meher Baba gave darshan (the grace of seeing or being with the Divine) to His followers on August 2, 1956.

The guesthouse with the Baba Room burned to the ground on October 14, 1985. All that remained was the stone fireplace and chimney — now known as Baba’s Fireplace. This courtyard evokes that space and is open to welcome visitors.

This 8:56-minute video tells the story of the Darshan Courtyard. This film was shown at the dedication ceremony on March 28, 2026. Sam Ervin, board president, made the following dedication.

"O Beloved, You are a flower, You are also its fragrance and color."Your Friday photo is in honor of the Guided Nature W...
04/17/2026

"O Beloved, You are a flower, You are also its fragrance and color."

Your Friday photo is in honor of the Guided Nature Walk at Meher Mount on Saturday, April 18, 2026. To RSVP, click here: https://www.mehermount.org/events/2026/bird-wildflower-walk

This photo of a white rose at Meher Mount was taken by guest caretaker and photographer Juan Mendez.

The following is an excerpt from the ghazal, “At Least Sometimes,” given by Avatar Meher Baba to Bhau Kalchuri (a close disciple and ghazal writer):

O Meher, Your lover is restless. At least sometimes hear him,
At least sometimes ask him what he wants,
at least sometimes ask him what he is pleading for.

O Beloved, You are a flower; You are also its fragrance and color.
You are the garden and its Gardener; at least sometimes manifest.

You are not the garden where there are thorns.
I am searching for that garden of only one flower,
at least sometimes shower Your grace so I can find it.

You are not that flower whose fragrance ever diminishes.
O Beloved, open the bud of my heart; at least sometimes fill it
with the fragrance which always remains fresh.

You are not that flower which withers —
You are that flower which eternally blooms.

What a wonderful smile You have;
At least sometimes fill the flower of my heart with that smile.

You are not that flower whose color will fade.
I am searching for that flower, at least sometimes give it to me.

O Meher, I have dedicated myself at Your feet;
You are my life and everything for me.
Let your color and fragrance at least sometimes fill my heart.

-Avatar Meher Baba, given to Bhau Kalchuri

You are invited to a short, easy hike to experience the extraordinary nature of Meher Mount. The walk is on Saturday, Ap...
04/15/2026

You are invited to a short, easy hike to experience the extraordinary nature of Meher Mount. The walk is on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

To RSVP, click here: https://www.mehermount.org/events/2026/bird-wildflower-walk

You can walk among the wildflowers, do a little bird watching, learn about the wildlife, and enjoy the peace and silence of nature.

This guided walk is led by Scott Tomkinson and Ray Johnston. Scott is a local professional botanist and project leader for the study of the flora of Ojai and its surrounding areas. Ray was a professional ranger in parks, resource management, and animal behavioral science. He is currently the on-site resident caretaker for Meher Mount.

The Ojai Valley, including Meher Mount, is a bird enthusiast’s delight. Pause a moment, and even the casual bird watcher can view the different species that find Meher Mount a welcome home or a good place to visit during the spring bird migration.

And each spring after the winter rains, the hills and valleys of Meher Mount are dotted with the wildflowers that delight the birds and visitors alike. You’ll love being outdoors enjoying the scenery and the wildlife.

Because of the varied habitats, mild climate, and proximity to the ocean, this area is particularly suited for bird watching and seeing the California wildflowers.

Come join the nature walk for some bird watching and native plant observations suited to both novice and experienced observers of nature.

The gates open at Noon so you can spend some quiet time seeing the views from Avatar’s Point and watching the birds near the Visitor Center.

04/10/2026

This video is in honor of the upcoming Nature Walk at Meher Mount on Saturday, April 18, 2026. You're invited to join the naturalists as they point out birds, native plants and talk about the wildlife. If you would like to attend, click here: https://www.mehermount.org/events/2026/bird-wildflower-walk

Visitors to Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount are often surprised at what they find. "I've never seen this before," said Jackie DeSantis from the Ojai Raptor Center. She made this comment watching what happened after she released a rehabilitated American Kestrel at Avatar's Point next to Baba's Tree.

See the complete story and raptor release as told by guest caretakers Kristina Somma and Robert Turnage.

“Raptors” is an outtake (a scene filmed for a movie but not included in the final version) from the award-winning documentary film "Tree of Fire: A Story of Love and Resilience."

Address

9902 Sulphur Mountain Road
Ojai, CA
93023

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18056400000

Website

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