Legacy
Baba's travels and teachings left a legacy of followers and devotees worldwide. Although Baba participated in large public gatherings, he discouraged evangelizing, stating, "I need no propaganda or publicity." Rather, he encouraged his followers to "let your life itself be my message of love and truth to others" and to "spread my message of Love and Truth as far and wide as possible."
The Avatar Meher Baba Trust, established by Meher Baba, maintains his tomb and pilgrimage facilities, provides support for aging mandali, and engages in other activities. The Trust, however, does not act as a central spiritual authority.
Followers of Meher Baba have no obligatory rites, rituals or duties, as in most religions. Many followers do undertake certain rituals and prayers, but the choice is personal. The primary focus for followers is living a life Meher Baba would approve of, for example, refraining from the use of psychedelic drugs, including marijuana, and trying to remember God with love.
Gatherings of Baba followers are highly informal and social in nature. Special effort is often made to gather together on Amartithi, the anniversary of Baba's death, and on his birthday. Most Baba followers keep silent on 10 July (Silence Day), observing the request Baba frequently made of his followers during his lifetime.
Three prayers written by Meher Baba, "O Parvardigar", the "Prayer of Repentance" and the "Beloved God Prayer," are recited morning and evening at his samadhi in India and are often recited at gatherings. Many followers personally repeat these prayers daily. At Meherabad, his followers maintain Baba's practice of lighting a dhuni fire on the 12th of each month. After dhuni prayers, participants throw sandalwood twigs dipped in ghee into the flame as physical representations of limitations and desires they wish to relinquish.
Although Baba had initially begun gaining public attention in the West as early as 1932 as the result of contacts with some celebrities of the time (such as Charles Laughton, Tallulah Bankhead, Boris Karloff and others) and from the rather disillusioned account of Paul Brunton (A Search in Secret India, 1934), he achieved additional attention over three decades later through the work of Pete Townshend of The Who. Parts of the rock-opera Tommy (May 1969) were inspired by Townshend's study of Baba, to whom the album was dedicated. The Who's 1971 song "Baba O'Riley" was named in part after Meher Baba, and on his first solo album, Who Came First, Townshend recorded the Jim Reeves song "There's A Heartache Following Me," saying that it was Meher Baba's favorite song. Melanie Safka mentioned Baba in the song Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) with the lyrics Meher Baba lives again/candles in the rain."
Concepts of Meher Baba's philosophy, often including characters resembling Baba, have frequently appeared in works of comic book writer J. M. DeMatteis, including Dr. Fate, Seekers Into The Mystery, The Last One and Batman: Absolution.
Bobby McFerrin's 1988 Grammy Award-winning song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was inspired by a popular quote of Baba seen in numerous Baba posters and inspirational cards.
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“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
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