Automobile accident in the U.S.A.

In the '50s Meher Baba established two centers outside of India: Meher Spiritual Center, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Avatar's Abode, near Brisbane, Australia. He inaugurated the Meher Spiritual Center in the United States in April, 1952. On May 24, 1952, in route from the Meher Spiritual Center to California, Meher Baba's car was struck head-on near Prague, Oklahoma. He and his companions were thrown from the vehicle and suffered many injuries. Meher Baba's leg was severely broken and he had facial injuries. The injured were treated and returned to Myrtle Beach to recuperate, including work done at Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. ^[8]

Highest of the High Declaration

In September, 1953 Meher Baba gave his " Highest of the High" declaration at Dehradun, India. ^[9]

On February 10, 1954 in Meherastana U.P., India, Meher Baba publicly declared his Avatarhood for the first time by spelling out on his alphabet board during a gathering, " Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai." ^[10]

In September of that year, Meher Baba gave a " men-only" sahavas at Meherabad which later became known as the " Three Incredible Weeks." During this time Baba issued a number of messages and discourses, the most significant being " Meher Baba's Call, " wherein Baba proclaims his Avatarhood irrespective of the " doubts and convictions" of others. ^[11]

In October of 1954, Meher Baba discarded his alphabet board and began using a unique set of hand gestures to communicate.

In 1956 he visited Myrtle Beach and other places in the US as well as the newly opened Avatar's Abode in Australia.

Automobile accident in India

On December 2, 1956, outside Satara, India, the car in which Meher Baba was traveling went out of control and a second serious automobile accident occurred. Meher Baba suffered a fractured pelvis and other severe injuries. Dr. Nilu, a close mandali, was killed.

This accident seriously incapacitated Meher Baba. Despite his physician's predictions to the contrary, after great effort Baba managed to walk again, but from that point was in constant pain and was severely limited in his ability to move. In fact, during his trip to the West in 1958 he often needed to be carried from venue to venue.

Like his silence, Baba indicated that his automobile accidents and the suffering that attended them were purposeful and brought about by his will.

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Seclusion and East-West Gathering

Meher Baba returned to India and began more periods of fasting, meditation, and seclusion. This seclusion work was draining and exhausting. Meher Baba said he was doing work on behalf of the spiritual welfare of all humanity.

In 1962, Meher Baba gave one of his last public functions, a series of meetings he called The East-West Gathering. At these meetings, in which his western followers were invited to meet his Indian disciples, Baba gave darshan to many thousands of people, despite the physical strain this caused on his broken body.

Position on drug use

Main article: God in a pill?

In 1966, at the height of the Psychedelic era, Meher Baba allowed individual visits by three young western academics who asked about the spiritual aspects of drugs. They printed Meher Baba's response in a pamphlet entitled God in a Pill? Meher Baba stated that drug use was spiritually damaging and that if enlightenment were possible through drugs then " God is not worthy of being God." At Meher Baba's request, the three returned to the West and spread this message, which increased Meher Baba's notoriety among the young. It was during this period that the popular poster of a smiling Baba, captioned " Don't Worry, Be Happy" became widely distributed, even appearing in day-glo versions (a similar poster is shown briefly in the Woodstock concert documentary).

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