Don Stevens in Australia

Don Stevens 2007 – © Glow International.

We have much pleasure in confirming that Don Stevens is to be our guest at this year’s Avatars Abode Spring Sahavas.  The last time we had the pleasure of Don’s company at Avatars Abode was in October 2000 for his God Speaks seminar.  Don is now in his 90th year and by Baba’s grace is still able to travel the Baba world and share with us his insights into Baba’s work and the spiritual life.

Indirectly, Don’s life with Baba began in 1945 when Don was a Sufi in San Francisco and when, in response to a request from Murshida Martin – the head of the Sufi movement in the U.S.A. – Meher Baba accepted responsibility for the direction of the Sufi order in that country.  It was not until 1952 though, in New York City, that Don had his first physical meeting with Baba and so commenced a lifetime of close and frequent contact with Him.

From 1954 Don’s work in the oil industry was characterized by constant world travel.  Baba had granted Don the rare privilege of being allowed to visit Him whenever his travel allowed and Don availed himself of this very special privilege on many occasions.  One might argue however that this gift from Baba came with a price – “where much is given much is expected” – and Don soon found much of his spare time taken up with major Baba literary projects, the most significant of these being the editing of God Speaks, a work Baba entrusted to Don and Murshida Ivy Duce.

Barely was this project completed and Baba asked Don and Francis Brabazon, the only two western men who attended the Four Language Sahavas at Meherabad in November 1955, to make a record of that event.  From this request came Francis’ Stay With God and Don’s Listen, Humanity.  Much later Baba gave Don the job of editing Dr Deshmukh’s original five-volume set of Discourses.  The resultant three-volume sixth edition, edited by Don and Murshida Duce, was published in 1967. Baba’s Discourses was in a real sense the “bible” for many of the disenchanted youth who came to Baba in the late 60s and 70s.  Also of relevance to the 60s and 70s seekers were Baba’s anti-drug messages in Don’s booklet God in a Pill.

Don has written numerous other books since Baba dropped His body: Listen! The New Humanity; Meher Baba – The Awakener of the Age; Man’s Search for Certainty; The Gift of Intuition; Some Results; The Inner Path of the New Life; and Meher Baba’s Word and His Three Bridges.

Don’s conscious spiritual journey has spanned seven decades: from the late 1930s, a time when a serious search for Truth which involved any consideration of Eastern religion and traditions was treated with great suspicion and even antagonism, until now when a seeker, if not careful, runs the risk of suffering extreme spiritual indigestion from the smorgasbord of New Age alternatives on offer.  There are few as well qualified as Don Stevens with whom we could have the pleasure of exploring Baba’s words and Advent.  At this year’s Sahavas Don will lead the program in exploring three themes:

1. Baba's words and projects

Discussion on Baba's words.  It will be helpful to read God Speaks and Listen Humanity, Part 2 in preparing for this session.

2. Masts

One day, as Baba, Eruch and Don were crossing the lower end of Meherabad near Mandali Hall, Baba pointed to a closed door at the far side.  He asked Don if he knew who lived there and Don replied it was Mohammed, the mast (a mast is a God-intoxicated soul).  This started a detailed discussion during which Baba revealed that masts had two types of problems and the second, Baba indicated for the first time, He had not touched, and gave an explanation never before revealed by Baba.  Don will discuss it and the great consequences this has for the future of humanity.

3. Sacred Sites in relation to Meher Baba's statement to the press in London in 1932

In 1932 Baba visited London and stated, “I am not come to establish any cult, society or organization; nor even to establish a new religion.  The religion that I shall give teaches the Knowledge of the One behind the many.  The book that I shall make people read is the book of the heart that holds the key to the mystery of life.  I shall bring about a happy blending of the head and the heart.  I shall revitalize all religions and cults, and bring them together like beads on one string.”

When Baba was in the body He sent Don to film certain places in India but gave Don no explanation of why.  This started a long and complex sequence of events which have gradually become clear and promises to tell us finally how Baba has taken care of his promise to gather the world religions together like beads on one string.  This is a fascinating story you will hear in October.

The Sahavas will run from Friday evening the 3rd until Sunday the 5th October.  The main body of the Sahavas will be during the day on the Saturday and Sunday, with the Friday evening most likely being an informal evening with Don.  Please note that this is during the school holidays so if you are planning on coming you’ll need to make your airline bookings well in advance.  Monday 6th is the Labour Day holiday in N.S.W., the A.C.T. and S.A.  Prior to the Sahavas Don will also be spending a day or two in Sydney and looks forward to catching up with his Baba family there.  We look forward to sharing a very special Sahavas with Baba and Don.

Jai Meher Baba!