Avatar Meher Baba Visits Me in a Dream

Very few people, today, I think are aware of Meher Baba. Less than 1 in 1000 Zaadsters have listed him as a teacher. But, back in 1968-9, he was one of my first introductions to the world of eastern mysticism. Meher Baba was believed by his followers to be an Avatar -- or an embodied manifestation of diety. He was also considered an individual who bridged the Sufi and Hindu traditions. One of his most unique features, I thought, was his vow of silence. I studied his writings carefully and, as I recall, even wrote a paper on his thought for my undergraduate course on the "religions of India."

To be honest, I have not thought about Meher Baba for about a quarter century. So I was surprised this morning to remember that he had appeared to me in what I would have to describe as a lucid dream. Although he died in 1969, the year that I began to study his life and works, my dream might suggest to some that he is still alive.

In my dream, Meher Baba appeared to me to be rather young -- much as he looks in the picture above -- and he was very close to me. He seemed to ask me (telepathically, I suppose, as he was not actually speaking in words) if there were any questions I would like to ask of him. And, the question formed in my mind: "what do you think of having been labelled an Avatar?"

The fact that I posed this question reinforces my impression that this was, indeed, a lucid dream. Because, it is a question that my conscious mind would pose naturally. Personally, at the rational level, I do not accept the idea that incarate human beings can embody the infinite characteristics ascribed to a diety. Certainly, this is consistent with my Jewish upbringing. And, it is also rather consistent with my understanding of the biographical accounts of individuals who have been designated (by themselves or their followers) as avatars. To a person, they all seem to embody human failings. Meher Baba is probably among the most exemplary -- but, even he was in two automobile accidents in 1952 and 1956. While being in a car accident does not necessarily suggest a moral failing, it is hardly the sort of historical event traditionally associated with a diety.

I don't recall, for example, Krishna or Apollo ever having had any difficulties controlling their chariots.

Anyhow, in my dream, Meher Baba responded to my question with a question of his own. He asked me if I would like to be an avatar. And, I'll confess, I responded positively.

At that point, I dreamt that I was receiving some sort of spiritual transmission from Meher Baba -- who was staring into my eyes. It reminded me, in my dream, of the story of his own enlightenment which occurred when another Sufi master threw a stone that hit him in the forehead (although I experienced no pain whatsoever).

Then, I was flying in my dream -- rising up consciously high above the buildings and the landscape. And, I was aware that this was a power that I possessed and could use while in the lucid dreaming state.

When I settled back down to earth, I conceded to Meher Baba that this experience did confirm for me that I experienced within a "measure of enlightenment." Then came the thought this would be a good title for a book, A Measure of Enlightenment. The thought also came, surprisingly (since it was seemingly unrelated to my dream levitation), that this could be a book about the idea of spiritual enlightenment from a scientific perspective. The word "measure" in the title would, therefore, be amplified into the scientific idea of measurement. And so, the book might begin to address the question of whether we can actually measure degrees or aspects of spiritual enlightenment.

Thank you, Meher Baba.

Note: while I suppose I am prone to visionary experiences, encounters with spiritual masters in dreams are rather rare for me. I recall a lucid experience with Mahatma Ghandi that occurred back in about 1972. Then, some time in the late 1980s, I had a powerful dream of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. And, about a year ago, I reported on a blog entry on the Godhead archetype a dream of Da LoveAnanda. Those are the only four instances of such a dream that I can now recall.

While I love these dreams, I do not take them quite at face value. One of my mentors, Jean Houston, uses the word "entelechy" to describe an inner force moving toward an ultimate purpose. I think that this may be the best way to characterize such dreams.


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