Day 4 - Ghani's "God Speaks" manuscript - a read-through with Dr Ward Parks - 2017

Students of the history of "God Speaks" (1955) have long known that this project did not actually begin in 1953-54, when Meher Baba dictated to Eruch Jessawala what became the text of this great metaphysical masterpiece. In fact, Meher Baba initiated this undertaking in 1947, with a series of dictations to Dr. Abdul Ghani Munsiff. Recently the manuscript which Dr. Ghani compiled was found in the Avatar Meher Baba Trust archives, and it turns out that Ghani drafted a significant treatise of fourteen chapters and almost three hundred pages.
Most remarkably, one of the chapters is a first draft of “The Ten States of God.” In "God Speaks", the ninth chapter bears this title, and its authorship is credited there to Eruch. The new manuscript establishes, however, that the first version was composed by Ghani and that the completed and published chapter is, in effect, a collaboration between the two disciples, working on the basis of the notes that Baba had dictated to them.
Soon after the discovery of the manuscript, Dr Ward Parks embarked on a read-through of it during his stay at Avatar's Abode in 2017 inviting anyone interested to participate. This took place on: Day 1 - 15 April; Day 2 - 22 April; Day 3 - 29 April; Day 4 - 6 May.
Dr Ward Parks has been the principal editor of Avatar Meher Baba's (1894-1969) recorded talks, communications and diaries for a number of decades. He is an American citizen who lives in India at Meherabad. He travels the world for half the year giving lectures and musical presentations, while continuing his responsibility of bringing Meher Baba's words to print. Formerly he was a University Professor specialising in Medieval literature and oral traditions.
Over 100 hours of talks at Avatar's Abode by Ward Parks and other speakers recorded by me can be found on my KZbin Channel.
Avatar's Abode was established in early 1958 by Francis Brabazon (1907-84) and many helpers, in response to Avatar Meher Baba's request that, if practical, the gathering of his followers during his second visit to Australia be held in Queensland.
Meher Baba gave this large ridge top property the name "Avatar's Abode". A statement of its purpose is displayed at the front gate: "This property is held in perpetuity for Avatar Meher Baba and is for those dedicated to Meher Baba and all who seek to know more about him".
Information about Avatar’s Abode can be found at avatarsabode.com.au or by writing to PO Box 184, Woombye 4559 QLD, Australia. Another excellent online resource for all things Meher Baba is Tony Zois' website meherbabatravels.com. The photo used for my KZbin thumbnail was copied from his website. I apologise for not knowing and acknowledging its providence.
An extensive collection of books by and about Meher Baba and spirituality in general is housed in the Avatar's Abode library which is kept up to date with regular acquisitions. Many books by or about Meher Baba can be downloaded free at ambppct.org. With permission, researchers can freely search the Avatar’s Abode Archive which houses an important collection of locally and internationally significant writings and correspondence.
Dr Ward Parks does not restrict the recording, transcription or circulation of his spoken or written material. However, his scholarship should be properly recognised and any published material he uses should be referenced as required under its copyright.
The Management of Avatar’s Abode requests those making video or audio recordings on the property protect the privacy and identity of those present by all practical means, and that a one-off permission to record be obtained from Management, and from the speaker in question, in advance of any recording.
This recording is a personal undertaking by Anthony Rohan Foley, and in the event that it fails to comply with Management’s directives and causes injury and upset to others, he sincerely apologises and will immediately remove the offending images and/or audio. Please contact me on 0477282479 and/or [e-mail].
It is interesting to note Meher Baba's comments following the passing of his disciple Ghani in 1951:
"Of the many things I have had to renounce and to suffer in this New Life, the passing of Ghani is among the greatest.
"To me, more than to any of you, Ghani was unique, and of all the work that still remains to be done for me by others, there is much that could have been done for me by Ghani and none else. The big head of his was truly a treasure-house in which wisdom and wit were blended to perfection.
"We were intimate friends since our earliest years, and no one knows better than I how courageous, and how loyal and loving, was his heart. To me, therefore, Ghani is irreplaceable, both as a friend and as a tool for my work."
(The message was copied from the avatarmeherbaba.org website, and is an extract from: Meher New Life Circular No. 30 - 1 September 1951 - Issued from Hyderabad (Deccan) on 24 August 1951)