My Brother Eruch (Page 1 of 3)
by Meherwan B. Jessawala
Narrated by Ward Parks

Meherazad seems to be full of memories these days - memories of that great man who just left us. What can one say about Eruch? The words that one tries to weave around his name and memory all seem so inadequate. Yet so many Baba lovers around the world could testify through their own heartfelt experiences and anecdotes to how deeply Eruch has touched their lives. Perhaps because he was the friend of the Friend, the closest day-to-day companion to that one true Companion, Eruch, like no one else I personally have ever met, seems to have had the ability to become a real friend to everyone.

Over the last week since Eruch passed away (on Friday, 31st August), the verandahs and walkways and gardens at Meherazad where Eruch lived the last half-century of his life have been scenes of numerous mini-gatherings as groups of two or three, or a half-dozen, or a score have shared reminiscences like little running rivulets of testimonial to the magnitude of his impact. Last Thursday, September 6, these little brooks and streams converged into a larger pool, as the Meherabad pilgrims and Meherazad mandali met together in Mandali Hall for a morning session of commemorating that disciple whom Meher Baba called ‘his Peter’.

While a number of episodes and stories were recollected, the one illustrating the depth of Meher Baba’s trust in Eruch and the quality of service that this “fortunate slave” rendered to his Master, was narrated by Eruch’s younger brother, Meherwan. The story dates back to the mid-40s, during a period when Eruch was staying with his family in Bindra House in Pune and would frequently be called by Meher Baba to be with him at Meherazad.

Meherwan narrates:
On one of these visits, a wealthy man came to have Meher Baba’s darshan. Before leaving, while bowing down to Meher Baba, the man placed a packet at Meher Baba’s feet. “What is it?” Baba asked. “A small token of love offering,” the man replied. “There is no need for it,” Meher Baba gestured, and asked him to take it away.