5TH ANNUAL URBAN SAHAVAS Avatar Meher Baba Center of Chicago

Dr. Allan Cohen with musical guest, Michelle Shafer

Oct 9 - 11, 2015

4415 W. Harrison Street, Suite 307

Hillside, IL 60162

Dr. ALLAN Y. COHEN has had two parallel

“careers,” both sparked directly by Meher Baba. As a new Baba-lover in the mid-1960’s, Allan was just finishing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Harvard when Baba asked him, Robert Dreyfuss, Rick Chapman and other young Baba-lovers to let America know that drug use was not an authentic path to spirituality. While carrying out Baba’s directives, along with teaching and counseling at the University of California, Berkeley, the anti-drug work propelled him into professional work involving substance abuse prevention. On the “surface track,” Allan began a four-decade career in drug abuse prevention and intervention. As a researcher-evaluator, clinical psychologist, university professor, national media spokesman, administrator, editor, and theoretician work has been recognized with a lifetime

Michelle Shafer a Chicago Baba Lover, artist, and musician, has been writing and sharing songs with the Meher Baba community for over 20 years. Joe Rea Phillips, guitar professor and musician, said this about her music: "Not only is her voice beautiful but her music mystical and moving, touching the Heart of all hearts!" Her first recording dedicated to our dear Beloved is finally here, Dashboard, a collection of nine songs. The mix of songs take you on a journey of reflection on Baba's Love. It opens with Horizon, a song arranged with cello and classical guitar, that gives way to the feeling of ocean waves beneath you. Love's Flame is a culmination of many years with Baba. It's a song of acceptance and realization.

career achievement award from the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Directors (NASADAD). On the deeper track, Allan learned of Meher Baba in 1964 as a member of an LSD exploration group led by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (now Baba Ram Dass). After an initial letter to Kitty Davy, he was in direct communication with Baba from 1965 through 1968. Encouraged (with Rick Chapman and Robert Dreyfuss) to spread Baba’s message of love and truth, Allan delivered over 1,000 lectures and media appearances across America, Europe, Asia and Australia, including early collaboration with the Chicago Baba group. Allan began to compile and edit a book for persons new to Meher Baba, approved by Baba in 1966 and finally published in 1977 as The Mastery of Consciousness. He was able to attend the first Amartithi in early February of 1969, the only Westerner in attendance who never met Meher Baba in person. Now living in Washington DC with his wife and dog, Allan has continued his work with drug prevention, spreading Baba’s messages and conducting psychotherapy with Baba lovers and other spiritual aspirants. Allan’s talks will explore exciting and important topics including:

• ADVENTURES IN CONSCIOUSNESS: MEHER BABA IN ACTION IN THE 60’S.

• MEHER BABA IN ORDINARY LIFE: BABA LOVERS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE NEW HUMANITY

• MEHER BABA IN ORDINARY LIFE: PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES AND

INTERNAL EXPERIENCE

• MEHER BABA FUTURES: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

All of This and Melting My Heart, written in the Rahuri cabin on her first trip to India in 1995, were recorded in 2000 and are some of her earliest songs written to Baba. Reckless Abandon, a Hafiz rendering, is driven by a Flamenco flavor supported by a rockin' cello part. Way Back To You is a favorite of many that has a unique story behind it with a Gram Parsons feel. Constant Companion will take you to church with the organ and guitar sounds. The song was inspired by stories both Mani and Eruch told in Mandali Hall. Dashboard, the title cut, flows out as a meditation supported by a moving cello, guitar and keyboard. It is where one can focus on His Name.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE: Friday, Oct 9th Saturday, Oct. 10th Sunday, Oct. 11th 4:30-5:30 pm - Arrival & Registrati0on 5:30-7:00 pm - Pot Luck Dinner 7:00-7:15 pm - Prayers & Arti 7:15-8:30 pm – Talk by Allan Cohen 8:30-9:30 pm – Music by Michelle Shafer

8:30-9:00 am - Arti 9:00-9:30 am - Continental Breakfast 9:30-12:00 pm – Talk by Allen Cohen 12:00-1:30 pm - Lunch 1:30-2:30 pm - Free time 2:30 – 4:00 pm – Talk by Allen Cohen 4:00-6:00 pm– Small discussion groups & Film 6:00-7:30 pm – Break for dinner 7:30-9:00 pm - Music Concert

8:30 – 9:00 am - Arti 9:00-9:30 am - Continental Breakfast 9:30-10:45 am – Talk by Allan Cohen 10:45-11:00 am – short break 11:00 – 11:15 am – Music 11:15-12:30 - Q & A with Allen Cohen 12:30 pm – Closing Arti

MEALS: Friday potluck, Saturday and Sunday breakfast, and Saturday lunch included. BOOKSTORE: AMBCC will provide a bookstore with Meher Baba books, photos, videos, CDs, and DVDs. ACCOMODATIONS: Limited accommodations may be available to Baba Lovers visiting from out of town at various Chicago area Baba Lover homes. Please indicate your preference on the registration form. Many reasonable nearby motels can also be found via Google Search. Email meherazad@gmail for a list. CONTACTS: Registration & Accommodations: Fereshteh Azad ...………........... (630) 207-9461 Door Wallas: Jim Knutson: ……….. (630 272-0097 Bookstore Walla: Denise Ackerman …………..………………….… (708) 204-7121 Meher Kiran: ……….. (931) 478-6421 Food Walla: Satya Polisetty .………………………………………… (815) 404-3253 REGISTRATION: Registration Deadline is Oct 1st, 2015. Children under 5 admitted free. Families with 3 or more children pay only for the oldest 2 children/teens. Cancellations are refundable, less a $5 per person processing fee. Late Registration after Oct 1st – please add $10 for adults, $5 for children. Plan A – Fri, Sat, and Sun. Includes Fri potluck dinner, Sat continental breakfast, and lunch, Sun continental breakfast. Adults.................................................$ 75 Young Adults (13-18).......................$ 30 Children (5-12)..................................$ 10 Plan B - Saturday only, includes continental breakfast, and lunch. Adults................................................$ 55 Young Adults (13-18)......................$ 15 Children (5-12) ................................$ 5 Plan C – Half day Fri or Sun, includes Fri potluck dinner, or Sun continental breakfast. Adults................................................$ 25 Young Adults (13-18)......................$ 10 Children (5-12) ................................$ 5 CHILDCARE – Please let us know if you are available to supervise children as needed during the talks. Parents may wish to make a donation for this service. PARKING – There are plenty of parking spaces available in the parking lot of our building. BUILDING ACCESS – Our building at High Point plaza has a security entrance and will be locked after 3 pm on Saturday and all day Sunday. We will coordinate a door walla at specific times, or you may call one of the Coordinators to gain access.

AMBCC 2015 URBAN SAHAVAS REGISTRATION FORM Please mail your registration form, with a check payable to AMBCC, including your email address to receive confirmation of your registration to:

AMBCC 2015 Urban Sahavas c/o Fereshteh Azad 6710 Breckenridge Rd. Lisle, IL 60532

Registration Deadline: October 1st, 2015 Your registration with payment must be received in order to confirm your attendance.

Adults (18 and older): Plan Amount Email Address for confirmation _____________________________________ ____ $_______ _________________________________________________________ NAME _____________________________________ ____ $_______ _________________________________________________________ NAME Children (5-12 years)/Young Adults (13-18): _____________________________ NAME AGE ____________________________ NAME AGE Additional contribution toward our Sahavas Scholarship Fund*: $ __________________________ * to help sponsor those unable to pay. Additional Donation to support AMBCC: $ __________________________ Total Enclosed: $ __________________________

Your Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ STREET __________________________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP CODE __________________________________________________________________________________ HOME PHONE WORK/CELL PHONE ____ I need accommodations at a Baba Lover home (limited availability) ____ I will make my own accommodation arrangements ____ I can provide a ride for others to and from the Sahavas ____ I need a ride to and from the Sahavas Special Needs: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________