Meherabode Talks

Filis Frederick

Filis Frederick was Born in New York City on May 31, 1915.  She went to school at Abbot Academy, Andover, Massachusetts; spent two years at Cornell University, and two years at Radcliffe College where she majored in fine arts.  Her minor was philosophy, and she made a special study of the philosophies of Alfred N. Whitehead and Carl Jung.  While living in New York, Filis worked in fashion design, copy writing and editorial work for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and McCall's magazines.  At an early age she displayed great psychic awareness, and this talent caused her to seek understanding through the philosophy of the East.  Filis heard about Meher Baba in 1942, through his three women disciples, Princess Norina Matchabelli, Elizabeth Patterson and Countess Nadine Tolstoi; afterward she helped them to spread Baba's message and to prepare Meher Center in Myrtle Beach for his visit in 1952.  During their first meeting Baba told her, "Inscribe these words in your heart: nothing is real but God, nothing matters but love for God."  In 1953, with Baba's blessing, Filis founded The Awakener Magazine.  She managed to keep this project going for thirty-five years, and has filled the pages with rare and beautiful pearls from the Master's treasure house.  In 1960, Filis moved to Los Angeles where she helped build the Baba community by holding meetings at her house, giving talks at various events and universities, and appearing on radio and television shows.  During this period, Filis worked for Mattel (she was the head game designer for twelve years), and she wrote a book called: Design and sell toys, games, & crafts.  Filis attended all four Sahavas's with the Master, in 1952, '56, '58 and '62.  She also published two books about Meher Baba: The Path of Love, which is a collection of the best and most important writings to be published in The Awakener Magazine; and Light on Running Water, a collection of poems she wrote to and about Meher Baba.  PHOTOGRAPH