What does it mean to live a...

What does it mean to live a spiritual life in modern times? Naoshwerwan Anzar, a writer, publisher and follower of Meher Baba, will ponder the question in a keynote address next Saturday at Occidental College’s Herrick Chapel.

His speech is part of a two-day celebration at Occidental of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Indian spiritual master.

Sponsored by the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California and Occidental’s HerrickChapel and Interfaith Center, the festivities--to be held from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and from 1 to 10 p.m. next Saturday--will include music, films and skits. Anzar will speak at 4 p.m. next Saturday.

Michael Kerze, who teaches religion and science at Occidental and directs Herrick Chapel, said Baba devotees “are a part of the wonderful religious variety here in Southern California. I thought it would be good for our students to be exposed to one of the significant religious figures of our time.”

Born Merwan S. Irani on Feb. 25, 1894 in Poona, India, the Avatar, or Divine Incarnation, said his identity as God in human form was unveiled to him through a meeting with an old Muslim holy woman. The appellation Meher Baba, which means “compassionate father,” was given him by his mandali , or “close ones,” who were of many different castes and creeds.

Anzar, who has published Glow International, a magazine devoted to Baba, since 1966, knew the leader when he lived in Anzar’s hometown of Dehra Dun, India.

“Several of his close ones, including my father, were sent to bring lepers and other suffering people to him,” Anzar said. “He would wash their feet, clothe them and send them on their way” transformed by the love they experienced in his presence, he recalled. Anzar said he has felt Baba’s powerful presence on a number of occasions.

Baba said that God takes human form every 700 to 1,400 years to spread the word of love, and that he had come to earth to awaken mankind to the universal spiritual messages given by such previous avatars as Buddha, Rama, Krishna, Mohammed and Jesus.

The spiritualist, who “dropped his body,” as his followers say, on Jan. 31, 1969, wanted no religion created in his name but rather to emphasize the oneness of all religions.

According to Linda Zavala, chairwoman of the centennial event, “He came to awaken the love and divine intuition within each person through intimate contact, rather than teaching, as gurus do.”

A celebratory dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. next Saturday. Reservations are $10. All other events are free. For information, contact the Avatar Meher Baba Center of Southern California, 10808 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90025. (310) 474-9454.

DATES

* “The Singing Church,” a participatory event intended to shatter the stereotype that Catholics don’t sing in church, will be the centerpiece of the ninth annual Loyola Marymount University President’s Day “Homecoming for the Mind” from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday. The day will include about 20 lectures, a Mass and a reception hosted by President Thomas P. O’Malley, whose lifelong love of music and singing inspired the sing-along session. Registration is $25. Reservations are requested at (800) 337-ALUM, or may be made at Loyola beginning at 9:30 a.m. the day of the event.

* March 15 is the deadline for mailing entries in the annual nationwide essay contest for high school students sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Skirball Institute on American Values. The grand prize for one high school sophomore, junior or senior and a teacher is $5,000, plus a trip to Washington. Others can win up to $1,000 in cash.

This year’s topic is “What Can Events, Documents or Personalities in U.S. History Teach Us About Protecting Our Environment?”

Winners will be announced in early May. For information, contact the Skirball Institute on American Values, 635 Harvard Blvd., Suite 214, Los Angeles 90005. (213) 381-1719.

* Holman United Methodist Church will present the Holman Choir in its 35th Annual Concert of Negro Spirituals at 3 p.m. next Saturday and Feb. 27 in the church sanctuary. For tickets, which range from $10 to $50, or information, phone (213) 731-7285. 3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles.

* Did the Jews invent Hollywood? How did immigrant moguls influence American culture and values? Marc Wanamaker, chief archivist of Paramount Pictures, will discuss these questions on a guided tour of Hollywood, including stops at Paramount’s historic Melrose Avenue lot and Hollywood Studio Museum, from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 27. Sponsored by the University of Judaism. For registration information, phone (310) 476-9777.

* First Baptist Church will hold a Festival of African American Spirituals, performed by the Cathedral Choir and soloists, with a guest commentary by the Rev. Manley Johnson, at 11 a.m. Sunday. 760 S. Westmoreland Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 384-2151.

* A Jewish and Buddhist retreat, “Shabbat and Zazen: Realizing Jewish Passion and Zen Freedom,” led by Rabbi Don R. Singer of Malibu and the Rev. Helen Yuho Harkaspi, Sensei, will be presented from 3 p.m. March 4 to noon March 6 at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. For registration information, phone (213) 387-2351.

PURIM

* B’nai David-Judea Congregation will celebrate the Purim holiday by reading Megillat Esther (the scroll of Esther) at 6 p.m. Thursday, followed by a buffet. Reservations are $17 per adult, with a discount for those in costume. (310) 276-9269.

* Temple Israel of Hollywood will hold a family service at 7 p.m. Thursday, followed by food and dancing. (213) 876-8330.

* Purim carnivals will be held Sunday at the Westside Jewish Community Center, (213) 938-2531, and on Feb. 27 at Temple Beth Zion-Sinai in Lakewood, (310) 429-0715; University Synagogue in Los Angeles, (310) 472-1255; Temple Beth Ohr in La Mirada, (714) 521-6765 or 691-2551, and Temple Israel of Hollywood, (213) 876-8330.