Birthdate: September 11, 1948 URS October 21, 2024
Mirabai, born Marie Louise Chrin, was a long-time mureed of Pir Vilayat, and a devotee of Murshid SAM as well as Murshid Inayat Khan. At times she also went by the spiritual name Kamila and sometimes Kamila Mirabai. She lived many years off and on at the Abode of the Message in New Lebanon, and for varying lengths of times at Lama Foundation, Unadilla, a farm in North Carolina, a Christian monastery in Vermont, a retreat center near Gloucester, Massachusetts, as well as private spaces. She answered the call to stay with Rabia Longworth toward the end of her life in Kentucky. She spent her last years in elderly housing in Lee, Massachusetts.
Mirabai felt most at home living in community, although she wasn’t always the easiest to get along with. She fully embraced her Virgo personality and her position as an Eight on the enneagram–truly a force to be reckoned with! But her loving heart always won out, and she was always open to tea and conversation.
Mirabai was known for a number of gifts: her superb culinary skills, her beautiful singing voice, and her delicate art in creating signs and posters, Abode T-shirts, many lovely cards, and embroideries. She greatly enjoyed feeding people and cooked for many retreats: at the Abode, in the Alps camps, and all over the country. Sharing her skills with others and with friends near and far brought her the most joy.
As a cheraga she led many beautiful and moving services, sharing her devotion and knowledge of spiritual figures and scriptures and experiences. Her services were enhanced by her beautiful singing voice and her vast repertoire of songs.
Mirabai touched many lives and will be long remembered by those who knew her.
~ September 11, 1948 – October 21, 2024
Mirabai – WOW! You have moved on. I didn’t know. Joyous travels, my dear.
Mirabai … thank you so much for your life, your love, your depth, your thoughtfulness, your humour, and your cooking! And also, thank you for the many unsolicited digital greeting cards that you sent me over the years. I think it was your way to say “hey, I am thinking of you and wishing you heartfelt blessings.”
’til we meet again!”
We were friends and co-workers at the many camps when you were in charge of, managed, and were the chief chef in the kitchen. Later we were at The Abode during my tenure in 2000-2002 we worked together many times. It was lovely, tasty, and even challenging and I am teary-eyed that you have left the earth plane, even while wishing you God Speed on your journey back to The Only Being. I still have the Heart and Wings you sent in one of your many hand drawn cards and remembering our last in person visit. Many Blessings on these memories, Dear Friend.
In memory of Mirabai Chrin.
Sending many Salaams. I remember Mirabi well, and enjoyed working in the kitchen she led at a number of Abode camps.
May she remain always in our hearts.
Mirabai was a longtime good friend. We first met at the Alps Camp where she was baking, then again at the Abode, as residents and
cooking together for Programs.
Mirabai helped me cook for my wedding, she hosted the baby shower for our daughter, took care of her, and created many beautiful cards and a calligraphy of “Let the beauty we love, be what we do.”
One of Mirabai’s favorite songs was the Heart Sutra: Gate, gate, paragate, para som gate bodi swaha. And she created a dance:
I am opening up in sweet surrender, to the luminous love light of the One. I am opening, I am opening.
“Let me retain thy beauty,
Which I have as the rose.” HIK
Rest in peace, dear One!
I miss her sense of humor. We shared a love of books and would get together to watch the parade pass her residence in Lee. Safe travels.