William Donkin (physician)

William Donkin (14 November 1911 – 9 August 1969) was a British medical doctor and a disciple of Meher Baba.

Donkin was a medical student when he first met Meher Baba in London in 1933. In 1939, after completing medical school, he joined Baba’s men mandali at Meherabad and served Meher Baba for thirty years until his death in 1969. Most notably Donkin traveled with Meher Baba on his mast tours in the 1940s, and wrote a detailed account of these unusual travels in his book The Wayfarers: Meher Baba with the God-Intoxicated, first published in 1948. At the time of its registration, the U.S. Library of Congress described The Wayfarers as "The most unusual book we have ever received." In 1949, at the age of 37, Donkin embarked on a series of spiritual adventures with Meher Baba called the New Life, and was the only western member of the New Life 'companions.'

Donkin's life with Meher Baba is chronicled in Donkin's Diaries (2011, Sheriar Foundation) and Slave of Love: The Life of Dr. William Donkin with Meher Baba, by Bob Mossman, (2012, Oceanic Publishing).