Letters from Shanti Ashram, India

16. Life in Kotagiri

Life in Kotagiri

May 1, 1995

Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu

Dear Parents,

Divya conveys her namaskars. Well, here I am in the cool and crisp environs of Kotagiri, ashram branch of Shanti Ashram. Jnaneswari asked for a typewriter to be kept near me, so that I could play the part of her secretary for as long as we are here. Jnaneswari receives about five or six letters everyday, which need to be answered. She writes the Telugu ones herself, and dictates the English ones to be neatly written and sent later. In the main ashram, the job goes to friendly Lokesh, a man who everyone considers mad. But I know he is merely God-mad, always chanting mantas and eating sathwic diet of raw vegetables (that is enough for Indians to consider him mad!).

All is well here - all places are the same, isn't it! It all depends upon where the mind is. It is a bit chilly here, but for the moment it is bearable. It is wonderful to be with Jnaneswari, since it is so effortless to remain in the joy and love of the Lord. It is a bit noisy here, all ashramites and kitchen noises also, in one small area. Cinema songs can be heard screeching from nearby shops. I wonder if there is anywhere left in India that is free from these poor huts which all have speakers playing film songs? Even in the quiet hills of the Mother ashram, one can sometimes hear the speakers from nearby villages.

A mention of the noise brought a typical reply from Jnaneswari, “What is sadhana? Is it not to feel the presence of God everywhere and at all times, in all SOUNDS as well?!” She is definitely unaffected regardless of any situation or place.

There is one nice “cave” here, a small room built nearby, on the ashram property. Nearly 80 stone steps down the hill brings one to the retreat. No one visits it, maybe due to the steep walk down and up! But I visit it often, it is a nice quiet retreat even though at some times during the day one can hear the talking and clothes washing of people in neighboring houses. If one is immersed in that Blessed state of Bliss, one does not notice outside situations, but when one is struggling, one notices such things!

Here is my daily schedule:

4-5 AM: Bath & washing clothes

5-7 AM: Meditation in cave

7-7:30: Preparing for satsang

7:30-9: Satsang

9-10: Breakfast with Jnaneswari (an incredibly slow eater)

10-11 AM: Jnaneswari reads a Telugu book out loud to us – currently it is “Vision of God” by Swami Ramdas of Anandashram

11 AM – 1 PM: Talk with Jnaneswari, writing letters for her or if no work, meditation in the cave

1-2:30 PM: Lunch with Jnaneswari

2:30 – 5:30 PM: Free, rest and to the cave, or writing for Jnaneswari

5:30 – 6 PM: Preparing for evening satsang

6 – 8 PM: Satsang

8 – 10 PM: With Jnaneswari, massaging her legs and listening to her reading the Ramdas book

10:30 PM – 3:30 AM: Sleep

Thus days pass pleasantly, striving always to remain in the consciousness of the Divine, to constantly experience the joy that is always with us, the state that is the very goal of our lives.

Here I am getting VIP treatment, due to being in Jnaneswari’s traveling party. Five of us came: Jnaneswari, Meera (remember, the Delhi lady who keeps to herself? she was at Anandashram and was asked to leave at the same time as me. she is constantly repeating the mantra ‘Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram), Kumari (an 18-year old girl who went to school in the Mother ashram; Jnaneswari looks after all her needs and Kumari helps out Jnaneswari in cooking, cleaning etc. she is very happy and friendly girl, always laughing), Karunamma (an elderly lady who has trouble walking. she is very nice and soft-hearted, and is devoted to Jnaneswari with all her heart and soul – also has made large donations to the ashram), and myself. All of us, as well as Susheela who is helping to look after the Kotagiri ashram administration, are housed in the main building, the former house used by Swami Omkar. There is a dining room where we eat our meals, a kitchen, two bathrooms and a small hall alter room, where satsang are held. All other devotees are housed in a nearby building having rooms for guests. Up the hill a bit, is a big Mandir hall (used for satsang when crowd is more), another building with a few rooms, and the school. The children are all day-students so there is no hostel.

All the hills are thick with tea plantations. Every two weeks the tender leaves are plucked and sent for processing. The ashram grounds also have some area of tea leaf bushes, which brings the ashram some income during the year.

Others would be envious that I am in a cool hill station, free of charge, and in close quarters with a saint!

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu!

Love,

Divya