Spiritual Diary
July 12, 1996
Dear Parents,
Here is my daily eating schedule:
6 AM: Lime juice with honey and a pinch of salt (sometimes one chapatti if leftover from night).
9 AM: Glass of milk (with freshly crushed ginger and cashews; fruit if available (banana or papaya); idlee or upma.
11:30 AM: Lime juice (after returning from the library)
2 PM: Lunch of vegetables mixed with yogurt (no rice); also some peanut sprouts and wheat sprouts.
The rest of the day I drink water. Every few days I boil soya “meal maker” and add them to the vegetables.
Jnaneswari continues to look after me carefully, in the work I do, how I conduct myself, how I react to things and how I meditate. She told me to keep a spiritual diary and she regularly reads it and gives advice. Every night for 30 minutes or so, she takes me alone to sit outside her cottage, to talk of my spiritual progress, doubts or just to meditate together, feeling the Presence of God. She has ordered me to thoroughly read the Bhagavad Gita. Daily she inquires what slokas I’ve read and what I'm doing in daily life to practice them. A blessing to be so closely guided! May He guide us all to the Blissful Goal - Om Sai Om!
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.
Love,
Divya
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Retirement from Library Duty
August 2, 1996
Dear Parents,
Today happens to be the anniversary of my arrival in Shanti Ashram – two full years have gone by so fast! The days seem to be speeding at breakneck pace. May we make every moment worthwhile by feeling Him and enjoying that Presence may He Bless all!
The Indian installation system doesn’t seem to be very steady, as a little wind results in electricity wires falling down somewhere, and suddenly the lights go off. It takes time for the repairmen to search the hills and repair the lines, thus restoring electricity to the ashram and surrounding villages. Several times we had no lights for 3 days in a row; and when it does come, it is usually only for a couple of hours then it is off again! Anyway we do not notice it much; there are plenty of kerosene lamps around.
A week has passed since my “retirement” from library duty, and I am happy to have the perfect schedule of some seva (Mandir duties and a little help to Jnaneswari) and several hours of free time for meditation and “home duties” (mostly sewing torn clothes, writing letters sometimes and now carrying buckets of water from the well as water supply is gone again). I am happy in the little cave-like home and simple meditative life. Unlike Prasanthi Nilayam, there is no rush, no politics, no competition. Only a few elderly residents striving to experience God.
I continue to be content had healthy. Even in USA and Prasanthi I had allergy (stuffy nose and frequent colds), but here I have none of that.
Well, all for now! Be happy, peaceful and healthy! Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu!
Love,
Divya
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Always Peaceful & Unruffled
August 18, 1996
Dear Parents,
News from Prasanthi Nilayam is that it is like a Golden Age: Swami’s giving great discourses and singing songs every day. Plus. He has removed some office staff and replaced them with good, kind people.
Here I am fine, healthy and content, carrying on in sadhana and some seva. Jnaneswari is fine and as usual is an inspiration to us all – always peaceful, unruffled and showing equal, sincere love to all, no matter what condition their body, mind or mouth is in! May we also be so filled with His Light and Love. May our minds and hearts be immersed in Him only! Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu!
Love,
Divya
YOU ARE READING
Letters from Shanti Ashram, India
SpiritualI lived in India from 1984-2005, and wrote to my parents regularly about my adventures in Indian ashrams. From 1984-1993 and again 2001-2005, I was living in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, and I am adding all of those my "Letters from India" book, whi...
