Swami Chidananda's Visit
January 27, 1998
Dear Parents,
Swami Chidananda came on 14th and left on 22nd. The place was full with devotees. As usual, I only saw him in satsang from afar, except once for a fleeting moment, when he handed prasad to us “workers”. The chance to talk with him for a few minutes when you both came, was a rare chance!
I went on another flying visit to Visakhapatnam with Jnaneswari and the South African millionaires, to meet Swami Chidananda who was to arrive there. Alas, his plane was delayed and the South African guy refused to stay a second night on the ashram. Jnaneswari sent them back here in the car, forcing me to also accompany them. The next day Swami Chidananda arrived there, declined to stay even one night, saw Kailash hill for an hour and arrived here at 9:30 PM.
I had a roommate (Hindi lady, disciple of Chidananda) for a week and am glad to be alone again, with free time. Jai Sai Ram!
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.
Love,
Divya
________________________
Computers in Ashram!
March 2, 1998
Dear Parents,
Two computers have been bought for the ashram! One for here and one for Visakhapatnam. I have been busy lately with fixing up one room in the Library for the computer, and doing other duties due to the girl Kumari going one month to Kakinada for computer course, and another helper Chandravati having eye operation.
Then, due to Jnaneswari’s help with her friends in high places, both Susheela & I were allowed to make visa renewal applications for another year extension.
Jnaneswari is taking Susheela, Kumari, Vinamra and me to Hyderabad to visit the eager devotees there from 4th - 12th March.
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.
Love,
Divya
___________________
Hyderabad Visit & Susheela Leaves
March 20, 1998
Dear Parents,
Divya conveys her namaskars. Here all is well by His Grace. We all went and returned safely to Hyderabad, from 4-12 March. It was nice with all the eager devotees, but not nice because they stuffed us with feasts morning, afternoon and night, from 15 to 25 varieties of foods at each meal! How can the body digest such diverse meals? Anyway, by God's Grace I stayed OK (except from nausea from all the food).
Susheela has packed up all her bags and has moved to the mouna Swami’s ashram, where they are building her a new cottage. She ended her silence on Sivarathri day, after observing mouna for over two years. She wants to be with her guru, in a place where everyone meditates for hours a day, keeps silence and asks no one for money donation or ashram seva.
Stay well! Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu!
Love,
Divya
________________
Learning Computer!
March 30, 1998
Dear Parents,
As you can see this is a printed letter on the computer! Swami Ramaswarupa who arranged the computer, came again and set it up, thankfully hearing my humble prayers to convince Jnaneswari to keep it near my room instead of way down in the office area, so inconvenient for us. Happily, the computer is now right beside my humble dwelling, in one room in the large cottage beside mine.
For the last one week I have been typing away, many letters a day dictated by Jnaneswari, and learning all the wonderful abilities on the amazing bundle of shakti – the computer! Yes, I must admit it is a bit exciting and also very convenient. Still there are many things to learn, after all, I last worked on computers 15 years ago - and then I was mostly only playing games and creating simple programs, not secretarial works!
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...
