Letters from India

71. Birthday & Christmas 1987

Birthday 1987

November 26, 1987

Prasanthi Nilayam

Well, conference and Birthday went off well as usual. Conference was all-India Seva Dal, with 17,000 delegates. So many more people than last year, it seemed. Every shed, building and tent was full. Mostly Indians.

Swami gave discourses to open and close the conference (19th and 21st Nov.). We all had to stay out. So I sat quietly far from everything (mostly since akhanda bhajan on Nov. 14). On the 22nd, Convocation day, I got into the Poornachandra. As usual, Swami came in procession, gave awards, gave discourse. But, He surprised us all by wearing a velvet maroon robe! So beautiful!

Birthday morning I went in late but still got a place in the foreigner’s section. Swami started late, 10:30 AM! He sat in a huge blue chair for a couple of bhajans, then gave a discourse. At the end He distributed sweets – laddus.

Birthday night I refused to join the mass of humanity outside. Happily, Sai had other plans! After the hall was "full,” time was near when Sai would come and even His sisters had gone in – the volunteers discovered a few places left in the foreigners section! I waited till the small crowd by the 1st door was let in, then I was allowed inside. I had wonderful Darshan. Sai came with a VELVET orange robe! He swung in Jhoola a full 65 minutes, while devotional music was played. The longest I’ve ever seen Him in Jhoola! Plus I didn’t see any angry looks on His face (although later, those who had binoculars said He was mad-looking as usual).

The day after B-day He gave a surprise discourse! I watched from outside – I could hear every word and understood a lot of the Telugu! Wonderful discourse.

How long I have here, I know not. I’ll see. Be well.

Love,

Eileen

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Xmas & Parvatamma’s Seva

December 26, 1987 Prasanthi Nilayam

Sai Ram,

The lady with the parcel that you sent for me, found me on Xmas day! I almost fainted when saw, “or c/o Venkamma or Parvatamma” on the parcel - ! Hey this is a secret, peoples!

Xmas was GREAT! Dawn Darshan was so special. Then at Darshan the college boys rendered Xmas carols into light-rock and played them during Darshan. In the evening, there was discourse (couldn’t understand a word) then a children’s play (Sai sat in the audience), then choir music (Sai sat onstage), it was really nice – but did go a bit late (we sat from 2:30 to 7:30 PM).

I got so many scoldings in the week before Xmas – mostly from the other two foreigners whom I was doing seva with. They’re saying mean things, that my name is ruined because of my association with Indians. I guess they complained to Mataji, and Mataji said I shouldn’t do this Poornachandra seva anymore. I feel peaceful sitting in the crowds – and really feel separated from the foreigners. I accept that this seva may be finished… but as it is replaced with Parvatamma seva, I don’t mind at all! :-)

I'm still helping Parvatamma daily – imagine, my words were true - !! I even get to cut Sai’s veggies (for His food), plus organize the basket of prasad that Swami sends to family members once or twice a week (fruits, veggies & nuts) when it comes (for use in making Sai’s food). I give her medicines, clean her kitchen, and little things. Also I haven’t been going to lines in the mornings; I just don’t feel like it. I see Venkamma then, on the stairs of South Prasanthi where she is for Darshan, so we talk sometimes - usually 2 or 4 times a week.

When I was being scolded by one foreigner Seva Dal, I was a little upset. She was saying I should go back to USA, I'm too young to stay here, etc. I felt it was not Swami, as my heart says to stay. But I needed confirmation, so I went to Venkamma and told her everything. She told me I should not listen to them, even Mataji! She said I'm right in staying here.

I conveyed your Xmas greetings to both Parvatamma and Venkamma. They smiled and were so happy. :-)

Take care! May all be happy and at peace.

Divya

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Teasing With Venkamma

January 5, 1988

Prasanthi Nilayam

Dear Peoples,

Swami has been fine, but I noticed when I touched his feet on Xmas eve, His feet were extremely cold. Paapam! He skipped the ladies twice recently, making signs which seemed to say, “SO many people! Go, go! Why haven’t you all gone yet?” Ha, ha!

The office is getting strict again, removing people from rooms & telling them to go, go. Happily I'm in the still-full shed so no problems. (They’ve even opened another foreigner ladies shed, this time a single shed instead of the double-shed type.)

Venkamma has been extremely nice lately, teasing with me a lot so I tease back. She plays as if she has no memory at all - still asks which is my country, even wondering whether it was Fiji when I made her guess one day! I saw recently that she’s kept the letters which I wrote her from Anandashram, safe in her address book.

Thanks to Venkamma my Telugu vocabulary is growing. In honor of my 22nd Birthday I gave her flowers, telling her to make sure she gives them to her idols of Rama in her puja area. Tons of flowers she put on all except Rama, I saw later! I scolded her so much and was forced to buy more flowers and put on Rama myself. How she laughed later with her older friends, telling them how upset I was that she didn’t give flowers to Rama! Tricky one, this Venkamma.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Love,

Divya