Letters from India - Part 2

17. Rent Doubled Etc. - Dec 1989

Rent Doubled Etc.

December 1989

Prasanthi Nilayam

Sai Ram all,

Now all must pay rent in the sheds, Rs 2 a day. Slips are checked each time we enter the shed, to make sure we have permission to stay and rent is paid up. Very tight. I just went to the office for the first time since early November. At first Vibhishana didn’t want to look upon my face, but when Bharat appealed to him as to what to do (saying, “Swami has just given orders that no one is to stay longer than two months”), Vibhishana compassionately gave the quiet order, “Let her stay,” and I was issued a nice Public Relations office slip and the blazing red “Shed Pass” card. Permission is till 20 December but they say, “Come after that, we’ll give you,” Swami’s Grace.

Venkamma is very kind to me, actually her heart is so, so huge. If anyone suffers, she suffers; if anyone has happiness, she shares in that also. She really cares so much.

Rent has doubled in the Round Houses overnight, from Rs 10 a day to Rs 20 a day! People living outside thought Rs 300 or Rs 400 a month was a lot, now inside the ashram is Rs 600 a month! South & West Prasanthis have gone up from Rs 5 to Rs 10 (without fan) and from Rs 7 to Rs 15 (with fan).

Poor Mataji (top ladies side volunteer) showed up for Darshan a few days ago (first time we’ve seen her in weeks) in a wheelchair. It hurt my little heart to see her so ill. I remember the first time I saw Kutumba Rao in a wheelchair. Swami didn’t come near Mataji but mumbled something to her from afar. She wants to go to Punjab (her native place) but Swami’s not giving her permission. (The next day, He gave vibhuti to her, put it on her forehead and gave namaskar).

Meanwhile, our Sashtri Garu (temple priest) is sick with diabetes! He hasn’t done puja or arathi in days.

Swami has been mostly going far during Darshan – only twice or thrice stopping to get letters and that only from several feet away. Most complain that although they got first line, He didn’t come near enough for namaskar. A few desperate Indians pounce on His lotus feet from afar, which causes a scene. Thus is our Darshan of the Lord of the Universe!

Without Mataji doing Darshan lines and without Kutumba Rao and Chiranjivi Rao in the office, the ashram is mostly quiet and no black cloud of fear is pervading. Yet it also means less discipline. Sometimes we miss Mataji to control the masses!

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Love,

Divya