Letters from India

42. 60th Birthday - Nov 1985

60th Birthday

November 1985

Prasanthi Nilayam

(This handwritten letter, with all Birthday descriptions, was 50 pages long!)

Dear ones,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Jai Sai Ram! Well here I am in Prasanthi Nilayam, India. Hope you are in your own Prasanthi Nilayam in Walnut Creek, enjoying the nectar of the Divine Presence. :-)

I’ve been a bit sentimental lately. Bhagavan blesses and what can I do? All is sweetness and beauty, and I like to see others also dissolved in that sea of joy. Sai showers so much Grace. He’s soo sweet and loving, all Ananda, all giving, giving, giving. May we all partake in the Ananda He’s showering, in the Ananda He IS!

School’s out in Sai’s schools so all the students are here now. They, unfortunately for us devotees, are allowed into the Mandir so there’s less room for us for bhajans. But Sai is being very kind and letting me go in every day, and even though daily there’s only a 50/50 chance of getting in, in the last 29 days I’ve been inside 27 times! I think the Mandir is my favorite Darshan – so Sai grants it. A couple of days ago the Mandir was practically empty for some odd unknown reason, and I got in super-super close. Like an interview! Seeing His lotus face up close for soo long!

The morning of that day (28th), friend Rohani from Malaysia gave me her camera and said I could take 7 pictures. I stayed outside the wall for Darshan (it’s about nine rows deep in Darshan, then four rows on the raised arch-platform, and directly behind it is the wall). But during Darshan it was so quiet I only took one photo and was chicken to take any more. For bhajans Swami only goes straight into the Mandir, or stands on the verandah for a moment before going in. Sometimes He goes around for a short Darshan to the men; and when He does go to the lady’s also, he always skips the side-of-Mandir side. So I thought, so much for pictures.

But – can you believe it! Swami came all the way around, even past my side right in front of me! No one’s allowed on the sands for morning bhajan cuz of the sun, so there were only a few people sitting under the arches. Swami walked right up to the edge of the arch platform, taking letters, going really slowly and showering attention. Staying especially long where I was. He even gave Abhaya (“Why fear”). He gave me the nerve and I took about 8 photos, when He was right there in front of me. How He showers Grace! I was always observing and seeing that whenever someone had a camera handy, Sai would pose especially long and wait for good pictures to be taken, then only move on. I was surprised and pleased to see Swami was granting that Grace to me also! ;-).

On Dasara (23 October) Swami performed 600 marriages in the Poornachandra. It was full of them – none of us got in.

Got a cold for a few days but then got better. Akhanda bhajan was 2-3 November. I stayed the whole time outside, right in front of the Mandir. He gave lots of outside Darshans. Was totally blissful. I just left only four times total during the 24 hours, only to the bathroom and back (once to go around Ganesha). Very happy! I was mostly right there on the choice corner spot by Ganesha, facing the Mandir. Mostly there were a few hundred people there all the time, coming & going, but from like 10 PM to 4 AM only very few, 50 or so (lady’s side).

On 3rd He gave so many Darshans – so much Grace! He gave a dawn Darshan on top floor verandah – plus other top-floor Darshans during the day. He came around a few times, also coming out on verandah and sands for standing Darshans. How lucky we are! How beautiful He is! Going around at 8 AM or so, He gave a long, loving look to me – a blissful, blissful time.

After many car Darshans of having Him look away from me, or straight ahead, He turned the play around one day. I began making fun of Him inside, “Here comes Zombie Sai Darshan (cuz He’d stare straight ahead like a zombie!) After that, for a few days He’d look my way or right at me!