Letters from India

73. Visit to Madras & Moving Rooms - Jan 1988

Dance Program in Madras

January 26, 1988

Prasanthi Nilayam

Dear Peoples,

Parvatamma’s granddaughter put on a dance program in Madras. For some odd reason, I felt I must go. Swami didn’t give her permission to go, so she sent me alone. I stayed four days in Madras, staying as a guest in the house of Parvatamma’s eldest son, Nagendra, and his wife Chitra. Their daughter Smitha (age 12) danced so well (Indian cultural dances). It wasn’t a huge gathering.

During the day I rested or played games with Smitha and her brother Madhukar (age 9). Parvatamma’s son is special - very good vibrations. He says he goes to Parthi only as a devotee, not wanting to get involved in all the family politics!

Anyway, I stayed there and am now back in Parthi. The room situation is a bit tense – I think I’ll have to go to the office soon and see what happens.

Ingrid is in the room – she sends her love.

Swami is fine and giving Darshan as usual, but He seems very distant – almost not here. I feel more love from the sisters – I feel I do more sadhana with them then when waiting for Sai’s Darshan. Yet it seems a very spiritual time, what to do.

It is getting warmer – hooray! Still the mornings are cold.

Love,

Divya

___________________  

He’s Giving Everything I Wanted

February 1988

Prasanthi Nilayam

Sai Ram,

Everything is fine here. Weather is slightly warmer.

Parvatamma is fine. I continue to have extensive contact with her. Every time I think of how insistent I was, saying I’d be close to her, I can't believe I was actually right! A few days back she mentioned that we must have had contact in a previous birth, to have come into contact now also. So I told her the dream I had (leaving out that Venkamma was also in it!). Now she tells people I was her daughter in a previous birth!

The owners came to our Round Building room so we’re now in R5, C6. I forgot if I mentioned it but, because of my going to Madras, some confusion about the room happened. So I was lead to re-register at Public Relations and Accommodation office. Because I had been away they granted me, by Swami’s compassion and Will, a brand new month! Imagine, after four full months! So happily I'm registered properly, legal and all that. Certainly I had been deeply contemplating and accepting the possibility of being thrown out and having to go to another ashram. As in the past, when I threaten Swami with going to another ashram, He lets me stay. Ha! And since my requirements were to be legal with the office, He grants that too.

Ingrid and I are alone in the room now.

I’ve been skipping lines a lot, sometimes not joining for days. I feel it’s only a phase and Swami could stop it at any time.

Swami is, what to say, His usual Self. :-) He’s granting Darshan and interviews as usual, as well as coming to the Mandir for bhajans. I'm noticing that He seems to be kinder lately, with granting padnamaskar to front row people.

Nowadays there’s 23 lines for Darshan. That’s a lot – and it’s not even a festival!

All is sooo well. But still, naturally, I wish moksha. Otherwise, He’s giving everything I wanted.

Sai Ram,

Love,

Divya