Arriving Whitefield & Ooty
April 15, 1987
Prasanthi Nilayam
Dear Peoples,
Rama’s day was on April 6th. Swami surprised all, and slipped from our grasp on April 8th. He left Prasanthi Nilayam without telling anyone, without turning on the lights, and while we were inside the Mandir singing the Suprabhatam at 5 AM. We were trapped inside! He went to Whitefield.
The office hadn’t called me again and I didn’t go down that way so they couldn’t take me off the streets of the ashram. :-)
I was feeling attached to the ashram and as my room was paid for a few more days, I decided to stay until the rent expired.
So, happily stayed in the peace and quiet. It seemed as if Swami’s presence was stronger than ever, only the “maya” had gone (the illusion of form). I continue to do seva, sadhana, etc.
Before I left, Swami’s sister gave me prasad and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll be back again.” I was thinking it may be my last time in Prasanthi Nilayam, before I leave the country.
In Brindavan, the Guest House was already full (I came on the 11th), so I had to get a room outside. I couldn’t help laughing how I wished for and how He gave a room inside Prasanthi Nilayam ashram, and now how I was outside in Brindavan - must’ve been my fate to be outside sometime.
Anyway, it was OK. So many foreigners arrived! Then Swami left on April 14th to Ooty. Many, many taxis and even two devotee buses followed. I came by public bus, for $5 (10-hour journey). We got a nice hotel room, not cheap but not too expensive, at $2 a night. Very clean and more important, very good vibrations. I traveled with an old-time devotee (she’s a little older than me) from London (Indian, decent). We’re sharing the room.
Meanwhile, the devotees got in a dormitory for $1.10 a night. But loud, confusion, not really good vibrations. So, all is fine and I'm writing this letter at the first Ooty Darshan.
It’s cool here and relatively peaceful. I am happy and fine. Keep well all of you. May all the world have peace & happiness.
Om Sai Ram,
Love,
Eileen
___________________
Adventures in Ooty & Kodai
April 20, 1987
Kodai Kanal
Devotees,
Well, I wrote you from Ooty but my schedule was such that I was not near the post office when it was open. What to do.
Swami gave Darshan morning and evening. We stayed in Ooty only three days – then we all went to Kodai.
In the morning in Ooty, Swami came around for Darshan. “Big” crowd (1/3 of Prasanthi Nilayam crowd) and completely undisciplined (except the foreigners and some permanent Indians). Indian villagers desperate to capture Swami (touch His feet), no matter how far off He walks. What to do. How are they to know the rules?
After Darshan, some of us camped there for the day, reserving places for evening Darshan and hoping for more Darshan. All three days Swami went out in the car – once along with the bus load of Parthi boys (whom He brought), probably for a picnic. Two days, in the middle of the day, when hardly anyone was there, we saw Swami peek through His window at us!
So, we came at 6 AM (starting at 5:30 AM to walk up the hill), and they let the line (one long line) in at 8 AM. Swami came around 9:30 AM (long wait in the sun!). He was especially loving and compassionate this year, granting close Darshan and coming close to many of the ladies, even though they were undisciplined.
Then we waited around (a few foreigners and several groups of day-camping Indians) until 5 PM or 5:30 PM, when Swami came for evening Darshan.
During the day, we’d share food, take naps (in front of Swami’s house – imagine!), read quietly or stare at His window.
After evening Darshan, Swami would wave towards the doors and we’d all make a mad rush inside, for bhajans.
The students would sing and Swami would sit in His chair - we (ladies) would have a side-view only. Swami would glance towards us only once or thrice during the whole time. How pleased He’d look at His boys and the small Ooty school boys!
By 6:30 PM bhajans would be over, Swami would be in, and we’d trudge down the hill to our hotel. A long (or short!) 12-hour day of Darshan and waiting for God to make His appearance!
At 8 AM on April 18th, Swami left Ooty and came to Kodai Kanal. He had bought a busload of about 25 students. He got into their bus and rode with them out of Ooty! Imagine Swami in the middle of a bus! I happened to be in a van - very expensive ($8 for a nine-hour drive; government bus would’ve been $2.50 and 12 hours), but it was very worth it, because we were behind Swami’s car! (Or rather, in the line of cars behind Swami’s car: six taxis and two vans, plus two more cars of invited VIPs.) For two hours we followed Him – nice. I soaked up being in the direct Aura of Divinity.
After awhile, Swami got out of the bus and got into His car.
After two hours, Swami sped up and we lost Him, but He stopped at some devotee’s house, probably. Because, when we were about 20 kilometers (1½ hour) from Kodai, suddenly we saw Swami’s car behind us! By that time, every car had lost Swami, except one VIP car. As He passed us, we gave cries of joy. He echoed this by laughing with a huge smile, and waving to us all inside! Later we heard the same story from people in other cars and vans - that Swami lost them, then later passed them on the way.
Swami arrived at Kodai at 5 PM, and our van at 5:15 PM. The busload of boys came about 5:30 PM. Swami welcomed them by waving from the window (speck Darshan for us, far from the gate). Then Swami showed them around the house – they sleep upstairs. After some time of this speck Darshan, Swami sent word that we should all go, and come at 10 AM the next morning for Darshan. (Naturally all cars, vans, and taxis of devotees had gone straight to the house for Darshan, not caring about food, drink or accommodation. Meanwhile, all the drivers of the vehicles wanted to leave. They were threatening to drop the luggage lake-side - Swami’s house is by the lake - and split.)
We made a run-about for 2½ hours and finally found a place for 90 cents a night, a 3½ kilometer walk from Swami.
Next day Darshan people were disciplined, Swami talked and joked and was very playful. He let me touch His feet and as I did, He looked down and said, “Yes, yes” sweetly! A “Yes: for each foot in Kodai. :-) Very happy!
After Darshan, by Swami’s mercy, we received an offer we couldn’t refuse – to live in the house next door to Swami!! Rooms in this house cost $35 a night, but we somehow talked them into letting us live in the garage for $2.20 a night! And so near to Swami! So, four of us are in the garage (my London friend & two others). This day – the first Darshan in Kodai – was April 19th, Easter Sunday.
Evening was bhajans – Swami walked and stood during them – beautiful up close Darshan. Long, long – a shock after the two-second Prasanthi Nilayam Darshan! But He didn’t come around to the ladies side.
In Ooty the weather was cool; in the mornings, quite cold. But I was comfortable with shawls and my trusted blankets at night. Now in Kodai, the weather is quite pleasant. Coolness but not cold. In Ooty I was getting headaches daily, all day - maybe from the heat, and waiting long; but Kodai is pleasant, not many headaches.
The garage is nice! I’m warm enough at night. Separate bathroom is semi-clean, bearable. Soo nice being near His house!
Then there’s the trouble of reserving places, then leaving for hours. How much arguments on this! People want to throw the empty mats lake-side. (“Lake-side” is an expression here.) The people come, gather their mats from the mud outside the lines, big fights ensue and they “adjust” themselves back in line. All join this horrible game. It wasn’t so bad in Ooty. The strange thing is, several residents (foreigners) do this, and also those who have been many times, or have had many interviews. All these people should know the rules and should have some idea of dharma. I don’t participate – along with several other people.
Anyway, I am happy. I hope you are all well and that the Lord is taking good care of all of you.
Om Sri Sai Ram,
Love,
Eileen