In the Net of Humanity

March 22, 1999

Dear Parents,

We are having computer problems but I do not know the situation. My inquiries are not answered properly.

The scriptures declare that one should not waste one’s time or energy in words that will not be heard or followed. One should not give advice when one knows very well that it will not be heeded. So, I am keeping mum. Somehow I am slowly, slowly learning the art of keeping quiet.

Actually, I am feeling caught more and more in the net of humanity. When I was small I felt in a former birth I was a cave dweller and felt repulsed by dealings in the world. Anyway somehow I have gone on in the world. Ashrams are a mini-world! Maybe even more intense. Why join the competition? I feel a pull to go off totally alone and be a forest dweller, with no dealings with humanity. Alas – if only I had a gent’s body that would be easier!

Love,

Divya

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Funny Sivarathri Story & March Troubles

April 15, 1999

Kotagiri

Dear Parents,

College boy Vijaya (now here for holidays from Sathya Sai college in Puttaparthi) told a funny story. He said many of the students saw the actual emergence of the lingam (this year was the first time Swami did it in many years). From the very next day a bunch of students gave up going to Suprabhatam (compulsory for students) and bhajan, thinking that they have no birth so no need to strain! After a week of this, Swami called them and said, “No one can escape the fruits of their actions, good or bad. If they don’t experience them in this birth, they’ll a have to suffer in some other birth!” This got the boys thinking and they again started attending Suprabhatam & bhajan!

March was a month full of troubles for me – all worldly/physical. My latrine stopped up – after a week the workmen came & bashed holes in the big pipe leading to the septic tank. Now it’s OK. (Trouble was roots growing through the pipes.) Then my water faucet stopped up – no water for 15 days (I had to bring water from the well) till repair guy leisurely came & removed dirt from the top part. Then the computer problems. Then I got a foot infection – they said due to water & dirt going between big toe nail & skin. Big swelling, seeping pus & lots of pain. Antibiotic pills with castor oil cured it in a week. Some other problems I can’t remember – but since arriving here to Kotagiri, all seems OK.

Love,

Divya

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Tons of Luggage to Kotagiri

April 15, 1999

Kotagiri

Dear Parents,

Namaskars. Here there is not much privacy – in all directions people are talking & moving about. Even Jnaneswari doesn’t fare well – she shares her bedroom wall with the kitchen storeroom, and people always are marching in to get things & discuss menus. The dining room is right outside her window, as well as the hot water heater. Don’t know how she stands hearing bucket after bucket of bath water being filled from 4 AM till 7:30 AM, with workers talking loudly.

I brought a lot of Swami Omkar’s dairies & old letters to transcribe. All so people will not try to talk to me, seeing me busy with ashram work. Nothing to do here so everyone just talks – which I don’t like!

The luggage of us five: Jnaneswari (plenty of things to distribute to others), Bheemavaram Lakshmi (dragging pickles & other kitchen goods), Vinamra (dragging boxes & boxes of books & cassette tapes), Susheela (carrying iron, hair dryer & other foreign necessities), and me, the luggage totaled over 45 bags, suitcases, baskets & purses! Eyeing the long, long line of things, the coolies mumbled that they would take no less than Rs 200 and they grumbled that it was possible so much luggage would not be allowed onto the train! We spread out stuff in three compartments, asking permission of other passengers, settled on Rs 125 for the coolies & adjusted. Less luggage, more comfort, makes travel a pleasure! Ha, ha! Hari Om, Tat Sat Om!

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.

Love,

Divya