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PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

Preparing

On Thu, 15 Jul 1999 05:08:02 +0000 (GMT), Jeannie

Alvin wrote:

Hi, folks!

My mailing address is the same, but now the

letters PMB (for private

mail box) are required in front of the number:

Jeannie Alvin PMB #70

993-C S. Santa Fe Ave.

Vista, CA 92083

AND !!!!!

I made my plane reservations for my trip to

India today!!! I depart

Sept. 18, and arrive there on Sept. 21st!!! (I

lose a day.) I will

stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a rest stop

after about 23 hours of

flight, I think?!!

After some sleep in a hotel, I will fly on to

Madras, India, sleep

overnight, and fly to Bangalore, Southern India,

a very short flight.

I will depart India on Jan. 14th, and reach

L.A. on Jan. 15th.

Mom is treating me to a trip this weekend to

see Teira in San

Francisco. We are looking forward to a great

time!

Love to all, and when will I see you?

Jeannie

Jeannie Alvin <jeannie_alvin@yahoo.com> wrote:

Aug. 17, 1999

I am so excited, because one month from today I take

off for my four

month pilgrimage to see a holy man in India, Sathya

Sai Baba.

see www.sathyasai.org/

Many consider him to be the reincarnation of former

holy men such as

Jesus, Krishna, etc. I agree with all of that!!!

My phone number until I leave is at my friend

Harry E’s.

He is a friend of 9 years, and I am

staying with him.

We are enjoying great harmony.

My mailing address is Jeannie Alvin

993-C S. Santa Fe Ave.

PMB # 70

Vista, CA 92083

Here is my travel itinerary, it is a bit daunting!!!

I leave for San Francisco on Sept. 17th, where I

will be with Teira

Alvin overnight. Then I leave for LA airport at 10

am Sept. 18th,

leave LA for Kuala Lumpur at 2:40pm, a 19hour and 50

minute flight,

with one stop for gas in Tokyo.

I arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1:30am their time, go

to a free hotel

room provided by my airlines, Malaysia Air, and

sleep a while. Then I

leave Kuala L. at 9:25pm, and fly 3h35min to Madras,

India. It will be

10:30pm there (but 10 am Denver time! They are

12h30min ahead of us on

time).

I sleep in Madras, and take off on Indian

Airlines for Bangalore. I

will find out in Madras where Sai Baba is, because

he may be in

Bangalore for a few days. Or he may be in his

ashram, Puttaparti. It

is called Prashanti Nilayam, abode of highest peace.

If he is at his ashram, I will probably take a

cab 2-3 hours to the

ashram. Although some days a plane flies right to

the ashram. I will

figure out this part of the plan in Madras, when I

find out where Sai

Baba is.

I will be be in India until Jan 14th, when I head

back, arriving in

San Francisco Jan 15th.

I am packing my bags now!!! I will send emails

from cyber cafes in

India. Love, Jeannie

Sept. 11, 1999

Five more days until I leave for my big four month

trip to India, where

I will stay at Sai Baba's ashram (spiritual

community), or nearby.

For a sneak preview, there are some great

pictures on the web at

www.sathyasai.org/pictureinfo/picts6.htm

I am pretty much packed, just taking care of the

last few details.

I am getting a bit excited!

Take-off!

Sept. 20, 1999

Hello from the other side of the world!!! I had a

wonderful visit in

San Francisco, and then flew out Saturday on

Malaysia Airlines.

My first excitement came as I saw our

stewardesses, about a dozen of

them, dressed in long traditional Malaysian dresses!

They were

gorgeous!!!

I flew on a huge jet, and ate 3 dinners, very

delicious food, and

slept on and off during the 20 hours of flying.

Then a man was waiting with a sign for my hotel,

the Empress, at the

Kuala L. airport. The airlines provided a beautiful

hotel room,

transportation, and 3 meals today. The meals are

very good. Plenty of

fresh fruit, cut melon, papaya, etc., and good vege

selections. I had

fruit and rice and vege curry for breakfast!

Then a young Japanese girl and I went exploring.

We got directions

to the local bus and train, and went into the city,

about an hour from

here. She wanted to stay in the city, and we took a

cab from the train

station to the shopping area. But after our taxi

driver had shown us

photos of the Buddist temple located in some caves

near the city, the

shopping did not appeal to me. I left my young

friend to shop, and I

got a taxi and went to the temple. I climbed 275

steps to the top, and

there were statues in a giant cave. It was

beautiful. Fortunately for

me, the clouds shielded the sun, and it cooled a bit

during my climb.

There were more caves and many more statues of

Krishna, Ganesh, and

many others below. Monkeys were everywhere.

I was roasting hot after my descent, and had

coconut milk from a

fresh, chilled coconut. I took a cab to the train

station, took the

train back towards the hotel, then another cab from

the train station.

I was too tired to wait for the bus at this point.

This cyber cafe is just outside the hotel.

I have to pack up, because my shuttle to the airport

leaves in 55

minutes from now, at 7 pm. Off to Madras, India. I

will change my

Malaysian ringets to Indian rupees at the airport.

Love to all,

Jeannie

P.S. No jet lag so far. I am feeling great!

Arrival, September

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Jeannie Alvin [mailto:jeannie_alvin@yahoo.com]

> Sent: Saturday, September 25, 1999 3:51 AM

Hello from the other side of the world!

Sept. 25, I think! I am living out of suitcases, and

haven't seen my calendar since I packed it!

I arrived at Bangalore airport on Tuesday, and

Francis P., the taxi driver, was there with my

name on a sign. We took straight off for the 3 1/2

hour trip to Puttaparti. Fortunately I had a giant

bottle of water (thanks, June) and food packets

(thanks Diane O). We stopped once on the way

for coconut milk, and once for a restroom stop behind a

building, in a corn field. Luckily I was a Girl

Scout, so I had some training in roughing it!

The last 43 kilometers was a single paved lane.

We arrived at the ashram after passing the beautiful

super specialty hospital where patients are treated

at no cost. It was very exciting to arrive. My dream

come true.

I began the sign in process, and signed in for 4

days, as I want to go out of the ashram, and come

back in at Christmas. I can stay only 30 days inside in

one year, but I can split it up.) Francis found me

two ladies to room with by the time I did a bit of

paperwork.

(If someone is alone, you go in a big room with many people,

so you try to pair up.) It turned out that they also signed up

for 4 days. They were Diane and Devi, from South Africa,

and they were just what I had prayed for. I had prayed for

the love and harmony and joy I had enjoyed with Jeanne M

and Jeannie M, and these two were the answer to that

prayer. There was not a moment of disharmony; lots

of laughter, and each had something that the other

needed. Precious women. Thank you, Swami. They

left today.

Now I am with 2 other women, Spanish speaking

ladies. I just moved in and have yet to unpack. I

hurried to darshan (seeing the Lord), and then

hurried to write, as I know family and friends may

be worried.

Don't worry, I am well taken care of. Life has

been too much of a swirl to find much time to come

here to type, and the other 3 times I came, elec.

was out, yahoo was out, etc.!

I saw a woman leaving darshan yesterday morning,

and her eyes were exquisitely luminous. I saw her

at dinner, and mentioned how luminous her eyes were.

She said, "Did you see what happened? " I said no. She

said, "He glanced at me!" Imagine his power, that

a glance has such an effect.

I got in token line #1 after overcoming some

inner "stuff." This means our line got to go in first,

and we got the front seats, closest to where Sai Baba

walks by. I could see Sai Baba leave his residence,

walk up the sidewalk, and come in front of me. It

was the best part of a very great day.

The letter that I brought for him comes each day,

but he has not yet taken it.

It is interesting that at home I could not sit

comfortably on the floor, but here I sit for hours,

and I am totally fine. I get up at 4 am every day,

and by about 5 am heading either for Omkar (21 oms)

or Sankirtan (walking round the ashram barefooted

singing praise songs) then go in to wait for darshan about

6:45 am, leave and get breakfast in the canteen a

good walk away, go back for bhajans (songs of praise to

the Lord), and then Swami comes out again to walk back

to where he stays, giving us another glimpse. I try to

sit in silence for 10 minutes after seeing him, as

he has said that otherwise we loose the energy he

gives.

While waiting, I read the Suprabhatham, exquisite

verses speaking to God. Also, I meditate, thanks to

a new meditation the Diane O taught me, as well as

seeing it in the Sun Meditation video at the Philosophical

Library in Escondido. It is Paramahansa

Yogananda's teachings, given to us.

After 5 days of travel, I felt in a swirl,

learning the daily schedule. I still am learning it!

This is paradise for vegetarians. There are 3

canteens, each with several choices. My favorite is

the North Indian canteen.

I have to go buy a new outfit, all mine are

dirty.

I found thin cotton, my original punjabi was a

polyester mix, and too hot. I found thin cotton

ones for 100 rupees (42 rupees/dollar). And I may make

it back to bhajans.

More soon, love Jeannie

__________________________________________________

From: Jeannie Alvin [mailto:jeannie_alvin@yahoo.com]

Sent: Sunday, September 26, 1999 10:33 PM

Subject: Yearning for Divinity, within and without,

at Prashanti Niliyam

Hello again! Sept. 26th

The internet is not connected, so I am using

Notepad to write this ahead of time, then I'll copy

it to my email and mail it to you in an hour. (Half an

hour to write, perhaps that long to click all the

names on Yahoo.)

I managed that yesterday, and then rushed off to

badjans (singing and seeing Swami again), so I have

not had a chance to read anything anyone wrote to me

yet. Maybe today.

I am now rooming with two ladies from Argentina,

gracious enough to allow a third person in their

room.

They are embodiments of tranquility and love, and

cleanliness. The bathroom and the floors shine! We

communicate in Spanish.

This is a group letter, no time to send

individual ones, so a paragraph to some of you!

I tried to email Teira, Rose and Terry from

Kuala Lumpur, but that email failed, and I have not had a

chance to fix it. I probably entered the addresses

wrong. Teira, please ask them each to email me,

then I'll just hit the "add" button and get it right. I

love you, Teira darling. Hug, hug.

Rachel O., please tell Tom thanks again for the

cushion, the backrest really makes a difference, I

use it 4 times a day. And I put June's air cushion on

top of it. Thanks, June.

Stephanie O'R. and Vickie J., thanks for all

your help getting me prepared. I was well prepared,

have everything I need. I love the Nutribiotic,

Stephanie. I use it a lot. I have it in a squirt

bottle.

Harry, I got some great little pictures of

Krishna, etc. Thinking of you! I just saw a great Ganesh

wall hanging for about $6.

I was quite overwhelmed and lacked orientation

at first, but do not worry, Swami takes excellent care

of me. He has had me with totally loving roommates the

whole time so far. I have figured out where to go

and what time meals are, etc.

I can tell that the spiritual progress is

tremendously accelerated here. "Stuff" comes up and

gets processed, it is gone, and the next wave

hits!!!

Sitting in darshan I can feel the progress

intuitively.

The heat is tremendous. And we are covered from

head to foot, plus a scarf covering our chests,

necks, shoulders (for women). Now I know how Victorian

women felt! Hot! I am so glad for my very short haircut.

We are always taking off our shoes before

entering buildings, the shoes are off more than they are on.

So why even bother with them. I enjoy the free

feeling of going barefoot, which I was able to do

inside the ashram until yesterday. Now it is too

hot to go barefoot in midday, the sidewalks are burning hot.

I love seeing Swami. He is so precious. I adore

him. I have sat close , far, and in between. I

like it all.

The internet will go on in a minute!!

Monday

I retrieved emails yesterday. There is usuually

just enough time to either read or send, so today,

hopefully, will be a send day.

Mary asked via email for more stories about the

effect on people when Sai Baba looks at them. So

one day later, he already provided another story! God

heard you, Mary, and here is your answer, in one

day!

That is a Sai story in itself!

I went to breakfast after darshan, and spoke

with a lovely lady in line. We sat together, and I

got around to asking her how her experiences had

been.

She said that she has often gotten very near Sai

Baba, and he has looked in her eyes several times.

She said that she brought some photos of people in

need of healing, and held them up for him to bless.

He came right over to her and touched the pictures

and looked into her eyes. She said she felt immediate

total peace, and part of everything that exists.

There are so many languages here, and not

everyone understands each other, in fact, much of the time,

we don't. But there is a universal phrase that means

excuse me, please be quiet, let me by, etc., etc.

It is "Sai Ram," which means Mother/Father God (rough

translation, I am sure!) You hear Sai Ram

everywhere.

Love, Jeannie

________________________________________________

October

On Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:30:28 -0700 (PDT), Jeannie Alvin wrote:

Hello from the Abode of Highest Peace; Oct. 2,

1999

There has been a big festival going on for several

days, and today I saw a procession of thousands of

people entering the temple with padugas, silver

sandals that Sai Baba put on, I was told. These are

now holy objects, and wherever they go, his presence

will be there.

Today and yesterday, with the huge crowds, I did not

get space inside the Poornachandra auditorium, but was

left with many others where we usually wait for

darshan tokens. But both days, I was sitting where I

could watch Swami walk by on his way in. Both days,

instead of walking straight in, he came over to the

little gate by where we sat, quite close to us, and

waved at us! I was so appreciative yesterday of his

thoughtfulness, as he knew we would not get in, and my

heart was very touched, and I was so happy. And today

he repeated it!

That afternoon after bhajans (singing, and seeing

Swami once again), I experienced my first monsoon

rainstorm. The rain came down so hard and fast that

it soon made 3" rivers of the sidewalks! Everyone

huddled at the side of the buildings for a long time,

but finally I decided to just go to my hotel and eat

dinner there, and just not worry about getting soaked

up to my ankles. My plastic-insole imitation

Birkenstock sandals held up, and I got to my hotel

fine. I enjoyed the experience! I ordered some

Chinese food with room service (cost about a dollar),

took a shower, and was fine.

We are organizing a little USA group, most of us came

alone and we are scattered all over, but we are having

short meetings and unifying. This is an answer to a

prayer, as I had prayed for unity.

I stayed two days in the room with the Argentine

women, then went to the Sai Towers hotel for 4 nights,

and yesterday moved into an apartment! Here is the

story on how I found the apartment.

I had been looking, and had seen one for 1500

Rs./month, but it was too dark, and had drips in the

bathroom. I knew I wanted more light, and everything

working. I was supposed to meet two women at

different times by the Ganesh statue, but with the

crowds, I missed one, and the other later told me she

had not felt well.

So I just decided to go exploring, and walked down

the rocky Bank of India Road, because I knew at least

two women had apartments on that road. I got near the

end of it, and met a Canadian man. I asked him if he

knew of an apartment, and he said yes, he knew of one,

because he had a friend living there. So he took me

to meet the watchman.

He showed me a beautiful apartment on the top

(fourth) floor with screen door and window screen,

front and back doors, back balcony with a grill all

around for security. Inside the floors are shiny

white tiles, imitation marble, I think. There is a

big living/bed room, with a bed, 2 mattresses, a

plastic chair and plastic tiny table. There is a

built in closet with hanging space above and shelves

below. There is a kitchen (no fridge or stove), and a

bathroom with a shower and a hot water heater that I

turn on when I want, with an electric switch. Elec.

included. Very cheap cost!!!! God (Swami) really

takes care of me!

I typed this before reading any of your emails.

Thanks for your letters. Please only personal

letters, no chain letters.

Teira, darling, I was sure I had your current phone

number, but that morning of my departure, I had only

Francis Monet's number! I tried finding Rose's number

in the phone book and could not find it. Love, and

hugs.

Much love, Jeannie

Oct 4

I read your emails, but the computer got kicked off

the internet after I spent about 15 minutes checking

off names 10 at a time on Yahoo, and when it came back

on I would have had to start over. These are slow

computers, and I had already spent an hour reading

your emails to me, and I had enuf for the day.

Thanks, Barb and Jim, for your love! Mrs. Clark, I

have written your prayer request for healing your

sister and her daughters on the envelope that I

brought with me from the Encinitas Sai Center, and I

will keep trying to give it to Swami.

If anyone has healing or prayer requests, of

course they are known as soon as you pray, but I am

glad to write or print them out and try to give them

to Swami.

Yes, Jim M., I got your letter.

Love to Harry and Phyllis.

Phyllis, my apt. rent is $50 a month US. I thought

you might enjoy finding that out. Wink, wink!

Puttaparti was a little mud hut village before Sai

Baba got famous. It is still just a small town, with

one barely two lane road with dirt shoulders, and tiny

one lane or smaller side streets. If you have been to

Tijuana, the shops look like their shops, only there

are no radios blaring. And every shop is a Sai Baba

shop! Even the Bank of India has an alter to Sai Baba

in it, very, very beautiful, with a larger than life

size picture of our darling Sai.

Walking to my apartment, or scooting along in an

auto-rickshaw, I see pigs and piglets, roosters, and

along the main road, there is really not much traffic

at all. It is about a 5 minute walk to my apartment.

There seem to be about a dozen of the little

auto-rickshaws buzzing around, an occasional car or

bus bringing devotees, ox carts, a donkey by the side

of the main entrance to the ashram, flower and

vegetable market just outside the ashram gate. The

papayas are small, seedless, and delicious; the

bananas are tiny, and have the best flavor of any

banana I ever ate.

There is a constant cacaphony of sound on the main

street, even with so little traffic, because the way

to drive in India, whether by ox cart, rickshaw, car,

bus, or tractor, is to honk at anything that moves or

might move! (People, ox cart, rickshaw, car, bus, or

tractors, goats, etc.!!!) It is actually fun to buzz

around in the little rickshaws; I trust the drivers.

I am beginning to feel adjusted, it has taken all

this time. I have to figure out a routine to follow

now that I am in my apartment. The huge crowds that

were here for the Paduga festival have mostly gone,

and I think I am going to get up at about 3 am and try

to be one of the few that get in the original temple

for the Omkar, 21 oms. We can get in the gate at 4

am, and to make it in, I am going to have to be there

by 4am. It is supposed to be a powerful experience.

I finally had a chance to explore more of the ashram

today, and found the meditation tree where Swami used

to meditate. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, and also

noticed that people sit on the grass by the Ganesh

statue for quiet reading.

I bought a book today, written by a doctor who

volunteers at the Super Specialty Hospital here. The

doctors and staff all volunteer, there is no charge

for anything, operations or medicine or room. Sai

Baba believes that health care and education should

be free, so it is, here. There is also a general

hospital at the ashram, free of charge for anything!

The book is so cheap here, it is a gorgeous big red

book with beautiful color prints in it. It is the

doctor's story of his volunteering here, not knowing

Swami, and his interviews with Swami, and his becoming

a devotee.

I also bought a bhajan (song) book, with Sanscrit

words and English translations. (Swami is reviving it,

and teaching correct pronunciation.) I figure when I

am sitting in long waits for darshan (seeing the

Lord), I can be inspired, and also learn some

Sanscrit. I love learning languages.

Well, I am going to try again to send you this. If

not, I will just add to it next time.

Love from someone who has seen God 4 times today

alone!!!

Jeannie

Well, the computer disconnected again, so this will be

continued next chance I get!

p.s. I really appreciate the emails from home. I

love hearing from you all!

I am going to send $20 with April, who is going home

tomorrow, and a tiny shopping list. If anyone feels

like doing me a huge favor, it would involve a

purchase at Boney's, and one at Walmart or any similar

store. Then, another huge favor, please, some devotee

who is coming over, bring them to me! Thank you,

thank you!

Oct. 8th

Dear Vickie Jewell;

April brought a little list for me, and was

planning to give it to you. I am hoping someone will

be willing to get me a few things, and then send them

here with a devotee coming here. Could you ask Diane

Olive if she would be willing to get the things on the

list as she does her regular shopping? A change to

the list... no Nutribiotic needed, April gave me her

full one, and I still have mine. But, I would like to

get several pounds of pitted prunes, in 1 pound

packages (Trader Joe is cheapest), and athelete's food

medication, the kind in the tube. The cheapest brand.

Thanks, if anyone can help.

Dear Harry and Nancy Alter;

Harry, can I just send you my email letter, and you

forward it to everyone on my list? I don't think you

know how to get my list in a file, but Nancy is an

expert and I hope she will help you.

Nancy, can you show Harry how to do this?

I can probably get one email through, but

by the time I try to check all the people on my list,

I get kicked off. Or, would you be willing to do

this?

Alternative: Will some one of my friends be

willing to do this service? I would appreciate it so

much! Thanks!

I had an interesting shift in cultural awareness in

the last two days. I was in the line to buy bread in

the ashram shopping center. A young Indian lady was

behind me, and pressed up much closer than I wished.

I put my arm up on the siderail as a barrier. Then I

thought about how loving the Indian women were in the

Indian canteens, and thought that their pressing up

close could be an indication of more comfort with

closeness and love.

So I took my arm down, and the young lady pressed up

close again. She was actually pressed up against my

back and leg. I turned and smiled at her, and we

began talking. She was very happy because she had

touched Swami's feet, that day, I think. (Her English

was not very good, so I am not sure of when this

happened.) We shared a nice interchange.

Then this morning in darshan ( seeing the Lord), I

noticed a large western woman with a lot of space

around her. We sit pretty close usually, cross-legged

on the floor on our pillows. There was about half a

space making an aisle between her and the person to

her side. A little Indian woman put her rug down

there, and the western woman picked it up and threw it

back towards where the woman had just come from.

I thought to myself, she doesn't know that she just

turned Love away.

Then a different little Indian woman (literally

little, these women are 4 feet tall!) came and

squeezed in beside me. I looked at her and smiled a

welcome, because Love came and sat very close beside

me. I felt privileged to have such a sweet being

beside me.

Uday is here with his mother. She is very young

and sweet. Uday is taking a book home to mail to my

Dad. He and his mom are here until Sunday, then he'll

spend a week at home with her and his family.

Several people who I have lived with told me in

the last year that I ought to live in a monostary. I

love living here. I love sitting in a restaurant,

looking around, and seeing people praying before they

eat. I love sitting in the giant auditorium,

surrounded by hundreds of people who love singing

songs to God. I love being surrounded by people for

whom spiritual growth is a priority.

I love walking the tiny streets of Puttaparti,

seeing pigs and piglets, donkeys, oxen; and speaking

with the Indian people.

I am overtired, and it is 8:10pm, late for someone

who gets up at 3:45 am.

I am going to try again with Yahoo.

Love from the other side of the earth.

ps The earth looks pretty much the same here as it

does there. A lot of the same plants as in

California, although there are some trees we don't

have. And I saw my first lotus flower blooming in a

pond! The earth is red in places like in Colorado.

Oct 10

I am going to try again to send this email!

I connected with a small group of people from the

USA who are connected with the I AM foundation! We

really resonate, as those of you will understand who

are familiar with book 7 on my web site, an "I AM

Devotional Service," and my friends Harry, June,

Martha, and from the Essene Church!

I had the back door and the side window screened by

carpenters. They have been in my apartment for hours

for 3 days. This was an extra challenge, but it is

through, and the extra breeze is great. In the shade

there is a breeze and it is cool, but in the sun it is

amazingly hot.

I am told the internet is connected now. Love,

Jeannie

November

Date: Fri, 05 Nov 99 16:18PM PST

From: Vickie Jewell

To: Jeannie Alvin

Subject: RE: catch-up letter from Brindavan for group

forwarding

Great to hear from you Jeannie. I love all the news

from Swami's feet.

When He first left for Brindavan, I thought of you and

wondered (since you'd just gotten an apartment) if you would stay on

in Puttaparthi in your apartment or follow Swami to Bangalore. I'm happy

to hear tofollowed Him. Sounds like you are having a wonderful

experience.

I too, made the trip to Mysore and the orphanage on my

last trip and was surprised to hear that there is a "cut-off" time. I

guess we were just lucky to have arrived in time.

Well, dear one, must get back to work. (oh, I

understand that the Sandweiss's are bringing your

slippers!Hope you connect with them.)

Lots of love, Vickie

-----Original Message-----

From: Jeannie Alvin [mailto:jeannie_alvin@yahoo.com]

Sent: Sunday, October 31, 1999 12:41 AM

To: Harry Evans

Subject: catch-up letter from Brindavan for group

forwarding

Oct. 31st Bangalore, India

Hello to everyone;

Sai Baba suddenly left Puttaparti on Sept. 20th to

go to his ashram in Bangalore called Brindavan, and

the thousands of devotees scrambled into taxis and

busses and followed him.

I was not feeling too well, felt I needed rest. So

I was going to stay for a while and just take it easy.

But that very afternoon, I went into my apartment,

and said to myself, "What am I doing here if Sai Baba

is not here."

I went outside and met a neighbor who lives

directly below me. His name is George L., from the

San Francisco Sathya Sai Baba Center. We decided to

share a taxi the next day, and go to Baba.

We went together to the bank, and met another

American from the San Francisco center, Steven F.

He offered to let us share his taxi the next morning

at 10:30 am.

So we all got cash from Canara Bank. I can easily

use my Visa/ATM card there. Then we went home and

packed.

I was so exhausted and hot; it took the last bit of

energy to walk back to the canteen to eat dinner at

6:30pm. Usually there was a long line, but Sai Baba

took care of me. There was no line, I walked right in

and sat down and ate. When I walked out, the normal

long line was waiting.

The next morning the cab came to George's and my

apartment. We loaded up, took some pictures with

Narayana, the watchman, and drove into the ashram to

get Stephen.

We spent the most pleasant time driving to

Bangalore. I really enjoyed both Stephen and George.

We arrived in Bangalore one day after the mobs

decended on this small suburb called Whitefield, and I

saw the name of the ashram, right on the city street,

"BRINDAVANAM".

We were very fortunate to find a room right away.

I changed to the Sai Amrut hotel the next night.

Expensive for India, but the toilet works, and the

room is beautiful.

I went to darshan (seeing a holy person) the next

morning, and appreciate the difference here from

Puttaparti. At Puttaparti, Baba walks in, walks

through the women's section, then the men's, just a

pretty quick stroll through the front.

Here He walks through most of the aisles, so most

of us get a closer look, and he is spending more time

with us.

Also, for the afternoon bhajans (singing, at

Puttaparti, he just comes out at the end, but here, he

sits in His chair up front and we have 30 minutes

contact with Him.

I can feel the difference. When he makes little

movements in the air with His hands, I can feel the

Divine energy flood the area. It is a wonderful gift

to be in His presence an extended time.

George and I became good friends very fast. We

share amazing harmony, something that has taken me a

lifetime to achieve. But now, he is the 3rd

circumstance in which I have experienced it.

First, I experienced heavenly harmony, great love, lots of

laughing and joy and nurture with Jeanne M. and

Jeannie M. (love and hugs to you!!!). Then again

with my South African first roommates at the ashram.

And now with George. What a blessing! All that

psychology, therapy, personal growth, spiritual

practices to clear negativity and negative karma!

Finally, mostly joy!

George and I wanted to go to an orphanage in

Mysore, four hours taxi ride from Bangalore. The

trucks went on strike due to an increase in gasoline

prices. We took advantage of their absence from the

highways, and the lack of pollution, horn honking and

traffic. Off we went to Mysore.

At about noon, George asked the taxi driver, who

takes many people to this orphanage, if there is a

cut-off time for entering. Luckily he asked this

question! We were told it cuts off at 2 pm (it was

actually more like 1:30pm), and the 4 hour taxi ride

would have been for nothing!

So we skipped lunch. This orphanage was started by

a former thief, who was healed by Sai Baba. Miracles

began happening. There is amrith, holy nectar, that

pours continuously from little metal pictures of

Shirdi Sai Baba (Sai Baba's previous incarnation, 8

years prior to this lifetime).

We arrived at about 1 pm, and were directed to go

inside. We went inside, and saw a door open in the

far wall. We went there, and saw an elderly man

sitting on the floor giving amrith to 2 or 3 people to

our left. Beyond them all was an alter area. There

were another couple of small groups of people.

In the alter area, there was a large picture of Sai

Baba when he was young. It spontaneously fills with

vibuti, sacred ash. It is an indication from Baba of

His presence there.

George and I tasted it. It tasted like licorice!

George and I sat down on the floor, and took out

our bottles that we brought for the amrith. We had

brought some bottles for other people, as well.

The man came and sat by us, and put a little

medallion of Shirdi Sai Baba in the palm of my hand.

My hand filled with nectar. The man took a

tablespoon, and spooned it into my other palm, and

indicated that I should drink it. I did, and

meanwhile, the amrith kept forming in my other hand.

He did this for George and I.

Then the man rejected a number of our bottles,

seeming to have clear inner guidance, filled a bottle

for me, for Gayatri, and for George, and that was all

we were to receive.

This man got up, and took a lingam, materialized

from Sai Baba, and began touching it to various points

on people's bodies. George and I observed this, and

went and lined up behind those receiving this

blessing. Soon it was my turn. The man touched

various points on my head and chest, including my

eyes, with this lingam. (It is an egg-shaped stone,

looking like quartz.) When it touched my eyes, it was

as if he touched them with an electric light. My

interpretation, days later, is that the stone is full

of God's light!

We donated some rupees, and then, at about 1:30,

the man said we were all done, and ushered us all out.

These were my first personal experiences of Sai

Baba's materializations, miracles to me!

It was a profound experience, and I needed to keep

silent about it for quite a few days. This is the

first time I have spoken of it.

The drive to and from Mysore was through exquisite,

lush country. We stopped on our way home and had

delicious coconut chutney.

On the drive, George began teaching me a few words

of Hindi! We had a lot of fun with this!

The hungry beggars have been on my mind. I bought

food for the occasional one, like the children I had

seen daily in Puttaparti, sitting quietly begging by

the path. One not very busy day, I saw the girl

looking through the garbage dump where orange peels

and coconut husks were thrown. It broke my heart.

So I have been doing much thinking about this. One

person can make so little difference, and the benefit

of one meal is so quickly gone, and the next meal is

needed.

I decided to combine doing what I could, 45 rupees

a day in food to the poorest of the poor, and a prayer

project.

So I am praying for soup kitchens in all

neighborhoods, in all the world, milk for those who

need it, at least moms and kids.

Every time I have a spare moment, I pray for this,

and the way I pray is to lift the prayer to God,

according to His will, and then thank Him for the goal

complete, food there for the poor, now, 3 times a day,

in all neighborhoods where it is needed. I see waves

of service, person helping person, going around the

world.

I am passing on this prayer and service project to

anyone whose heart wishes to join it.

I am hoping to inspire other Sai devotees who are

here. I am praying to see hundreds of us out with

bags of food, so that where we are, the hungry are

fed.

I had 65 rupees today, Suzanne from Atlanta added

20 rupees. I bought 9 loaves of bread. I feel a bit

like the Pied Piper, the mothers with babies know me

now, and follow me to the bakery.

I make them line up. I say, "No line, no bread,

one each." "Nahi line, nahi kana, ek kana." Then I

give them bread, one slice to kids, 3 to moms with

babies in arms, 4 to pitiful old ment.

I enjoyed doing this the first morning, and am

doing it every morning after darshan. The second

morning I did not enjoy it in the least; it was quite

frustrating. There was no order, and some got bread

more than once.

More to think about. This is not about my

feelings. It is about their hunger relief. So I go,

no matter how I feel.

So far George and Suzanne have joined me.

I need to log off soon.

Ruth, Swami is very much alive, and is soon going

to have a birthday, 74 or 75, on Nov. 26th. He says

he will live in this body til age 96, and be back soon

as Prema Sai Baba. He has shown what he will look

like, almost exactly like we think of as Jesus's face!

Love to you all, Jeannie

Dear All,

Check out this new site, put together by Bon Giovanni,

originator of Sai Net

as well. You will need to apply soon, as he is closing

it to all but members.

Many blessings,Stephanie http://www.delphi.com/satguru

December

Date: Wed, 10 Nov 99 02:39AM PST

From: Jeannie Alvin

To: Harry Evans

Subject: re-send last letter, plus here is new letter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Harry;

Do not worry about who got the emails and who did

not. A lot did not. Please skip Peter, it is a

business, and the obvious business names. There are 6

or 7 of them.

So just re-send that last letter to everyone. And

here is a new letter to send next. Thank you so much.

If you have difficulty, try calling Nancy A., or

Caroline F.-E., or Vickie J. at the Sai

Center. You can get her number from Stephanie.

Let me know how it goes, and what you do. Thanks

again!!! Much love, Jeannie

Here is the new letter, you can copy and paste it onto

a clean letter and then send it to everyone.

Nov. 7, 1999

I am typing in the midst of loud firecrackers all

around me. This was a festival day called Deepavali,

Festival of Light. It is the Hindi New Year, I am

told.

Many of the shopkeepers are setting off fountains

and sparklers in front of their shops. But there are

many big, loud blasts. I saw one firecracker before

it blew up, and it looked like it was 2 inches by 3

inches.

Sai Baba spent quite a bit of time with all of us

during darshan, instead of going right in for

interviews. (There goes another fountain right

outside the window of this cyber shop, and some more

blasts are continuing. I just stuffed my ears with

kleenex. I hope I can concentrate enough to write

this tonight!)

Swami gave prasad (a blessed offering of food,

today it was candy) to most of the people at darshan.

The men's side all got some, and about half of the

women's side. Not me.

I saw Sharon Sandelweiss for a few minutes tonite.

She is so lovely and kind. She is giving me her

rubber bath mat for my shower. The floors are tile

and very slippery. She is bringing a few things back

to the San Diego and Encinitas centers. I hope you

like what I am sending, my dear Sai friends and

family. (Just some small things)

I am feeling very well, and very, very happy. I

enjoyed your emails, Vickie J. and Shirley C. and

Harry. Thanks for sending them. I enjoy hearing

about your lives.

On Nov. 4th, I had an amazing, incredible day. At

the end of the day, I was too excited about so many

blessings in one day, so I lay there and counted them.

There were seven blessings! And the next morning, as

if to emphasize or confirm the count of seven, I was

in token line seven for darshan!

The first blessing is that I was able to get the

apartment next to my now close friend George L. It

is on the ground floor. I realized that I was

exhausting myself climbing four stories in the heat to

get to my apartment. Sometimes I would get downstairs

and realize I forgot something, and have to go back

up. Whew!

The second blessing is that the owner of the upper

apartment pro-rated the month's rent I had already

paid, and gave me back most of the money. He said to

me that he never gives the money back. He told me

this as he was counting the rupees into my hands.

I said, "Thank you, it was Sai Baba helping me!"

I must say here, that I have had to deal with a

number of Indian businessmen to fix something that I

bought, and the apartment owners. Every one of them

has been so kind and honorable. Each of them worked

with me until the problem was solved. They are good

listeners, and have very nice temperaments. American

businessmen could learn from them.

I don't know about the rest of India, but if you

are coming to Sai Baba's ashrams, do not fear dealing

with the people here. They are wonderful.

The third blessing is that Narayana, the watchman,

handed me a letter from the owner of the new

apartment. (It is in the same building, but there is

one owner for the top floor, and another owner for the

bottom three floors.) The letter said to go to a

certain shop, and I was free to choose whatever new

cot and whatever new mattress I wanted, paid for by

the owner!

I walked over to the store right away with Narayana

and a watchman friend of his from a neighboring

building! I was asked whether I wanted a tiny single

bed or a double bed, wooden or metal; and cheap

mattress or deluxe!!!

Well, guess what I chose! I got the double bed

with the deluxe mattress! I chose a metal cot because

it has bars at the head and foot that hold a frame for

a mosquito net. That is easier than putting screen

doors in. The mosquitos get in anyhow, when I go in

and out. At least I will be able to sleep without

insect repellant.

I also got a plastic chair and a little wooden

kitchen table, very cheap and quite attractive.

Just as I was wondering how I was going to get all

this stuff home, as it was too much for an auto

rickshaw, blessing number four drove by! It was an ox

cart with a flat bed! Narayana ran out and asked him

if he would take my bed, mattress, table and chair

home. He was glad to, for 20 rupees!

Narayana and his watchman friend and I walked next

to the oxcart for the five minute walk to my house. I

had so much fun! I never moved by oxcart before!!! I

was laughing about it, and hoping I could find my

camera, as everything upstairs was packed, ready to

move.

The fifth blessing was that I was able to find my

camera right away! I got a great shot of the oxcart,

the driver and the watchmen, and maybe George, who had

just come home.

The sixth blessing was that George had taken my

four letters to Swami to darshan, and Swami took

them!!! The first letter is the one I brought from

Encinitas, with some letters from Alicia, I believe,

and others. Also, I wrote a note to Swami on the

outside of the envelope asking for a healing for

Marie-Elizabeth Clark's sister and daughters, and for

their plight to be eased; and I asked for a healing

for Teira. Since he took the letter I am hoping this

means the healings and prayers will go forth.

The second letter was one where I wrote to Sai Baba

and said, "Please take this letter if you approve of

and bless my book 7 (the "I AM' Devotional Service).

So, yes, he blessed it!!!

My seven books are free on the web for anyone to

read, copy, print, etc. It is a way I can share the

simple practices that have helped me so much. Please

visit the website if you would like, and please sign

the guestbook, and share your opinion of the site. It

can be found at www.inetworld.net/lovesource.

The third letter asked if he approved of and

blessed these group letters forming book 8! Blessed

and approved!!!

The fourth letter asked if he approved of and

blessed my service project and prayers for the poor,

where I buy $1 of food a day and give it out, and say

my prayer for food kitchens in all neighborhoods for

the poor all over the world. (Did you all get the

letter where I mentioned that service project and

prayer? One group letter may be missing. It may have

only gone to Harry, Caroline, and Nancy. Caroline, it

may be the very letter where you replied and asked if

I wanted you to forward it to Joan. Can any or all of

you three send it back to me if you still have it?

The date of this letter being sent would have been

just before we left Puttaparti for Bangalore. )

Then, the seventh blessing was that Narayana and

his friend moved my things downstairs in a flash, with

George supervising from below, and me above. An easy

move.

I slept in my deluxe bed!!!

I just recognized Georges voice! He just came by!

He thought he was going to really relax tonight! A

massuesse came to his house. He'd start to relax, and

then the firecrackers went off so loud! Then he

jumped as firecrackers went off!

I'll have to continue this tomorrow. Too much noise!

Nov. 8th

I just sent home with the Sandweisses that

discourse of Swami's from Oct. 14th that the centers

will want to hear and read. I sent a transcript and a

cassette.

When I was still in Whitefield, I met a new friend,

Suzanne from the Atlanta, Georgia Sathya Sai Baba

Center. I already adore her, which took about two

minutes to happen, she is so precious. She is quite

beautiful physically, but very humble and simple.

I met her one day, and the next morning a woman

came up to me in the early morning token line for

darshan. I was just putting my cushion down. The

woman asked if I was going to be in India on Nov.

19th. I said that I would still be here. She said

that a women's choir is forming to sing to Swami on

ladies day, Nov. 19th, and auditions were being held

that night. She said that groups of three would go

into the audition. She invited me to audition!

My sister Kris, and my brothers Tim and Jim, and

Mom and Dad know how much I have overcome to be able

to sing. Our family story is quite the opposite!

A few years ago I began going twice a week to the

devotional singing group in Encinitas. I began

singing there, and taped cassettes to listen to the

beautiful songs all day long. I sang with them day

and night.

Tom Olmos said to just sing from my heart, any

note, and it would harmonize! So I have been singing

in groups for several years now, but I never had sung

alone to even one other person!

So for me to even consider auditioning was

something major! I had to keep my mind from going to

negative stories and experiences from the past. And I

transmuted those negatives thousands of times in a

row. (See the end of book 5 for this spiritual

practice. It works!)

I found Suzanne that morning and told her about the

audition! She loves to sing, and had been in the

Christmas choir last year. She wanted to audition

with me.

We went down the road outside my hotel in

Whitefield, and practiced singing to the bushes!!! I

discovered that my voice could match whatever note she

sang, which was a wonderful discovery for me, and

aided my self confidence for the coming audition.

Suzanne told me that volume was necessary to

succeed in the audition. So we sang very loudly to

the nearby bushes, and even more loudly to bushes

further away.

Suzanne suggested I pretend I was in the

metropolitan opera! The thought of that scared me! I

said I would pretend I was in my bathtub!

She had to go and rest, and I continued practicing

to the bushes. I decided to sing 'He's got the whole

world in His hands,' because the words are very easy,

and if I got scared I wouldn't forget them. Also the

range of notes is not to much.

The day passed, and Suzanne and I went to the

audition. We joined another Jeannie, to make our

group of three. We were the last to go in the room

and audition.

Jeannie and Suzanne were first. We could choose

whatever song we liked to sing; next we had to imitate

the woman singing some random notes; then we had to

imitate her clapping a random rhythm.

The other two women did this. Jeannie had to

repeat hers several times. Suzanne did her turn.

Then me.

I had already dedicated the audition to Sai Baba,

and asked my Higher Self to merge with me the whole

time and do the singing. I mentally told myself that

it was a great overcoming just to be participating in

the audition, and I would be in equanimity no matter

what the result.

I took some deep breaths. There was a big Sai Baba

picture in the far corner. I looked towards it, and

sang as loud as I could to a space about two feet in

front of it.

After I finished the singing part, one of the two

women auditioning us asked me why I was so scared. I

told her I had never sung to other people before.

Then she had me imitate her singing the random

notes. Then the clapping. She did not ask me to

repeat anything.

We were excused, and told to meet at the Krishna

statue on Monday morning five minutes after the

darshan music stopped. We would then be told who

would be accepted for the choir.

In the intervening time, I did my best to keep my

mind from going to negative thoughts, and transmuted

those that came up anyhow.

Monday morning, Suzanne and I sat together for

darshan. After the music stopped, we sped to the

statue. Names were read off. I couldn't believe it!

The woman read, "Jeannie, Suzanne, and Jeannie are

in!!!" Can you believe this miracle!

I have so enjoyed going to the choir practices, the

first choir practices in my life like this! This is

totally Swami's doing, as he knows how much I love

singing, and how I hoped in another life I would be

able to sing well!

A little Spanish-speaking group from the choir of

about a dozen women met separately to learn a Spanish

song, and I got to take part. Now we are teaching it

to the larger group.

Not all of the Spanish speakers understand English,

so I get to do some service by translating what is

said in the big choir group to them. (Hum, sing loud,

soft, meet after bhajans, etc.)

Now I am going to help the English speakers

understand and pronounce the Spanish words.

I will send a tape home to the centers so you can

hear our final rehearsals!

Enough about that!

I am going to explain a bit more about the amrith I

mentioned in a former letter.

The first time I heard of amrith was when Stephanie

O'Reilly came back from India. We were attending the

Sai study group at Jeanne Means house. Stephanie

shared her story of her recent trip, and then said

that she would give each person there a drop of amrith

on the tongue.

We finished our class, had our closing prayers,

then Stephanie went to each person with the drop of

amrith. I sat there and opened my mouth. The drop

was sweet similar to honey, but with a bit of metallic

taste. But, as my friends and family know, I feel

spiritual energy. And the energy in this drop was

profound.

I did not want to move or open my eyes or speak for

at least fifteen minutes. I was feeling a blissful,

powerful feeling that I had never felt before. Since

feeling Sai Baba's energy from his physical presence,

I believe it to be his energy. It feels the same to

me, but it is hard to compare one feeling with

another.

I had another fun experience in Brindavan, in

Whitefield. I had said to myself before morning

darshan, "My intention is a clear view of Swami," and

I pictured myself in a front line.

I sat that morning, the last morning in Brindavan,

at the front of the token line. This would be my

first time to reach in the bag and pick the token

number for our line. I love having new experiences,

so this was fun.

I sat in the line nearest the Krishna statue, to

the far right of the other lines. Suddenly the bag

was in front of me, and I reached in. There was only

one token left. I took it out and looked at it.

It was number one!!! The Seva Dal (volunteer) told

me not to tell anyone, so no one would jump into the

line! She went back and told people quietly.

Then she came in front of me and said, "Sai Ram!"

It was time to go in, and I was the very first person!

I was so excited, I ran and danced over to the front

corner where we get frisked and our purses and bags

get checked. I was so full of joy, that the ladies in

the sea of women sitting in the other token lines all

laughed to see me smiling and prancing up there!

On another subject, I wish to send love and

appreciation to my Dad. During my childhood, he drove

the family on Sunday outings to many beautiful natural

sites in Colorado. We saw Garden of the Gods in

Colorado Springs, the foothills and mountains near

Denver, the aspens in the fall, turning gold and

shimmering. I bring this up because the red soil here

brings back those wonderful memories of childhood.

And Mom, there is a vegetarian restaurant that

George and I love in Bangalore, on Commercial Street.

It is called Woody's!!! Can you believe that?

Martha, there is a lady here from Spain that could

be your daughter. Her name is Lola. She is tiny like

you, and has your face!!! I have her picture, but she

is not smiling. I will try to get a snapshot of her.

She is in the choir with me. Amazing!

Well, I will try to send this off now. Love to

all, write me emails!

Nov. 10th

The connection was too slow. I had to wait until

another day in order not to miss bhajans (singing and

seeing Sai Baba once more). So I will just add to

this letter.

I will share a funny story with you. In San Diego,

at the Sathya Sai Baba Center of Encinitas and San

Diego, we put on a marvelous play based on verses from

very ancient scriptures called the Bhagavad Gita. It

was really fun, I learned a lot from each little

episode we acted out. And I call the people who

participated, as I did, my "playmates." Jackie V.

was the playwrite and director.

After the play I had an idea for another similar

play, but with a fun twist at the beginning and end.

Sai Baba says God created everyone and everything, and

therefore everything that exists is God, being us, the

humans, the earth, the animals, all that is.

And there is a poem that He gave at one time, about

how he is the writer of the drama, and we are the

puppets. Something like that.

So I thought that the play could start with that

poem, then continue as our other play did, with the

various vignettes. And then at the end, the actors

would come out for the final bow...all dressed with a

black afro wig and orange robe. And introduce

themselves...Sai Baba acting as Jackie V., as Phyllis,

as Vickie J., etc.

And then in my mind, I imagined a screen projected

above the audience, with little orange butterflies

with black heads, little orange ants with black heads.

I really laughed to think of these images.

So one day recently I was in the North Indian

canteen, and a little orange ant walked across the

table! It was really teensy. I looked close, and lo

and behold, it had a little black head!!! Sai Baba

is everywhere and everything!!! (Substitute your

favorite name of God for Sai Baba!)

On another note, I sent $200 cash back with Sharon

Sandweiss for my future shopping expenses. I may end

up staying until March. I brought only enough

Nu-Pluses (from Diane O.) for 53 days. They really

seem to make a difference in my well being. So, dear

Diane, please order a variety of them for me, about 4

months worth.

And then, whoever is coming over here, and has room

in their suitcase, and is willing to bring them, or

part of them, will be most appreciated.

Sai Baba will help me get together with whoever may

bring it. I had a feeling that the Sandweisses were

here, and might have brought stuff for me. When I went

to buy my bed the evening I moved downstairs, a man

named George from San Diego was there. I had never

met him. He began advising me on bargaining with the

store owner. We introduced ourselves, and he told me

he was from my area. I asked him if he knew where the

Sandweisses were staying. He not only gave me their

room number, but told me they were leaving on the 8th,

so I had better hurry to see them. Sai Baba arranged

this. So I have no doubt about needed contacts

appearing at the perfect time.

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 99 20:05PM PST

From: Vickie Jewell

To: Sai Friends

Subject: FW: Ladies Day choir letter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sai Ram Friends! Below is a letter from Jeannie Alvin

in Puttiparthi.

She's just had the opportunity to sing for Swami

during the Ladies day

celebration, and describes all the decorations going

up for Swami's

birthday. Enjoy! Love, Vickie

*********************************************************

May All the Beings in All the Worlds be Happy!

-----Original Message-----

From: Jeannie Alvin

Sent: Saturday, November 20, 1999 3:26 PM

To: Vickie Jewell

Subject: Ladies Day choir letter

3:33 PM 11/20/99 Nov. 17th

With the addition of daily choir practice on my

schedule, it is hard to find time to type. But only

two more days until Ladies Day, Nov. 19th, and then I

will have mid-mornings free to catch up.

After darshan, if I make no sound and stay quiet, I

can feel Sai Baba's energy within me very strongly.

Here is what Sai Baba Himself says about darshan,

which means seeing the Lord, or seeing a holy person.

I saw this quote on someone's desk and then I saw it

again near the Western canteen at Brindavin. I am

very moved by it and wrote it down to share with you.

"Always find a quiet corner after My darshan where

you may enter into the stillness and receive the

completion of My blessings. My energy goes from Me,

as I pass you.

If you proceed to talk, immediately the previous

energy is dissipated and returns to Me unused. Rest

assured that whatever My eyes see becomes vitalized

and transmuted. You are being changed day by day.

Never underestimate what is being accomplished by

the act of darshan. My walking among you is a gift

yearned for by the gods of highest heaven and here you

are daily receiving His Grace, be grateful.

These blessings you receive will express themselves

in their perfect time. But also remember that to whom

much is given, from him much will be demanded."

BABA

I received "car darshan" the other day! I had gone

for breakfast at the southern Indian canteen. Then I

wandered near Sai Baba's residence to read the thought

of the day, which is written on a small blackboard.

Soon the Seva Dals near His residence came over and

shooed me and others nearby over to the side of the

road, saying, "Baba comes!" First came a white

security vehicle, then out came a red sedan, with Sai

Baba in the back seat. He was looking straight ahead,

and did not glance in my direction.

This has been my lesson for several days. He

sometimes looks in the opposite direction when He

passes in darshan. I always take this as a reminder

that I need to work harder on my thoughts, actions,

and feelings.

Busloads of people have been arriving in the last

three or four days. There is a World Youth Conference

starting today, and going for three days, the 17th,

18th, and 20th. Youths, ages 16 to 30, from all over

the world are here. Then Ladies Day is the 19th,

followed by Sai Baba's 74th birthday on Nov. 23rd.

There are big booths set up around the ashram to

provide extra access to books (mostly Sai Baba books,

of course, that is what most of us want to read!).

The ashram is very full, and single people and even

groups are ending up in big sheds, where all women, or

all men, are in one giant room. They have to line up

for bathroom and showers. Of course, they can go to

hotels if they prefer. But people try to stay in the

ashram at first, because Sai Baba says it is better.

And I can vouch for that, since I can feel the

vibrations in the food. It is much purer in the

ashram. Outside, it can be very heavy. That can be

solved to some extent by dedicating the food and drink

to God before eating it. Then an exquisite energy

from God fills the food.

I have been practicing wearing a sari, because we

need to wear either a white or blue one for our choir.

The first day, I lasted one hour. The petticoat

hobbled me, and I could only take tiny steps. I sent

my petticoats to the tailor, and had slits opened up

in the front and back.

I then wore it for two half days. I get it on

alright, it seems to me, but the Seva Dal at the

security checkpoint readjusted it the first day. I

wrap the end of the six yards of material into my

petticoat for one turn around my body, then on the

next turn, I start making pleats for the front. I

tuck that in the center front, pin it with a huge

safety pin, and then look at my guidebook for where

the rest of it goes. It goes around the body and over

a shoulder.

I pin it at one shoulder, and the remaining bit

goes behind my head, and comes over the other

shoulder, as a shawl.

Each day, I have done fine with it at darshan, but

at some point, either after a bathroom stop, or when

sitting down, I have undone the upper portion. Then I

have not been able to remember which direction this

upper part goes without my guidebook. This is about

three yards of material. I have gotten help from

other women each time. It has been fun.

At bhajans this morning, I sat only about ten rows

back from the aisle where Swami passes when he leaves

the mandir (temple) to go to His residence. He looked

in my direction with a kind look.

Nov. 18th

Sai Gita, Swami's elephant, is in the hall! There is

much excitement! A festive red cloth with lots of

gold trim is hanging over her back. At 7am, priests

seem to be chanting the many names of God. Baba is at

the front of the ramp with Sai Gita; everyone cheers.

A procession with images is going to the front.

Darshan lasted until 7:20am.

As I was leaving the seating area, I descended the

steps. An elderly Indian lady just behind me fell

down. I was stunned. She got up and seemed alright

for the moment.

I was concerned about her, because I know that

there are more steps ahead of us, at the point where

it becomes a terrible bottleneck. I reached for her

hand and held it. She held on, and we proceeded

forward.

We entered the river of people flowing into the

narrow stairway. I was very concerned about her. I

prayed to Ganesha, the aspect of God that overcomes

obstacles, for her protection. And we made it down

the steps quite fine.

We stayed together holding hands until we got into

the Southern Indian canteen. We separated, and I

didn't see her for some time.

I ate my breakfast quickly, two rice cakes called

idlis, and hot spicy sauce to dip them in. I then

hurried back into the hall for bhajans.

I found a pretty good seat, on the floor, of

course, just under Sai Baba's balcony at His

residence, which is adjacent to the hall and mandir.

I heard jazz type music, and the sounds of a

procession outside.

The procession entered, with Sai Gita at the lead.

Sai Baba went to Sai Gita.

There are yellow curtain-like banners with an

orange top edge lining the ramp that the procession

came up, and the sides of the hall. The colored

chandalier decorations are up again; there are red and

shiny silver decorations lining the mandir ceiling,

and giant silk flowers on the cast iron railing above

my seat.

At 8:25am, I can see Sai Gita passing by outside,

leading a procession. They are going to the stadium,

where Sai Baba will feed the poor and give them saris

and dhotis, the clothing for Indian men.

Outside again, I notice big decorations, as big as

blankets, creating a carport at Sai Baba's residence.

There is a huge hot air balloon in the garden by the

Sarva Dharma, which is the name of a statue honoring

the five major religions of the world. There are huge

pictures of Sai Baba on the hot air balloon,

approximately 3 meters by 4 meters in size. There are

white Christmas style lights around the low adobe-type

wall surrounding the garden. And at night, I noticed

red, green, yellow, and blue lights on the bushes in

the garden. It is very beautiful, and very festive.

A lot of effort goes into putting up and taking down

decorations for these many festivals!

Later that day, about 5 pm, I was outside the

ashram offices near that same canteen listening to Sai

Baba give a discourse on the speakers. I had caught

glimpses of Him as I passed by the men's side of the

hall, and tried to stand outside there. But the male

Seva Dals soon waved me on. Men and women are quite

separate here. I am usually appreciative of this.

So I wandered further in, and could not enter the

women's side, as Sai Kurwan Hall was totally full. So

there I was, listening to His beautiful voice, just

taking in the sounds and enjoying that. I was

satisfied, because that was what I had wanted, just to

hear His voice.

A young woman came up to me and spoke and gestured

to me in an Indian language. I got the impression

that she wanted me to move towards my right. So I

did. And there was my elderly lady friend from the

morning. She waved me over to sit next to her. We

beamed at each other and held hands.

A lady nearby said she was inviting me to her home.

I expressed appreciation, and asked how far away it

was. I could not understand where they said it was,

but I did gather that it was very far away.

We went together to Poornachandra Hall. We stood

right by the entrance, but only youths from the

conference were allowed in. So we sat down on the

cement sidewalk, right there. Soon my Indian lady

friends decided to leave, but I stayed. I sat by a

very nice Italian lady. She did not speak English or

Spanish, but we both spoke some French.

At about 5:30pm, we were treated to a wonderful

bird show! First there were birds high in the sky

above us; way, way up high. Then whole flocks of

birds flew in formation very close above our heads.

Swoop, and another group of birds would fly above our

heads in formation! It was as much fun and as

beautiful as the 4th of July fireworks!

We could see youths from the conference entering

with their notebooks that say "YOUTH FOR TRUTH."

After the crowd went in and the Seva Dals sat down, we

saw Swami come in. A play with children acting the

parts began. We could catch only occasional glances

of it, as people kept passing in front of us to go in

or out.

Still, it was fun to catch the glimpses of the

children and their costumes. The costumes were

wonderful and bright. I understood the words

"Krishna" and "Rama," and "palace," and that is about

it.

I saw the ending however. It was so beautiful.

About six girls held flame-lit tapers, and were

singing "Mangala arati" over and over.

I saw Sai Baba leaving, headed towards the far

door. I took off quickly, before the crowd came out.

I headed for the Western canteen, hoping for spagetti,

because the Italian cooks are here, and take over the

canteen for a while. But frequently they put butter

and cheese in their dishes, and I gave up eating dairy

products last year. Tonight the pasta had dairy

products, but I had some delicious beet cubes with

salad oil, some very good potatoes cooked in oil, and

some icky okra.

I went down the main street of town to order a

cotton mosquito net for my bed. While I was at the

tailor's shop, picking the white cotton net, and

figuring out the measurements and the price, I heard

very loud drums beating. I went out to the street,

and saw two men dancing to the drums. It reminded me

of the Russian dance, where they crouch down and dance

around.

Soon they got up and drummed past us up the street

in the direction of the ashram. After a while, we

heard them returning. Now they had an oxcart loaded

with idols of Rama, Sita, and Lakshman. There was a

small fire in the road to heat the drum heads. They

looked and sounded a lot like snare drums. It was

very Indian and very exciting. What fun to experience

this on the spur of the moment!

My friend Suzanne knows a man who was a child who

grew up attending Sai Baba's schools. When he was a

little boy, he and the other little boys used to be

mischievious and stick their candies on Sai Baba's

robes!

Nov. 19th

8:15am The older male students run to Swami's

residence. They return carrying maroon bundles in

their arms. They are saris; Swami gives them out to

ladies sitting up close to the mandir.

Swami gave prasad (food gift from God), and I got

some this time. It was the first time I got any. I

had been disappointed after not getting any two other

times. I shared it with others. It was like a donut,

but round, with no hole.

It is the big day for our Ladies Day choir. We had

one last rehearsal after the morning program. We are

told there will be six microphones that pick up sound

from several people around it. Three will be for the

flute and two guitars. My friend Suzanne is playing

her flute. We are told to meet at 1pm by Swami's

residence to go in together. We thanked and honored

our leaders and conductors; Dana Gillespie, a famous

blues singer in England and Austria; Gillian, and

Anna, an Italian woman who coaches opera singers!

12:15pm

Prashanti, from Belgium, is also in the

choir. She lives nearby. She came to my apartment to

help me dress in my white sari. Then we walked to the

ashram.

12:55pm Memories are made of this. We are all

gathering in mostly white saris, in the shade of a

residence in front of the Sarva Dharma statue, the one

honoring the five major religions.

One of the members of the choir brought yards and

yards of flower garlands and bobby pins. She gave us

each flowers for our hair. They were white jasmine,

with orange and yellow flowers interspersed between

several white jasmine flowers.

We are told it is time to go in. We cross a double

line of Swami's girls from Anantapur College, and

enter the mandir. A Seva Dal told me that my sari was

perfectly pinned and pleated, thanks to Prashanti’s help..

We are led to the very center front of the hall,

just right of the center aisle, and just in front of

the aisle where Swami walks in. My place is in the

back center of the choir, for which I am thankful. I

would have been nervous any closer. I was about 30

steps from Swami's chair, with a clear view of it.

Then Gillian brings a microphone to the women just

to my left! I was horrified! It is one thing to sing

with a group, but to have my newly discovered voice go

out on microphones to thousands of people was much

more than I wanted!

I changed places with a late arrival to get farther

from the microphone. But it put me right by the group

one singers for the song with rounds, and I was used

to being surrounded by group two singers, my group.

So we switched back.

I dedicated the whole experience to Sai Baba, and

asked my Higher Self to merge with me the whole time,

to sing through me, sing all the right notes, start at

all the right places, and have me be quiet at all the

right times. Then I decided to just be in trust and

in my heart, as much as possible.

Swami came in, and we all turned around 180 degrees

to face Him as He passed. He passed close on two

sides of me, with a very sweet look on His face.

He sat down, and an announcer said that the well

known actress from the USA was there, Goldie Hawn, and

she was going to give flowers to Sai Baba. She was

covered with the maroon sari that He had given her

that morning. She gave Him her flowers, and bent down

and kissed or touched His feet. Several other ladies

in the same maroon and gold saris did the same.

Then the program began. Some primary school girls

came up near Swami. They did some chanting. It was

very sweet. They appeared to be from six to eight

years old.

Then it was our turn, and we sang to God incarnate!

I was in my heart, paying good attention to the

directors. I could hear the voices of my neighbors on

both sides, which helped me. I forgot all about the

microphone, and just sang from my heart and enjoyed

it.

People later told me that our words came across

very clearly, and they really enjoyed the songs we

sang.

We sang a beautiful song starting with "We start

with a prayer to the Lord, the one we call Ganesha,"

(the aspect of God that overcomes obstacles, and

traditional for Sai devotees to begin with a Ganesh

song.)

Then we sang a Latin song in rounds, "Ceci derum."

After that we sang a Spanish song from Venezuela

called "Alma llanera." I had helped the non-Spanish

speakers with the pronunciation and the meaning of the

words in our practice sessions. Then we finished with

"Start the day with love," with Dana in her huge voice

singing one solo part, then some of us singing in

harmony, and then all of us joining in the melody.

And that was it!

I have a couple of cassette tapes of our practice

sessions. I can send them back to the centers with

devotees that come if people want them.

After we finished our eleven minute program, I

stayed in my heart, with my Higher Self very much

merged with me still. Swami looked right at me and

nodded.

Two speakers followed our songs. They were

introduced by an invisible person who was on a speaker

system. The podium where they were to speak was empty

while the speaker went to Sai Baba first and kissed

His feet! They obviously have not had the benefit of

Toastmaster training! We never leave a podium empty!

Then Swami spoke for about an hour. He often

looked from left to right. As He looked in my

direction, He seemed to look right at me. I was in

Heaven!

He always begins and ends his speeches by singing

to His devotees. We sang to God, and then God sang to

us! What a precious time!

He spoke about mothers and the importance of

remembering mothers' love.

He said it was sweeter to sing than to talk. He sang

again to us. He said that earnestness and faith equal

the atmic (soul) principle. And that we need both.

I went to Sai Towers and had dinner with Suzanne.

I was so tired after my big day. I went home and went

to bed early. I turned off my alarm, with the

intention of taking the next day very easy.

Nov. 20th

I was tired after the choir experience, and slept

until 8am. I did my blue triangle meditation to clear

some things, and went late to lunch at the Northern

Canteen, after finding out that the pasta in the

Western canteen was made with milk.

I was not planning on going in to darshan, but as I

passed by the mandir, a Seva Dal signalled me to go

in. I took off my rubber thongs, putting them by a

tree, near the hundreds of other ones, and went

inside.

Swami came in early, at about 2:30pm, and was in

front of us quite a long time. He gave what looked

like white dhotis to men, and lime green saris to a

few of the women. I sat by a nice women from Fort

Collins, Colorado, who lent me a cushion to sit on.

Mom, the weather is cooler and comfortable now. If

you or anyone wants to come, now through January is a

good time, cooler. Bring Teira if you can. Teira

needs a new passport. Let me know, I can get fax

numbers to get you hotel reservations, unless you want

to stay in the ashram. You need a passport and a visa

from the Indian Consulate. You can get an application

from the internet.

Come for Christmas, any of you who can. Sai Baba

is going to let the whole world know that God is

incarnate someday soon. Then He will be an orange dot

on the horizon. So if you want to get anywhere near

Him, come now. It has been 2,000 years since God

incarnated as Jesus. It does not happen that often.

It is too special to miss. Pray about this, I

suggest.

Vicki J. is going to take over the group

emailing. Thanks to Harry for his hard work, and now

thanks to Vickie for continuing this wonderful

service!

I have my alarm set for 4am tomorrow morning. I am

told that the web access will be quick at that time.

It is nearly impossible in the afternoon or evening

from here, between the electricity going out, and

getting kicked off the web, and not getting back on

because the phone lines are busy. The electricity

went out twice this afternoon as I typed this!

I am hoping to get all the email addresses to

Vickie, and this letter and the two previous letters

to her to send to all of you tomorrow morning.

We have heard rumours that Baba is going to

Whitefield, Brindavin, after His birthday. I want to

get this email sent before I go, as I may have lost a

letter to you all when we left here for Whitefield

last time.

George and I are more prepared this time. He made

neighboring room reservations for us in Bangalore

today, and is going to reserve a taxi.

We are going to be all packed by Baba's birthday.

I am signing off for now. Love to all from Jeannie

From: Vickie Jewell

To: Sai Friends

Subject: FW: november 23 detailes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A long letter from Puttiparthi you might enjoy. This

is Jeannie's first trip to see Swami and she has been there for several

months now. (PS the George she speaks of is not George L. from San Diego,

but from San Francisco)

*********************************************************

May All the Beings in All the Worlds be Happy!

-----Original Message-----

From: Jeannie Alvin [mailto:jeannie_alvin@yahoo.com]

Sent: Monday, December 06, 1999 5:06 PM

To: Vickie Jewell

Subject: november 23 details

Nov. 23rd.

On Sai Baba's birthday, people were lining up inside

the ashram at 1:30 in the morning! This was too much

for me! I stayed home and slept late, as I had been

tired since Ladies Day. The extra time needed for

daily rehearsals was just a bit too much for my energy

quotient.

I went into the hall for darshan at about 1:30 pm.

The token lines were already inside, and I was able to

just walk in and sit near the back gate. There has

been recent construction and extension of the hall, so

it now extends to very near the gate with the wooden

door where Baba exits in His car when He goes out of

the ashram.

There are extra decorations for His birthday.

There are umbrellas above the wrought iron grating at

different places above the low side and center walls.

Big red Japanese style lanterns are hanging from the

ceiling, along with the colored chandalier-like

decorations, and the normal exquisite crystal

chandaliers. The big columns are criss-crossed with

gold decorations and an orange decorative band.

I had gotten clear inner guidance to daily take

vibuti, sacred ash that Swami manifests from the

ethers. I forgot today, but a woman next to me

offered me some of hers from the little plastic packet

that Swami gives out in interviews. This is just like

what I have at home, from when the Sandweisses gave

me some that they got in their interview. Baba saw to

it that I took my vibuti!

There are TV sets with remote live viewing of Swami

behind each of the columns, and I could see Him and

the TV. He came in at about 3pm. There was a

classical Indian music program. First a woman sang,

then some ancient-style instruments were played.

Then there were three dance numbers, all male

dancers. I especially enjoyed these. The music for

the dancing was a blend of Indian and Western music.

The first dancers wore ballooning white trousers, and

were bare-chested except for a red band that crossed

over one shoulder. The dancing looked a bit Arabic to

my neighbor, an Indian woman who found that very

amusing! The next dancers were fully covered in

yellow and black costumes that looked something like

palace guard uniforms to me. I don't remember what

the third set of dancers wore. I just remember

enjoying all of the dancing very much.

5:45pm They announced that the program would conclude

with devotional singing. I wanted to get out before

the masses started leaving, because I don't like to be

squeezed. So I got up at this point and went outside.

There are such large crowds here that not everyone

can get inside the hall. The overflow crowds stand

outside and listen via speakers. I was hoping the

events would be held in the stadium, which is larger.

But it was not to be.

I went just outside the hall to the South Indian

canteen. It was nearly time for it to open, at 6 pm.

There was no line, only me and a few young girls who

spoke Telugu, the local language. We had a little fun

trying to communicate. At about three minutes until

6, the girls decided to go in. I had a feeling that

they would be sent out. Sure enough, in about a

minute, out they came.

They signalled me to follow them. At first I

hesitated, then I followed them. It seemed like we

were to go somewhere else to eat. We passed the

entire canteen, and walked toward the interior of the

ashram.

We went to the now roof-covered grassy area by

where the coconuts are sold. There the canteen had

been set up. It was divided down the middle the long

way; women on the coconut side, men on the other.

I lined up behind the girls. The seva dals

(volunteers) kept moving me from one place to another.

There were about 10 or so lines. The food and

plastic plates were placed on the stone benches that

line the little park.

Finally the Seva Dals, for some reason known only

to them, put me at the front of a line. We sang three

OMs, and then sang the food prayer. I have the food

prayer which is printed on the back of a Sai Baba

picture in my fanny pack. I can quickly take it out

and follow the prayer.

With the thousands there for Sai Baba's birthday, I

was first in line to eat! I take it as

acknowledgement of the inner work that I have been

doing day and night. I confirmed this by the touches

I feel on my hands, my way of communicating with the

world of spirit.

I have been sitting long hours doing spiritual

practices to overcome some "stuff" that has come to my

awareness. Two days ago, on the 21st, I spent from

noon until 6:30pm doing this inner work.

I ate a chapati, much like a wheat tortilla, filled

with a spicy combo mix with some potatoes and who

knows what else in it. Very, very tasty. And some

lemon-rice, yellow rice with little nuts and spices in

it. Very good. I was very much in appreciation.

I left the canteen and felt like a fish swimming

upstream, as a river of people walked by me in the

opposite direction. The birthday program had ended,

and the lane was crowded, almost totally full with

people headed toward the canteens. I was glad I

already ate!

I made my way out, and near the Ganesh gate, my

heart was touched by people's devotion. Lining the

top of the low stucco fence surrounding the Ganesh

statue were many little candles, all burning. I had

never seen this done before, and the sweetness and

beauty and devotion moved me.

I went to the Spiritual Museum that is just beyond

the ashram. There were some quotes from Sai Baba's

birthday discourses from years past. Here are a

couple of quotes that I especially liked. I copied

them down to share in this letter about His birthday.

He has been giving darshan for 60 years now!

"You do not gather because this birthday is

celebrated, the birthday is celebrated because you

gather." BABA Nov. 23, 1979

"I must ask you to give me as a birthday offering

only one thing. Reduce your selfishness, abate your

wrong desires, foster your spirit of sacrifice. Grow

into noble human beings." BABA Nov. 23, 1981

"Know that whatever you feel or do is an offering

to God, flows towards God. So, be cautious, do not

offer bad thoughts, words, and deeds which He does not

accept. Offer instead the holy and the pure. That is

your duty. That will insure self-satisfaction.

Self-satisfaction paves the way to self sacrifice."

BABA Nov. 23, 1985

"Who invited you here? You have all come here out

of love for Swami. Out of this love alone, so many

thousands have assembled here. Here is Bhagavan (one

of the names we call Swami) ready to be taken away by

you. Carry Him away with you as you like. Those who

love Bhagavan wholeheartedly, to them He belongs

wholly. All that Bhagavan asks of you is your

wholehearted unconditional love. Recognise this truth

and lead your life filled with love. Take this as

Swami's gift to you. Do not hate anybody. Hating

anybody is no different from hating God Himself.

Surrender your whole being and belongings to God.

Experience unalloyed Divine bliss." Baba Nov. 23,

1999

George and I are packing, because rumours have

been flying that Swami would be going to Bangalore,

to the Brindavin ashram in the suburb of Whitefield,

after His birthday.

No one but Swami knows when He will take off;

people would line the streets and perhaps impede His

departure. So he has to sneak out! He gets us all in

for darshan or bhajans, does a 3 minute version, and

hops right into his car that has been hidden from our

view. The car is driven up while we all have our eyes

on Him. Then He takes off while most of the crowd is

seated in the hall!

I packed my clothes days ago; and George has booked

us adjoining rooms where he stayed last time. In case

anyone wants to find me there, here is how to go.

At the Brindavin ashram gate, turn left. Turn

right at the first road; the road that goes to Sai

Towers bookstore. Go past the road that leads to Sai

Towers, and on your left, at the next alleyway, turn

left. Pass a grassy vacant lot on your left, and the

wall of the Hotel Sai Amrut, a white building trimmed

with red, on your right. I will be in the first

building on the left, just past the vacant lot. There

is a walled garden, and George and I will be in the

lower 2 rooms.

It is such a blessing for a single person like me,

used to doing every chore herself, to have a friend

like George. He handles a lot for me, and for the

other fortunate friends in his circle. He has already

booked a cab. We are paying it, but inviting a friend

of George's to ride free, as he is short of money.

Nov. 27

This morning I told George that I probably will

share my room with a friend from Tijuana, whose money

has not arrived from Mexico. It is a sacrifice for me

because I like some private time; but I could tell

that my friend was worried about money. Then I found

out that George is doing the same; he is sharing his

room with his friend for the same reason.

After our time in Bangalore, which we all love

because of the sweet, more intimate contact with

Swami, George and I may take off on a little trip. We

are going to explore Pondicherry, a city south of

Madras.

It was a former French colony, and French is spoken

there. I want to investigate the cost of the French

classes, and just explore.

Also, it is the site of an ashram of Sri Aurobindo

and the Mother. They have passed away, but their

ashram remains. They divinitized their bodies, which

sounds very interesting to me.

I read of bit of Sri Aurobindo's writings just

before I left on this trip. I really resonated with

what I read. So I am sure we will visit the ashram.

If you want to read about people divinitizing their

bodies, Aurobindo's books, of course, would be good.

Also, there is a book at the Philosophical Library in

Escondido called "Babaji and the 18 Siddhas." This is

about 18 people through the ages that divinitized

their bodies.

One of the 18 people lived fairly recently, when

cameras were available. A photographer took a picture

of him with other people. Only the clothes showed up

in the picture, hanging in the air! His body was too

sublime to be captured by film!

I found it very humbling to read of the incredible

spiritual practices that these people did. It makes

what I do seem so minor in comparison!

The streets around the ashram can be a challenge.

I have gone through many phases on how to deal with

the noise, clamor, and the constant call of vendors

trying to get my attention.

At first, I was polite, and said, "No thank you."

But it took too much energy to say this over and over,

at least four times to each vendor, and on and on and

on.

So then I just kept my eyes down and ignored them.

I decided that was bad for my karma, because I was

not acknowledging the God in everyone.

So next, I decided to avoid eye contact, but

silently say "namaste" to each of them. Namaste means

"I give love to the divinity within you," and it is

often signalled by folded hands in prayer position in

front of the heart.

But the other evening, I was tired, and had just

had my fill of the constant "Hello, madame. Just

look. Looking is free!"

This one man, who I was not looking at, called my

attention to himself and said, "Can I help you?" I

said, "Yes." And I mimed closing his mouth. "Yes," I

said, "you can be silent."

Then, a while later, prayer beads were thrust in my

face for the millionth time by a street vendor. I was

frustrated. I rolled my eyes, and said "Puh'leese!

Go away!" And I turned away from the young man

towards the store nearest me, hoping he would leave

without pestering me more.

As I walked on, he jumped from one side of me to

the other, saying, "Japamala, madame," (prayer beads,

madame) over and over, with a teasing but sweet smile

on his face. His face was so sweet, I had to laugh.

What sweet hearts these people are! My frustration

melted away with his charm!

I have found a restaurant that will make a dozen

hot chapati's with a bit of hot food in them for the

poor, for my 45 rupees. For a couple of days I have

been able to give hot food and an orange to the poor.

Their faces light up when they see me. They are very

sweet, some of them.

Others are pushy, and lie, and try to get more than

their share. They get their portion, hide it away,

and claim that they have none. I don't blame them,

what I give them is not even a complete meal. Hunger

can drive away good behavior.

I hope more people join me soon, so the little bit

I can purchase can expand. I need to pray more for

this.

Swami gave me a lesson regarding the Seva Dals. The

former Seva Dals let the women sit on the veranda

across from Swami's residence during bhajans. There

are some steps and shade there. Most of the women sit

by the water machine. Then we catch a glimpse of

Swami as He goes into His residence after bhajans.

A grouchy Seva Dal made us get up from the shaded

area, and off the steps. I was very annoyed.

(This annoyance is due to me eating non-ashram

food, or forgetting to dedicate food to God. If some

angry person fixed or served the food, and I don't

dedicate it, I will absorb some of that angry

vibration. I can actually feel this in the food by

putting my hands around it.)

I sat down there anyway, and joked with an Indian

woman about my annoyance with the Seva Dal. I prayed

to Sai Baba about it, and asked Him to help me

understand this, and please to give us a lady Seva Dal

there, and let us sit on this porch.

The next day I got my answer. This man was still

there. No ladies were on the porch. I stood in front

of the porch for a little while. Soon my feet were

prickled painfully by little bugs called "No-see-ums."

I had to move.

I got the message. And usually I wish to

co-operate with the Seva Dals. I got a stern reminder

to co-operate, and see all beings as God!

And yesterday I got another message about His

displeasure. I believe everything that happens is

symbolic and reflects our inner being. I got into

token line #2, and was in the second row of the very

aisle that Swami walked down for darshan, close to the

center aisle. As He came near the section where I

sat, He turned His back on us, and faced the women on

the opposite side of the aisle until He was way past

us. To me, that means that I am close to God, as I

think of Him all the time, but He was not happy with

that incident, and a few other wrong thoughts.

Nov. 28th

Last night, in the South Indian canteen, I met a

woman named Shirley from New Zealand. She ate pretty

well with her fingers. And I enjoyed my dinner with

my little plastic spoon that I keep in a baggie in my

fannie pack.

Shirley was on a world tour, and had just arrived

for one day with Sai Baba. Her intention was to see

Him briefly. As she arrived in India, strangers

started giving her small pictures of Shirdi Sai Baba,

our Sai Baba's previous incarnation, and one of our

Sai Baba.

She said she only wanted to see Him and had no

wishes other than to see Him for herself and form her

own opinion. She said she was very happy with what

she saw; that He seemed so humble, and almost shy, as

He walked among the huge crowd.

Shirley spoke of her 10 day visit to a meditation

center. She said that she was in silence and

meditated for the 10 days. We parted and I went home.

I took this as Divine guidance for me to go into

silence.

I spoke to George about going into silence, hoping

I won't be boring company for him in the four hour

taxi ride to the Brindavin ashram. He said he won't

mind, because his friend will also be in the cab.

So at 8:50pm last night, I dedicated 10 days of

silence to Sai Baba. I brought along some blank white

name tags, and put "I AM in Sai-lence" on one. I

stuck it in the middle of my plastic fan, which is my

constant companion! So I am finally doing what I knew

was coming; I just did not know quite how to begin.

So I began.

Oh, Harry, people are showing up at my door asking

to do the "I AM Devotional Service!" (Book 7 on my

website, www.inetworld.net/lovesource). Harry gives

this service in Escondido, Calif, at the Philosophical

Library. I am so glad, because it is seva, service,

and a big help to me in overcoming myself. I did it

silently while someone else did it out loud today.

And I re-charge it silently all day long, so the

benefits multiply. Re-charging decrees is something

you can learn from the "I AM Discourses," published by

the Saint Germain Foundation, or see book 5 on my

website.

Nov. 29th

Swami has been entering for afternoon darshan

earlier than 2:45 pm lately. He comes in between

about 2:10 and 2:20pm frequently since the birthday

celebrations.

George gave me his collection of the comic book

style booklets that tell stories of great sages and

saints, and stories with morals. They are meant for

children, but I enjoy reading them. They are a good

way of getting a thumbnail sketch of India's cultural

heritage.

As soon as someone comes from there with space in

their suitcase to carry them back, I will send them

back to the Encinitas Sathya Sai Baba Center for our

library. I also will send "Stories for Children,"

parts 1 and 2 for the library. Adults as well as kids

will enjoy them all.

These stories are based on the five human values

that Swami teaches. These human values are common to

all the major religions. They are truth, right

action, love, peace, and non-violence. They teach

good thinking through various examples.

I heard a horror story while waiting in today's

token line for darshan. It was about the USA high

school students. It sounds like they could have used

these stories, and more, when they were younger.

In September of the year 2000, two representatives

from each UNESCO country will come to Prashanti

Nilayam, the Abode of Highest Peace. They will get

training in Sathya Sai Baba's course on education in

these human values. The youth of the world will help

create the 1,000 years of peace that is coming.

Lisa and Tim, and Mary Lien, Terre and Elizabeth,

and Ruth P., I will be glad to try to send copies of

the "Stories for Children" for your children as well,

if you would like for them to read these. These also

may be available in a nearby Sathya Sai Baba Center.

You can find them in the white pages of the phone book

in many cities.

Caroline, thanks for your emails.

Barb, I am going to print out that prayer request

and put it in a letter and offer it to Swami. He

decides what letters he will take. I will do this in

Brindavin, where I think we are headed soon, if Swami

goes there.

Every night or morning, I pack my fanny pack for

the day with my plastic spoons in one baggie, and

about 4 strips of toilet paper in another. There is

no toilet paper in bathrooms in India. Instead, they

have a little faucet near the floor, by the toilet.

Very handy for washing feet, but that is it, for

Americans!

Harry, and others that come over. You can forget

that long list of things to pack for India. They have

everything here...decent shampoo, toilet paper,

q-tips. And I had no trouble getting my film

processed with a little disposable camera. Just bring

medications, vitamins, and your ATM card with a Visa,

not Mastercard emblem. You can get money right from

Canara Bank from your account in the states, $290 at a

time. If you are going to stay a while, I suggest

bringing a rubber bath mat.

The only thing I suggest, Harry, is to buy some

white cotton slacks in the U.S. A big man, Ted, was

here. Fortunately he had one pair from the U.S. He

bought the white cotton sets here, and each time he

would sit down, the pants ripped. He had to wear the

same pair from the U.S. over and over. Another option

is to get the tailors here, for a nominal charge, to

make some for you.

As soon as I managed to stop talking and get into

silence, I noticed how much talk is going on in my

mind. I believe my friend Suzanne H. from the Atlanta

Sai Center was divinely guided to give me the tip I

needed to quiet it. (Hi, Scott Cham. I am the

Jeannie that Suzanne and George know! Sai Baba's

leela (sport)!

She said that when she got divorced, her mind just

chewed and chewed on it. She was very unhappy. She

went to a Church of Religious Science. The minister

suggested that instead of thinking of the problem, to

think of God instead.

So she began to do this. She said that it took two

days, but she overcame the misery that way. And she

has used that way ever since.

I am going to try this every time my mind starts

chattering. I know this will help.

Nov. 29

It is not hard to be in silence in this town.

Everyone here is familiar with it. "Oh, you're not

talking? Okay!" they say. And to get home in the

rickshaw, I just tapped the driver on the right

shoulder to tell him to turn right, and the left

shoulder to turn left.

I had dinner last night with Suzanne H. Usually

she is quieter than me. But with me in silence, she

was the talkative one! We spoke, actually, she spoke

and I nodded and wrote notes, of the Gayatri mantra,

which Sai Baba says is the most powerful mantra in the

world. Suzanne and I can both agree with that from

our personal experiences saying it.

It is a Sanscrit mantra. That is an ancient

language that Swami seems to be reviving. He teaches

the correct pronunciation. There are tapes and CDs

available with Swami chanting the Gayatri over and

over.

Suzanne and I went in our hearts, spoke our

intention that the mantra would purify us within, and

purify the atmosphere and food in the restaurant.

Some smokers had been there. Soon they were gone, and

the air was pure, and the atmosphere and food was

pure.

Last night George and I sat in silence and had

vibuti, amrit, and looked at the photos I developed.

We laughed so hard at one. I had taken it in a

rickshaw when I was with George, of the driver and the

view in front. It just appears to be the back of the

driver's head. But there is a circular rear-view

mirror to the driver's left. And in the mirror you

can see a tiny George with his cap, and me with the

camera to my eye!

This was my second evening in silence, and I wrote

to George, and he did not realize he could speak, even

if I didn't. So he wrote back to me! He was in

silence, too! I am not going to tell him he can

talk!!! I think this is so funny!

Yesterday after darshan and interviews, Swami came

to the front of the mandir. It is beautiful to have

Him there in silence, with no music. A balding older

man came up behind Swami and kept talking and talking

to Him. Swami would answer him and turn away, to look

at all of us. The man just stayed there, and kept

talking to Swami. It was a good example of Swami's

patience. The man stayed there most of the 15 minutes

that Swami stood there.

I have read books about Sai Baba for years. I

loved reading them because they were inspiring and

kept my consciousness high. But I did not experience

Him personally as God until last March. Last March

I saw a video tape where He walked up and down, giving

darshan. He was only on the tape for a few seconds.

My heart reacted very strongly, I felt something in my

heart stronger that anything I had ever felt. And I

started crying.

So I searched for the location of the Encinitas

center on the internet. I had an urge to sing

devotional songs, and I knew that was done at the Sai

centers. The email failed. But the very next day, as

I volunteered at the Philosophical Library in

Escondido, someone came in and gave me a phone number

of a devotee.

I soon called Stephanie O'R., who gave me

directions and time for the meeting in Encinitas. We

had a great time talking on the phone, as well. I

went to the Encinitas Sathy Sai Baba Center the next

Monday, and immediately felt at home. I absolutely

loved the people there. The long time devotees seem

very free of ego.

Also, I love the monthly center meetings. My

interest, long term, has been in human relationships

and group and interpersonal relating. I have never

seen such good honoring of one another as I have seen

in these monthly meetings. They are following Sai

Baba's teachings in how to run the meetings and how to

relate to each other. It is really the best I have

ever seen, and it tops how the psychologists I knew

related to each other!

When I first told my Mom about Sai Baba, she was

not impressed. And when I told her I was going to

India, she was not pleased! She said to our friend

Nancy, "Guess where she is going NOW!"

I devoted two days a week to taking Mom shopping,

etc., when I had time and energy. I took her to

Devotional Singing in Orange County. I told her I

wanted to eat in a Hari Krishna temple. To prepare

her a bit, I gave her an excerpt regarding "Hari

Krishna" from the internet. It said that saying this

was of the highest and most sublime.

She said, "Who do they think they are, saying

that!"

I explained that "Hari Krishna" was the name of God

in the Indian language. And that I had myself

experienced that when I said the name of God in any

language, that an exquisite, high, subtle vibration,

that of God's vibration, would come.

So she came along with me. We both very much

enjoyed our evening. We ate dinner in the Hari

Krishna temple. We explored it with great interest.

Mom picked up a book on re-incarnation. Then we went

to the Devotional Singing. Mom loved it.

Then one day Mom asked to go along with me to the

Monday night Sai Baba meeting! I took her and she

liked it. There is no clergy, money is never

mentioned, something I find refreshing. In the past

year or so, I have distanced myself from spirituality

where there is a charge.

Mom asked about worshipping images. In her Jewish

background, this was not allowed. I explained that

when we look at an image of God, or one who realized

oneness with God, as did Jesus or Buddha, we contact

the vibration of God. And it is fine. An exquisite

experience, if one can feel or see spiritual

vibrations.

Mom read a book about Sai Baba's mother. She

empathized with the mother. It was not easy being the

mother of a divine child. The family was very poor.

Little Sathya would frequently bring home beggars to

eat. Finally he was told not to do that, or he would

not have his dinner. So he brought another home, then

refused to eat his dinner.

Sathya means truth in the Indian language. He

often wears a blood red robe. His hair is like a

crown. If you are interested in prophecy you might

look in Revelations and read St. John's predictions.

Many people, including myself, believe Sathya (Truth)

Sai Baba is the prophesied return of God to earth.

It was so wonderful sharing my devotional time with

Mom. She came frequently to Monday night bhajans at

the Sai Center, and to the yearly picnic. I loved

those times.

Mom, bring Teira and come here for Christmas. Can

you imagine a more holy Christmas, singing in person

to the Lord?

Janna, Nancy, come for Christmas. Why not? Just

email me and I will get you a hotel room, if you don't

want to stay in the ashram. Although you may be able

to do that if it is not full. But it is pretty

austere.

This afternoon I got in a token line with a low

number! I was only about 4 rows back from Swami. And

this time He took letters from my side of the aisle,

and spoke to people in Telugu, I guess, because I

didn't understand it. My heart was very happy for the

close contact, and that this time He did not turn His

back on me!

Dec. 2

Yesterday and today I tried and tried to see photos

on myfamily.com. Between phone lines being bad and

cutting off, electricity frequently going off, and a

bad internet server, I got kicked off each time before

seeing anything. There is only one internet server

for these folks, and all get kicked off the web

frequently and have to sign in again.

I will have to wait until we are in Bangalore, or

some city with better email access to see whatever is

on Myfamily.com. I would love to see those photos,

Kris, Lon, and Krista! I was able to read Phyllis's

letter, and Tom W's letter. Larry, did I tell you I

loved your email titled "Have oxcart, will travel!"

I was only able today to find out that I still have

the address wrong for Madame Kiki in San Francisco!

Yesterday I was able to get on long enough to print

Barb's prayer request out. I have it with two other

letters that I will try to give to Swami. I took them

yesterday, but was too far back fo

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PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

Table of Contents:

Preparing

Take-off!

Arrival, September

October

November

December

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