Letters from India - Part 2

9a. In Singapore - May 1989

May 21, 1989

Singapore

Dear Peoples,

Sai Ram. All is somehow or the other, going on fine here.

It was nice talking to you, isn’t that funny that such an idea came to me! I never thought of calling you before.

In the meantime, I was granted a tourist visa. At least I’m safe up until November 20th. After, I plan to attempt some way to extend three more months. If I do that, I’ll be only three months still short of filing for citizenship, maybe I can file anyway, is my idea.

An interesting side note. In Prasanthi, I used to say a certain prayer, “Hanuman Chalisa” (Story of Hanuman) every day. I had memorized the 42 slokas. It’s very powerful, because Hanuman is the protector after all. Besides that, I’ve never dreamt of any god (excluding Sai and Yogananda) (god meaning Hindu or other religious deities) except Hanuman. (In that dream, he was searching for Rama, jumping from tree to tree in a forest, I was following him close behind, thinking that if I follow him, sooner or later we’d see Rama.)

Anyway, I even repeated it while on the way to Kuala Lumpur, but once I reached here, stopped doing it. The second day, I had a dream where I was repeating the Hanuman Chalisa and Venkamma was repeating it after me, showing that I was saying it correctly. But I ignored the dream instead only thinking, Nice, another Venkamma dream! Then delay, delay, trouble with the visa.

Finally one day it dawned on me, perhaps the troubles were connected in some way to ignoring Hanuman! That morning I did the prayer, and that day the visa arrived! Next day I also did it, and the plane ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Madras that they said could not be changed, was changed and I got a free plane ticket Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and Singapore to Madras. The ticket Kuala Lumpur to Singapore was even on a different airline because Air India didn’t go to Singapore that day.

The Kuala Lumpur house was really like a spiritual ashram, even more than the Walnut Creek house, as Shanta lives alone and has always lead a pure life from young age.

Now, Junie’s house in Singapore is a different story! A normal worldly house, except in the midst of all are tons of Sai pictures and Chinese gods, as well as constantly burning lamps and incense. Meanwhile, they all eat meat, watch TV, listen to rock music, go to parties and husband drinks and gets drunk sometimes. Meanwhile she’s making another attempt to quit smoking.

As last time, even though they provided all for me and even let me sleep in the puja rom, it was difficult. The rock music and TV sounds were blocked when I closed had door of the room and put on the fan. It made me very sick to think the dishes I was eating off of, had been used for meat. Mostly I had juice, fruit and bread.

Anyway I finished shopping - luckily not so much this time. Only a few saris and two watches.

Junie loaded me with lots of food, mostly for Rohani who’s out of money as usual: milk powder, oats, breakfast bars, chocolate drink mix (“Milo”), plus she gave some money for Rohani (and some to me as well). Besides that, my Kuala Lumpur friend Shanta forced KL $100 (about Rs 600), on me when I left Kuala Lumpur.

Plus Kuala Lumpur friend also gave a lot of soap and washing powder. Most of the visa fares etc., was covered by the money they forced on me! I hope it’s a sign that I’ve done the right thing and Swami wants me to stay with Him.

Going to Madras on 21 May. Might mail this from plane.

Love,

Divya

PS May 22: Arrived safe in India – have Guest House Room C13 in Brindavan/Whitefield. I may go to Parthi on the 27th. Swami may return to Parthi on May 30th, if not, on June 12th.