Letters from India - Part 2

67. Darshans in the Rain & Daily Discourses - Nov 1993

Daily Discourses

November 5, 1993

Prasanthi Nilayam

Dear Parents,

On Wednesday, November 3rd Swami started to give evening discourses in the Mandir. We don’t know the reason or occasion. Maybe no reason is needed! The discourses are on the Upanishads. So far, He seems to be stressing how God is the embodiment of contradiction, and how we have to accept this! He is saying things like, “God is formless – but He is all forms. God has no eyes, but He can see everything. God is all, God is One. It depends on how you use things, but all is really God. Prahlada saw Narasimha (the man-lion Avatar) as God – but his demon father saw Narasimha as the king of death! God only protects but those who don’t have full faith in this, think He punishes,” etc.

After the first discourse, Swami came out to return to the Poornachandra. The boy students are forever trying to offer Him handkerchiefs. Sometimes He takes them to wipe His face. Now, one small boy offered Him a handkerchief. Swami took it and instead of using it, He immediately wrapped it tightly around the little boy’s wrist! We all laughed and Swami laughed also. Then He became serious again, and walked on. The poor boy slinked down and sat, the kerchief slipping from around his wrist. He looked confused at the whole thing!

A few days ago, Swami sent word that if the lady’s side did not stop talking so much, then He would stop giving Darshan to the ladies! He also said that it was so noisy that He couldn’t eat dinner at night, and He started to skip dinner (in the Mandir) and instead returned to the Poornachandra immediately after evening bhajans.

After the first discourse, that night I went back to the sheds and thought, “How strange that He didn’t mention, ‘Don’t talk’!” and also, “Anyway, what use? He keeps giving so much advice, and even when He says, ‘You don’t listen to Me,’ still the people listen nicely, then go outside and behave the same exact way. No one practices!”

Then, the very next night Swami went on and on at the end of the discourse, saying how we should not talk so much, and how we must practice what He says.

After that discourse, He came out and put His finger to His lips, motioning the boy students not to talk. Then, while walking, He waved His finger at the convent teachers (ladies) and girl students, saying, “Bad!” and then put His finger to His lips, “Keep quiet!”

He waved his hands to a big group of brides and the wedding parties, from Hyderabad. Before the discourse, He had given Namaskar to all of them, plus new gold-bordered saris to the brides. This morning (Friday 5th November) the brides are wearing the new saris. They look like very poor people. Maybe Swami will do their marriages? I don’t know – because I don’t talk to people!

At least now, people will understand more when I say I'm in silence.

When Swami gives a series of discourses like this, how charged and uplifting the atmosphere becomes! It’s as if we are all transported inside the doors of heaven itself! Really a wonderful feeling!

As the discourses are in the Mandir, only VIPs and students sit inside. The rest of us, all permanents and the general public, sit outside in the compound. Many people sit comfortably all around the backside of the Mandir, under trees and sitting on walls. Happily, there are loudspeakers all around so everyone can hear nicely. I usually sit inside the compound as there, I can hear nicely and also see Swami when He comes and returns to the Poornachandra.

Now Swami comes and goes direct, straight into the Mandir for the discourse, and does not go around giving evening Darshan. We go to lines at 2:30 PM and Swami comes after 4 PM! Then there is a talk in Telugu by a sanyasi, sometimes a student speaks in English, then Swami gives His discourse. The whole program ends by 6:15 PM. After arathi, God walks back in the twilight, the sky dark in some places, in other places pink and light. Feast for the eyes! He stares at us lovingly, when walking back.