Om Sairam dearest Sai Family,

greetings on the holy occassion of Christmas. Christmas in Parthi is very special and always unique. Millions would have attended this tiny hamlet for the christmas celebrations over the years and there are others who are still craving to visit this holy land especially for christmas....

This Christmas will be remembered for generations for the beautiful decoration which was very very special for this year. This year, which also commemorates Swami's 85th birthday, South Africa the most happening country in Sai activities was blessed to decorate Prasanthi Nilayam. It is a historic moment in South Africa as they are celebrating 150 years of arrival of Indian indentured labours. They also made history in Prasanthi Nilayam by getting this great chance of decorating heaven on earth Puttaparthi.

The deco team arrived on the 10th of december with tons of decoration things from South Africa. It was 6 months of tireless effort to organise these things says brother Deven Naidoo, who along with Uncle Soobri, Balan, Jeeva,Prem Naidoo and others worked day in and day out to make this christmas memorable. Sure enough, on the 22nd Swami did ask: who did the decoration? (as if Swami doesn't know) and the reply came South Africa and Swami replied: it is very nice.

These few words were enough for the devotees to dip in the ocean of bliss forgetting all the troubles undergone these 6 months.

It was a memorable christmas even to me. On the 14th december brother Deven asked me to do some more shopping for the chirstmas as they were short of some decoration stuff. I went to bangalore and for the first time, I was doing the Chirstmas shopping. at about 6pm, when I was about to leave for Parthi,brother Deven calls me and asks me to see if I can get a candle. I asked him how big should the candle be and he said atleast 4 feet tall. I immediately rushed to a candle shop in Bangalore and asked the shopkeeper for a 4 feet candle. He looked at me strangely and said, you will only get those if you order in advance and it will take a minimum of one week to make it. I was praying to Swami and pleaded the shopkeeper to get one. He made a phone call to one candle factory and finally he traced one place where there was one 3 feet square candle and was red in colour.I called brother Deven and he said he prefers a white candle round in shape.I asked the shopkeeper to bring it any way and when he brought the candle, it turned out to be a white one, round in shape, exactly the same size and shape that was needed.It was a bit of emotional one, when Swami was lighting the candle this evening..

This evening Swami came at 6pm. The Sai Kulwanth hall was beautifully decorated and all the overseas devotees were given special seating in the front area.As the bhajans were going on, Swami drove into Sai Kulwanth hall and made a full round. Swami alighted just before the interview room and came upto the dais. He threw some Vibhuthi packets to devotees on the dais and listened to bhajans for about 20 minutes and then signalled for the international choir to start. This year's choir had 750 devotees about 100 from Germany, 150 from Russia,145 from South Africa, 26 from Australia and about 50 countries participated in this year's christmas.

Swami enjoyed the whole session and at 7:15 Swami for the first time, came down the dais and blessed every one with a group photo which was un expected but every one were very very happy.

Arathi was given to Swami at 7:20 thus ending a beautiful day filled with Sai Love. Tomorrow, the 25th of december, would be yet another beautiful day. Swami has blessed the South africans again to sing the carols....

Wishing all a Merry Christmas,

with pranams at the Lotus feet of our beloved Lord,

Sai Devotee

No Room in the Country: A Christmas Story for you by Susan Caffery

Persio senior and Sara followed their son as he jumped down from the truck. This time they had another little boy with them who looked about little Persio's age.

“Who's your new friend, Persio?'”asked his granny Bethia, who stood waiting for them.

“His name is Hesus, Granma.”

“Hesus?”

“Yeah. Mom said that's like the name Jesus.”

Sara smiled. “Tell Granma about how we found Hesus, Persio.”

“Well see,” explained little Persio, “ last week just before Christmas, Daddy got a 911 call from St. Jude's church. It was from the Parrish priest with a lost boy. Dad rushed over in his truck and found Hesus. The Priest said that he found him sleeping on the last pew trying to keep warm under an old burlap bag which had held Christmas oranges.”

“What are you doing here, my son?” the priest asked.

“Gosh! I'm sorry, Padre, but I got so cold last night sleeping in the stair well of the church that I guess I kind of sneaked inside. I'll go now”

“How old are you, son?” “I'm 6, Padre.”

The old priest took the skinny little kid in his arms. “Don't worry, my son, you can sleep in the the Rectory tonight. That's when he called my Dad at 911.”

“What is your name?” asked the priest.

“Hesus”

“Jesus?”

“Si, Padre”

“And where is your mother?”

'They took her away from her job last week, Padre, said she wasn't a citizen and couldn't stay here for Christmas. They said there was no room in this country for illegals.”

“How have you been eating?”

“Salvation Army feeds me.”

“You're by yourself?”

“Si si, Padre, since they took my mother away.”

“I've got a blanket in the Rectory and maybe something to eat in the refrigerator.”

“A little later Dad drove up in the fire truck. When he heard the story he just brought Hesus home to stay at our house. We're licensed for lost kids. Now we're friends, right Hesus?”

“Hi Jesus.” said Granma Bethia. “Looks like you've got some friends now, right?”

“Yes but only until my Mom can come back to get me.”

“You don't want to go back to Mexico with your Mom?'

“Nah, I've never been to Mexico besides I really love school here. Someday I'd like to study for the Priesthood and be like that nice old Priest. When I was cold, he gave me a blanket and when I was hungry he gave me pizza.”

And the two boys ran off to play with the fire truck Persio got for Christmas.”

Dear Sai Baba Devotees holding US passports,

OM SAI RAM

This communique, sent during the joyous Holy Christmas season, contains updated tips for overseas devotees visiting Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and visa information kindly compiled by the US Consulate General's, American Citizen Services Unit, in Hyderabad as a result of Puttaparthi devotees' questions.

Sai Baba protects us like the eyelids, the eyes.

He also tells us 'ABC", "Always Be Careful", which He explains means to use common sense.

May the following positive pointers, passed on from visiting devotees, prove useful ABC's.

---Devotees have noted that it is good to carry a photocopy of our passports and visas, and the phone number of our nearest Consulate in India, since police have the right to see our ID at any time, and Ashram authorities may also need to identify us properly.

---Sai Baba devotees have suggested that it is good to count the number of days allotted to visas carefully, check to see if the visa has multiple or single entry, and notice if registration with the Foreign Registration Officer (FRO) is required.

---Use of two passports (dual nationality) can cause problems.

---For current Indian Visa Regulations, devotees may contact their nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate.

---Devotees staying in Puttaparthi have found, as posted at the entry to the Ashram, that they are required to fill out Police Form 'C' within 24 hours of arrival, and Police Form 'F" when leaving.

* * * * *

If you plan to travel in India, or will be having a baby in India, you may wish to check the websites listed below for further information.

May you all have a Holy Christmas and New Year with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba joyfully, reverentially, and gratefully in your hearts,

Margot Adams Hoagland de Labar

Volunteer Warden, Puttaparthi Area

American Citizen Services, United States Consulate General of Hyderabad

U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad

American Citizens Services Unit

Paigah Palace, 1-8-323 Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet,

Secunderabad 500 003, Andhra Pradesh, India

Telephone: 91-40-4033-8300; Facsimile: 91-40-4033-8306

E-mail: HYDACS@state.gov website: http://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov

Dear American Citizen:

At the American Town Hall Meeting held at the Ista Hotel in September, many attendees expressed confusion about Indian visa regulations, especially regarding registration with the Foreigners Registration Office. As a result, the Consular Chief, ACS Chief, and locally engaged staff visited Hyderabad’s new Foreigners Regional Registration Officer. Below are some of our Questions & Answers:

Q: Can Americans get their visas extended in Hyderabad at the FRRO or do they need to go to New Delhi?

A: It depends on the visa category. Tourist visas cannot be extended and are not transferrable. Employment and Student visas are extended by the FRRO provided the necessary conditions are fulfilled.

Q: Is it mandatory to stay outside of India for two months after you exit India with a tourist visa?

A: The rule applies to every foreign national, but there are exceptions to the rule. In cases of emergencies, the Immigration officials at the airport may waive the rule. The decision is made at the port of entry, upon arrival. Advance permission to re-enter cannot be given by the Office of the FRRO. However, if the foreigner wants to return to India within the stipulated two months time, he can take permission from the Indian Embassy or the High Commission abroad. When airline officials have concerns about boarding passengers with Indian visas, they should contact Indian immigration, which is available 24/7.

Q: Can you change your visa type without leaving the country?

A: No, you must leave the country in order to change your visa type.

Q: If you’re in India for just a weekend trip, do you have to go and register at the FRRO?

A: No. Tourists who stay for less than 180 days need not register.

Q: Do the FROs in the districts report to the new FRRO?

A: The FRRO in Hyderabad offers services only for foreign nationals residing in or visiting Hyderabad (both Hyderabad and Cyberabad Commissionerates). The FRRO’s office does not oversee the affairs of the FROs at the district level. Outside of Hyderabad, at the district level, the Superintendent of Police will continue to serve as the FRO. However, there have been cases where foreign nationals have overstayed their Indian visas, and that may have led to instances where Indian officials have located and questioned visitors or foreign residents in Andhra Pradesh. The FRRO urges those visiting or residing in Andhra Pradesh to not overstay their visas.

Q: Is the FRRO a State Officer or a Central Government Officer?

A: The FRRO’s office in Hyderabad is now a Central Government of India office, which entails the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi overseeing the administration of the FRRO’s office. The former FRO’s office was an Andhra Pradesh State Government Office under the authority of the State Government’s Home Department.

Q: Can Americans naturalize and become Indian citizens?

A: Any foreigner with continuous stay of more than ten years can apply for Indian citizenship. The final decision will be made by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.

Q: Where is the new FRRO located?

A: At the Old Airport in Begumpet, which is very near the U.S. Consulate General in the old Paigah Palace in Secunderabad.

Foreigners Regional Registration Office

Bureau of Immigration, Beside Vijaya Bank Counter

Rajiv Gandhi Terminal

Begumpet Old Airport , Hyderabad

Phone: 040-2790-0211, 040-2790-1022, 040-2790-0388

http://hyderabadpolice.gov.in

Window Hours:

Registration: 14:30 - 16:00 hours

Other Services: 10:00 - 12:30 hours

If you have any further questions about Indian visa matters, please visit http://hyderabadpolice.gov.in

U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel website so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad".

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet website where the Worldwide Caution and current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for India.

U.S. citizens with questions or concerns may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:

· The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363-0350.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad is at Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Secunderabad 500 003; telephone: +91 (40) 4033-8300.

Memories

It is 9 at night but I may have had an 'Aha' MOMENT. Did youall see '60 min. tonight? Fascinating. They had five people on who could remember every day of their lives and the details of every experience. I thought it might bt be important for me as a contrast because I have no memory what's so ever, I can't even remember what happened at interviews and the major events of my life. I always thought it was a mild brain dysfunction of some kind.

These five people all had very large temporal lobs....like seven times the size of normal people. Whether these lobes were large at birth or became larger because of all the remembering, no one knew. Another things they all had in common was that they were a little bit obsessive. One lady put all her shoes in then same place, one facing in and one facing out and the colors were like color coded. They all admitted that through the years they played mind games with themselves too. Like...I remember what happened on May 4th 1974, May 4th 1975 and so on all the way up to the present.

Ok so how am I different? Boring! I can't be bothered thinking about boring things. I could care less what happened on May 4th 1940 even though I was a 6 year old child going through a lot of trauma because that's when my sister left to get married. And the next year was boring and the next year and the next. I think that early on I considered most everything in the world, in my life as too boring to really think about. And interesting about the shoes because I would just kick off my shoes when I got home from school and never be ble to find them the next day. Boring!

Ok fast forward to 1974 when I found God. Suddenly I found life not to be boring any more because everything was seen in another dimension. The Avatar was in charge so nothing was boring. If He was in charge, if He was aware of my life then everything was important now. And so from then on my life had meaning. God was, God is in charge of everything so how can it be boring.

In fact I wonder if most of us devotees don't feel that way. Our Lord has given everything meaning. Nothing is boring anymore.

Maybe we can take this another step forward and this is the reason I leap out of my bed to do this blog. Maybe it is a fact that when God is there, His presence is felt. The Divine consciousness is all around us and that makes our lives bearable. MAYBE THIS HEIGHTENED AWARENESS IS WHAT DIFFERENCEATES THE WEST AND INDIA. (I LOVE IT WHEN THE CAP LOCK COMES ON BY ITSELF)

MAYBE THIS DIVINE AWARENESS IS WHAT CREATES SUPERIORITY AMOUNG INDIAS. THEY ARE SMARTER AND WISER AND MORE KIND AND GENTAL (when they aren't being corrupt and by cheating trying to outsmart us westerners. They really are superior people, perhaps because their sense of God consciousness keeps their culture free of the boring and the mundane. Ok, I'm going back to bed.

Did I tell you I can't leave this apartment for ten more months because I signed a lease? If I left early I could never use HUD again. I had forgotten that.

Where I belong

I feed myself these blogs...ah...Swami gives me these blogs as part of my daily prayers in the morning and if I wait it's hard to remember how they go. This morning I was thinking, well, if I could find another Sai devotee to move in here who is just as poor...financially, as I am, HUD could pay the 600 for her and she could pay the 90 dollars and the tax payers wouldn't be loosing any money when I ran off to India.

Well, I could almost hear Swami's reasonable voice.

“Susan this is a perfect place for you. Don't blow it please. Look out that window and see the rosy mother covering Her Precious Lord Shiva's Bay with her divinity. Where on earth would you see such a heavenly sight first thing in the morning before getting up. You have this place, this gift from Sri Lakshmi, you have a government which actually gives you food to eat and a roof over your head, you have the love of your precious sister after a life time of alienation, you have really nice clothes and even a friend in Lois Buxbaum. You have your 'Babies' Ganesha and Bala Devi, to pray to as well as Swami and your health is getting better. Why do you want to cut and run. I've given you so much. Soon I will give you a book to write too”

So that's pretty much what He inspired me with this morning before my coffee. But India, the thought of India is so powerful.

“Swami, I have loved India for thousands of life times, I think. I simply belong in India. I have vasanas. Here I feel like a corpse in a coffin.”

Last night I watched that TV series drama, 'Outsourced' which is about an American guy in Mumbai working at a call center with a group of Indians. I watch it and simply forget where I am....I really do, I mean mental health authorities would be knocking at my door if they knew how much I forget where I AM. They have auto rickshaws, green coconut sellers on the streets along with dosas. The people in the office are kind and lovable and funny and warm just like the people in Puttaparthi. They waggle their heads and have small idols of Lakshmi on their desks and freak out when this American guy even touches them on the back. Anyway, I'm always ready to fly to India the day after I watch that show it's such a strong attachment.

I was praying to the Divine Mother this morning. She's always more direct.

“You say you belong in India, Susan. “ (I know She's really Swami in another costume)

“Did you ever feel as if you REALLY belonged on that ashram? Did you ever feel as if you REALLY belonged in round house 3? Even here, did you ever feel as if you belonged in your sister's house? Do you feel as if you belong here now in this palatial flat I've given you? Did you really feel that you belonged with your mother on her lap? “WHERE DO YOU REALLY BELONG, SUSAN?”

“I BELONG WITHIN MY PRECIOUS SWAMI, AMMA”

“AND WHERE ARE YOU NOW AT THIS MOMENT?”

“WITHIN MY PRECIOUS SWAMI?”

“THAT'S RIGHT, NOW YOU ARE WHERE YOU BELONG”

Lord Shiva in the Real World

Lord Shiva in the Real World

Afew days ago I was thinking about my life here and deciding all was not really well. A large part of me was still in India and didn't want to let go of those roots. So, I spoke to the Administrator of Peterborough yesterday. I told her that I was thinking about returning to India for 6 months and then coming back to my flat. She explained that HUD pays like 700 a month for this flat and gives it to me for 90. HUD doesn't like loosing so much money and so they have a rule that a resident can't have two places at once. If you live here its because you need to and there are no alternatives. I was told that if I left before the year's lease was up, I could not return, not now, and NOT EVER.

THAT WAS TWO DAYS AGO AND I'M STILL LITERALLY DIZZY WITH THE NEWS.

I will not be able to return to Swami for another ten months at least. What have I done?

Well of course I could simply leave and tell them to keep all the garage sale furniture and the thrift shop clothes AND the computer printer and maybe the music board and....but maybe some of you remember what my celestial sister went through at her advanced age to get me here. Maybe the 'old Susie' would have been able to say.... “I'm going back to India, I'm splitting , sorry for all the trouble” but Sai Graduates don't express their love and gratitude in that manner. Besides in six months I'd be back on her door step. She would always take me in but.....I couldn't. Besides why did He let this happen? Did He want me to be stuck in the west.

You know, I've keep myself under wraps all this time, reading my prayers, meditating haha in the middle of the night and really not communicating very much. I'm actually alone here all day except when I run down in the elevator for the mail. At 1019 when a visitor would come I would excuse myself and run upstairs. Actually I never really left India. I have stayed isolated but how can I do this....for a year?

I could go across the street to the Senior Center but, yukk, what if I met someone....made a real friend who wasn't a Sai devotee. I could even join the Sai Baba Center. I wouldn't have to worry about meeting a friend there....not possible, but boring.

I thought that I had joined the world but now I realize I haven't at all. I'm shy. I only communicate by letter or by telephone. That's why I do this blog. I DON'T WANT TO JOIN THE WORLD out there which I can see fifteen floors below. The lake is so very beautiful and the bay.

Did you all know that Shiva is the water? Shiva is the water and Shakthi, Goddess Parvati, is the life in the water. I look out on the bay many times during the day. Sometimes it is a silver line, sometimes when it is windy I can see silver caps and the water hitting the rocks. It's so beautiful. When I have trouble with jealousy like with my sister's kids, I make a packet and drop it in the bay. He takes all of that, you know, like He did when He swallowed all the poison. My Shiva is still swallowing the poison.

Oh God, how can I even step foot in the world of people who don't see that Lord Shiva is the Bay.

Graduates, move on

I think I sort of got it right this morning. With this bad memory of mine, the truth floats in and out but I hope to be able to hold on to this, this part of the truth, at least until Christmas.

It all started with plans for Christmas, I was planning one thing but 'the family' was planning another. So I took off the thin gold bracelet from the family and gave it to Swami. I gave Him the bracelet and threw in the family. It was a huge offering. After all I was only a visitor at their table anyway and left as soon as soon as I could make other arrangements. I really did bond with my precious sister though.

Then I offered Him the Sai Centers. There's some saying about being born in the church built on the side of the bridge but not staying in it. Churches, temples, Sai Centers all maybe very cozy but they have been built there on a bridge. No one in their right mind would think they were permanent. You are suppose to move on.

I came back here to the Tampa Bay Center after....many years in India and after one visit realized that it is not MY CENTER. This morning I realized how stupid I've been to think it was at all. I don't know one other devotee, say of 70's or 80's vintage, who ever goes to a Sai Center. THEY'VE MOVED ON, SUSIE I managed to croak out this morning between coughing spells. YOU IDIOT, YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO CHANGE SWAMI'S ENTIRE ORGANIZATION WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO CHANGE YOURSELF!

How many times have we heard Him say....'you wear green glasses, everything is green.' I've even seen cartons with the King painting the village green and being told when there was no more green paint...'OH KING, FIND A PAIR OF GREEN GLASSES, IF YOU LIKE THE COLOR SO MUCH.'

GRADUATE DOESN'T PERTAIN TO SOMEONE WHO HAS ONLY JUST STUDIED SWAMI'S LESSONS OR HEARD ALL OF HIS DISCOURSES. IT MEANS SOMEONE WHO HAS PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE AND MOVED ON.

SO WHAT'S THE POINT? THE POINT IS THAT I AM 75 AND NO LONGER A MEMBER OF THIS BIRTH FAMILY. NO HUSBAND, NO CHILDREN, NO MEMBERSHP. I WAS JUST A GUEST AT THEIR TABLE. NOR AM I A MEMBER OF THE SAI FAMILY, THE SAI CENTERS. MY CENTER IS INSIDE, DEAR GOD, DON'T I KNOW THAT?

My work is to look into my beautiful clean heart and happily reside there with Swami. I don't have to belong to this family or to this Center, I BELONG TO SWAMI Swami is my center. Swami is myself. I'm still trying to get across this bridge and let me tell you, it is cumbersome to try to drag the entire Sai Organization across the bridge too. Besides it doesn't want to be moved. It is very happy being where it is, doing Swami's work with their Sanskrit bhajans AND DOING SEVA PROJECTS in a detached manner.

Hey I've come to the same conclusion again this morning. The same conclusion we always seem to reach. Swami has put me here, all alone, to do the inside work. Oh God, I just hope I don't forget again tomorrow. Its really embarrassing.

Dear American citizens

We bring this message to your attention so you can carefully consider the information it contains. Please pass along the information below to the American citizens in your area or put this information on your notice boards for dissemination. Thank you for your cooperation.

According to press reports and local police authorities an explosion occurred in Varanasi at the Dashashwamedh Ghat near the Vishwanath Temple at around 6:30 this evening. Media reports indicate 20-25 people were injured including a number of foreigners with one fatality. Police are on high alert across India. At this time, the motive for the attack is not known.

U.S. citizens are urged to always practice good security and to maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile. U.S. citizens are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites.

U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel website so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad".

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet website where the Worldwide Caution and current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for India.

U.S. citizens with questions or concerns may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:

· The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363-0350.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335.

· The U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad is at Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Secunderabad 500 003; telephone: +91 (40) 4033-8300

American Atma

That's right, I've become obsessed with this idea of bringing the Sai Centers into the American fold. I haven't done my prayers yet this morning as its only five but I've offered this to Swami. I've just started offering stuff to Swami because obviously EVERYTHING comes from Him anyway but it really does seem to help keep things surrendered. Sort of a double safeguard from the old ego.

Let's get started right away with this Americanization stuff. I feel just a little hypocritical about discussing the Sai Centers because I don't go and maybe I'm talking through my hat but, what the heck, this seems to be what He wants. I feel as if He has me working in His garden here and planting a few hybrid seeds with red, white and blue blossoms. Sweet, huh?

To begin with the project name shouldn't be SOW when too many of us are pretty rotund anyway. I thought maybe we could refer to these seeds as...ASD or American Sai Devotee seeds and see, this opens it up to everyone of all ages and races. Maybe even the adult NRI's might feel good about a stronger sense of patriotism towards their adoptive land. We all know how Swami feels about honoring the land of our birth but perhaps we must honor the land which gives us all these opportunities also.

First let me say I think about five or six people read my blog so the influence is very limited. I don't want anyone thinking that I'm going through the manic phase of my bipolar ness or anything. That's my own diagnosis, by the way. But these ideas are so ah...loud and vivid in my head these days that it would seem to be....SWAMI'S WORK. And no, I'm not hallucinating!

Now I may sound like a nut but this country...America, is going through a very tough period. We almost bottomed out on the economic thing which I don't understand, and then there's the war which is bringing thousands of these really young guys back with out arms and legs and smashed in heads....those that make it. that is. Ok my Daddy was in the military but I've never felt much patriotism before, terrible Viet Nam war and all. So I come back from India and feel so very sad for these wounded warriors. Bush's Iraq war was over but now this war, though justified....is killing us. What can we do?

We can be proud of America. I think we should say the pledge of allegiance every week and maybe say it at the Centers. I think one of our service projects should be to cheer up the warriors. Now we shouldn't go tell them not to worry because the Avatar has come or anything like that but...I remember a line from a song we use to sing.....'They'll know we are His children by the love in our eyes, yes, they'll know we are God's children by our love'

We could go and write letters for those without arms and walk with those with artificial legs. Unfortunately this cough of mine pretty much keeps me from doing anything but....let's all remember one very important thing, SRI SATHYA SAI BABA, OUR BELOVED. IS ALSO AN AMERICAN. And our songs should always have American translations and our discussions should concern the application of His values to our American way of life. We Americans grew up with GOOD values too.

Sai Ram, Susan, the little ol' trouble maker,

A reply from a beloved friend ...

It was good hearing from you and knowing your thinking about some of the changes that need to be made in the Sai Organization. This is exactly what we talked about at the World Conference. I just got back from India and I'm writing to you because I can't sleep, but it's past 2:30. I did sleep until 5:00 this morning and that's good. I did miss seeing you, it's just not the same there even in Arch 2. It was a good trip but too many people, and my flight home was most difficult. I few Lufthansa for the first time, and because of weather or pilot slowdown, our plane was late leaving Bangalore, and I missed my flight to LA in Frankfurt. So they put me on United to San Francisco, and Delta to LA. United served me a half frozen sandwich which was awful and the seats are so close you can hardly get out to go to the bathroom. Then my luggage didn't show so I missed my flight to LA, and had to wait an extra 2 hours to get to LA. My luggage finally came home yesterday. Needless to say, I'm not anxious to make that trip again for a while.

Inside Outside

Bought a camera for my eyes, a printer for space, musical key board for hearing and memory for thinking and it was all WRONG. SWAMI SENT ME HERE TO BE BY MYSELF, YOU KNOW GO WITHIN AND ALL THAT AND WHAT DO I DO? EQUIPE MY OUTTER SELF. DID ANY OF YOU PICK UP ON THAT BIG MISTAKE?

THEN I GOT ALL INVOLVED IN ACTUALLY TRYING TO CHANGE HIS ORGANIZATION HERE WHICH I FOUND TO BE TOO OUTWARD ORIENTED. DIDN'T ANYONE SEE THE JOKE HERE? Obviously I should be doing my own inner work and not trying to change the outer organization which is really just fine for people who may be a little outer oriented now anyway. I am not suppose to be in that worldly state. He ripped me up, dusted off the roots and all but threw me here all alone so I could BE WITH HIM ONLY and what do I do? I try to change HIS PROGRAM, his program IN THE WORLD FOR GOD'S SAKE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN EVER CHANGE MY DIRECTION FROM OUTER TO INWARD. I do Lalitha's 1000 names every morning in English and one of the names chants about HER beautifully painted toe nails pointing towards the correct path for the devotee. I always make a big deal out of this name and thump my heart indicating the fact that Her precious feet are pointing in this direction. Even this doesn't seem to do the trick. I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO LOOK INSIDE. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm meditating haha, but what I end up doing is thinking about thinking about going inside rather than actually doing it.

I tried so hard to focus the point of my blog towards the absolute, the TRUTH, thinking that this was REALLY going inward. I mean it isn't possible to find the TRUTH in the world, is it or is it? Isn't the TRUTH a completely different reality than the one we look at all the time? I suppose I should simply give up and enjoy watching Oprah and Jon Steward but my God, He's gone through so much trouble to put me here all alone in this great flat just so I can find my real self inside and all that. Not only that but I really am scared that I'm losing so many neurons up there around my Sahastrara....Google couldn't even spell that one at all. I've got to find my real self before it's too late. But I have wondered about this. I knew one lady who came to the ashram slipping and sliding pretty fast. She kept looking very scared and screeching...'oh my god, I for got that, I forgot that'.. She has since passed over but I kept quoting the book, 'No Mind, I am the Self' to her although it didn't help. But is it the same? Does anyone know? Could it be that Alzheimer's patients are REALLY FULLY REALIZED? When you totally lose your mind are you living in the TRUTH? Who would know because no one could say. Maybe that sweet old man who straightens piles of newspapers all day sees the papers as planes of consciousness.

Ok so now that I've become less interested in reorganizing the Sai Centers I've remembered another dream from long ago. Sathya Sai Ramayana Theme Parks. Now I'll have to write to Swami about that! You think I'm kidding don't you?