Kuala Lumpur!

Sai Ram,



I am now in Kuala Lumpur arriving here in pouring rain as a friend drove me from

Penang to a house opening gathering where there were prayers and a yagna. Unfortunately, we missed the religious ceremony Wednesday night but made it for Thursday morning. It was interesting with prayers, yagna and bhajans. Baba appeared during arathi.



Thursday night, I finally got to go to the Brickfield Center in Kuala Lumpur. The last several times I was here, I couldn’t get there. The meeting was on Thursday nights. It was a long but wonderful evening. The bhajans and prayers were good. They did Gayatri 54 times which is the first time I have ever seen it done that many times during a regular full meeting. It was nice.



There was a lot of use of slides projected onto a screen. We always knew where we were by looking at the screen. The schedule and words to all bhajans and prayers were projected.



Later, when the young adults presented a special program on Buddha, It was multi-media. Pictures and words were projected onto the screen while a recording recited the words that were written. It was nice and thorough.



Afterwards, there was a short skit with 2 people dressed in monk costumes. I couldn’t hear what was said but I believe one of them was Buddha.



People here were also interested in what happened in Puttaparthi and what is happening.



In the front of the meeting room there was a very large picture of Baba. It was not one I have seen in a center before. It was an older one where Baba is among flowers and looking straight ahead. I kept staring at the picture. I felt that Baba’s eyes were moving. I couldn’t tell whether it was actual or an illusion created by the lighting and where I was sitting.



It doesn’t matter as we know that Baba is present at all center meeting and always keeps an eye out on everyone.



It was an evening where Baba took care of me in many ways with finding me a ride to and from the meeting and a place to eat a snack at 10:30 at night.



Earlier I went to the Brickfield Shirdi Sai Baba Center which was in the same area.

Last year, I made a visit a few months after it opened. It was bare except for a statue of Shirdi and a few items. But this year there was a big difference. It was more decorated, had books and tapes for sale and food was available. Also, a lot more people. When I came, it was just before prayer time which was 7:00. They are saving money for a bigger Shirdi Center at another location.



On Friday, we learned that the famous wish fulfilling tree was struck by lightning and only a small part remains (SeePhotos). This is the tree where Baba materialized different fruit on various branches at the same time. It had the reputation that if you made a wish it would come true.



A yogi lived in the cave near the tree. I visited it back in the 70’s but after the difficult climb I decided not to attempt it again.



On Saturday morning there was another house blessing with mantras, yagna and bhajans. During the mantra part, Baba in the white gown walked about. I feel he was there all morning. As I meditated during the mantra part, Baba came to me in the white robe. Among other things, he said, “ I AM Omega” Baba explained that He is the end of everything. There is nothing else. There is no Alpha only Omega. I thought this was great. I felt graced to be showered by his Love as I was spaced out and energized afterwards.



In the evening, it was reunion time as I revisited SS3 Baba Center. Saturday evening was always a full evening with classes and discussion groups for all ages. There was a discussion group for parents as they wait for their children.



SS3 was chaos central from 5:00 to 7:00 with every room in the 4 story building being used. Every room and some hallways were used for bal vikas and young adults by age groups as well as other meetings.



The evening prayers are at 7:00 every night. The weekly Saturday meeting started at 7:30. Bhajans were wonderful. After which there were several presentations including one on the Buddha. Two adults also spoke briefly about life after Baba’s left his body.



On Sunday morning the entire building was used for speech contests at different levels. On Saturday, I visited with my friend who teaches 13 and 14 year old men. Several teenagers did their speeches. They had Baba’s concepts in their talk but had to learn about expressing it.



The future of Baba’s messages will be safe with the younger generation.



Sunday morning found me visiting Kepong Sai Baba Center which is a new center located on the 4th floor. The meeting hall is hugh with very nice altar which had a gold Buddha statue located between Shirdi and Sathya Sai pictures. This center also used a computer and a screen for people to be able to follow the program. I wish more centers would do this. There was a speaker about Baba.



On Sunday evening I returned to SS3 where a discussion was being conduction about Baba and events that had transpired.



Sunday evening consisted of attending a meeting at Sai Nivas which is the only center that I have been to that is following Baba’s guidelines for the center. Many years ago Baba requested that the center have just a picture of him and a candle. Nothing else. Baba preferred that the Sai Baba centers not even have his picture on the altar but just a candle.



Sai Nivas has a big photo of Baba, a chair and candles as well as a few lights. The bhajans and chanting were intense. After arati there was a discussion about Baba leaving his body and what comes now.



Monday morning it will be early to rise to catch a 7 a.m. flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai and a 2 hour car ride to Chiang Rai which will be home for about 3 weeks.



Word from Prasanthi is that there are very few people in the ashram now. It could be because it is summer which is vacation time. Several hundred people from Asia came to celebrate Buddha Poornima. Several lectures were held in the Conference Hall which included Anil Kumar as one of the speakers.



It will take time for the ashram to adjust to the new conditions and for devotees to realize that Prasanthi Nilayam has much to offer. The crowds will be back.



SEEMA