mebtravelling

I can walk to Thannirpalli, but the trip to Kulithalai requires an autorickshaw. Here is my conversation with the “auto” driver these days:
ME: Hello, Jeeva?
Jeeva: Yes, Shantivanam? What time?
ME: Well, I was thinking, I mean…maybe sometime this morning, say…
Jeeva: I come now?
ME: Right. Sure. Yes. Thank you. I’ll be at the gate.
Jeeva: [click]

I could tell you stories...and sometime, I will: the place would not function w/o these two.

This morning's Breakfast Crew. The MIA's *drank the water* if you know what I mean.

In case you fail to read it in my face:"There is nothing quite like that sweet milk and powdered coffee."

I really was SURPRISED BY JOY.
I kept hearing about letters between C.S. Lewis and Bede Griffiths, the most famous (and most recent – he died fewer than 20 years ago)of Shantivanam’s 3 founders, so I decided to visit Shantivanam’s library to see if I could find a collection of Lewis’ letters, and among them see if I could find one to Father Bede. I’d been told that the library, awooden temple-like wooden, contained Bede’s library.

Once inside, I found a place that smelled like a library, if you know what I mean: musty, Indian-dusty, i.e. wonderful. I walked around – somebody has catalogued, like a Twin Cities used bookstore: Theology/Scripture; French Language/French Literature; English Literature/English Poetry… I walked over to the English Literature, scanned the shelves of Lewis’ works, and pulled out one of about 10 that had “Letters” in its title. I’d set my canedown on the cement floor and had settled in for a good long search ,but the book fell open, and I’M NOT KIDDING, to “Letter to Dom Bede Griffiths, OSB, on the occasion of his ordination.”

Poster advertising Conference

I’ll send an email about the conference on Organic Farming and Human Rights; if you don’t receive it, and have any interest in knowing more, send along a note. In the meantime, I can only say this: it was one of those days that reminds me I MOST ASSUREDLY CAME TO INDIA FOR THE MYSTERY.

Sister Agnes moves very fast; here, she is off to change her sari before the Conference. Scheduled for 10, it began shortly after The Chairman arrived -- shortly after 11.

The real object seems to be to Run around as fast as you can – while yelling – in case you’re not already sweltering ( I don’t discount the possibility of major projection on my part).

Just 1.5 kms from the ashram – I rode [on the back of] a motor scooter – a lively ICM nun runs a daycare for the elderly, a preschool, tailor training, as well as typewriter and computer skills centers.

Elegant and talented, Sanjevey spends his days in Eldercare. He sings beautifully - this photo shows him finishing one of his chants. He has been blind for years.

The preschoolers were inside eating their snack, mostly thali (which always looks to me like tapas-in-a-metal cup)

"I am four!"

I moved 2 days ago, and to the untrained eye the room looks little different. However, beyond the (mosquito-netted) bed is a delightful 1/2 room with…right! No more hole in the floor for me…The Plaza couldn’t have made anybody happier than this Upgrade has made me.

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