Baisakhi in Kenya this Year...

April 13, 2009

Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah,

So...Happy Baisakhi to all of my Sikh Family and friends! It's weird to be in Kenya on Baisakhi at an Amma Program, but then it's also completely perfect.

We arrived at the hall a little later this morning since we did not have to set anything up. Today there were more Africans who showed up to the program. I was told later that they were all on payroll with the owner of the rose farm (one the big wigs in the Satsang in Kenya) and that he paid them their regular wage for the day but had them all come to the program to receive Darshan. There is something really odd about that.

All Staff members were asked to sit down during the Satsang and Bhajans as the hall was appearing really empty (both days).

I love working in the bookstore doing sales and/or cash. It's an opportunity to meet a lot of different people and see their reactions to their Darshan experiences through what and how much they purchase. It's really interesting! It's also a great opportunity to spend time with Swamini and build a relationship with her.

I did go off today again in the afternoon to do some shopping at the local Kenyan Market. That was a real trip. Every little shop has the same merchandise as the one next to it, yet they ALL want you to come in and see their goods. It starts with this invitation to come in and "look" and very quickly turns into this total "pressurized sale" as though you are in a pressure cooker and you just have to get out!

Anyhow...I was able to use my infinitely wonderful bargain skills and get several items for Jimmy and myself as a memory of my travels there moreso than anything.

Getting back to the Program Hall was the best thing that could have happened to me at that point in time. I was feeling really fried in the Market and needed some grounding. I was also expected to be up on stage behind Amma helping Brahmananda and Lola with the ceremonies at the end of Darshan. Amma did not do Devi Bhava here in Kenya so it was different to see the ceremonies done in Her form dressed in (soiled from the sweat and makeup of people's Darshan) white sari...energetically no different really, just visually different. I recognize that Amma, no matter how She is dressed, is the same ~ Divinity...ShivaShakti...the One and Only!

Amma landed up calling up all the Staff Members for Darshan (which we were not expecting) but that was really sweet. I wished Amma a "Baisakhi Mumbarak" and She smiled really brightly at me.

Again, we were back at our "lap of luxuries" by about 10:30pm after dinner at the Program Hall. The packing challenge is on. I have now acquired all sorts of things along the way on this Tour and have to try and squeeze it all into the duffle bag that I brought with me from the Ashram (which was full leaving there). I (somehow) managed to get it all in and was ready for the flight tomorrow.

We were picked up in the morning and were taken to a nearby restaurant for lunch. There was rumour last night that we were all going to be taken out to the rose farm owner's house (where Amma was staying) and would be served lunch by Amma there. Well, this did not happen. As a result, when we arrived at the restaurant, Amala and I took off to the Kenyan Market as she wanted to get some items for her husband. We were able to make it there and back within plenty of time to still eat and sit around waiting for the buses to take us to the airport.

Amma was on the same flight as we were, but we did not see Her at all as there were two separate doors - one for the first class and business class passengers (which She entered through) and one for the rest of us poor sardines in the back of the plane. The curtain was very quickly drawn so we did not even get much glimpses of Her.

I slept the entire way back to Kochin and was happy to be back in India ready to make my way with Sarvaga and Pasupati to the Ashram by train. I was done like dinner. I need some R&R time now. I know how Amma does it ~ She the Divine Mother, but I don't know how Swamini does it...God bless her!