Meeetings with Maharaj #9

[Guest guest]

I had been bringing offerings that I purchased in the marketplace.

Somedays it was sweets, sometimes fruit, most days flowers. It is

customary to bring them and since the first day when Mr. Hate

suggested it, it became my habit. It was one of those things that

just went with prostrating. I liked to bring a small garland of

flowers, made out of jasmine or tuberrose, something pretty. One day I

brought such asmall garland and Maharaj smiled and explained, through

the translator that these garlands were actually decorations for

women's hair. At this time Maharaj's grandaughter (by his son) was

standing in the corner grinning. I had to laugh as it never occured to

me that this was for another purpose than the one I had given. He

beckoned to his grandaughter and gave her the little garland. In a

moment she swooped down, got the garland and ran down the stairs,

laughing. It must have been hilarious for her! There were so many

Indian customs that I didn't know.

When people brought sweets or fruit, they would be divided and

distributed at the end of the talks. I remember that they would take

an old school notebook and rip the pages out and fold the prasad into

them. It struck me how everything was valuable in India, even a used

notebook could be used for a higher purpose.