A quick intro of Puttaparthi to non Sai devotee ex software industry colleague who is now based in USA
Given below is an edited version of a message I wrote to a second half of 1980s Mumbai software company colleague and friend of mine who is now based in the USA (been there for decades, I think), in response to him saying, perhaps half jokingly, that he should take some time off and join me to experience the peaceful life that I am enjoying in Puttaparthi. Note that, as far as I know, he has not visited Puttaparthi and is not a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
You and family are very welcome to visit Puttaparthi which is a pilgrim town with many similarities to Shirdi in Maharashtra. I will be glad to be your guide :-) to show you around the ashram, the outside ashram town (which has some challenges that most semi-urban India towns face including cleanliness challenges) and the surrounding areas of rural villages which are largely peaceful and tranquil showing the marked influence on them of Sri Sathya Sai Baba's life and teachings, including the extraordinary service to community activities started/inspired by him.
Puttaparthi, like other pilgrim towns in India, has its areas of intense activity. It also has its fair share of business people intent on making money by providing services to spiritual-tourists and general tourists. But it also has a lot of people devoted to the teachings of Sathya Sai of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema (and Ahmisa, though I personally have some issues with Ahimsa in the context of Adharmic and violent attacks).
Here are a few blog posts of mine with pics taken by me during my walks in the rural areas outside Puttaparthi town, that give you a taste of largely peaceful and tranquil rural village areas around Puttaparthi:
1) Some Nature photos of Puttaparthi from Nov. 2014 to Jan. 2015, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2015/03/some-nature-photos-of-puttaparthi-from.html
2) Washermen of Puttaparthi are part of its ecosystem/society; Automation threatens jobs & livelihood, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2015/11/washermen-of-puttaparthi-are-part-of.html
3) Sathya Sai advent is a worldly blessing to Puttaparthi low wage village workers too, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2016/08/sathya-sai-advent-is-worldly-blessing.html
BTW I should clarify that I do NOT imply that villagers around Puttaparthi are saintly! This region (Rayalaseema) is known for its rough-and-tough ways including murderous faction violence. However, most of the villages and villagers around Puttaparthi due to influence of Sathya Sai over many decades, do not typically exhibit that kind of murderous faction violence. Other crime, especially money related, is not uncommon in these villages, and there is rivalry too which gets into political domain as well. Overall though, these villagers are welcoming and respectful of outsiders including foreigners as many such persons have initiated social service projects in their villages, or helped the villagers in some other ways.
You and family are very welcome to visit Puttaparthi which is a pilgrim town with many similarities to Shirdi in Maharashtra. I will be glad to be your guide :-) to show you around the ashram, the outside ashram town (which has some challenges that most semi-urban India towns face including cleanliness challenges) and the surrounding areas of rural villages which are largely peaceful and tranquil showing the marked influence on them of Sri Sathya Sai Baba's life and teachings, including the extraordinary service to community activities started/inspired by him.
Puttaparthi, like other pilgrim towns in India, has its areas of intense activity. It also has its fair share of business people intent on making money by providing services to spiritual-tourists and general tourists. But it also has a lot of people devoted to the teachings of Sathya Sai of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema (and Ahmisa, though I personally have some issues with Ahimsa in the context of Adharmic and violent attacks).
Here are a few blog posts of mine with pics taken by me during my walks in the rural areas outside Puttaparthi town, that give you a taste of largely peaceful and tranquil rural village areas around Puttaparthi:
1) Some Nature photos of Puttaparthi from Nov. 2014 to Jan. 2015, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2015/03/some-nature-photos-of-puttaparthi-from.html
2) Washermen of Puttaparthi are part of its ecosystem/society; Automation threatens jobs & livelihood, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2015/11/washermen-of-puttaparthi-are-part-of.html
3) Sathya Sai advent is a worldly blessing to Puttaparthi low wage village workers too, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2016/08/sathya-sai-advent-is-worldly-blessing.html
BTW I should clarify that I do NOT imply that villagers around Puttaparthi are saintly! This region (Rayalaseema) is known for its rough-and-tough ways including murderous faction violence. However, most of the villages and villagers around Puttaparthi due to influence of Sathya Sai over many decades, do not typically exhibit that kind of murderous faction violence. Other crime, especially money related, is not uncommon in these villages, and there is rivalry too which gets into political domain as well. Overall though, these villagers are welcoming and respectful of outsiders including foreigners as many such persons have initiated social service projects in their villages, or helped the villagers in some other ways.
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