"As you sit in meditation in a darkened room, practice directing your consciousness inward, to the center of your brain. If you are able to perceive light within your body, you are on the path to immortality.
"
Gurudeva
Gurudeva, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Founder of Kauai's Hindu Monastery
Years ago Gurudeva asked for a formal gate to be carved, a new entrance to the monastery. It was carved in India, and for about two years it stood, completed, at our worksite in Bengaluru. Here Bodhinatha stands under it in India.
Way back in 2001 Palaniswami and Jiva Rajasankar sketched out some ideas and then handed it over to Selvanathan Sthapati, who drew a granite gate in Chola style.
Now it has been shipped to Kauai, and the silpis have begun fitting it (see below).
Here is an early drawing of the archway.
Today, the silpis have assembled the stones on the Iraivan foundation, and fitting the seams more perfectly in preparation for installation in the months ahead.
A close up of the Namaste hands at the top of the gate, with Siva Siva carved in Tamil. It will be a wonderful entrance for future pilgrims.
A musical family visited from the
Bay area in California, Vikasuha with his wife Harini, daughter of the well-known singer, Thiruvaiyaru Krishnan, who sang here 6 months ago.
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For those who may not have seen part 2, covering the lives of Yogaswami, Gurudeva and Bodhinatha:
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Inspired Talk: Title: Niyama Ten: Tapas
Category: Soul Duration: 15 min, 4 secs
Date Given: 2012-01-11
Given by: Bodhinatha
Description:
Tapas is to practice austerity, serious disciplines, penance and sacrifice which increases the speed at which we are moving forward on the spiritual path. Daily sadhanas and penance to atone for misdeeds are obligatory. Austerities, assigned and overseen by a guru, give a great sense of release from the past, a profounder understanding of the path and deepening of one's worship and meditation. Meditation on Ishana and Tatpurusha: veiling and revealing grace. All along we are Siva and finally that dawns on us.
