Taka Archives

Cybertalk: Gurudeva shares with a cyberspace devotee the difference between becoming a Hindu and just studying the religion.

Cybertalk Ends"
For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Gurudeva will be happy to hold "Prasnottara Satsang" -- "Questions and Answers" over the telephone with any Hindu religious societies, Hindu youth groups, Radio talk show hosts etc. All you need is a phone with a speaker and an enthusiastic audience. Arrangements may be made in advance by sending email to Sivadevanathaswami

Click to send Gurudeva a spiritual question he will later answer for all to benefit.

transcription begins

Date: April_24_2001
Title: Nandinatha Sutras
Category: Hinduism and Tradition
Duration: 2 min., 19 seconds
Date Given: April 12, 2001

A very interesting question from a cyberspace cadet about the Nandinatha Sutras, 365 sutras of how we should live our life. "How closely should we follow them?"

The Nandinatha Sutras were created about 10 years ago at the request of the Jaffna Tamil elders, who in diaspora moved to various parts of the world. They said, "Gurudeva, our people don't listen to us anymore, even though we are the elders. At home in Sri Lanka, we lived a very strict and disciplined life. Even though it was strict and disciplined, it was easy-going and natural. But now, they have gone just that far the other way." I suppose to rock-and-roll, and roll-and-rock.

These elegant elders visit us here at Kauai Aadheenam from various parts of the world, every month. If you were to ask any of these grandmothers and grandfathers, "How do you live up to these 365 sutras?", they would say, "What? Live up? It is our way of life, documented. This is how we live."

There are those who live a double standard. One way at home behind closed doors, another way when guests are visiting. One way in the temple and another way in the marketplace. Only those who live a double standard look at the 365 sutras as hard and fast rules, difficult to live up to. But, when you adjust your lifestyle, your thinking, your intellect and your spirit to everything within the sutras, they are a joy rather than a great challenge.
transcription ends

Sze Chin (on the left) will become Lavanya Saravan tomorrow morning when she has her Namakarana Samskara. As a young Chinese Singaporean, she was raised without a religion of any kind, as are many young people in the world today. So tomorrow she will become a Hindu.

Lavanya was very encouraged while on Kauai to meet many other Hindus who were not born Hindus but either adopted or converted to Hinduism. Singapore has mostly born Hindus and coming to America and seeing that there are other Hindus like her who come from many different backgrounds gave her a new positive perspective on her life changing decision.

Here she and her husband Sivakumar Saravan are making a big decision to sponsor one of the pillars of the Iraivan Temple. Thambynathan Nutanaya performs an arati to bless the auspicious occasion.

A single pillar is US$21,000.00 so this is a big committment for the young couple!

But, what better way for newly weds to honor and set their marriage in stone! They will make monthly donations over a period of years to meet the pledge.

The pillar they are sponsoring will have a special carving of Ardhanarishvara--Siva depicted as half male, half female. It so happened that we had a photo of Gurudeva taken in Germany where he was standing in front of a huge poster of Ardhanarishvara, a perfect gift for the couple.

The Rig Veda has this beautiful hymn to water, which is the nourishing, purifying Divine Element:

1. O Waters, source of happiness,
pray give us vigor so that we
may contemplate the great delight.

2. You like loving mothers are
who long to give to children dear.
Give us of your propitious sap.

3. On your behalf we desire, O Waters,
to assist the one to whose house you send us--
you, of our life and being the source.

4. These Waters be to us for drink;
divine are they for aid and joy.
May they impart to us health and strength!

5. You Waters who rule over precious things
and have supreme control of men,
we beg you, give us healing balm.

6. Within the Waters, Soma has told me,
remedies exist of every sort
and Agni who brings blessing to all.

7. O Waters, stored with healing balm
through which my body safe will be,
come, that I long may see the sun.

8. Whatever sin is found in me,
whatever wrong I may have done,
if I have lied or falsely sworn,
Waters, remove it far from me.

9. Now I have come to seek the Waters.
Now we merge, mingling with the sap.
Come to me, Agni, rich in milk!
Come and endow me with your splendor!

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all. Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia. www.innersearch.org

Here Gurudeva meets with:

Mohan Ramanathan, grandson of Mr Sabapathipillai who was the founder of the London Highgates Murugan Temple. Mohan first met Gurudeva when he was 8 years old in London, when Gurudeva came to start the worship for the temple. Now Mohan lives in Virginia.

[No audio today as our sound man has the afternoon vigil in Kadavul temple and is happily worshipping Lord Ganesha and proof-reading the July-August issue of Hinduism Today]

Click to send Gurudeva a spiritual question he will later answer for all to benefit.

transcription begins

Date: April_21_2001
Title: Physical Injury, Daily Sadhana
Category: Self Improvement
Duration: 2 min., 44 seconds
Date Given: April 12, 2001

A cyberspace devotee asks Gurudeva about the physical difficulties of the accident in the spine that happened December 5. "How we should face physical difficulties when they come?"

If we think for a minute that we are our physical body, facing physical difficulties is very difficult. Similarly, if we think for a moment that we are our emotions, facing emotional trauma or upheaval is very difficult.

Karmas are on many levels. The physical body has its karma, the emotions their karmas, the intellect its karma. We can share karmas with other people or with projects in taking on responsibility and dispatching that responsibility. That is all karma management.

Realizing that we are the life force that flows through body, mind and emotion, realizing that we are the soul that lives in the mental body, the astral body, the emotional body, the physical body, we maintain our own personal identity through any trauma physically, mental or emotional.

My advise in going through a physical trauma is to be patient. The physical body, the mental body, the astral body and the emotional body will eventually adjust themselves back to normalcy.

A cyberspace, 'Merging with Siva' student who is doing the 52 sadhanas asks, "I want to do daily sadhana. Which of the 52 sadhanas should I use?"

The basic sadhana is waking up in the morning early, preferably before dawn, performing a small worship puja, then meditation upon the daily lesson within 'Merging with Siva'. Repeat some positive affirmations to make you strong. "I can, I will, I am able." Then, begin your day. Also, attend some temple, religious service once a week. Go on a pilgrimage rather than a vacation, once a year.
transcription ends

Vivek, born and raised in Toronto, Canada, is here on school break to experience as much surf and Siva that he can.

This is the sister of one of our monks who has come to visit.

Manmohan and Shashi Rani Mittal from Fremont, California.
They are long time readers of Hinduism Today.

Sivakumar Meyyappan and his wife Lavanya, a Chinese Singaporean who is soon to formally become a Hindu through the namakarana samskara.

Another "cross national" couple, Scott and Bhavini from Pennsylvania... just married who came for blessings from Kadavul Nataraja. Acharya Ceyonswami blesses the couple with a shawl.

A close up of a bromiliad inflourescence. Peeking out from the luscious folds are the structures that have tiny flowers on their ends. Who designed these things anyway?

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all. Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia. www.innersearch.org

Cybertalk: A cyberspace devotee from Singapore wants to know how much he should merge with Siva if he is a householder. Gurudeva says if he gives his wife everything she wants and everything she needs then he is releasing her sakthi and thus helps him in the process of merging with Siva. Being kind, loving and speaking the truth also helps him in the process of merging with Siva.

Cybertalk Ends"
For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Gurudeva will be happy to hold "Prasnottara Satsang" -- "Questions and Answers" over the telephone with any Hindu religious societies, Hindu youth groups, Radio talk show hosts etc. All you need is a phone with a speaker and an enthusiastic audience. Arrangements may be made in advance by sending email to Sivadevanathaswami

Click to send Gurudeva a spiritual question he will later answer for all to benefit.

transcription begins

Date: April_19_2001
Title: Do we take on karma by watching TV?
Category: Karma
Duration: 2 min., 31 seconds
Date Given: April 11, 2001

A cyber cadet in Atlanta, Georgia, Chudikadevi wonders about television. "Do you take on karma, make new karma by watching television programs in which somebody gets killed or hurt?"

If the television program that you are watching affects you emotionally and you get totally involved within it, but the characters on the screen are not like you at all and very possibly won't experience these experiences in this life, perhaps you are going through experiences, emotionally and mentally, of a previous life and working out that karma.

When you are totally unaffected by what you see on the television screen, it would indicate that you have already worked through those karmas and they no longer affect you, emotionally or mentally.

Should you remember what you saw the night before in the morning, then play it again the next day. You will not be as interested as you were, when you were taken up in the emotion of the program. Now, you are an adult and you can handle your mind in this way. But, children are deeply impressed with, "This is how life is going to be when I grow up. This is how I should live and face experiences, how I should think about things and react."

Our Nandinatha sutra tells us that we are only to watch television two hours a day, no more. Less would even be better.

You can watch the forms on the TV screen and be caught up in the emotion. It will awaken memories of the past and fears of the future. But, if you simply shift your consciousness to the light which shines through those forms, it is the same light that shines through your thinking mind, that lights your thoughts. That light is coming from God. Siva is the light of your mind.
transcription ends

Our two young couples will go home with a big mission agenda: to organize and pull off large gatherings of young people and inspired them in their faith. Some of the ideas and plans that were brought forward today:

-- Youth Seminars, leading into Youth retreats
-- Preparation for Marriage Classes
-- Developing seminar content modules: Color Meditation, Introduction to Lord Ganesha, hatha yoga, practical sadhana from the book, Merging with Siva, flooding your aura with colors, affirmations, yamas and niyamas

This is one of the exquisite pieces of artwork commission for Gurudeva's books. It is the image of the Saiva Sannyasin by A. Manivelu. Don't hesitate to order some of this beautiful art for your home. Your purchase will help offset the rather extensive costs that were incurred to get this artwork done, which in turn supports a family of artists in India, who, by the patronage of Himalayan Academy Publications, is able to support their family by carrying on a tradition that came down to them through seven generations of stapathis who specialized in sacred Hindu art.

go to
www.HinduArt.org

This lily has an almost iridescent yellow core, reminding us of the Divine Being which lies within each of us, only to be nurtured and unfolded in the Sun of Siva's Grace.

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all. Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia. www.innersearch.org

Cybertalk: A cyberspace devotee asks how we should view a group of people dying in a natural disaster. Gurudeva says this is a group karma and all the people involved were born to have this experience at the same time. A cyberspace devotee says that gangs are very common in schools these days and asks Gurudeva for his thoughts on this matter. Gurudeva says this is because children have been beaten out of their homes out of anger by parents and are now afraid to go back. He says young people who form gangs are hurting on the inside. They should not be blamed. The crime is on the side of the parents and aunties and uncles who are living in anger.

Cybertalk Ends"
For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Gurudeva will be happy to hold "Prasnottara Satsang" -- "Questions and Answers" over the telephone with any Hindu religious societies, Hindu youth groups, Radio talk show hosts etc. All you need is a phone with a speaker and an enthusiastic audience. Arrangements may be made in advance by sending email to Sivadevanathaswami

Click to send Gurudeva a spiritual question he will later answer for all to benefit.

transcription begins

Date: April_21_2001
Title: Physical Injury, Daily Sadhana
Category: Self Improvement
Duration: 2 min., 44 seconds
Date Given: April 12, 2001

A cyberspace devotee asks Gurudeva about the physical difficulties of the accident in the spine that happened December 5. "How we should face physical difficulties when they come?"

If we think for a minute that we are our physical body, facing physical difficulties is very difficult. Similarly, if we think for a moment that we are our emotions, facing emotional trauma or upheaval is very difficult.

Karmas are on many levels. The physical body has its karma, the emotions their karmas, the intellect its karma. We can share karmas with other people or with projects in taking on responsibility and dispatching that responsibility. That is all karma management.

Realizing that we are the life force that flows through body, mind and emotion, realizing that we are the soul that lives in the mental body, the astral body, the emotional body, the physical body, we maintain our own personal identity through any trauma physically, mental or emotional.

My advise in going through a physical trauma is to be patient. The physical body, the mental body, the astral body and the emotional body will eventually adjust themselves back to normalcy.

A cyberspace, 'Merging with Siva' student who is doing the 52 sadhanas asks, "I want to do daily sadhana. Which of the 52 sadhanas should I use?"

The basic sadhana is waking up in the morning early, preferably before dawn, performing a small worship puja, then meditation upon the daily lesson within 'Merging with Siva'. Repeat some positive affirmations to make you strong. "I can, I will, I am able." Then, begin your day. Also, attend some temple, religious service once a week. Go on a pilgrimage rather than a vacation, once a year.
transcription ends

Guhanathaswami perform the final rites after the daily morning Siva puja. This is the main worship ceremony of the day, held daily from 9:00 am to about 10:00. After that Swami offers a seminar based on Living with Siva to pilgrims and guests and answers questions.

Mr. and Mrs. Sivanandan from Australia enjoyed the darshan of the Siva Yogaswami shrine in our meditation hall.

One of Guhanathaswami's classes in the temple is for Thambynathan Nutanaya. Here Swami reviews the Nandinatha Sutras with him to make sure he understands them all.

Aravindraj and Sivaneswaran our two dynamic sevaks from Malaysia here on Task Force completed a huge pile of Rudraksha beads. These were cleaned and drilled and carefully packed, five in a small box. Now they are available to the public and also to other temples in bulk. In a cooperative plan to have Siva's Divine Fruits help the "One Temple," Gurudeva has asked the monks to offer the Rudrakshas to other temple societies for fundraising as well. If you are interested in helping build both your temple and Iraivan at the same time, please email Acharya Ceyonswami.

The weather is warming and the magical ever changing tapestry of wind, water, greenery, mountain ranges and light never cease to amaze us, though we have lived here over 30 years. Bright morning sunshine behind us dances through distant rain revealing the splendid arching spectrum we call rainbow.

Thambynathan Nutanaya is slowly being given more responsibilities. One is the daily Nitya Puja (daily, obligatory worship) at the site of the Swayambhu (Self Born) Sivalingam. Here, daily since 1975 a puja has been performed for Lord Siva on this sacred stone where Gurudeva saw Lord Siva sitting and giving darshan.

The outdoor shrine is being preserved in its naturalness and a great peace pervades.

This was Nutanaya's first puja with an actual group of devotees attending. He did very well.

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all. Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia. www.innersearch.org

Cybertalk: A cyberspace devotee asks how closely should we follow the Nandinatha sutras. Gurudeva says if we were to ask the elders that visit us here at Kauai Aadheenam as to how they live up to these sutras they would say that this is their way of life. He also says that only those who live a double standard look at the sutras as hard rules difficult to live up to.

Cybertalk Ends"
For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Gurudeva will be happy to hold "Prasnottara Satsang" -- "Questions and Answers" over the telephone with any Hindu religious societies, Hindu youth groups, Radio talk show hosts etc. All you need is a phone with a speaker and an enthusiastic audience. Arrangements may be made in advance by sending email to Sivadevanathaswami

Click to send Gurudeva a spiritual question he will later answer for all to benefit.

transcription begins

Date: April_18_2001
Title: Hindu Sects
Category: Hinduism and Tradition
Duration: 1 min., 28 seconds
Date Given: April 11, 2001

A cyberspace devotee in Texas is wondering about, "If you are born a Hindu into one or another, of the four traditional sects - Smarta, Sakta, Vaishnavite, Saivite - must you remain within the denomination of your birth?"

Everything is very flexible within Sanatana Dharma. If you find a sect or denomination within Hinduism that suits you better, then throw your entire energy within it. But, if you are close to one of the spiritual leaders, then he should know that you have changed denominations. Therefore, his expectations would diminish and his responsibility would diminish for your spiritual unfoldment.

It is very important to be philosophically, absolutely clear of why you would move from one denomination to another. It takes deep thought and discussion. It should not be done on a whim or without a lot of deep thought or discussion, because it would definitely have an impact upon the family.
transcription ends

Kulapati Deva Seyon introduces and welcomes Aravindraj and Sivanewaran into the congregation.

Both sishya read aloud the following oath:

"I have read and reread and will, to the best of my ability, uphold, live and
teach by example, as well as verbally to the next generation, each one of
the 365 sutras of the Nandinatha lineage.

I come forward with gifts of gratitude and feelings of love to my guru and
those in the parampara who have preceded him.

I affirm that I have completed all the membership requirements and I vow to
be an ardent, responsive, grateful, loyal vratasishya of Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami as a member of his Saiva Siddhanta Church among my
kulapati's extended family."

The two sit before the sacred fire which has since ancient days, been God's silent witness and Divine blessing power for countless vows and crucial life passages.

Aravindraj and Sivaneswaran have both completed a three year study in the Himalayan Academy.

Now that they are Vrata Sishya they will be eligible and prepare for mantra diksha.

Thambynathan Nutanaya assists with the homa by lighting the final arati lamp and passing it to Natyam Tyaganatha.

The priest, after passing a flower over the flame lifts it up over his head, focusing within on the inner chakras before the final waving of the lights.

After the homa their was a special dance performance by Janani Umakanthan from Napa Valley, California.

Janani is a medical student in her second year of study.

Janani with her father, mother, two brothers and sister-in-law.

Gurudeva also gave special blessings for the marriage of Bhranavan and Preeti Umakanthan, and Sivakumar and Lavanya Meyyappan.

Gurudeva gave each couple a shawl, explaining that if they had any disagreements they were to both sit on it and not get up until they had resolved their differences.

Sivakumar and Lavanya Meyyappan are from Singapore, here on Kauai for a week pilgrimage.

Mr and Mrs. Sivanandan from Sidney, Australia also attended homa this morning.

Mr and Mrs. Sivanandan are originally from Jaffna, Sri Lanka and were devotees of Siva Yogaswami.

Standing at the north end of temple site on the San Marga land... everyone watches while the Ganesha puja and small homa is done.

Tara Katir (right) and Mrs. Umakanthan left, perform the arati while Paramacharya Bodhinatha presides over a small homa.

Everyone sings the famous arati song, in English:

Om Jai Jagadish Hare
Swami Jai Jagadish Hare
Bagta jano ke sankata
Das jano ke sankata
Palame doorakare
Om Jai Jagadish Hare

Om Jai Jagdisha Hare
Swami Jai Jagdisha Hare
Take away all of our problems
Take away all of our illness
Send your shanti to us now
Om Jai Jagdisha Hare

Joy and peace and love
Shine them brightly in our hearts
Swami shine them brightly in our hearts
Shiva when we think of you
Shiva when we think of you
Shed karuna on us all
Om Jai Jagdisha Hare

Now, Janani Umakanthan (right) and Neesha Alahan continue waving the flame.

The Meyyappans meet with Acharya Palaniswami and discuss plans to assist with Iraivan fund raising in Singapore by offering some of our art for sale to the public there.

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all. Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia. www.innersearch.org

Cybertalk: A cyberspace devotee asks about the injury that Gurudeva sustained in his back in December 2000 and how one should face physical difficulties. Gurudeva says that if one associated himself as the physical body then facing these physical difficulties will not be easy. If we realize that we are the soul within the physical body then we maintain our own personal identity during these times. A Merging with Siva student wants to do daily sadhana and asks Gurudeva which of the 52 sadhanas in the book should he do. Gurudeva says the basic sadhana is getting up early in the morning and and doing puja followed by a short meditation. He also recommends repeating daily some positive affirmations.

Cybertalk Ends"
For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Gurudeva will be happy to hold "Prasnottara Satsang" -- "Questions and Answers" over the telephone with any Hindu religious societies, Hindu youth groups, Radio talk show hosts etc. All you need is a phone with a speaker and an enthusiastic audience. Arrangements may be made in advance by sending email to Sivadevanathaswami

Click to send Gurudeva a spiritual question he will later answer for all to benefit.

transcription begins

Date: April_17_2001
Title: Marriage Compatibility
Category: Relationships
Duration: 1 min., 58 seconds
Date Given: April 11, 2001

A cyberspace devotee at goto.com, by the name of Eric, is trying to help a couple with their marriage. He heard about the compatibility, physical, mental and emotional compatibility and wonders how this can come about.

There are many levels to a marriage and to compatibility. The astrological compatibility will tell us the physical and emotional compatibility, as well as the karmas of the future. However, there is a cultural compatibility, as well as, social compatibility and intellectual compatibility that must be taken into account for a very wholesome relationship. That means, the couple must enjoy the same friends, the same music, the same television programs and be able to talk intelligently on one another's intellectual level. All of this should be in place before the marriage vows are taken.

Now, there are two kinds of people. Those who can solve problems within a relationship and those who avoid solving problems in a relationship. Two virgins who become married are more likely to solve the problems that come up within the relationship, than to separate. Two promiscuous people who have gotten married, who have had other relationships prior, will find it much easier to move on to somebody else than to face and solve a problem.

So, knowing all of this, you can summarize whether it is worth your while, trying to help with the marriage.
transcription ends

We received news today from Martine Thom who was here in March to make a film documentary of Kauai's Hindu Monastery. She sent us a first draft of a "synopsis" she is preparing that she will send out to TV stations, soliciting them to air her new production. We excerpted a section below and you can click here to read the complete synopsis. If you are involved in the broadcast industry or would like the stations in your area to air the show, call your TV station and have them email Martine directly at martineanne@hotmail.com

"The San Marga Path" (WORKING TITLE)

Martinneanne Thom -- Producer and Director:
Zachary Williams -- Director of Photography
Zack Green -- Sound, Second Camera and Assistant Editor
Murray Stiller -- Editor

THE STRAIGHT PATH TO GOD

SYNOPSIS

In the middle of the Pacific, on the remote Hawaiian island of Kauai,
half-way between Asia and North America, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and
the monks of the Holy Order of Sannyasa established a Hindu monastery some
thirty years ago and the first Hindu temple in the United States.

For the first time ever, the Holy Order of Sannyasa permitted Martine Thom
Productions to document its daily life at the Kauai Hindu Monastery. The
Monks gave the crew carte blanche to film them, resulting in 50 hours of
Documented life. They invited the crew into their daily lives, fed them
Vegetarian meals, and supported their endeavors in all possible ways.
Guided by the sacred Hindu calendar, carried by the vibration of the
monastery, the crew, as both observers and participants, captured this
moment in time. The union of subject and chronicler is reflected in the
intimacy of the film, where the audience mingles with the monks in their
daily routine.

In this 46-minute film, we follow the twenty-four hour life cycle of
monastic life. We get to know twelve-year-old, Nutanaya, conceived by his
parents with the intention of his becoming a monk. We meet Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami or Gurudeva as he is affectionately known, the spiritual
leader of three millions Hindus around the world. We follow Paramacharya
Bodhinathaswami, number one in the line of succession to Gurudeva and we
share with Acharya Palaniswami, editor-in-chief of Hinduism Today and
Himalayan Academy Publications, his joyful and deep involvement in his
work. We develop a relationship with these inspirational monks who are
from 20 to 75 years old; through their eyes we discover monastic life. We
are the voyeurs of a ten thousand-year-old religion that existed before
Christianity, Buddhism, Islam.

In opening their doors to the crew, the monks treat the viewers to a
spiritual feast of rituals, of peace and beauty of Hawaii that surrounds
the monastery and the extraordinary harmony the monks live in their daily
lifeEach one is a thread in a tapestry of monastic life and their search for
higher consciousness is a model for those in quest of a world of meaning.

As their predecessors did ten thousands years ago, Gurudeva and his
monks live fruitful lives writing, publishing, building temples, designing,
planting ponds and gardens, and balancing all this activity with meditative
spiritual inner lives. By examining this unique monastic lifestyle, the
filmmaker uncovers methods that could redefine the way to achieve a
harmonious, peaceful and productive life.

[Click here to read the entire film synopsis]

Gurudeva had a discussion with the island Kulapatis today.

Pilgrims from various places in USA came for the monastery tour today.

Nallan and Sudha Krishnan with their two daughters, Varshini and Netra came from Flint, Michigan.

Umakanthan family from Napa Valley, California, orginally from Jaffna, Sri Lanka are here on pilgrimage for five days. Janani on the far right is going to perform bharata natyam dance for Gurudeva next Sun 1 homa morning.

This is Jeff Weiske his wife Julie who live on the island. Jeff is a very, sensitive and talented physical therapist. He has been teaching Gurudeva and all the monks some wonderful exercises for keeping the back strong.

Jeff brought his wife up to the monastery today to visit Gurudeva. Thanks to Jeff, Gurudeva's strength and flexibility are improving daily from the injury he had last December. The Pilates system of matt exercises are really wonderful tools for people of all ages.

Some friends of one of the monks family came to visit today. On the left, Karen Kammera. She is a nurse in Connecticutt. In blue, Chris Welty, also a nurse and on the right, Dorothy Kammera, Karen's mother, a "retired housewife."

Kulapati Sivajnani Nagappan, from Malaysia, is here on Kauai with his wife Amala and baby boy, Yajatadeva. They are staying with Amala's parents for a while. Sivajnani comes to the monastery in the morning and is helping with our massive Rudraksha seed harvesting and bead preparation. This is a nice break for him from his job in Malaysia where he is a professional tutor.

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all. Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia. www.innersearch.org