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Yogaswami says:

"Realise your true self and that is the highest service you can render on earth--not your father, not your mother--not your children but it is you--Lo, fellow worker--Siva thonda! It is you who needs His Grace to see yourself by your own efforts, as you truly are. Tapas--Austerity, and Thanam--Charity, should be practised ceaselessly. Consider any sacrificial offering to the Lord's Feet as an offering to the 'Meyadiyar,' bondsmen of Truth. God is the indwelling self of all beings and hence this is a beautiful world, where there can be really no intrinsic harmfulness, no malignant forces, no malevolent reactions and no evil."

"Tis bliss to adore the Feet of the Guru.
'Tis bliss to consecrate our service to the Guru.
'Tis bliss to ponder on the words of the Guru.
'Tis bliss to surrender wholly unto the Guru."

--Natchintanai. 122.

Cybertalk: Today's cybertalk is a radio interview with Gurudeva conducted by Arthur Pacheco. Arthur Pacheco conducts a weekly radio show in Honolulu, Hawaii and is also a trance-medium. This interview is in many parts and in the third part today Arthur and Gurudeva talk about how often the Kumbha Mela takes place. Gurudeva then explains that the time of it is determined astrologically. Gurudeva then talks about how Hindus view astrology and what an important role it plays in the lives of Hindus.

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

Do you have questions for Gurudeva? Send to questions@hindu.org.

transcription begins

Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks
Date: February_12_2001
Title: Arthur Pacheco interviews Gurudeva Part 2
Category: The Guru
Duration: 3 min., 10 seconds
Date Given: January 27, 2001

Hello?

Hello, Hello.

Gurudeva!

Yes, Arthur. Arthur Pacheco, nice to talk with you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have been telling the listening audience a little bit about yourself and your work. I am just really, really happy you could make the time for us today, thank you so much.

Well, it is just a real big pleasure for me, it really is, to talk to the wonderful people on the Hawaiian Island.

Yes, yes. Gurudeva, I thought that what I might do is, prepare a few questions to ask you if that's okay?

That's just fine, ask anything that you want.

Okay. Thank you, thank you.

If I don't want to answer it, I'll just say, "I am not answering that, Arthur."

Thank you so much. Recently, I had a conversation with a friend of mine on the Big Island and she mentioned something about the Kumbha Mela. A great meeting I know, that occurs in India. She said it had just occurred. So I was wondering if you could tell us anything about that and what its significance might be.

Well actually, we are just receiving satellite pictures of the Kumbha Mela of about 25,000,000 people all gathered to take a great bath in the Ganges, to purify themselves for this and their future life. The largest human gathering on earth. We have our representatives there.

First, I must tell our listening audience that we print a magazine called 'Hinduism Today', an International magazine, representing the Hindu religion. In fact, it is the only one representing the Hindu religion of over a billion people. One-sixth of humanity is Hindu. Even more, because, if you believe in reincarnation, the law of karma and the existence of an all-pervasive God, obviously you are not a Christian, you are not a Jew and you are not Muslim.

The Kumbha Mela is for Hindus and there are 25,000,000 gathered. Yesterday was the big day, a big auspicious day. We are doing an international publicity program for it after it is over, with satellite pictures. Our representatives and photographers are there from New Delhi, enjoying it and also getting stories, of pertinent questions we are asking several of the several thousand or even 50,000 holy men and women there, about their message to the world. We will be reading it in 'Hinduism Today'. In fact, when you get your copy, Arthur, you can read these pertinent points to our listening audience.

Okay, I will. Thank you, thank you.
transcription ends

Gurudeva reviews here the list of articles coming in the next issue. The roster is prepared by the managing editor, Sannyasin Arumugaswami and Gurudeva gives his guidance for editorial focus, future articles to consider and listens to the details.

Next, the "Pancha Meeting," where five areas of service are quickly reviewed with the staff involved: Himalayan Academy books, Hinduism Today subscriptions, Innersearch travel study program, Church tithing and Hindu Heritage Endowment. Keeping everything going forward on track.

It was a wonderful sight to have our two monks home after their "worldwind" trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius. Here is Sannyasin Yoginathaswami after a good night's rest. We will be featuring photos of the mission trip as we go along.

Yoganathswami meets and "debriefs" with some of the Ekadanta Kulam staff, Saravananathaswami and Sadhaka Mahadevan. The latter two spend weeks in advance coordination for any mission travel.

Sadhaka Jivananandanatha back at his station as the assistant of the managing editor. With his kitty. . .Tyaf, happy to have him home again after nine days.

This was Sadhaka's first major world travel experience (though he did go to India as a baby). Asked what struck him the most, he said "It was wonderful to be with Gurudeva's devotees, they are all such kind and wonderful people. It's also wonderful to come home!" The duo were going non-stop for nine days and didn't get much sleep...

Today was the last day of the phase bringing the regular size group of seekers for "tour day."

Our temple is open 365 days a year in the morning for Hindu pilgrims to come and worship.

Sadhaka Japendranatha here working on his new G4 "Titanium" MacIntosh Powerbook. Gurudeva and our editing team got these to do their work which is often in a "mobile" situation and they no longer have the big desktop model...the Titanium can do it all.

Using a wireless "Airport" network Gurudeva and his editing team create a small four machine network, where each one can see the text on the screen. Gurudeva will review every single word, phrase, sentence and paragraph of his books, working consistently day after day, week after week. Some time ago he took a vow to not leave the island and worked 7 days a week every afternoon for three years to complete the fabulous "Merging with Siva, Hinduism's Contemporary Metaphysics." The work goes now... now with Living with Siva nearing completion in the months ahead.

An eleven acre site in Bangalore, India, where 75 Indian families live and daily carve the sacred white granite edifice of Iraivan Temple which will soon begin to be assembled on the island of Kauai

Mrs. Renu S. Malhotra, President of "Seed the World" has written articles for Hinduism Today and visited Kauai Aadheenam here in Hawaii. We suggested she visit our temple carving site, which she did on a recent trip to India

Author Renu Malhotra holds an MBA degree and has three children. She and her husband
own an environmental engineering company. She established "Seed the World"
in 1996 to help women and children in rural areas of the world to gain
empowerment and self-sufficiency.

Thuraisingam sends these captions:

Madam Renu standing beside the Palagai. This portion will be placed facing
downwards on top of the pillar.

Here we have assembled all the tools that are used for carving Iraivan. No machines and modern gadgets.

Here, Madam Renu is showing two hand made "compasses". These are used for drawing circles. We have big compasses which can draw a 3 feet diameter. These are made from dried bamboo.

This is a close-up view of the tools. On the left you can see a piece of coconut husk. These are used for cleaning the stone dust.

A completed chain with 7 rings. It will be shipped with the other stones in the containers to Kauai.

Madam Renu is so excited holding the stone chain which weighs about 10 kilos.

Gurudeva's other monastery in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa

We continue sharing photos of Yoginathaswami's recent whirlwind visit. On his last morning in Mauritius he came to the Saiva Dharmasala, the Spiritual Park. Here he's shown with a dear soul, the Gurukkal priest of the Goodlands Siva Temple. Preparations are under way to begin a special ceremony for some of Gurudeva's close devotees.

The priest, swami and monks invoke the power and blessings of the Gods. Through mantra and the fire a spiritual vibration envelopes the Ganesha Mandapam. The priest will signal the auspicious time to begin the initiations. Today our Gurudeva will greet his devotees and give initiation by telephone from Hawaii.

Through diksha, initiation, the Guru catalyzes and empowers spiritual unfoldment by enlivening the kundalini power of the devotee. Diksha provides the spark to clear barriers. The inititiate is granted access to new areas of inner consciousness. With the initiation comes a new course of study and new responsibilities.

Sadhaka Jothinatha sits with the swami to translate certain portions of the initiation ceremony. Here he's seen reading the meaning of the Vishesha Diksha from our Saiva Dharma Shastras in French so that both the English and French portion of the devotees' subconscious minds will appreciate the vows they are about to take.

Vishesha diksha marks the devotee's formal entrance into the Sri Subramuniya Rishi Gotra, Gurudeva's spiritual family. The devotee then becomes a confirmed member of Saiva Siddhanta Church. After this initiation, the devotee, affectionately known as a chela, is obligated to personally perform daily the Saiva Atmartha Puja, which now has new power.

Pictured are: Sivan and Poospawadee Koothan, Rajen & Premila Manick, Seedha Lutchmee Moonesawmy,Souria Kumaran & Moilavadee Moorghen, Parmesh & Oomavadee Pallanee, Mougam & Saranamutha Pareatumbee, Anba Valayten and Brahmachari Vel Mahalingum. They all listen to Gurudeva and Acharya Palaniswami on the speaker phone before repeating their vows together.

Soondiren Arnasalon speaks directly to Gurudeva to receive his mantra
diksha. This initiation, also known as samaya diksha, is the fundamental Saiva initiation, for through it the devotee is formally connected to a particular lineage by virtue of the preceptor's spiritual power and authority.

Vijayam Arnasalon receives her samaya diksha also. Samaya diksha is the blessing and empowering to enter the life of worship and devotion and perform certain daily sadhanas, including chanting the Panchakshara mantra, Aum Namah Sivaya, each day at least 108 times on a mala of rudraksha beads.

Teeruvumbala Devi Iyaloo receives her mantra from Gurudeva. The mantra quiets the mind, harmonizes the nerve system, bringing forth knowledge from within reminding the sishya of his purpose in life and relationship with Lord Siva.

Through our study course in brahmachariya-- purity in thought, word and deed, ( available online at /books/virtue/IntroVirtue.html )--our children learn about the cycles of life, the principles of virtue and the value of preserving the vital energies in preparation for the life ahead. When the time is right they take the vow of brahmacharya, celibacy until marriage. Until marriage they will wear a sacred cord around their waist as a token and reminder of their vow. Here is Gayavatee Canagasaby making her vow in front of Gurudeva and all the devotees.

Amouda Koothan also took the Brahmacharya vrata.

Amouda's mom (upper left) prepares the cord to tie around her waist.

Our wonderful priest Ganesan Nagarathinam Natesan Gurukkal poses with his wife after the ceremony . Aum Namasivaya!

This day last year was a retreat. No page was archived.

"How to Become A Hindu"! Gurudeva's latest book release is now available Hot Off the Press! Visit the Himalayan Academy Book Store Web Site get the book and read the incredible testimonies of the early pioneers from the west who chose to make a full and complete conversion to Hinduism, legally change both their first and last names to Hindu names, change their lifestyles, sever their formal connections to previous faiths and joyously face the challenges in joining the tribe of the Sanatana Dharma

Visiting Kauai's Hindu Monastery
If you are planning to visit Kauai, please go first to our our visitor's page. Thank you.

Click here for information about Gurudeva's travels. He is presently staying on Kauai and has not immediate travel plans.

And

2001 EUROPEAN INNERSEARCH

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

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THANK YOU, GURUDEVA

For those who have been touched spiritually by Gurudeva's work, his books, his guidance, his inspired life and example and even his website, the "Thank You, Gurudeva Fund" has been established within Hindu Heritage Endowment.

Proceeds from this fund last forever; they're not a one-time gift. So gifts to this fund have eternal gratitude built into them. They live on in perpetuity.

Each month Gurudeva receives the income from the fund to be used at his own discretion to promote his work and mission around the globe. He loves this, for he knows that it comes from all the good souls who have met him and studied with him, traveled with him or just talked with him over the years. A contribution to this fund is tax-deductible.