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Cybertalk: This is a radio interview conducted by Loni Petranek with Gurudeva. The interview gives an overview of Gurudeva's worldwide mission. In the fifth part today Gurudeva shares with Loni about the "Drug Free Kauai" CD that was produced to help eradicate illegal drugs from the island. Loni also asks Gurudeva to share some insight into the Iraivan temple.

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 here if you have a question Gurudeva answers questions from CyberCadets, and welcomes your spiritual queries. However, he responds only to matters of general interest and not to personal or intimate matters.

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Date: February_26_2001
Title: Organ Donation, Vedic Astrology
Category: Hinduism and Tradition
Duration: 2 min., 26 seconds
Date Given: February 24, 2001

A cyberspace cadet in Serenban, Malaysia wants to know, "As Saivite Hindus, should we give our organs upon death, for donation for someone else to use?"

Well, if you want to be earth-bound and not go into the higher worlds, that is a good way to do it. To be tied to the person, who gets your kidney or your heart or some organ that you have donated. If you don't want to be tied to the earth, go through all the positive and negative experiences of the person who had the transplant of your organ and you want to go into the higher realms, then don't donate your organ.

A cyberspace cadet named John Lopez in Malaysia asks, "Is Vedic Astrology part of Hinduism? Can it become addictive? Some people here seem to believe in it more than God."

Well actually, in all of Hinduism, Vedic astrology is a psychiatrist, the marriage counselor, the psychologist. It is one of the powers of our Gods.

You should read the little book, John, 'How to Become a Hindu' and get a strong footing in Sanatana Dharma.

A Western approach is always critical of Hindus, what they do, how they think and how they believe. But, the depths of the Vedic Astrology blended with temple worship, blended with meditation, has kept Hinduism alive century, after century, after century. Hinduism has survived Christian attacks and it is still here on the planet, whereas many other pagan religions have gone away, because of the Western religion's attacks upon them.
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We had a lovely group of pilgrims and visitors today. On the left, lifetime subscriber, Mrs. Aruna Mittapalli ( in red sari) with her daughter Sarada and son, Sreeram. The family, from Chicago, Illinois, are long-time readers of Hinduism Today. On the right, Mr. N. T. Viswanathan and his wife, Bhooma, from San Jose, have come for a visit. They were here four years ago and have known Gurudeva and the monks for many years. In the middle are other interested souls.

Acharya Palaniswami meets with Martine Thom, "Young Zach", the sound man (in the back) and Zachary, the camera man (in front) -- the Canadian film team that is shooting the documentary on Kauai's Hindu Monastery. They were up at 4 am to drive to the monastery and set up at 5:15 am.They were with us all morning shooting the Sun One Homa. With the temple full of professional lighting, sound equipment and video cameras, they followed the entire ceremony from beginning to end and also the parade out to San Marga. It was a long morning, but we were blessed with sunshine and Zachary, the cameraman said, "It really went well. I don't think we will need to do any second shots at all."

The Siddhidata Kulam vegetable garden nursery is packed with seedlings ready for the ground. They are putting in some of the last cool weather plants to get one more crop of these before summer comes.

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

Some of Gurudeva's devotees are arriving today to do some karma yoga.

Trimming the bougainvillea on the fenceline.

And hauling away the overgrowth that has resulted from the generous summer rains.

Many guests today. Among them was the Pydannah family from Vacoas. Mrs. Pydannah, originally from Germany, had read about the Spiritual Park and asked her husband to bring her on her birthday today. Happy Birthday!

Meditation and teachings such as Reiki are very popular subjects among the Mauritian population. Here's a group studying meditation with Jean Claude Monier. They are worshippers of Siva.

Here's their leader, Jean Claude.

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