Blog Archives

Be surprised! No new audio today.
Take this opportunity for an adventure.
Click here to visit a random Cybertalk from our archives.

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

transcription begins

Date: April_29_2001
Title: Tithing
Category: Good Conduct
Duration: 2 min., 35 seconds
Date Given: April 28, 2001

A Himalayan Academy cyberspace devotee in Baltimore, Maryland. Panchaksharam is wondering about tithing, dasamamsa, the ancient tradition of giving one-tenth of one's gross income to the religious institution of one's choice. He finds it hard to reconcile that everything is Siva's money, because he would like to keep it all for himself.

Well Panchaksharam, look at it this way. All of your money, a 100-percent is Siva's money because Siva has supplied the energy and the intelligence. He is the light that lights up your mind. He is the energy in your body. It is all coming from Siva. So, you give it all to Siva in your mind and Siva will give you back 90 percent!

That 10 percent is not giving, it is a payment. It is not yours to give. It is like taxes. You don't give taxes, you pay taxes. So if you are a member of a religious institution, you pay for that privilege.

Tithing is very fair. The widow who has a very limited income, several thousand dollars a month, pays two hundred dollars a month. The multi-millionaire, who has a liberal income of two hundred thousand dollars a month, pays much more. But both are equal, both are equal. It is still 10 percent. Once you pay your tithing, then giving comes into focus.

So, remember tithing is like a tax. Giving comes from your heart. One you have to do, the other you want to do.
transcription ends

Today was graduation day for Sivaneswaran Sockanathan who has been doing wonderful work here at Kauai Aadheenam. A lover of the great outdoors he has been pitching in to the work of the Siddhidata Kulam with great energy and dedication. We all really love his perpetually positive attitude and happy mood.

Sivanewaran has been practicing for many, many weeks to get ready for this important ceremony...his "atmartha puja debut."

Sivaneswaran passes out the "tirtham" or holy water.

A picture from our Sun One Homa.

The Vedas have this beautiful hymn to the entity of Shraddha which is translated into English as "Faith" but which means much more:

1. By Faith is Fire kindled.
By Faith is offered Sacrifice.
Sing we now Faith, the pinnacle of joy.

2. Bless Faith, the one who gives.
Bless him who wills, but has not.
Bless him who gives his worship unstinting.
Bless this song I sing.

3. As the Gods evoked Faith
from the mighty Asuras,
so may my prayer for the generous worshiper be accepted!

4. The Gods, led by the Spirit,
honor Faith in their worship.
Faith is composed of the heart's intention.
Light comes through Faith.

5. Through Faith men come to prayer,
Faith in the morning,
Faith at noon and at the setting of the Sun.
O Faith, give us Faith!

The Remarkable Vision

Iraivan Temple Progress Update

Join this historic undertaking. Please contribute generously. Sponsor a stone today! Monthly Report Sponsor a stone Iraivan Wonders

Acharya Palaniswami, Acharya Ceyonswami, Sadhaka Thondunatha start their first day of meetings with Ganapati Sthapati, Selvanathan and Deva Rajan. Today's meetings focused on the preparations needed for the first stone laying ceremony.

Yesterday there was a statewide
building inspector's conference at the Coconut Beach Hotel. Gurudeva attended with Ganapati Sthapati and Professor Mehta who engineered the foundation of Iraivan temple.

Ganapati Sthapati, our architect and perhaps the most well-known of all of India's sacred spaces architects, spoke to the group about the ancient Indian science of "Vastu," and presented his new book on the subject.

Professor Mehta talked about the foundation of the Iraivan temple and the significance of the use of coal fly-ash as a building material.

This is the Nandi Mandapam of the Iraivan temple. It is a "super structure" that will stand alone outside the south entrance of the temple.

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