Yogi Japendranatha called last evening and left another phone message report. The team is doing well. The class schedule is very intense with 8 hours a day and even break time is filled with intense discussions. Everyone is very inspired. Note that the program will finish over our three day full-moon retreat and then Bodhinatha will be back home on Sun One, so we give you the complete schedule through the end of the teaching program:

DECEMBER 25 — SAT — DAY SEVEN — TELUK BATIK (Sun 5)

• 6:30am Breakfast
• 7:30am General session (6 of 8; Topic: Chakras)
• 9:30am Break
• 10:00am Special workshop for teachers (5 of 5)
• 11:00am Special workshop for newcomers (5 of 6; Topic: God Siva, True and False Concepts; Readings: LWS intro on Siva as love and Nataraja symbolism from DWS preface Siva’s Cosmic Dance; Presentation: Bodhinatha on Siva as love)
• 12:00pm Lunch and break
• 2:00pm General session (7 of 8; Topic: Karma)
• 4:00pm Program at Manjung Hindu Sabha–Pancha Ganapati gift-giving for the kids.
• 6:00pm Special workshop for youth (1 of 1)
• 7:00pm Special workshop for newcomers (6 of 6; Topic: The Role of the Guru; Readings: various on guru; Presentation: Bodhinatha: Siddhanta Shravana– The Guru

DECEMBER 26 — SUN — DAY EIGHT — TELUK BATIK/KL (Star 1)

• 7:30am General Closing Plenary Session (8 of 8; Topic: Improving Self-Concept)
• 9:30am Pack up and check out of hotel
• 10:00 Pangkor Island excursion program. 30 minute ride from mainland by
• ferry. Our group will have first preference to enter the ferries.
• 12:00pm Visit to Pangor Island Kaliamman Temple
• 4:30 Drive back to KL
• 9:00pm Arrive Pan Pacific Glen Marie Hotel

As expected a truly “giant” crowd turned up today… we estimate about 140 people came for the weekly tour!

The ever popular chance to chip a stone.

Today the Kamalesh Ruparel family and his parents visited Kauai for the first time from northern California. They are originally from Gujarat and are followers of the Pushti Marg nondual Vaishnava school of Sri Vallabhacharya.

They were delighted to meet our Umbrella Ganesha on the way out to Iraivan Temple

They were very happy to see the traditional, painstaking hand-carved nature of Iraivan Temple as it arises.

And the kids, Nihal and Nandini, had great fun carving their initials into a granite stone!

At the Aadheenam our simple Shrine is filling up with gifts… mostly goodies…

Pancha Ganapati Day Four Sadhana:

DECEMBER 24, GREEN SHAKTI

The sadhana of day four is to draw forth the vibration of joy and harmony that comes from music, art, drama and the dance. Family, relatives and friends gather for satsanga to share and enjoy their artistic gifts. When the program is over, all sit together before Pancha Ganapati, Patron of the Arts and Guardian of Culture, discussing Hindu Dharma and making plans to bring more cultural refinements into each household. More gifts are placed before Lord Ganapati.

Since there will be no new TAKA tomorrow, we bring you the final installment of the guidelines for the Sadhana of Day Five:

DECEMBER 25, ORANGE SHAKTI

The family sadhana for the final day of Pancha Ganapati is to bring forth love and harmony within all three worlds. Because of sadhanas well performed during the first four days, the family is now more open and aware of Ganesha’s Grace, and their love for Him is now overflowing. On this day the entire family experiences an outpouring of love and tranquility from the great God Himself. His blessings fill the home and the hearts of everyone within it, inspiring them anew for the coming year. This exchange of affection between all members of the family and the Lord is invoked and perpetuated through the day by performing five special pujas. The first puja is at 6AM. Before the puja, personal offering trays are prepared and placed before His shrine. After the puja, each one gives verbal testimony about prayers that were answered during the past year. Hearing testimonies strengthens the faith of everyone. Then vows of sacrifice can be verbally made. Vows should improve the quality of the life of the individual, such as giving up smoking or correcting other harmful habits.

The second puja is at 9AM, and the third at 12 noon. The fourth puja is held at 3PM. At 6PM the fifth and final puja of the day is held. These five pujas to Pancha Ganapati solicit help from His devas in the home and establish the patterns for improvement in family life. The overflowing love that is felt today will inspire generosity in the year to come, bringing in return abundance and good fortune. All gifts received during the day are placed unopened before Pancha Ganapati.

The evening puja, held at six o’clock, is the long-awaited time. The five sadhanas have been completed. Peace, love and harmony among everyone have been restored. After the puja and before the great feast that follows, Lord Panchamukha Ganapati Himself gives His final darshana and prasada to one and all. Gifts are distributed and joyously opened. Happy children. Happy parents. Happy God.

Giving appreciation is one of the great keys to infusing our social and community life with spiritual energies. Gurudeva always taught us that the expressions of love, should be more than lip service, but shown through real giving… Our Wailua Mission decided to show their appreciation for the Silpis and invited them to the mission house for a special treat.

He writes:

“The families of the Wailua Mission are so inspired by our silpis and during Pancha Ganapathi we wanted to do something for them as they are separated from their families….”

” We hosted them to a
dinner with a broadway play recorded for TV …”

” and then a sit down dinner with waiters and busboys.”

The “Royal Treatment”

An experience they will never forget…

The meal was tops: Pumpkin soup to start served with papadams, followed by biryani, with tomato kulumbo, banana flower curry, fried chilies, coriander chutney, coconut chutney, cabbage pachati, closing with swiss mocha cappuccino with vanilla almond cake.

and many inspired cooks.

We collected gifts for them and honored them for the most wonderful job they are doing in building Iraivan with their whole heart and soul.

The silpis told us later “We have enough chocolate and candy to last us through next year…”

Over-joyed…

These men would normally never see this kind of treat, They said, “In India, this kind of “real” chocolate is found only in the Five Star hotels.”

Pancha Ganapati cards are pouring in from outside. This is perhaps our favorite….

And tomorrow is the Big Day when we open all the gifts! Yay! I can’t wait…. 😉

Saroja Devi Manickam from Colorado says to everyone:

“Happy Pancha Ganapati”

Tomorrow is a full moon day also, very auspicious.

We will see you all again on Sun One.

Om Pancha Ganapataye Namaha!