Sun One today, begins a new phase.

Many of you likely have heard about the failure of a dam on Kauai. It caused a flood in Kilauea about ten miles from here which washed away several homes at daybreak Tuesday. Two people are confirmed dead and five are missing and likely dead. The one road around our island was heavily damaged by the flood and will be just one lane in that section for several months. The failure was the result of days of torrential rain which have yet to let up.

Fortunately, the Aadheenam sits on high ground, and while we are experiencing streams of water flowing through the grounds, this is all manageable. For a full report on our unusual weather, see this article in the Honolulu Advertiser.

Beginnings belong to Lord Ganesha, so we turn to him on this first day of our new phase. He has been bedecked by visitors to the monastery.

A small bell announces our arrivals and departures, as we mentally touch His feet each time we leave and enter the sacred space of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery.

During the retreat we captured Bodhinatha doing just that, heading toward a special meeting with the senior monastics.

Walking past Nepali Ganesha, there with the copper roof between the two palms. Today the heavy rain turned this area into a river and filled the Puakenikeni Mandapam at left with mud.

Then past the information Center.

Past the coleus garden.

Along the path.

We captured him as he prepared the agenda for the 4-hour meeting.

All the Macintosh computers here are connected on an Airport network, and we can share files, even have the same document appear on all four screens. Each one can see the work of the others, make edits and collaborate in amazing ways. We use a program called Timbuktu to do this.

Meetings are over for the day, and Bodhinatha returns. Thank you, Bodhinatha, for your thoughtful and insightful guidance.