As we write today the Aadheenam is quiet. The raising of pillars is happening later this afternoon and we will show you pictures tomorrow. Bodhinatha and Arumugaswami are in transit and return tomorrow.

So we take this opportunity to share with you some more incoming collections from our missions in Malaysia and Mauritius. Here we are back in Sungai Petani, Kedah, in northern Malaysia at the home of long time sishyas, Kulapati and Kulamata Thanabalan and Ahiladevi who hosted Bodhinatha for padapuja and satsang.

Caption from Thanabalan.

Arrival at Kul. Thanabalan’s house

Kulamata’s father garlands Bodhinatha. Kulapati garlands Acharya.

Children waiting for Bodhinatha before showering Satguru’s Pada with rose petals.

Thanabalan & Ahila washes Satguru’s Thiruvadi

Satguru takes His seat

A newly wed in town rushed to Kul.Thanabalan’s house to get Bodhinatha’s blessings.Bodhinatha shawls the bride and bridegroom.

Kul.Thanabalan welcomes Bodhinatha and Acharya and devotees.

Pada puja begins

Abhishegam

Ashtottara Namavali of Satguru Bodhinatha

Devotees sitting outside the house

Final arathi and chants of Aum Nakarmana

Satguru gives upadesha on Lord Ganesha. Everyone present were very impressed by Satguru’s talk.

Student Bala Murugan gets blessings from Bodhinatha.

Kulamata’s mother

Kulamata’s father

Thanabalan & Ahila

Some late comers rushed to get Bodhinatha’s blessings

Sacred Sree Paduka of our Loving Satguru

For the month of September 2006, the enrolled Master Course students of Mauritius have chosen to meet at the residence of Ariadassy and Gayavatee Canagasaby sisters at Rivière du Rempart, the closest village to the Spiritual Park of the island. They set up a nice shrine with a beautiful murthi of Lord Ganesha and photos of our Guru Parampara.

This is the 8th Bodhinatha’s MC Gathering in students homes, aimed at helping enrolled seekers of the Himalayan Academy with their Master Course studies and the Trilogy. The group meets every month.

Today the main topic of the meeting is an interesting and practical Talk from Satguru Bodhinatha entitled, Dance and the Spiritual Path.

Bodhinatha says “And when Gurudeva spoke about dancing, he would regularly make the comment that in learning dance you are expecting and, in fact, paying the dance guru to point out your weakest areas, not simply to compliment you on what you are already doing well, and that as our Satguru he was doing the same in our spiritual life.”

First Comparison: “Our first comparison of the spiritual path to the study of dance, which is the attitude toward strengths and weaknesses. Does a young woman become a better dancer by focusing on the movements she does well? Of course, she does not. She has to focus on the movements that she does not do well and strive to improve them. Said another way, she becomes a better dancer not by focusing on her strengthens but rather by focusing on her weaknesses.” Bodhinatha

Second Comparison: The attitude toward improvement. A good dancer has the attitude that she can always perform a dance better than she has ever done it before. She feels there is always room for improvement and that her movements can always be even further refined.

A third comparison of the spiritual path to the study of dance is our attitude toward mistakes….All dance students make them….. For all of mankind, no matter where one is on the path, spiritual advancement comes from learning from one’s mistakes in life….. Thus a good second reaction to a mistake is to think clearly about what happened and why and to find a way not to repeat it in the future.

After a three hour program including Bodhinatha’s Talk, a guided meditation, testimonies and revision of a few basic Saivite concepts in the worksheets, the participants were invited to share a lunch together.

A few sishyas of the Church pulled together to prepare and serve some nice South Indian curries on that occasion.

After the lunch, the men were in the lounge enjoying some home made dessert.

A nice photo of Gurudeva greeted everyone there ….

Our ladies having their meal….. It is a an opportunity for everyone to know each other better at the table.

Sandhya from Grand Baie, Ouma Devi from Rempart and Veena from Flacq…..

Gowtam Sharma Beedassy, Nursing Officer from Floréal is responsible for taking care of burning learning materials on CDs for the group.

Niroshnee (left) from Quatre Bornes is completing her degree in Management and Veena Kunniah works as an accountant at the Cyber City in Ebène.

The Canagasaby sisters, Ariadassy and Gayavatee did a wonderful hosting on that day. Every student left for home in a happy mood and inspired by the teachings of the Guru…. even a few stayed behind to play some informal football with the children….. A family photo…The parents are long time Church members and are dedicated karma yogis of the Spiritual Park.