In case you missed it. Bodhinatha’s latest talk is online. See the right side bar.

We had our monthly Iraivan Day (when the whole monastery works as a team on the temple’s many needs). Seven of the monks will be going on the annual camping trip to Kokee Park, high in the mountains of our little island (well, 4,000 feet high anyway) during this long three-day retreat. Everyone was busy all morning on different projects, all moving the temple forward one more important step.

Iraivan has a new “fund raising” committee that meets monthly and they are doing a great job making plans for new initiatives to keep us all going in the right direction on Iraivan Days.

The big job these past two days was the preparation for mailing of a 5,000-plus Year-End Progress report for the temple. Donors will get this in the mail soon. Meanwhile, don’t miss this fact-filled summary of the last twelve months by visiting the progress report online.

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END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming three-day retreat,
until Ekadasi Tithi, Sun One, Friday, September 21st.

While it was a quiet day at the aadheenam, work continues as usual, steadily, quietly and dynamically at the temple site. Here are a few iPhone photographs from the worksite today. This first one a glimpse from the entrance through the forest of giant pillars.

As we draw nearer to the sanctum, we come upon the silpis working in the area of the future steps.

They have placed the five steps aside, while they work on cutting back stones which will support the steps. Here three of them are leaning against the sanctum wall.

Nearby, one of the two handrails, which go on either side of the steps, is being fitted.

The team is gathered in the sun, strategizing their next steps (ok, that’s not punny!)

The handraise are gracefully curved. Here the bottom is being carved back to fit. In general, stones come from India larger than necessary, which gives the assembly sculptors on Kauai more options to work with.

Turning around, we find dozens of small stone pieces, and more wrapped in coconut coir behind.

These are all part of the handrailing that goes completely around the temple.

The energy at the site is intense, and the work extremely focused. The maser builder, Selvanathan Sthapati, is here for a few weeks, and the carvers are making the most of his presence, seeking his guidance and learning which tasks he wants them to do in the months ahead.

Sthapati talks with them about a detail at the entrance of the inner most holy chamber. He wants them to make an adjustment in the way four stones have been placed.

Another view of the five steps kept in the protected and roofed area, in case of rain.

Our photographer turns to go, passing the elaborate scaffolding that has been placed recently.

And on the way out stops to capture six “potugai” stones that will be lifted into place next week. These go on top of the pillars to the left, and will be the support for the roofing beams. Aloha for three days. We will be back on the 21st.