Our Father Maurice Chikiar Visits the Monastery
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Sadhaka Rajanatha’s father, Maurice Chikiar is here from Chicago. Here he and his son are meeting with Acharya Arumuganathaswami who shows them the new Hindu History of India book we recently published.
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Maurice is a respiratory therapist working at the John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Illinois. If someone is having trouble breathing, Maurice is there to take care of them.
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Happy Father – Son reunion!
4 Responses to “Our Father Maurice Chikiar Visits the Monastery”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
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March 12th, 2012 at 12:10 am
Aloha!Om Sivaya,
Both father & son are real,lookalikes!Beautiful,jolly picture of Siva’s love.
Anbe Sivam, Sivamayam.
March 12th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Hello, just a quick question. I have seen on TAKA that the monks’ parents do visit them from to time. However, when the monks take their vows of renunciation, aren’t they supposed to sever all family ties? I would like to know your take on this. Namaste!
March 16th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
The rules outlined by Gurudeva in The Saiva Dharma Shastras explain how sadhakas and yogis should strive to emulate the ideal of swamis, who have fully renounced their families and treat everyone with equal love.
When a person with blood ties to a monk visits Kauai Aadhenam, he or she is acknowledged as family, even for a swami, but not that particular monk’s family — rather, he is father (or son or mother, whatever it may be) to all the 20+ monks. That shows respect and affection to family, who is the first guru, but also makes a clear statement about the process of renunciation.
Swamis may only meet their blood relatives in religious settings, such as a temple or monastery, and they are supposed to be treated as the religious leaders they are, even by their mother and father.
March 14th, 2012 at 5:52 am
Wonderful to see father & son together. I certainly know what it feels like! And Rajanatha seems to be extremely happy with his life at the Monastery as well as with Dad´s visit!