Today at the Aadheenam we had a tour day and also
Bodhinatha started a new program meeting with the young pre-monastics and task forcers once each phase on Sun Two.

For those who are watching for new postings of Bodhinatha’s Upadeshas. We have uploaded a new talk today… check the Side Bar. And, for Real Player users, we have fixed the Real Audio link. Try it out. If you have troubles with the audio, choose the download link on the audio page, save the file to your hard drive and listen to it with your favorite media player.

Dharmaraj, Robert and Teja spent a full hour with our Satguru asking questions and drawing forth his wisdom for their spiritual lives.

Lunch news from the one-man Ekadanta Kulam–Sannyasin Saravananathaswami was very interesting. He’s been making contacts with people in Singapore, Malaysia and India by way of pre-arrangements to meet Bodhinatha and Arumugaswami on their up-and-coming journey. He sends out Satellite News to our members and students. He’s also researching venues for next year’s events in California and coordinating advance sadhanas for those coming on pilgrimage to Kauai.

As per our web site, pilgrims can call in advance to get instructions on how to prepare themselves and what sadhana’s they can do before and during their pilgrimage. Swami sent out the instructions for Preparation For Meditation, and the pilgrims will have a guided meditation daily in the temple when they come.

Meanwhile Sivanadiyar Satya and Yogi Japendranatha are still in Seattle so Sivakatirswami and Sadhaka Haranandinatha filled in has tour guides today. The first tour at 9 am had about 60 people. This is an elder Amma here with her daughter from Concord, California. They were originally from Mangalore, India.

Mr. and Mrs. Koray, from Detroit, originally from Bangalore area.

As always out guests were enthralled with the Aadheenam, the grounds and Iraivan Temple and the opportunity to get some questions answered.

It’s 10:30 and Paramacharya Ceyonswami is just completing the final rites of the morning daily Siva puja.

Food offerings and worship of Surya and elemental devas at the Bali peedam.

This is Eden who was quite articulate through the first tour and ready to ask questions. She wanted to know, “Why is elephant important?” Sivakatirswami started by saying the elephant was the world’s biggest animal. Eden promptly informed him, “No, that’s not true! Whales are the biggest mammals!” Quite right Eden (smile)

This is Eden’s 3-year old brother, Emerson, who calls himself “Emmy” who thought it was really cool to be able to stand on a coconut tree that was slanted sideways at the base. He is doing his best to comply to the request “Smile, Emmy.”

Eden was delighted to know she would on TAKA today and ran off calling to her mother “I’m gonna be online!”

She was a great stone carver and once she started chiseling at Iraivan she stayed working on that rock for 15 minutes….

The 11 am tour has arrived. Sadhaka Haranandinatha introduced them to the monastery, its history and mission work at the Banyan Mandapam before going out to Iraivan.

Working on the stone….

Another day full of happy visitors to Siva’s amazing sanctuary in the middle of the Pacific.

Speaking of Pacific, over the retreat we captured moon rise of the Coconut coast. The pictures will tell the story.