Today at Kauai Aadheenam

Long Beans from Our Greenhouse

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Jai Ganesha!

Recently, the Mathavasi of Siddhidata Kulam harvested long beans from our greenhouse. It has been a while since we last had long beans, and the monks of Siddhidata Kulam have been diligently trying to grow them. After much effort, they finally succeeded in cultivating and harvesting a healthy crop.

Below are some of the benefits of long beans:


Long beans (also called Yardlong Bean or asparagus beans) are nutritious and offer several health benefits:

🥗 Rich in nutrients

  • Good source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • Contains folate, important for cell growth and pregnancy
  • Provides minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium

💚 Supports heart health

  • High potassium content helps regulate blood pressure
  • Fiber may help lower cholesterol levels

🌱 Aids digestion

  • Contains dietary fiber that promotes healthy digestion and prevents constipation
  • Supports beneficial gut bacteria

⚖️ May help with weight management

  • Low in calories and fat
  • Fiber helps you feel full longer

🩸 Supports blood health

  • Iron and folate contribute to red blood cell production
  • May help reduce the risk of anemia when included in a balanced diet

🛡️ Provides antioxidants

  • Vitamin C and other plant compounds help protect cells from oxidative damage

🦴 Supports bone health

  • Vitamin K, calcium, and magnesium contribute to strong bones

A 100-gram serving of long beans typically contains about 45–50 calories, making them a healthy addition to stir-fries, curries, soups, and salads.

For the best nutrient retention, lightly steam, stir-fry, or cook them briefly rather than overboiling.

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A Special Rainbow on Kauai

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  • A Kauai animal shelter
  • The poster up close
  • And a local clothing shop

One Island, Many Peoples, All Kauaians

For five years in the late 1990s, Gurudeva met monthly with leaders of the island: mayors past and present, business leaders, agriculturalists, real estate managers, university administrators and more. He was the only spiritual leader invited to the table and he ended up being the primary motivator of the group. Their work was to informally create a vision for the island’s future. The Sunday evening gatherings were called “Vision Kauai 2020.”

One of Gurudeva’s important contributions was to push for a shared identity for the diverse groups: Native Hawaiians, Chinese, Filipinos, Haoles and more. They did not have a shared tribe name, like Californians or Texans. So he proposed using “Kauaians,” and that started a slew of projects to get the word out. And it did get out, with his help in printing and in making granite signs for the county, carved in India.

This led to many expressions of the idea of our oneness. Natalie and Jim Levin took his idea, and while he was fasting in October 2001, they made a “Thank you, Gurudeva” poster which the monks presented to him during his final days. Gurudeva saw the art and, with a smile, lifted his hand and traced the rainbow with his finger, first left to right and then right to left. Then he smiled and asked the monks, “How do they know which way a rainbow goes?”

The Levins later produced posters and cards to spread the idea to all corners of our small island. Recently, ten of the larger framed posters were passed around the island by a local leader, Paradise. She sent us photos of two of the small businesses she gave the posters to: an animal shelter and a clothing shop. Gurudeva’s idea of our unity and shared identity lives on!

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Gurudeva Padapuja, and Guru Peedam Roof Resumes

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This early morning we observed Gurudeva padapuja on Chitra nakshatra.

Gurudeva briefly answers a question on karma and the laws of the land–

Later this morning, after some days break due to sickness and the weekend, the roofing team returned to work on the Guru Peedam roof, carefully removing the old rotted boards.

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Satguru Concludes in India and Shifts to Malaysia

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  • Various darshan meetings in Bengaluru
    Various darshan meetings in Bengaluru
  • Bhanugopan and his wife from Australia
    Bhanugopan and his wife from Australia
  • Bhanugopan received Samaya Diksha
    Bhanugopan received Samaya Diksha
  • Satsang at Rajasankara home in Bengaluru
    Satsang at Rajasankara home in Bengaluru
  • Brahmacharya vratas taken
    Brahmacharya vratas taken
  • Shifting to Malaysia for satsang at Iraivan Illam hall
    Shifting to Malaysia for satsang at Iraivan Illam hall
  • Aravindraj Chandrasekaran received Vishesha Diksha
    Aravindraj Chandrasekaran received Vishesha Diksha
  • Brahmacharya Vrata taken
    Brahmacharya Vrata taken

Satguru had a number of darshan meetings in Bengaluru, including giving Samaya Diksha to Bhanugopan from Australia. These were followed by group satsang at Rajasankara home, whose family had managed the carving process for Iraivan Temple. Some brahmacharya vratas were taken by youth.

Then shifting to Malaysia, satsang was held at the Iraivan Illam hall, where Aravindraj Chandrasekaran received Vishesha Diksha, and another brahmacharya vrata was taken by a youth. Satguru spoke on “The Parampara’s Three Perspectives.”

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Blessings in Bengaluru

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(Drawn from a report from Madan Ganesan)

Aum Namah Śivaya.

This month, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami Sannyasin Shanmuganathaswami are traveling in India. On the 14th they arrived at the Bangalore International Airport’s Terminal 2, where Rishipathi Dohadeva, Rishipathi Jiva and family, the Natarajan family, and the Praveen family gathered to welcome him. To everyone’s delight, the flight touched down a full thirty minutes early.

The next day the Natarajan family received Satguru’s darshan, a deeply blessed and heart-touching occasion. Satguru spoke on the importance of the home shrine and the care of maintaining its spiritual vibrations, and reflected warmly on the ways the family has grown and transformed over the past year. Satguru also shared early insights on the “Two Ds”—Duty versus Desire—a theme devotees can look forward to exploring further in a forthcoming article in Hinduism Today. He answered questions from those gathered and lovingly inquired about the children’s studies and plans for the future, before blessing all present and offering Thiruneeru Prasadam. Shanmuganathaswami, too, graced the gathering with his loving wishes and blessings.

Among the morning’s offerings was a special drawing presented to Satguru, depicting Satguru in 1970 meeting Satguru in 2026—a touching tribute spanning the years of the Parampara. The visit continues this Wednesday with a community lunch, as members from other parts of India join to be in Satguru’s presence. Jai Gurudeva! Jai Satguru!

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Big Team of Volunteers & Small Improvements

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  • Twelve professionals here to help.
  • New flooring being installed.
  • Adding compost before planting the small sprigs of mondo.
  • Such a happy group they are.
  • Break for a feast in the Banyan Mandapam
  • Amala, Shakti and Loveena help with the buffet.
  • Now, that’s a menu! Mani is a genius in the kitchen.
  • The scaffolding for solar panel work on the roof

It is unusual, at our quiet monastery, for so many projects to be happening on a single day. Yesterday was such a day.

A team of 12 volunteers from the Corteva Agribusiness group spent the day helping us plant mondo around Iraivan. This was their second visit. To thank them, the monastery prepared a truly special South Indian feast (see the menu in the slideshow) which they enjoyed midday.

Another team was installing a new floor in rooms that will be used by our newest monks. A third team (as you know from yesterday) is taking apart the 97-year-old roof built by Japanese craftsmen in 1929. There is considerable weather damage to repair. It is the roof of our Guru Pitam, which is also our meditation hall each morning.

And finally, our own monk team has erected scaffolding at the MiniMela, preparing for the repair of the solar panel microinverters in the days ahead.

Inspiring to have so much basic maintenance underway.

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