Blog Archives
“Mati has also been interpreted as “good intellect, acute intelligence, a mind directed toward right knowledge, or Vedic knowledge.” Good intellect, in the context of a Hindu seer, would be right knowledge based on siddhanta shravana, scriptural study. Acute intelligence, of course, means “see-through” or panoramic intelligence which cognizes the entire picture rather than only being aware of one of its parts. “A mind directed toward right knowledge or Vedic knowledge” refers to the intellect developed through siddhanta shravana. The study of the Vedas and other scriptures purifies the intellect, as belief creates attitude, and attitude creates action. An intellect based on truths of the Sanatana Dharma is intelligent to the divine laws of the universe and harnessed into fulfilling them as a part of it. To this end, all the prarabdha karmas of this life and the action-reaction conglomerates formed in this life are directed. The intellect, like the emotions, is a force, disciplined or undisciplined, propelled by right knowledge or wrong knowledge. It, of itself, processes, logically or illogically, both kinds of knowledge or their mix. What harnesses the intellect is siddhanta shravana, study of the teachings and listening to the wise of an established, traditional lineage that has stood the test of time, ravage and all attempts at conversion.”
–Gurudeva
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
We have no photos from the Aadheenam today… but life goes on here. We had a large extended family originally from North India, and another family from South India who had been here in 1995, just after their wedding, and were fortunate enough to meet Gurudeva then. They remarked how approachable Gurudeva was. Bodhinatha also had darshan with Aran and Valli Sendan who are returning to California after staying here at their Kauai home for a while with Jothi Sendan and Vasuki…. A surprise trip has just been announced as Bodhinatha was invited to Houston, Texas for the opening of the new and spectacular Swami Narayan temple there. He will be traveling with Sannyasin Arumugaswami. They leave on the 22nd of July and arrive back on July 27th. The invitation just arrived in the mail yesterday. Now we bring you a series of uncaptioned photos from the installation of Lord Murugan in Cincinnati. Here is Bodhinatha at the homa when the kumbha pots are empowered before abhishekam of the new Deities…
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is August 11-17 to Toronto and Montreal, eastern Canada. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
This series will be clear to those familiar with the Kumbhabhishekam rituals. The priest performs the homa invoking the shakti into the kumbha pots followed by abhishekam, arati, then a parade with small utsava murthis. Note the joyful dancing of devotees…
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
Sun Three at the Aadheenam today… it’s our monthly Ashram Sadhana time and all the monks out cleaning and working on various upgrades to the property.
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
Bodhinatha is home with us now for sometime before going off traveling again next month to Montreal…
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is August 11-17 to Toronto and Montreal, eastern Canada. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
The saga of the Nawillwili tree…. an ashram sadhana day project.
This beautiful tree outside publications building would have long ago fell to the ground as it grew and grew and leaned over, but the monks have kept it propped up for years.
Here is the old log that was holding up the tree. But it began to rot.
It was so lovely though, we took a picture of it, sent it to India….
They carved a simple duplicate in granite and today we installed it by jacking up the tree and inserting the new stone post.
This is “The Granite Log That Held Up the Nawiliwili Tree” set it place…
That is all for today. 😉
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
“When one looks at the Earth and the Sun, one thinks more of the Earth than of the Sun, which is so far away. Traveling through space toward the Sun, the Earth fades into a distant speck and one contemplates the Sun as it looms larger and larger as he draws nearer and nearer. There is no intellect here, you see, for the intellect is connected to the Earth in its exterior ramifications of worldliness. The devotee’s path is to merge into the Sun. The devotee’s path is to merge–in the totality of his awareness, willpower and life force–into the Self, God, Siva. Siva is the ancient name of the Self, God. Mystically, Shi is the Absolute state. Va is the All-Pervading Self flowing through the mind. It is only when the devotee, through yoga disciplines under the direction of his satguru, traverses the thought strata of his mind that he begins to experience what he has been learning philosophically. Then the Sun, his Siva, the Self God, blooms paramount before his vision. Earthiness, worldliness, humanness, instinctiveness fade into a speck within his memory patterns; and like the astronaut hurtling through space toward the Sun, awe-struck as to the impending annihilation of the remnants of his identity, the devotee piercing his inner depths awes at the magnificence of Siva. ” — Gurudeva
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
It is quiet Sun Two today.
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is August 11-17 to Toronto and Montreal, eastern Canada. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
In the Ganapati Kulam the focus is on the coming issue of Hinduism Today. Natarajnathaswami is working here on an interesting My Turn article.
Dr. Manickavel has known us for many years and used to live in Edmonton, Canada and then moved back to India, where he is living in Chidambaram. His field of study has involved bio ethics, and in this issue he examines stem cell research.
Our managing editor, Arumugaswami has engineered again the coverage of the 2004 Ujjain Kumbhamela, by sending world class photographer Thomas Kelly from Nepal and our correspondent Rajiv Malik to the event. The results are in: 100’s and 100’s of photos and reams of reports and interviews.
Arumugaswami is working hard on this huge project. Here he shows the past issue of Hinduism Today where we have covered previous Kumbhamelas. We are proud to say that the coverage of the melas in Hinduism Today has been recognized worldwide as about as good as it ever gets in the global media.
Natarajnathaswami, our art director has been laying out the photo spreads of the mela. Here is using a book by the famed artist Indra Sharma, with whom we have collaborated for many years.
This artwork illustrates the story behind the Kumbhamela: the churning of the milk ocean and the drops of Amritam that fell to earth at the sacred spots where these melas are held.
Indra Sharma’s work is really incredible. This is a magnificent painting of Lord Shiva.
Sadhaka Dandapani, of the Ekadanta Kulam, the man usually behind the camera. Today was the Ekadanta Kulam report day, and he shared with the monks some of his current duties. He does a lot of hosting these days as the visitor traffic is especially high during summer months and is helping with various Iraivan Temple projects, assisting Saravananathaswami to set up Bodhinatha’s future trips and working with advance planning for the next Innersearch.
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
“Siva is the immanent personal Lord, and He is transcendent Reality. Siva is a God of love, boundless love. He loves each and every one. Each soul is created by Him and guided by Him through life. God Siva is everywhere. There is no place where Siva is not. He is in you. He is in this temple. He is in the trees. He is in the sky, in the clouds, in the planets. He is the galaxies swirling in space and the space between galaxies, too. He is the universe. His cosmic dance of creation, preservation and dissolution is happening this very moment in every atom of the universe. God Siva is, and is in all things. He permeates all things. He is immanent, with a beautiful form, a human-like form which can actually be seen and has been seen by many people in visions. He is also transcendent, beyond time, cause and space. ” — Gurudeva
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
Sun One began with an uplifting homa and a rousing talk by Bodhinatha who share with us all the story of his visit to Cincinnati and followed up with some inspiring stories about Yogaswami. The focus of his talk was on the teaching of Yogaswami: “There is one thing God cannot do: He cannot separate Himself from us.”
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is August 11-17 to Toronto and Montreal, eastern Canada. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
Saravananathaswami performs the homa, Mr. and Mrs. Mirchandani were with us today along with another young Hindu couple.
Stepping back to the retreat Sadhaka Dandapani (behind the camera) and Sadhaka Jivananandanatha took the silpis on their monthly outing, this time to the quaint west side town of Hanapepe.
This is a spansion bridget that we often dream of copying to make one like it to cross the Wailua from the temple to our land on the other side of the river…
Hanapepe town is a haven for artists and craftsmen and you will find some small galleries with exquisite paintings and other modern artifacts like these amazing bowls.
Every Thursday, Tandu Sivanathan comes to the Aadheenam and works with his team to do grounds beautification. Thank you Tandu!
A dream of Gurudeva’s come true, the Kauai Aloha Endowment is selling products in local stores, the profits for which go back to the Kauai Aloha Endowment. Gurudeva seeded this concept: that the entire island should be endowed like the city of Edmonton is in Alberta, Canada… and his vision is becoming manifest.
It was an anonymous member of the community who caught Gurudeva’s idea and commissioned a special piece of art work: a beach scene with a rainbow and heart over it to express the meaning of “Aloha.” Our monks have been instrumental in the early stages of the project to help keep things stay organized and moving forward.
On sale at a local store….
 The Remarkable Vision |
Iraivan Temple Progress Update |
Join this historic undertaking. Please contribute generously. Sponsor a stone today! |
| New Beautiful 2004 Calendar Now Available. Seeing out fast! | ||
Other TAKA pages with recent Iraivan images.
 |
||
Sadhaka Nilakantha exits the top of the ladder which is how the silpis come up ever day to work on the top of the vimanam.
Then you have to take yet another small ladder to go up to see course 27 that is now finished.
This is the top of course 27.
One day all the sand inside will be removed and the inside of the sanctum will be an open space…
Course 28 will be on top of this and then the capstone which is scheduled for an August lift.
Gurudeva’s spiritual center in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa
Guru Purnima was celebrated in Mauritius on Friday July 2, 2004 in the evening at the Ganesha Mandapam. Sishyas from all over the island made it a must to attend this special Guru puja event despite the usual cold and rainy weather prevailing.
Brahmachari Vel Mahalingum assisted by young Sivarathna Manick are performing the pada puja while everyone seated are having their minds joyfully focussed on the Guru.
Everyone looks forward each year for this grand event.
The ladies are singing Natchintanai…
The Mandapam is filled with the lofty sayings of Paramaguru Siva Yogaswami during these Natchintanai singing…
The abhishekam ceremony over, Brahmachari carefully decorates the Tiruvadi with garlands and flowers brought by sishyas.
Beautiful flowers for Gurudeva in the inner worlds from with love Mauritius….
The 108 names of the Guru are lovingly chanted by all devotees present. Kulapatis Manon and Koothan are leading the group.
The darshan of the Guru is subtly felt when the flame is passed over the Holy Tiruvadi. The darshan is the emanating rays from the depth of an enlightened soul’s Being. Darshan pours forth from within the unfolded soul just as fragrance flows from the rose. The darshan of the Guru is the power that stabilizes the devotee on the path.
One sishya prostrating. This reminds us of what Saint Tirumular said: He taught me humility, infused in me the light of devotion, granted me the grace of His Feet…. Undoubtly, the Siva-Guru is Iraivan, the worshipful Lord Himself.
After prostrating before the Tiruvadi everyone comes forward for vibhuti and the satguru’s ucchishta, the waters from the bathing of His Holy sandals.
Kulapati Parmesh Pallanee…
Kulamata Saranamutha Pareatumbee from Flacq.
Mrs Valli Iyaloo from Beau Bassin.
Tirumati Magadevi Canagasaby from Riviere du Rempart.
Here is Kulapati Siven Koothan reading a message from Bodhinatha on this occasion. The message contained stories about encounters with Paramaguru Siva Yogaswami.
The Guru’s Blessings are reaching the far end of the Park, where the construction of the Muruga Mandapam is now nearing completion. More photos about this project in next TAKA.
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
Today we had the final observances for Guru Purnima at the Aadheenam. And a “mangalam” day it was. The atmosphere filled with so much love and the joy that overflows from the satsang of devotees in confluence with the Satguru and all his monks and the devas in the inner worlds. We could feel Gurudeva’s happy smile on the inside all morning….
~~~~~~~~~
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 Tritya Tithi, Sun One, Sunday, July 4th
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
Here is Bodhinatha at the end of the Guru puja….
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is July 3-4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
We started out in the morning at 7am. The time was moved up this year to allow our Tavil and Nadasvaram musicians to play at in full forte (as loud as they could). Bodhinatha is put up on the chariot, out on the San Marga path.
It is a cool morning….
Swami Bua is also given his place in the parade.
He is carried by the silpis on a small palanquin.
Parading the Satguru always gives rise to majestic thoughts, as Siva Yogaswami has said:
“By the grace of my Guru was overthrown my pride.
By the grace of my Guru, showers of grace were mine.
By the grace of my Guru, bliss infinite was mine.
By His grace myself and Guru commingled as One.”
–Natchintanai. 243
‘Detach, and in attachment, see detachment,
Espouse righteous living with awareness, my dear
Thou art myself’–Thus spoke he.
“No intrinsic evil is there,’ so said he,
‘And Truth is Absolute,’ he added my dear.
“A wholesome life bequeathed he, my dear
Fled are all the unrighteous acts, my dear.
In oneness did I see the universe in and out.
Yet I see not that which seeth so, my dear.”
–Yogaswami
“Oh mother mine, he came on earth in human form.
He whom Brahma and Vishnu fail to perceive.
He assuaged my griefs and gave me his vision.
I was an ignoramus to whom he gave eminent status, and
assured me of the innate goodness of heaven and earth.
Sivayanama was the mantra He gave me to alleviate my distress …”
–Yogaswami
Our musicians play with vigor. They also have come to love Kauai Aadheenam.
Flower petals are strewn by the ladies before the chariot….
Our monks await the arrival of the Satguru with a small fire and the chanting of Sri Rudram.
Swami Bua also joins us for the pada puja to Bodhinatha.
Bodhinatha’s seat is placed just in front of the Siva Lingam on San Marga.
“He bade me give up prejudices and predilections, and endowed me with discrimination to apprehend Truth. His great saying that we know not, became meaningful to me by his grace, when He and I in non-dual communion experienced bliss. Who knows was his oft-quoted declaration, and yet to the pious lovers, he revealed the Truth of the ultimate Reality. He and I are inseparable, though infinitely great is his transcendence…”
Yogaswami…
The natural beauty of Kauai is a wonder to behold. As many have said, Iraivan is not only a beautiful temple, but its setting of San Marga itself is a paradise on earth.
“Salutation to the Holy Feet of my SatGuru!
He enlightened me with supra-mental consciousness,
Beyond the avenues of sense experiences.
He initiated me to know my inner self.
Look inward and realise, was his benediction.
He showered greater love than that of a mother,
And I consecrated my all at his Feet.
Salutation to the beauteous Feet of Grace!”
— Yogaswami
“He was Life of my life, Essence of Self in self.
He granted me the beatitude of a goodly life.
He placed his Feet on my head and protected me.
Away with spurious doubts! Such grace was mine!
He illumined me with one word Aum.
I understood the world and myself.
He gave me the experience of Oneness.
He was all pervasive like the letter A
Salutation to the feet so fragrant.
–Yogaswami
“Thus did he save me from a life of allurements,
He who was beyond the reach of the See-ers,
He came like me in human form.
And enticed me by love supernal,
I learnt to walk with him on the right path.
Hail omniform light of Nallur that captivated me!
Salutation to the Holy Feet of my Guru!
“Shed all your supporting ties and bonds,” so saying
My benevolent Guru vouchsafed such grace.
His Blessed Feet Hail. All Hail.”
“He indeed is the wisest of the wise who made me his own–None can ever discern him. He is Honey trickling within each one of us.
His oft repeated behest was to know the Self abiding in the self, for that was the highest goal of human birth. It was the summum bonum of noble souls–(Tamil Script)
There is nothing in the world comparable to the excellence of devotion to the Guru. It enables man to follow the path of Dharma. It bestows the greatest solace to man, and points the way to make life ennobling. “Blessed are the worshipful devotees, for theirs is the refreshing Feet of the Lord.”
–Yogaswami
“The greatest benefactor to your own self is yourself: Your steadfast and single minded devotion alone can be your sure guide to know the Real Self within you. Discard all ideas of separation and distinctions and desires. Sing His name and strengthen your devotion to your Guru. That is your invincible shield”
–Yogaswami
“Bliss infinite flows from devotion to the Guru
Rejoice therein for solace true.
Climb up the path of righteousness
And utter, Oh Sankara–Siva.
Rest assured that there is no evil
And repeat that Truth is all and all.
Follow the way of divine grace,
And chant the incantation of Sivayanama.”
–Yogaswami
After the puja, everyone comes forward to prostrate …
Bodhinatha give out the sacred holy ashes — vibhuti prasadam.
Gurudeva’s picture and silver pada are present on the side….
At the feet of the Satguru are offered all the annual rededications from devotees around the world.
Each one has written out the mantra Aum Namasivaya 108 times, and checked the status of their Japa and Vasana Daha Tantra sadhanas and written a letter of dedication to Bodhinatha on the back.
We honored Swami Bua also with a shawl.
and new cotton khadi robes…
We are always blessed to have him with us….
“The ignorant think that God and Love are different.
None thinks that God and Love are the same.
When one knows that God and Love are identical,
He will repose in God as Love.”
Thus concluded the formal proceedings ….
Back at Kadavul temple it is tour day and our musicians played to a full house in the banyan mandapam…
Our silpi Chinnu has a photo with Swami Bua…
And Kumar….
Then a feast was served for lunch…something additional this year: lots of sandesh (milk sweets)
Our Kauai devotees, usually a bit isolated in the middle of the Pacific, get a chance to have satsang with people from all over the world.
Saravananathaswami who has been coordinating most of the activities along with Sadhaka Dandapani, consults with Kulapati Deva Rajan on the coming task forcers who are all going to assist with the gold leaf work. Adi Srikantha is here (in the middle) from North Dakota for today’s celebrations and to work on the gold leaf as well.
Stay tune… next phase for picture of the raising up of stones for course 27…then, course 28 and we will be ready for the Vimanam in a month or so… have a great retreat… we are off now for three days…
Aum Namasivaya!
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
| FULL INDEX OF 650+ CYBERTALKS
 |
|
Study Gurudeva’s teachings.
|
transcription begins
Date: June_01_2004
Title: Muruga, The God of Yoga and the Spiritual Path, Part 2
Category: God and Lords of Dharma
Duration: 10 min., 16 seconds
Date Given: May 20, 2004
Given by: Bodhinatha
In the Saivite tradition, there is a definite relationship between the worship of Lord Murugan and being successful in advanced yoga practices.
Gurudeva describes it as follows. “To obtain even the permission to perform yoga, one must have the grace of Lord Ganesha and the grace of Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga is the God of the kundalini of the advanced yogic practices. Unfoldment all happens within the kundalini and the chakras within our subtle bodies. Once a profound relationship is developed with Lord Muruga,and with the Guru’s permission and guidance, true yoga may commence. Otherwise no matter how long one sits in meditation, no matter how hard one tries, it is just sitting, it is just trying. There is no fire there, no shakti, no power, no change. It is the Gods who control the fire and at this stage help the devotee immensely, bringing him closer and closer to the Supreme God Siva. Quite often the yogi in his deep, internalize state may see a vision, the feet or form of God Siva before he begins to blend into the mind of God Siva called Satchidananda. It is God and Gods in form that help us to find the formless God.”
You can develop a close relationship with Lord Murugan in which He feels like a good friend if you take the time to get to know Him through bhakti yoga. The practice of devotional disciplines, worship, prayer, chanting and singing with the aim of awakening love in the heart and opening oneself up to the Deity’s grace. Bhakti, devotion, to Murugan can be increased or cultivated. Here are some specific suggestions.
1. Make the travel time to the temple a religious one. Don’t allow yourself to focus on problems at home or work. Put on religious music in your car audio system and listen to it, for example.
2. Bring an offering. The act of giving opens you to the blessings of the Deity. Never go to the temple without bringing an offering and giving it to the Deity.
3. Put as much time and prana into the offering as possible. Buying a garland at the store is good, but making it yourself is even better. The prana in the offering, meaning the energy coming out of your hands when you make the garland, goes into the garland and therefore when the garland is put on the Deity, it is like you are touching the Deity and creates an even greater closeness.
4. During the puja keep focused on the Murthi and the priests chant. Pay attention. Don’t let the mind wander. When singing bhajans, keep focused on the meaning of the words.
5. And last, the blessings, the shakti of the Deity is stronger on some days than others. So attending the temple on the strong days is helpful to attuning oneself to the shakti. For example, there is a stronger shakti on yearly festivals, such as Skanda Shasti for Lord Murugan.
One of the disciplines that Gurudeva gave to his monastics many years ago was to learn to do the traditional temple puja, Parartha puja for Ganesha, Murugan and Siva. Therefore, all the monastics have had the opportunity to do regular pujas in our temple. Speaking from experience we can all say that performing daily puja is definitely an effective way to deepen your personal relationship with Lord Murugan. Pujas can also be done in the home, the Atmartha puja and again provide an effective way to become closer to the Deity.
Lord Murugan is traditionally worshipped to invoke the forces of divinity, to overcome the forces of darkness.
This is an important theme, so I repeat that sentence. Lord Murugan is traditionally worshipped to invoke the forces of divinity to overcome the forces of darkness.
This process takes place both in the world and in the individual. It takes place through the power of His Vel which represents wisdom, jnana shakti. Gurudeva often stressed that the world changes because the individuals in it change. In other words, the world becomes a more divine, peaceful place as more individuals find divinity and peace within themselves. Certainly the worship of Lord Murugan and His Shaktivel, His Vel of wisdom is a potent force in moving the world in this direction.
Man’s nature can be described as threefold – superconscious or spiritual, intellectual or mental, and instinctive or physical/emotional.
It is the instinctive nature, the animal-like nature, which contains the tendencies to become angry and harm others. The goal is to learn to control these animal instincts, as well as, the ramifications of the intellect and the pride of the ego and manifest one’s spiritual nature. This is the inner process within the individual, of divinity overcoming darkness and the regular worship of Lord Murugan helps us to become a wiser person, better to make these inner changes and therefore make tangible progress on the spiritual path.
Hindu icons in our temples all have mystical symbolism. A common symbolism is to depict the God as male and the God’s energy or shakti as His spouse. This is because in these temples, they have Murugan with two consorts. So, I have to explain two concepts.
God is everywhere seen as the beloved divine couple. Philosophically however, the caution is always made that God and God’s energy are one. That the metaphor of the inseparable divine couple serves only to illustrate this oneness. In the case of Lord Murugan, His consorts are Valli and Devayani.
Additionally we have the Vel as an important symbol. These three represent three distinct energies, powers or shaktis. Valli represents the iccha shakti, the power of desire. Devayani represents kriya shakti, the power of action. The Vel represents jnana shakti, the power of wisdom.
Important insights into the soul maturing process can be gained by looking at the three shaktis of Lord Murugan. The power of desire, the power of action and the power of wisdom, which are also the three powers of the soul.
We first have a desire. When the desire becomes strong enough, we act. In young souls, the action may be ill-conceived and adharmic. For example, we want a computer, so we simply steal one. Money is needed, so we rob a bank. The soul is repeating a cycle of similar experiences, moving back and forth from desire to action, desire to action. In the case of the adharmic action of stealing, eventually the soul will learn the lesson that this is not the best course of action to take, to acquire possessions.
This learning is the jnana shakti. Wisdom coming in and causing one’s behavior to improve. This process works for dharmic actions as well. We are helping out as a volunteer at the temple and teaching children’s classes once a month. We like the feeling it gives us of helping others in a meaningful way and decide to help out every week instead, and even participate in the meetings to plan out the classes. We are doing a selfless action and the reaction it has on us is to feel more inner joy. Therefore, the jnana is to decide how to do even more of it and thus feel more joyful. We have again improved our behavior.
We can see in both of these examples how it is that the soul undergoes experiences in the world with desire leading to action, desire leading to action and eventually leading to wisdom and the improving of our behavior. This is the divine pattern through which our soul matures over many lifetimes, moving ever closer to God.
Whether an action we have committed is dharmic or adharmic, the worship of Lord Murugan and the power of His Vel, jnana shakti, can help us understand the wisdom or lack of wisdom of our actions more quickly. In fact, in some Murugan temples, the importance of the Vel is stressed by the fact that the only Murthi in the main sanctum is the Vel.
transcription ends
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
It was another auspicious day at the Aadheenam.
We share with you today events from yesterday afternoon and this morning.
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
The first application of gold leaf to the Vimanam of Iraivan was ceremoniously performed yesterday by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami. (more pictures below)
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is July 3-4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
Today was the wonderful day we have each year with various Sadhaka and Yogi’s who have two-year vows renew their vows for another two years. Bodhinatha sits quietly as the monks read them aloud in the Guru Peedam.
It is always a great inspiration to the whole monastic order to hear aloud the pledge made to the four vows of Purity, Obedience, Confidence (Secrecy) and Humility.
Sadhaka Jothinatha, Sadhaka Adinatha, Sadhaka Haranandinatha, Sadhaka Nilakantha, Sadhaka Jivananandanatha and Yogi Japendranatha all renewed their commitments today.
The vow books were recently brought up to date. Each one signs them, making their pledge official for another two years.
Vows are read aloud, one after another and then signed.
You to may find the vows inspiring as they outline spiritual ideals that apply not only to monks but to any serious spiritual seeker… Read them on line here.
Bodhinatha also signs the vow books, officially accepting these great souls as his sishya for another two years.
Stepping back to yesterday afternoon. We began as usual with the 3 am Ganesha puja, followed by a talk by Swami Bua. Swami is always a delight with his challenging mode of discourse “Who are you! Are you just a bag of bones!” He loved Gurudeva very much: “Gurudeva was the embodiment of love, a true Purusha Avatara, not a normal human being, he was sent here by God.”
After Swami’s discourse we all went to the Iraivan temple site for the first gold leafing ceremony.
A tent has been arranged over the Vimanam. Look carefully at the darkened area on the lower portion of the stone… this has had “sizing” already applied.
Bodhinatha watches as Sadhaka Jivanandanatha performs a short puja.
We may have run this information before but it is worth noting again:
Paramacharya Palaniswami writes: “We purchased 301 square feet of gold for the Iraivan capstone! How great a privilege we have in the weeks ahead, to gold-leaf this grand sculpture, then raise it to the top of the vimanam to radiate in the tropical sun. Eight members are flying to Kauai to help leaf the granite. They say it will last 20-30 years in the open, though Hawaiian exposure to rain and sun may not be fully considered in that number. No matter, we will re-leaf it when needed. So thin, just 416 atoms thick! Imagine. I learned a bit about leaf in the process of our research and will share some trivia with you in case you are interested. Visit this website and you can see the process visually. Makes what we are doing here even more interesting….
http://www.zinnober.biz/how1.shtml
As we move toward our gold leafing of the stupi stone, thought you would all like some trivia, interesting trivia, about gold leaf and the stone……
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gold leaf is 1/8000th of a millimeter thick,
200,000 sheets in an inch
This equals .125 microns (micrometers)
1 millimeter is 1,000,000 nanometers
Gold atoms are .3 nanometers in diameter
So, gold leaf is a mere 416 atoms thick!”
First a liquid adhesive called “sizing” is applied and allowed to partially dry. Before the sizing is completely dry, while still stick the gold leaf is applied.
Kulapati Deva Rajan spent some time getting training from a master craftsman in California and is our team leader on this project. Here he is unrolling the gold leaf.
First, it is applied to the sizing.
pressed down by hand…
Next, the backing is removed…
Now the tedious work begins, a special brush is used, but you do not rub or burnish the gold leaf… instead you gently tap it.
Tapping the gold with the head of the brush slowly forces the gold leaf into the sizing…
It is a tedious process and filling in all the crevices of the stone carving will be an interesting challenge for our team of sevaks who have come to Kauai to do the work.
Now, time for photos…
Bodhinatha and Swami Bua.
Our musicians bring life to all these events.
The result of today first application of gold…
Swami Bua with a lion pillar.
Here is Yoginathaswami who is usually hard at work coordinating all the Iraivan temple construction activities. He is taking a break this phase and serving as Swami Bua’s host in the morning. Swami loves to tell him jokes in Tamil.
Priya Alahan who lives here gets to make some new friends with our Malaysian ladies.
Yogandren and Gunalan meet Sthapati.
Another joyous day filled with mangalam!
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
| FULL INDEX OF 650+ CYBERTALKS
 |
|
Study Gurudeva’s teachings.
|
transcription begins
Date: May_31_2004
Title: Muruga, The God of Yoga and the Spiritual Path, Part 1
Category: God and Lords of Dharma
Duration: 10 min. 28 seconds
Date Given: May 20, 2004
Given by: Bodhinatha
Good Morning, everyone! Welcome to our guests this morning, so glad that you could come!
We are working on a talk on Lord Muruga. This is for multiple usage. I always try and get the maximum use out of one talk.
We are leaving for Atlanta and Maryland in a few days. This talk is for the Maryland Murugan Temple, that is our first usage. We are there on Sunday, May 30th. Then we are going to Cincinnati, July 4th weekend. They are having a consecration for the Murugan shrine there. They are moving the Deities, which turns out Gurudeva gifted to them, the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati. They are moving them from a temporary location into a permanent location. So they are having a consecration ceremony. We are going there on the July 4th weekend and we are going to Montreal Murugan Temple in August around the 16th or 17th. They have a Murugan Temple up there. We are going for an annual Festival. It is around the time of the Festival in Nallur. So they are celebrating the Murugan festival that is celebrated in Nallur.
That gives you some background where this talk is going. Can get multiple use out of it.
In some religions, the ultimate experience a religion offers is having a strong belief in the existence of God. In Hinduism, however, believing in God is only a first step toward an ever deepening, personal experience of God’s presence. In this regard many of the great saints and sages of Hinduism have had visions of Lord Murugan, the Deity on the left here, and shared that with their devotees, thus strengthening the devotees faith and understanding of these divine Beings. In ancient times such great saints as Arunagirinathar had visions of Lord Murugan and wrote of this experiences in devotional poems, such as Kandar Anubhuti.
Swami Sivananda, Divine Life Society founder, wrote an excellent description of this work. To quote him, “The term Kandar Anubhuti is derived from Kandar and Anubhuti. Kandar in Tamil is Skanda, in Sanskrit. Anubhuti means becoming one with or experience. Hence, Kandar Anubhuti means to Become one with Skanda and denotes God experience. This is a work sung by Saint Arunagirinathar as a result of his God experience or Kandar Anubhuti, which also directs others to that experience. It is the experience of the Saint given expression to, in such powerful words that when it is repeated by others, it is capable of rendering that same experience in them in due course. Such is the glory of the work.”
Here is one verse from Kandar Anubhuti. “Lord Murugan, wielder of the Vel whose form shines like the crimson sky. On that day You revealed to me the unique, divine experience. Having it and experiencing it is the only way to understand it. Is it something to talk about? How can it be told to someone else?”
In modern times, Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami has shared some of his mystical experiences and perspectives of Lord Murugan in his writings and stories. One story has to do with the founding of this temple, Kadavul Hindu Temple, in Hawaii in 1973. A large Nataraja bronze had recently arrived from India and Gurudeva was wondering where in the building to place it. That night in a vision, Lord Murugan came and struck His Vel three times on the spot where the Nataraja deity was to be placed. We placed the Nataraja there the next day and worship began.
On many other occasions, Gurudeva would casually mention that he had a vision of Lord Murugan the previous night in which they were flying through the akasha or inner space, on their sides, next to one another. That is when Gurudeva would describe that lying on one side, that is how you travel in the akasha. So they were both traveling in the akasha together quite often. Gurudeva named a book, which we hope to produce one day on Lord Murugan, ‘Flying with Murugan’, because of these frequent visions.
We have arranged group pilgrimages to India since 1969 and several of the pilgrims on various programs have definitely had visions of Lord Murugan as well as other Deities. The vision would often come in the form of a stone or bronze murthi moving and smiling at them or turning into a human-like figure that would move. Also, with their eyes closed, seeing the Deities face as a living Being.
You may find it interesting to know that Gurudeva enjoined all his devotees to revere pilgrimage to Nallur than Murugan’s six South Indian temples, Ganesha’s many temples and shrines and especially Kumbalavalai and the samadhi shrines of our lineage in Sri Lanka.
Not to mention, many living today have had visions of Lord Murugan. In the year 1995 Hindus saw first hand the Milk Miracle, where in temples around the world devotees offered milk to the murthi of Lord Ganesha and it was drunk by Him. This surely increased the faith of many and the reality of Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan. Knowing that the Gods are real Beings and that the purpose of going to the temple is to experience Their blessings is what transforms the temple from a cultural hall to a truly sacred place.
Here is a comment from Gurudeva on the reality of Lord Ganesha, “There are a great many liberal Hindus and/or western influenced Hindus, who don’t think of Ganesha as a real Being. To them He is a symbol, a superstition, a way of explaining philosophy to children and the uneducated. But this has not been my experience of our loving Lord. I have seen Him with my own eye. He has come to me in visions several times and convinced my lower mind of His reality.”
The stone or metal Deity images, explains Gurudeva, are not mere symbols of the Gods. They are the form through which Their love, power and blessings flood forth into this world. This is like our ability to communicate with others through the telephone. We do not talk to the telephone. Rather we use the telephone as a means of communication with another person, who is perhaps thousands of miles away. Without the telephone we could not converse across such distances. Without the sanctified Murthi in the temple or shrine, we cannot easily commune with the Deity. His vibration and presence can be felt in the image and He can use the image as a temporary physical body or channel.
As we progress in our worship, we begin to adore the image as the Deity’s physical body. For we know that He is actually present and conscious in it during puja, aware of our thoughts and feelings and even sensing the pujari’s gentle touch on the mental or stone. Occasionally, a devotee while visiting a temple may have a vision of the God. A more common way we experience the Gods and Devas when visiting a temple is as an uplifting, peaceful, divine energy or shakti that radiates out from the image. It is easiest to feel Their blessings at the high point of the puja when the flame is held high.
The blessings or shakti of Lord Murugan is a particularly powerful force. It has the ability to temporarily activate the kundalini force within the spine. Kundalini is also called the serpent power and when activated takes us deeper into our inner self. If someone is used to this happening, then outwardly they do not show any change, but inwardly finds themselves deeper into their spiritual nature, perhaps drawn inward for a short meditation. However, if someone is not used to the kundalini being active, they may find themselves shaking a little and feeling quite hot. This is nothing to worry about, as it will soon pass.
transcription ends
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
Guru Purnima celebrations continue. Listen to this beautiful song by Saint Tayumanavar, called Mouna Guru
“To those who have been duly initiated
into the icon, temple and holy waters,
(of the Ishta devata) the real Guru who
utters the unique Word (mantram) will also appear.”
“One Word, a wondrous Word, there is
which in itself contains
All other words; by it is cleansed
The soul of all its stains.
It is the Word the Guru gave,
One Word, unmoving goal.”
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
Swami with Bodhinatha at this morning’s homa, during which a number of vratas were taken by devotees.
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is July 3-4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
Kamala Guhan takes her vegetarian vrata today.
[Tayumanavar….]
“Fixed as a mountain top is firm,
Towards which moves the soul.
All other words beside it are
As vain devoid of aim,
As are the pawns at random moved,
moved in aimless game.”
“Thou camest as the Silent Teacher mine,
Ready to grant all boons however rare,
And with a mother’s love Thou didst unfold
Decking my head with those Blessed Feet of Thine,
The Eternal Law of wisdom’s ecstasy.
Bereft of thought or holy word revolved
The superconscious Vision beyond all thought
Of Freedom’s final state as one or two,
As Light or Void or Form or Primal Sound.
Such is Beatitude. So hast Thou taught.
Grant me thy Grace, O Lord, to live that life
Wherein are steeped time honored lovers thine.
O Thou Siddhanta’s Goal and Prime Essence!
O Dakshinamurthi that dost shine aloft
On Trichi’s hill, O master of Wisdom’s Bliss!”
The temple was filled…
Gurudeva instituted the formalization of vratas and samskaras with certificates and witnesses.
Bodhinatha blesses Kamala
Bodhinatha signs the vrata booklets. He has worked hard to carry Gurudeva’s vision forward in this area.
Not only do we now have a certificate, but Bodhinatha has created booklets that give background information, guidelines for sadhana etc. for the vratas, which they then take home and study both before and after the vrata.
Sadhaka Jivananandanatha was our Agnihotri priest this morning…
Hitesvara Saravan, Gunalan and Lalitha Ponniah take their Vrata Sishya vows.
This is the formal transition from being a student of Himalayan Academy to becoming a member of Saiva Siddhanta Church. The devotees take the Nandinatha Sutra (to uphold the 365 sutras in their lives) and the Saiva Shraddhadharana Vratas (affirmation of the 12 Saivite Beliefs.)
Yogaswami sang:
“I want to sing and dance
And serve Him who is manifest in all.
There is then no night nor day
And duality yields to Oneness infinite.”
“Chant the Letters Five–
In love shalt thou discover His Will.
Realise thySelf by the Self.”
“Aum Sivayanama! we invoke……
Enlightened are we with that single word
That came from our majestic kingly Guru.”
Our musicians add a powerful dimension to the ceremonies.
Next, off to install the new “Umbrella Ganesha”
Bodhinatha breaks a coconut…
Next a team of devotees lift up the murthi…
The silpis are on hand to make sure all goes well.
Bodhinatha performs a simple abhishekam to the new murthi.
Pottu…
Arati…
And a group photograph.
Next we few devotees put on the bells that hang on the umbrella, starting with Swami Bua.
Gunalan and Lalitha from Malaysia.
Pakiavathy, also from Malaysia.
It is one of the loveliest forms of Ganesha we have ever seen…
Seminars have been held in the Guru Peedam for the pilgrims.
The inner atmosphere during our Kauai Aadheenam festivals always seems to carry one inward without any effort at all.
Stepping back to yesterday afternoon we stop for another look at Gurudeva’s shrine before going out for a special tree planting.
Nandi at the entrance of Kadavul. He always carries this deeply powerful reminder of the one whose gaze never turns from God.
On our way out to San Marga we stop for a close up of Dakshinamurthi
Tree planting events are joyful respites to relax and get in touch with nature and participate in something long term at the Aadheenam…. Years
Paramacharya Palaniswami describes the nature of this special Banyan tree.
It is a Ficus Bengalensis, the famous Indian Banyan that eventually turns into a natural Cathedral.
Out of the pot, into th ground…
Bodhinatha offers a small arati….
The devotees offer water to the new tree.
A century from now, your grand children will meet under the shade of this tree.
This morning the Padmanabhan family, made up of Gobi, Nirmala and Prashanth, paid us a visit from California Bay Area, happy to discover that we are in the midst of Guru Purnima celebrations. They used to attend our Murugan temple in San Francisco and took Prashanth for his namakarana samskara there soon after he was born. He is now age 21 and happy to connect with us on Kauai for the first time. He really likes this website and spent some time with the swamis learning how this website is built.
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
| FULL INDEX OF 650+ CYBERTALKS
 |
|
Study Gurudeva’s teachings.
|
transcription begins
Date: May_23_2004
Title: Parents Teaching Hinduism to Children, Part 3
Category: Family
Duration: 14 min., 26 seconds
Date Given: May 12, 2004
Given by: Bodhinatha
Good Morning, everyone!
Continuing our series on ‘Parents are the first Guru – Suggestions on teaching Hinduism to your children’. I will read the Introduction again, just so the tape and video have continuity.
Many times Hindu families, who are visiting our Hawaii Monastery, particularly those with young children, ask me if I have any advise for them. I usually respond with one or two general suggestions. The most common response I give is to stress the importance of presenting Hinduism to their children in a practical way so that it influences the child’s life for the better. Hindus practices should, for example, help children get better grades in school.
Of course, there is not enough time to present the many guidelines that they would find useful. Therefore I thought, why not write up the suggestions as a booklet and hand the booklet to Hindu families who ask for advise. In there are some important suggestions on teaching Hinduism to your children drawn from the teachings of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.
One more introductory paragraph here.
Parents should take the responsibility of being the primary teachers of Hinduism to their children. It is wonderful that many temples have in place educational programs for the youth that are both effective and popular. However, it is important for parents to have the attitude that these programs supplement but do not replace the need for parents to teach Hinduism to their children in the home. Parents are indeed the first guru. They teach in many different ways, such as, by example, explanation and giving advise and direction. The child’s deepest impressions come from what the parents do and say. Therefore, if the parents can follow a systematic approach in teaching Hinduism to the child as he or she grows up, when the child reaches adulthood this will make the practice of Hinduism much more integral in the child’s life and therefore much less likely to be abandoned.
So we have a new section for today. This is called ‘The Greatness of Hinduism’.
Instill in your children a pride in Hinduism based upon its wise precepts for living.
Since the middle of the twentieth century, Hindu teachings have become more widely understood throughout the world and as a result, different aspects of the Hindu approach to living have been taken up by many thoughtful individuals of diverse religions and ethnicities all around the world. This is because they find them wise and effective ways of living. This includes such beliefs and practices as following a vegetarian diet, a reverence toward and desire to protect the environment, solving conflicts through non-violent means, tolerance towards others, teaching that the whole world is family, the belief in karma as system of divine justice, the belief in reincarnation, practice of yoga and meditation, seeking to personally experience Divinity.
Swami Chinmayananda in his first public talk in 1951, made a powerful statement about the effectiveness of Hinduism. “The true Hinduism is a science of perfection. There is in this true Hinduism a solution to every individual, social, national and international problem. True Hinduism is the Sanatana Dharma of the Upanishads.”
The traditional Hindu vegetarian diet has many benefits, both personal and planetary. Many individuals switch from the meat-eating diet of their parents to a vegetarian diet as a matter of conscience based upon the personal realization of the suffering animals undergo when they are slaughtered. The common saying is, “I won’t eat anything that has eyes, unless it is a potato!”
This is, of course, also the Hindu rational for a vegetarian diet and is called Ahimsa, refraining from injuring physically, mentally, or emotionally anyone or any living creature. The Hindu wishes to follow the path of non-injury and naturally adopts a vegetarian diet.
A second aspect of vegetarianism has to do with our state of consciousness. When we eat meat, fish, fowl and eggs, we absorb the vibration of the instinctive creatures into our nerve system. This chemically alters our consciousness and amplifies our own instinctive nature, which is the part of us prone to fear, anger, jealously, confusion, resentment and the like. Therefore, being vegetarian is a great help in attaining and maintaining a spiritual state of consciousness through our spiritual practices. Some individuals take up vegetarianism for this reason.
The third aspect of vegetarianism is that it uses the planet’s natural resources in a much wiser way. In large measure, the escalating loss of species, destruction of ancient rain forests to create pasture lands for livestock, loss of top soil and the consequent increase of water impurities and air pollution have all been traced to this single fact of meat in the human diet.
No single decision that we can make as individuals or as race can have such a dramatic effect on the improvement of our planetary ecology, as the decision to not eat meat. Many seeking to save the planet for future generations have become vegetarian for this reason.
Hindus hold a deep reverence toward planet Earth and toward all living beings that dwell on it. Many thoughtful people share the Hindu point of view that it is not right for man to kill or harm our animals for food or sport. They believe that animals have a right to enjoy living on this planet as much as humans do.
There is a Vedic verse in this regard that says, “Ahimsa is not causing pain to any living being at any time through the actions of one’s mind, speech or body.” Another Vedic verse states, “You must not use your God-given body for killing God’s creatures, whether they are human, animal or whatever.”
Hindus regard all living creatures as sacred – mammals, fish, birds and more. Hindus are stewards of trees and plants, fish and birds, bees and reptiles, animals and creatures of every shape and kind. Hindus acknowledge this reverence for life and their special affection for the cow.
Mahatma Gandhi once said about the cow, “One can measure the greatness of a nation and its moral progress by the way it treats animals. Cow protection to me is not mere protection of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is helpless and weak in the world. The cow means the entire subhuman world.”
Many individuals are concerned about our environment and properly preserving it for future generations. Hindus too share this concern and honor and revere the world around them as God’s creation and work for the protection of the Earth’s diverse resources to achieve the goal of a secure, sustainable and lasting environment.
Hinduism is respected for solving conflicts through non-violent means. Mahatma Gandhi’s strong belief in the Hindu principle of ahimsa and his non-violent methods for opposing British rule are well-known throughout the world. The non-violent approach has consciously been used by others as well. Certainly one of the most visible uses of non-violence was by Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King, after many years of giving careful thought to the problem of racial discrimination in the United States, selected the Hindu principle of Ahimsa as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi’s tactic of non-violent resistance, as the most effective method for overcoming these unjust laws. In 1959, Dr. King even spent five weeks in India, personally discussing with Gandhi’s followers the philosophy and techniques of non-violence, to deepen his understanding of them before putting them into actual use.
Hinduism has great tolerance, and considers the whole world to be a family.
In the world of the twenty-first century, a prime concern is the many clashes between groups of people of different religions, nationalities, ethnicities. They are all based on hatred on one or both sides. The opposite of hatred is tolerance and in that Hinduism excels. The Hindu belief that gives rise to tolerance of differences in race and nationality is that all of mankind is good, we are all divine beings, souls created by God. Hindus respect and defend the rights of humans of every caste, creed, color and sex. Hindus think globally and act locally as interracial, international citizens of the Earth. They honor and value all human cultures, faiths, languages and peoples, never offending one to promote another.
Hindus do not accept the concept that some individuals are evil and others are good. Hindus believe that each individual is a soul, a divine being who is inherently good. Upanishads tell us that each soul has emanated from God as a spark from a fire and begins its spiritual journey which eventually leads back to God. All human beings are on this journey whether they realize it or not. The Hindu practice of greeting one another with namaskar, worshipping God within the other person is a way this philosophical truth is practiced by Hindus on a daily basis.
This is taken one step further in the Vedic verse,”The whole world is one family.” Everyone is family-oriented. What we do has to benefit all members of our family. We want them all to happy, successful and religiously fulfilled. When family is defined as the whole world, then it is clear that we wish everyone in the world to be happy, successful and religiously fulfilled. The Vedic verse that captures this sentiment is, “May all people be happy.”
Many people throughout the world firmly believe in karma and reincarnation. In the second half of the twentieth century, these concepts became more and more popular and influential in the West. For example, every year more Westerners take up the belief in karma and reincarnation as a logical explanation of what they observe in life. A common explanation for karma is, what goes around comes around. In Hinduism, karma is the universal principle of cause and effect. Our actions, both good and bad, come back to us in the future helping us to learn from life’s lessons and become better people.
Reincarnation is the belief that the soul is immortal and takes birth time and time again. Through this process we have experiences, learn lessons and evolve spiritually. Finally, we graduate from physical birth.
The belief in karma and reincarnation gives a logical explanation to what otherwise seems to be an unjust or godless world. The answers to questions such as the following all have logical explanations, when viewed through the beliefs of karma and reincarnation.
Why do some people die so young? Why are some individuals so much more talented than others? Why do some people act in evil ways? What will the consequences of this action be?
The beliefs of karma and reincarnation also give a spiritual purpose to our life. We know that the reason we are here on earth is to mature spiritually and that this process extends over many lives. We know that karma is our teacher in this process, teaching us both what to do and what not to do through the reactions they brings back to us in the future.
Hinduism is bold in its teaching that man can experience God and live in a spiritual consciousness. Throughout the world today, many who are on the spiritual path want to have a personal spiritual experience. They want to see God. Hinduism not only gives them the hope that they can achieve this goal in this lifetime but it gives them the practical tools, such as, the disciplines of yoga and meditation through which this goal eventually becomes a reality.
The focus of many religions is on helping those who do not believe in God, to believe in God. Belief in God is the beginning and the end of the process. Once you believe in God, there is nothing more to do. However in Hinduism, belief is only the first step. Hindus want to move beyond believing in God to experiencing God.
There is a classic story that illustrates the Hindu perspective of experiencing God from the life of Swami Vivekananda, one of Hinduism’s most well known modern teachers.
When Vivekananda was still a University student, he asked many of the foremost religious leaders in the Calcutta area where he lived, if they had seen God. However, he never got a clear and authoritative answer from anyone of them until he met Sri Ramakrishna. It was during his second meeting with Sri Ramakrishna that he asked the question, “Sir, have you seen God?”
Calmly, Ramakrishna replied as follows, “Yes I see Him as clearly as one sees an apple in the palm of the hand. Nay, even more intently. And not only this, you can also see Him.”
This deeply impressed the young Vivekananda, who soon after accepted Sri Ramakrishna as his Guru.
Aum Namah Sivaya.
Feel more pride about Hinduism?
transcription ends
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
Our annual Guru Purnima festival began today with a scintillating Chitra puja this morning for Gurudeva.
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
Here is our Malaysian contingent of devotees: Left to right: Yogandran Ponnudurai, Pakiavathy Sinnathamby (wife of Kailasam Sinnathamby), Gunalan Ponniah, Lalitha Ponniah. The two men are staying at the Aadheenam guest residence on task force and the ladies are staying with our families… more about them later. This is the first visit to Kauai for all of them .
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is July 3-4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
The temple was magnificently decorated by the devotees yesterday and the vibration was “out of this world.”
Yogi Japendranatha and Sadhaka Nilakanta perform the puja today. As captions, we will share selections on the Guru from Yogaswami’s Testament of Truth and the Tirumantiram.
===
“Transcending all mutations of form and attribute,
Surpassing all finite measure is the GURU,
An embodiment of the highest wisdom.”
–Yogaswami
“He who is beyond the worlds, He dwells
In the hearts of the saints in benign grace
So that all may attain liberation.
He is the speechless Guru, the immaculate Sivam.”
“The Beauteous boon of ‘Siddhi and Mukti,’
The upright way of Grace and Truth,
The wealth of Wisdom and Bliss divine,
Can be attained by Grace of God with Form.”
–Tirumantiram
In Siva was he rooted: Sivam did he see everywhere.
In the will of Siva did he discern all things,
Transcending consciousness of past present and future,
And duality ceasing did he realise sweet serenity.
He who’s beyond the visible universe, came down on earth
As a Guru to abide in the hearts of the virtuous,
And illumined them by His grace and made them His own.
The peerless Siva is the priceless NatGuru.
–Tirumantiram
If not for the grace of Siva who came as the Guru,
The import of the scripture,
The way leading to liberation,
The reality of Truth cannot be understood by man.
–Tirumantiram
Endowing me with equanimity, the power of Grace
Descended as the Guru and purged my dross,
And enlightened me from the sway of my ego.
Thus freed did I commingle with Siva.
–Tirumantiram
Our Malaysian pilgrims had darshan with Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami today.
Pakiavathy sends her love back home to her husband, Kailasam and thanks him for sending her on this pilgrimage.
This is also Lalitha’s first time to Kauai as well.
These are great sevaks and do a lot of work for Gurudeva’s mission in Malaysia. We are always proud to have Malaysian representatives with us, for that country, along with Mauritius, are really stars in the global constellation of work of the Parampara.
These portrait shots came out so well we could not resist sharing them with you:
Gunalan Ponniah
Lalitha Ponniah
Yogandran Ponnudurai
Pakiavathy Sinnathamby
We step back a day to observe work going on in preparation for the festival. Kulapati Deva Seyon carefully arranging flowers behind Gurudeva.
Magnificent garlands of red and white carnations were are striking addition to the decor.
The musicians practicing in the temple as the team decorates.
Nadaswaram Vidwan, Arumugampillai Murugathas. He is full time in the music world and manages a large group of musicians who are constantly in demand across USA and Canada.
Thavil Vidwan, Thedchanamoorthy Ghanasangar. There is nothing like the spine tingling, powerful sounds these two traditional instruments can bring forth.
Yogandran helping with coconut frond decorations.
Gunalan assisting with the amazing tropical flower arrangements.
Meanwhile, a temporary installation of the “Umbrella Ganesha” is scheduled as one of the many innovative events occurring on this particular Guru Purnima. Advance preparations to prepare a level peedam are being done by the pros, our silpis.
The devotees will all have a hand in lifting Ganesha in place tomorrow morning.
It really good to have a team on had that knows what they are doing!
OK, that’s it. It’s level, mortar in the sides and we’re ready to go….
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
| FULL INDEX OF 650+ CYBERTALKS
 |
|
Study Gurudeva’s teachings.
|
transcription begins
Date: May_22_2004
Title: Parents Teaching Hinduism to Children, Part 2
Category: Family
Duration: 11 min., 45 seconds
Date Given: May 6, 2004
Given by: Bodhinatha
Good Morning, everyone. Welcome to our guests! Nice having you here. It is our custom to give a short talk after our homa.
This is from a little booklet I am preparing that I mentioned last week , ‘Suggestions for Parents on Teaching Hinduism to Their Children.’ I will read the first point again. I read it last week but the Introduction reminds us of what the topic is.
Hinduism in the Home
Parents should take the responsibility of being the primary teachers of Hinduism to their children. It is wonderful that many temples have in place educational programs for the youth that are both effective and popular. However, it is important for parents to have the attitude that these programs supplement but do not replace the need for parents to teach Hinduism to their children in the home. Parents are indeed the first guru. They teach in many different ways, such as, by example, explanation and giving advise and direction. The child’s deepest impressions come from what the parents do and say. Therefore, if the parents can follow a systematic approach in teaching Hinduism to the child as he or she grows up, when the child reaches adulthood this will make the practice of Hinduism much more integral in the child’s life and therefore much less likely to be abandoned.
That is the general introduction. We will skip to section four.
Part Four. Helping our children learn from their experiences.
Teach that it is by being in the world and interacting with other people that we advance spiritually.
The world in this sense refers to the places where we interact with people the most, such as, at home, at school and our place of work. In Western thought, these are not considered sacred places. However, in Hinduism they are. In our Paramaguru’s words, “The world is an ashram, a training ground for the achievement of moksha.”
What is it that transforms the world from a secular place into a spiritual one?
It is the overview that it is through the process of living life that we unfold spiritually. It is the knowing that through fulfilling our natural duties in life honestly and to the best of our ability that we make spiritual progress. Why?
Because work puts us in situations where we interact with other people, especially when we hold our dharmic responsibility over an extended period of time. Through interacting with others we learn important lessons and as a result gradually deepen our understanding, improve our behavior and become a more spiritual person. In doing so, we work through the karma we created in the past and create new karma to be faced in the future. Our daily work contributes to our spiritual progress just as much as attending pujas in the temple and worshiping in our home shrine.
Paramaguru Yogaswami captured the essence of this perspective when he said, “All work must be done with the aim of reaching God.”
Teach that life is a classroom in which we learn important lessons.
Life is a process of learning through trial and error and thereby advancing spiritually. Gurudeva has an insightful explanation of this process, ” Life is a series of experiences, one after another. Each experience can be looked at as a classroom and the big university of life, if we only approach it that way. Who is going to these classrooms? Who is the member of this university of life? It is not your instinctive mind, it is not your intellectual mind. It is the body of your soul, your superconscious self, that wonderful body of light. It is maturing under the stress and strain.”
Teach about the three powers of desire, action and wisdom.
Important insights into the souls maturing process can be gained by looking at the three saktis of God. Iccha, the power of desire. Kriya, the power of action and Jnana the power of wisdom. *They* are also the three powers of the soul.
We first have a desire and when the desire becomes strong enough, we act. In young souls, the action may be ill-conceived and adharmic. For example, we want a computer, so we simply steal one. Money is needed, so we rob a bank. The soul is repeating a cycle of similar experiences, moving back and forth from desire to action, desire to action.
Explain how wisdom eventually comes to both adharmic and dharmic actions. In the case of the adharmic action of stealing, eventually the soul will learn the lesson that this is not the best course of action to take to acquire possessions. This is learning. This learning is the jnana shakti, wisdom coming in causing one’s behavior to improve.
This process also works for dharmic actions as well. We are helping out as a volunteer at the temple and teaching children’s classes once a month. We like the feeling it gives us of helping others in a meaningful way and decide to help out every week and participate in the meetings which plan out the classes too. We are doing a selfless action and the reaction it has on us is to feel more inner joy. Therefore the jnana is to decide to do even more of it and thus feel more joyful. We have again improved our behavior.
Hold the perspective that children make mistakes because they are lacking knowledge.
For all of mankind no matter where one is on the path, spiritual advancement comes from improving one’s behavior. Said another way, it comes from learning from one’s mistakes. Unfortunately this process is inhibited by the idea that somehow we are not supposed to make mistakes. We grow up being scolded for our mistakes by our parents. Some teachers ridicule students when they make mistakes. Supervisors at work yell at workers when they make a mistake. No wonder many adults feel terrible when they make a mistake.
Therefore, to spiritually benefit from our mistakes we need a new attitude toward them. We can view them instead as wonderful opportunities to learn. In disciplining our children the most important part is to focus on finding out what lack of knowledge caused this mistake and providing them with that knowledge.
Focus on solutions instead of punishment.
For some parents, disciplining their children for misbehavior is simply a matter of punishment. The punishment misses the point, if it does not go along with the teaching so that you are helping the child learn how to avoid making the mistake again.
The important point is the child does not know something, otherwise he would never have made the mistake. There is some knowledge the child is missing and the parents need to figure out what that knowledge is, then teach it to the child in a way the child can grasp and remember.
There are better forms of punishment than corporal punishment and verbal accusation. When children seriously misbehave, punishment of course needs to be part of the response. There are many forms of corporal punishment and verbal accusation – spanking, hitting, using harsh or angry words, neglecting or abusing. They all cause the child to become fearful and fear interferes significantly with the child’s ability to think clearly and remember the lesson the parent provides. They also lower the child’s sense of self worth.
Therefore, the alternative forms of punishment such as time-out, logical consequences and denial of privileges that use loving, positive strategies are more appropriate and conducive to the child learning the lesson from the experience and actually not repeating the mistake again.
Teach older children how they can wisely respond to their mistakes through a four-step process.
The natural first reaction is to feel sad. The first reaction to having made a mistake is to become upset that we made the mistake. Get emotional about it or if it is a serious mistake to become quite burdened and even depressed. This is a natural first reaction. But if it is our only reaction, it is not enough. We need to deal with the emotional reaction to the action and move on to the second step, which is the learning stage.
The second reaction to having made a mistake is to figure out how to avoid making the same mistake again. A good second reaction to a mistake is to think clearly about what happened and why the mistake occurred and find a way to not repeat the mistake in the future. Perhaps you were not being careful enough and resolving to be more careful next time will prevent the problem from occurring. Perhaps we did not know something and now we have that knowledge and can simply resolve to use the knowledge next time. Perhaps we created unintended consequences that are causing significant problems to us or others and now that we are aware of the consequences, we certainly will not repeat the action. This is moving from saying, “I shouldn’t have done it” to saying “I should not do it again.”
Third reaction may be needed if the mistake involved other people. Perhaps we have hurt their feelings or created a strain between us. A direct apology can fix this if we know them well. However in many situations we are not close enough to the individual to be able to apologize. In that case, a generous act towards them can adjust the flow of feelings back into a harmonious condition. For example, include them among a group of friends to whom you give some cookies or candy.
A fourth reaction may be needed if the mistake was a major misdeed. For example, if we did something that was dishonest. In this case even though we have resolved to not repeat the misdeed, apologized to those involved, we may still feel bad about having done it. In this case, we need to perform some form of penance, prayaschitta, to rid our selves of the sense of feeling bad about ourself. Typical forms of penance are to fast, perform 108 prostrations before the Deity or walking prostrations up a sacred path or around the temple.
Helping your children prefect the art of learning quickly from mistakes, enables them to make faster spiritual progress.
The spiritual path is a series of experiences and sometimes those experiences are mistakes that we make. Because of being self-reflective we can learn from those mistakes quickly and thus avoid making them again, we progress quickly on the spiritual path. If we are constantly making the same mistakes over and over and over again, we are not making progress.
Aum Namah Sivaya.
transcription ends
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
Gurudeva said:
Smile when you feel unhappy with someone and say to yourself, “How nice to see you, Siva, in this form.” Animals, beggars, princes, politicians, friends and enemies, holy men, saints and sages are all Siva to the soul that loves God. He smiles and thinks to himself, “How nice to see you, Siva, in this, another of your many forms.”
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
We bring you today more photos from the last day of Bodhinatha’s visit to Vancouver where he had a 5-hour function at the Durga Temple in Burnaby.
~~~~~~~~~
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 Dasami Tithi, Sun One, Sunday, June 27th
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is July 3-4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
At home it was tour day. This is Mr. and Mrs. Yammanuru and Aruna Ramulu from Chicago area. They are devotees Swami Dayananda Saraswati of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and also attend the Lemont Sita Rama temple, where they met Gurudeva a few times when he was helping the temple get started. They last visited us here on Kauai in the mid-1970s, when we had a little printing press on our property. They are lifetime subscribers to Hinduism Today, receiving it since it was a newspaper. Aruna used to pull out all the Insight Sections from Hinduism Today when it was a newspaper and teach it to her children. Yammanuru worked with our late senior sishya, Dr. Devananda Tandavan, for 17 years in a hospital.
We had a smaller crowd today, about 35 forms of Lord Siva came to see Iraivan on tour day. Many were locals from Kauai. One of these was Carmel Hawn, the only certified Apple Computer repair lady on Kauai. Through the years Carmel has always been there to help us make sure our equipment is up-and-running. She hasn’t been here for a tour in several years
She sent an email after going home: “The tour was wonderful this morning. I met people from Russia, Honolulu, San Francisco, India and some Kauai. They all really enjoyed and appreciated seeing the building of the new temple. What a wonderful thing that you are offering these tours. I won’t forget the look on one young boy’s face as he placed his entire hand inside of the lions mouth and grabbed the stone ball. Everyone rejoiced in meeting the architect, I think we all wanted to meet all of the workers too. When you hear how long the stone workers have been away from their homes and families it makes you want to go home and bake pumpkin pies for them all.”
Pilliyar Kulam
World Outreach Mission Activities
Our wonderful family of dedicated volunteers from Queens, New York: Roger Maharaj and his wife Hoolsie with their two bright children, Devi and Shiva. Roger and Hoolsie are originally from Trinidad and have lived in the USA a long time; both children were born here. Several weeks ago, the whole family manned a booth on behalf of Himalayan Academy at the Heritage of India Festival in Edison, New Jersey.
Hoolsie and Devi help present the free Himalayan Academy literature they are offering festival attendees.
A visitor at the booth gives his name and address so we can send him what he wishes from our monastery. Note the balloon–how festive a festival it was! In the booth also helping out is Ms. Monica Sewpaul, originally from Guyana who was a participant in our India Innersearch earlier this year.
The festival was of high quality, with very attractive displays and shows of all kinds.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami’s
Durga Temple Visit, Vancouver, Canada
Here we are at the Durga temple in Vancouver… being greeted at the entrance. There were about 100 devotees when we arrived at 9am and the crowd grew to about 300 as the morning progressed.
The temple is situated with the entrance right off a main street, with the alters set up in a large building. Alongside the temple building is an adjoining hall for weddings and serving prashadam.
Bodhinatha was honored with a padapuja to begin the events.
Most of the devotees are of Sri Lanka origin.
Bodhinatha sat just to the left of the Ganesha and Durga shrines.
The priest was also born in Sri Lanka, but raised in Malaysia.
Then after an hour of rousing bhajan two young girls gave an introduction to Bodhinatha, one in English and the other in Tamil. This little one had memorized Bodhinatha’s biography from our website word for word in English.
Then this one gave the introduction in Tamil.
Then Bodhinatha gave an hour talk on bringing up Hindu children in Western culture, which was translated into Tamil by Manickam Senthilvel, seated on the right. Bodhinatha made the point that parents should take the responsibility of being the primary teachers of Hinduism to their children.
He gave practical points on how to do this by:
establishing a shrine in the home and having the entire family worship together at the shrine each morning.
Also by having the entire family worship together at a local temple once a week, teaching the main precepts of Hinduism and instilling a pride in their religion.
Bodhinatha emphasized parents should teach their children that the purpose of life is spiritual advancement.
Quoting Anandamayi Ma on this he said: “Man is a human being only so much as he aspires to Self-Realization. This is what human birth is meant for. To realize the One is the supreme duty of every human being.”
After Bodhinatha’s talk he put vibhuti on the forehead of each and every soul. Then there were pujas to all shrines, followed by a traditional Sri Lankan feast.
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
Blog Archives
Over this spot, blessed weekly by Gurudeva after the foundation was completed, is rising the Iraivan temple. This and many other seeds Gurudeva planted are growing around the world. The palm fronds were placed to protect the concrete slab from the sun while it cured.
Don’t Miss the Show! Join Us for the
Gala Cultural Iraivan Temple Benefit
Click for more Info…
Yogaswami wrote:
“Dearly beloved Kandan,
This is the message of this humble self. Know thou, the resting place of this lowly self is the shelter of each being’s heart, the shade of the trees and the junctions. Heed the world of the seer:
“First resolve and then act. It is ignoble
To retract after resolution.”
Yours–
YogaSwami.
TRAVEL NEWS! Bodhinatha’s next visit is July 3-4 in Cincinnati, Ohio. See travel page for more information.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Click for most recent TAKA page with an Iraivan Temple progress update. |
||||
We were visited today by Ram Arora from Honolulu and his son Amit. Amit has graduated from the university and is going to work for big investment firm in New York. He has been coming to the Aadheenam off and on with his father since he was a young boy.
Amit shares with Paramacharya Palaniswami how Gurudeva was talking with him once about his studies in business and Gurudeva directed the conversation toward business ethics and Amit pursue this and did a paper in college on business ethics. Now that he is going into the real world, he is thankful Gurudeva made him focus on these ethical issues.
Dr. Arthur Brownstein came with his son Shantanu and is sister-in-law Nimisha Sharma, and her son, both from Bombay.
Arthur’s wife and Nimisha are daughters of the famous artist, Indra Sharma, and they were all instrumental in helping to coordinate Indra’s wonderful paintings of Gurudeva.
Nimisha is an fine artist in her own right and want to help the Iraivan temple.
More paintings have arrived by S. Rajam…
These are designed to serve in the promotion of planned giving to various endowments of the Hindu Heritage Endowment. Devotees are portrayed making out their wills to a temple of their choice in the presence of Lord Siva.
Here others offer a portion of their wealth into an endowment for a different temple.
Find our more about this wonderful way to take you life’s estate and put some portion of it to work for the future of Hinduism. Click here to go to http://www.hheonline.org
Palaniswami is also updating our Aum and Dharma Graphics CD’s. We have this unusual collection of aums done by an artist in Ajmer, Rajasthan. He took digital photos of these today… Many are modern designs like this one.
They come in many different styles…
Propagation of Ti plants in progress. This sacred Hawaiian plant comes in hundreds of varieties. The Aadheenam has a very large collection. These are rare ones which will be used for fund raising for Iraivan next year when sold at the local farm show.
Satguru In Edmonton, Canada
Events at the Maha Ganapati Temple
More photos arrived today from Nitya Sivam in Edmonton… that give us another glimpse of activities there… we have not captioned all of these. They speak for themselves.
In cold climates the Hindu temples are all enclosed.
Long time devotee of Gurudeva, Nitya Sivam, with Bodhinatha.
Ganesha makes an exit…
Tara Veylan and her daughter Kamala…
No Audio Today
|
Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus’ discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks. Study Gurudeva’s teachings. Visit the Master Course site! |
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
Color Trilogy Complete! We are happy to announce that the new edition of the enormously popular Dancing with Siva is now available in hard back with all new color artwork. It’s truly an amazing and beautiful work, with more art than any of the collection. This completes the fulfillment of the vision that Gurudeva had of his Master Course Trilogy being produced in full color. In addition, Bodhinatha is taking pro-active steps to bring Gurudeva’s teachings out in a new forms that can be broadly disseminated in the mass mind. With this in mind we, are also pleased to announce that the Dancing with Siva pocketbook is also available. Keep the three-pound book in your shrine room, and take the little one with you on the airplane or subway! How little? It’s just 3″ by 4.5″ — truly pocket-sized, and just over half an inch thick. Yet it is a full 375 pages, containing ALL of the 155 sutras. Available now at our online store. The complete Trilogy is being offered at a discount. |
|
|
View the fabulous full-color PDF’s of the latest edition of Island Temple Magazine, and order copies if you don’t have one. | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: DANCING WITH SIVA — Pocketbook | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI’S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||
From Our Gurus' Teachings
Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.
