Jai Gurudeva!

During yesterday's chitra nakshatra, we observed our monthly padapuja to Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Monks and local members gathered in Kadavul Temple at 6:00am for the puja which was performed by Yogi Dayanatha and Nirvani Tejadevanatha. Aum.

Hope you all are ready because it's Moksha time! Today at the monastery we had a homa and raised the coral flag to signify our entrance into this new season, Moksha Ritau. Please share in the comments what on the physical plane you plan on streamlining this season!  

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  112 Introduction Beginning with Hindu New Year in mid-April, three seasons of the year divide our activities into three great needs of humankind--the learning of scripture in the first season, Nartana Ritau; the living of culture in the second season, Jivana Ritau; and the meditating on Siva in the third season, Moksha Ritau. Thus we are constantly reminded that our life is Siva's life and our path to Him is through study, sadhana and realization. In ritau one, we teach the philosophy; in ritau two, we teach the culture; and in ritau three, we teach meditation. 120 The Third Season: Moksha Ritau The third period of the year, Moksha Ritau, the cool season, is from mid-December to mid-April. It is the season of dissolution. The key word is resolution. Merging with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Metaphysics is the focus of study and intense investigation. The colors of this season are coral-pink, silver and all shades of blue and purple--coral for the Self within, silver and blue for illumination, and purple for enlightened wisdom. High above flies the coral flag, signaling Parasiva, Absolute Reality, beyond time, form and space. Moksha Ritau is a time of appreciation, of gratitude for all that life has given, and a time of honoring elders, those in the sannyasa stage of life. Moksha Ritau is excellent for philosophical discussions, voicing one's understanding of the path through an enlightened intellect. In finance, it is the time for yearly accounting and reconciliation. On a mundane level it is a time of clearing attics, basements, garages, sheds, warehouses, workshops and desks, getting rid of unneeded things, of pruning trees, of streamlining life on the physical plane--of reengineering. Aum Aum Aum

Today was the official placement of the first new stone for Kadavul Temple's Kodimaram! This is a momentous moment marking the official start of the work and providing blessings to ensure the rest of the project goes smoothly. Enjoy our early morning photos as well as this video of the Silpi's work chant-   Aum Namah Sivaya

No, this isn't Stonehenge in the UK. In this first photo are the final batch of cladding stones forklifted over by the Siddhidata Kulam for placement around the Dhwaja Stambha base.

On November 27 the world's largest active volcano began erupting for the first time in 40 years (we remember that one!). Today it seems to be subsiding and though they don't know with certainty, volcanologists think it will keep waning in the days ahead.

Some have worried about the monastery, but we are over 300 miles away on a distant island. Our island stopped erupting 4 million years back, so we are safe!

It's quite a show, as the slideshow proves.

Multiple concrete trucks arrived in the early morning and Ryan's team went about vigorously guiding the concrete pump and smoothing it out. After the concrete cooled for several days, the team returned to lay a cement block partial wall (see last photo), which they did quickly with a couple days. The next stage is to level adjacent ground and pour a concrete foundation for the new machinery maintenance shop.

Aloha all, If you have not already heard AI research and development company openAI recently released their latest conversational chat AI. This technology release is more revolutionary than the Iphone even though many don't realize it yet. You communicate with the AI system just like you would text a friend and can ask any question imaginable and the computer will respond. Well, almost anything, it won't tell you what it's favorite color is. You can ask it to explain topological quantum computing to you in a way a 5 year old could understand or have it generate a bedtime story about how mushika flies to the moon every night to eat cheese. We are currently experimenting with it's capabilities to assist in our mission as well as Hinduism in general.   Please try it for yourself so you are better prepared to understand the effects advanced artificial technologies will have on society. Here is a link to try it for free - https://chat.openai.com/chat   I will give some examples here but you have to promise to try it yourself after looking at them!

  Funny rap battle the AI wrote a few days ago- Murugan: I'm Murugan, the god of war and victory, With my spear and vel, I'll defeat any enemy. My six faces show my wisdom and power, I'll crush you, Ganesha, in this rap shower. Ganesha: I may not have a weapon or a warrior's might, But I have the power of knowledge and insight. I am Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, I'll outsmart you, Murugan, with my eloquent prose. Murugan: You may be smart, Ganesha, but you lack strength, I'll take you down with just one swift length. My war cries will shake the earth and sky, While you'll cower in fear and start to cry. Ganesha: You may have brute force, Murugan, but you lack grace, I'll outmaneuver you with speed and space. My intelligence and wit are my greatest weapons, I'll defeat you without breaking a sweat. Murugan: We may have our differences, Ganesha, but in the end, We are brothers and we will always defend. Our powers may be different, but they both are great, Together, we will always dominate.   Aum Namah Sivaya!

Aloha all, Please enjoy this Gurudeva mediation we recently removed some of the painful-to-listen to background sound from using the Audacity audio editing software. Short Meditation from 1996 Aum Namah Sivaya!