he Siddhidata Kulam officially began the construction side of the monastery solar array. Using the John Deer tractor, several shovels and a few strong monks, 56 holes were drilled. Those holes will become small concrete foundations that photovoltaic solar panels will mount to. Solar electricity brings the monastery one step closer to self sufficiency. Jai Gurudeva Jai Bodhinatha !!!

With the necessary but unfortunate removal of the mango tree by the Media Studio, we have planted three new mango trees on Himalayan Acres. These were provided by Durvasa Alahan, and in keeping with the Agamic advice that if you cut down one tree you should plant several more of the same kind. The tree in the foreground is grafted with three different types which ripen at different times.

If you follow TAKA, you know that we have been compelled to remove a 54-year-old mango tree that had begun to break the walls and foundation of the Media Studio. Today the Tongan team went high in the wir on their cherry picker, and methodically cut and lowered limb after limb. It will take another 2-3 days to complete. We followed the Agamas and planted three trees of the same species before making the cuts.

An Indian poetess who knows the tree and shares our reluctance to remove it, offers this affectionate poem today:

You stood silent
watching the years go by
you shared your shade
without the slightest sigh
your fruits were sweet
we sat at your feet
as Gurudeva signed our books
 
Have you go on to join him
in the subtle, inner realms?
so he may sign our souls
as he once signed our tomes
and you continue to bear witness ...
May we meet again someday
"again for the first time"
as he would laugh and say!
 
The sapling babies will carry your leagcy
as his beloved monks now do
you will live on, just as he does
in all whose lives he touched
and continues to grace
we will miss you and yet, we won't
knowing you are in a better place
across the veil, just another vale
that we too, will cross someday!
 
Quiet service, despite your size,
is what you have taught us
Fly as high as deep your roots grew
free of boulders and buildings
Spread across boundaries
that lines on paper impose
Take with you our love, our thanks
for being all that you chose!
 
Dear Great Mango Tree
this little note comes to you
with all the love a heart can hold!
Pass this message to your brethren
who had none to hold 
when their time came
tell them all, we are sorry
and that, we love them too!
For this last act on our behalf 
we thank you yet again!
 
Infinite love and eternal gratitude
 
Aum Namah Sivaya!

After a three day retreat the monks begin their new phase with a homa. After the homa Satguru Bodhinatha gave a wonderful talk about the true meaning of beiong a jnani as one of spiritual attainment rather then an intellectual understanding of scripture. He went on to discusss the importance of temple worship in helping the advanced yogi, or anyone, to avoid the pitfalls of spiritual pride.

Click here for report and photos of recent youth and adults Saivism classes

On Guha Day two of the monks planted 33 native Hawaiian Sandalwood trees. The plan is that these trees will provide seeds for future tree planting. Hawaiian Sandalwood is quite difficult and expensive to acquire. Seed production will occur in roughly 5 years.

Today Saravananathswami performed the homa to begin the phase. Satguru Bodhinatha offered the written prayers to the fire and then gave a short talk about temple worship, discussing the difference between external worship and internal meditation. He pointed out that when one approches the Deity in the temple, it is the power of the sight that helps us to hold our awareness in order to receive the God's blessings.