The third shakti of Lord Ganesha is this same love extended to all persons one has dealings with in the external world: business associates, a casual merchant and the public at large. It is honest and harmonious relationships in conducting the business of trade and dealings in goods, finance and the distribution of the wealth of the world. This is a most important vibration to be felt, and constantly felt. This shakti of the Lord is tenuous to hold onto, for worldly and materialistic forces, as you well know, militate against this kind of harmony. But once these lower powers are conquered, worries cease, concerns are alleviated and heartfelt joy comes. Such is the grace of loving Ganesha. As the Tirukural (120) declares, "Those businessmen will prosper whose business protects as their own the interests of others."

Several teams are at work on the renovation of the monastery publications building. One is at work doing the all-important demolition. Another is working on design for the floors and walls. A third is engineering the drawings, permits, budgets and work flow (critical path planning). A fourth is busy assembling the ceiling. It is not to be an ordinary ceiling. No. This ceiling is made entirely of Kauai woods (mostly camphor and Rainbow Eucalyptus), milled at the monastery and shaped and planed by our team of thondars. Now they are doing the final touches, sanding, assembling the units and varnishing.

The ceiling is made of eighteen four-foot-square panels. Inset in them are three-foot panels of Indian tribal art and kolams. The colors are soft, since these panels will be the reflective surfaces that bathe the room in indirect light.

The slideshow shows the team at work today and four of the kolam art panels.

Lord Ganesha's second shakti is the same feeling as the first but extended to relatives, neighbors and friends, all who are part of the extended family. This is more difficult to hold, as inharmonious conditions often arise. These are called asuric forces, which come between people, causing misunderstanding and upsets. Through prayers and through worship, the first shakti can be extended beyond the circumference of the immediate family to include acquaintances, relatives and friends. When this vibration of harmony is felt, all the power of the Lord is with you, as the first shakti and the second shakti merge they bring, in abundance, an onrush of the third shakti.