We had a wonderful contingent of devotees from Singapore with us for Innersearch. They all met with Bodhinatha today as they are flying off to Singapore tomorrow morning early. Left to right: Shamala Raman and her father Raman and mother Sushela. On the right in the back Krishnan Mariappan and his wife Sakuntalai. In front, right Sudha Vinadharan and her little daughter Thivaashenee. They are the lucky ones who get to see Bodhinatha every time he transits through Singapore. Thank you for coming for innersearch!

Seiyonne Kumar and Deva Rajan are both here. Seiyonne is taking just a few days for retreat after graduating from university, before he starts working. Kulapati Deva Rajan is here to continue work on various construction projects at the Aadheenam

The second full day at Camp Sloggett was wonderful. We all felt completed disconnected from the bhuloka. It was as if we were transported to another realm far away from the world.

The morning started with Hatha yoga with Acharya Kumarswami.

Then another in-depth classed on Vedanta and Siddhanta with Bodhinatha.

Before lunch we had our traditional innersearch photo with all participants and our banner.

It was a joyful time. Here we catch the Patel family, Mrunal, Padma and their daughter Pooja. All of them are advancing rapidly through the Master Course study as a family.

We had a very special and unusual cultural performance. Master story teller and powerful chanter of Hawaiian songs, Kumu Hula Mauli Ola Cook, regaled us with a mesmerizing rendition of the history of the Hawaiian people and the legend of Goddess Pele.

Kumu Mauli has dedicated her life to bringing the culture of Hula and Hawaiian studies to school children.

Her dramatic story of the history of the Hawaiian people all the way through to the fall of the Hawaiian traditions was both informative and captivating.

She subsequently told the group that there has been a resurgence of Hawaii culture and immersion schools (where they speak Hawaiian language) are flourishing.

Early in the morning at about 4AM, June 16, 2010, a new baby bull calf arrived. His name is Mela. His mother is Anuradha, and this is her second calf. Both are in good health.

The Ganesha Homa is always a memorable spiritual experience for these thousands of devotees who turn up every month at La Pointe. Early morning the traffic is already held up and a big team of police officers have a busy time controlling every movement on the road leading to the Spiritual Park.

In the adjacent roads close to the Park, one would see lined up, numerous sellers of all kinds… selling a variety of religious items and food. Here are flowers on sale…

Devotees buy food and sweets at this stall and at many others found down that same street.

You need CDs and DVDs, you find them too there …

But once you get inside the Park, your first step is to find a good place where you can have a view of the Homa ceremony going on at the Ganesha Mandapam. The front area is always tightly packed as you see and you can barely walk in…

The ceremony starts with four kulapaties officiating the Homa into which will be burnt hundreds of written prayers,

One devotee from the island of Kauai! This is Jutikadevi Sivaraja on a short visit to Mauritius on her trip to India. She made a wonderful testimony about Mauritius and the warm welcome given to her here. She said that the Mauritian beaches are not the only among the most beautiful in the world, but also the hearts of Mauritians are that much warm and beautiful. Judikadevi says she is a great devotee of Lord Ganapati!

Kulapati Siven Koothan giving a talk from Bodhinatha's teaching on karma.

Here some volunteers helping at the Himalayan Academy Booth where the Church publications are displayed and sold during Ganesha Homa.

In March 2005, after the devastating December 2004 Tsunami, Rishi Thondunatha visited the Tsunami hit areas in the Eastern part of Sri Lanka. He was invited to an orphanage named Yogaswami Girl's Home. At that time 44 girls were living in a small house which was in very poor condition. His heart was moved by the children.

In the summer of 2005 Rishi was giving a talk to a group in Toronto, Canada and he mentioned the Yogaswami Girl's Home. Afterwards, 12 year old Nayani Rajamohan came forward and told him that she wanted to help these children. In the years since, whenever Rishi went to Canada, Nayani would again talk to him about her desire to raise funds for the home. In 2009 she formed an organization called "Change for Orphans."

Last July Nayani Rajamohan organized and performed in a benefit dance show which raised CAN$6000 for the girl's home. The Yogaswami Hindu Girls' Home has an endowment with Hindu Heritage Endowment, and as of the end of 2009 the fund principal is $45,118.03. Every year the orphanage receives a grant from HHE, and this year the orphanage will receive US$1804. The funds are used for food, clothing, school books and other essential items. In the past few years HHE donors have given extra funds which built new restrooms and purchased some milking cows.

In October Rishi visited the girl's home and met with the administration and children to discuss uses for the money. The decision was to use this money to build a much needed new kitchen, as the old kitchen is leaking and in very bad shape. He was able to meet with the building contractor and initiated the project. Last month the kitchen construction began, however, we have learned from the home's administration that they will need more money to complete the project. Nayani is starting her second round of fund raising to meet this need. Nayani is a true Sivathondar! Even at this young age her soul realizes the spiritual rewards of helping her sisters half-way around the world.