Bodhinatha and Shanmuganathaswami had a successful few days in Bali. They have flown back to Malaysia and the retreat for members and students has begun.

In Bali they met with one of our old contacts there one of the local Hindu leaders. Bodhinatha writes:

“Tuesday morning we had an interesting meeting with Dr. Sara Sastra. He helped us a number of years ago with an HT article and is a teacher of philosophy at the university here. A few years ago he took the training for him and his wife to qualify as a priest called a Gria. He was dressed in traditional Balinese clothing with his hair tied up. He gave an interesting explanation of the nature of Hinduism in Bali which is a mixture of Saivism and Vaishnavism. While we were there at his home, his wife was doing the morning puja in the home shrine. In Bali the home shrine is outdoors. It was good to reconnect with Dr.Sara Sastra.”

At home today we began another phase with Siddhanathaswami performing homa and Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami presiding in Bodhinatha’s absence.

At lunch the Ekadanta Kulam gave its report. Saravananathaswami sends us his usual interesting list which also give a sneak peak of things to come

* processing incoming Master Course Self-Evaluation Study worksheets and discussing progress with students
* new paper mail processing
* integrating Satguru Purnima rededication forms into our SSC website, creating news article on the site about the forms.
* preparing and sending bi-weekly e-newsletter from SSC website
* coordinating weekend retreat and mission satsang details for June California visit.
* started FAQ section on private SSC website to describe the various sishya groups
* recording incoming Satguru Purnima rededications, which includes checking if they request to prepare for diksha, and then communicating about it.
* hosting young man from Malaysia doing exchange student studies in Honolulu. He is interested to become formal sishya.
* creating Google Doc itinerary for June California trip.
* editing/proofreading workbook for June California weekend retreat. Researched printing options.
* coordinating with priest Kumar Gurukkal to come perform Gurudeva mahasamadhi puja in October
* fixing theme colors on SSC website after software upgrade
* adding to agenda for next Mauritius COM meeting
* adding news and tweaks to new Saiva Siddhanta Church website .
* communications with people about pilgrimage and entering that info in visitor calendar.
* scanning old paper documents

Sitting by the fire are Bodhinatha’s padukas.

Sadasivanathaswami gave a short talk and he also shared news about the Siva Darshana artwork. Several pieces have finally arrived from Kerala after years coordination with the artist there.

Two pieces of the Siva Darshana art have arrived from India and were hung in the temple for display this morning. Four feet wide and four feet tall, this is an artistic depiction of Gurudeva sitting out on San Marga, where, on a totally still day, a small tree rustles to draw his attention.

Click here to view a large sized version.

A close up of the same piece

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Below is Gurudeva asleep in the early morning hours just before awakening. He has the vision of Lord Siva walking on San Marga. As soon as he awoke, he called the the monks and we all went out to find the spot where Siva had walked. And, as they say, “the rest is history.”

Click here to view a large sized version.