A new phase began today. Our retreat was a dynamic two days. Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami and Sadhaka Satyanatha left for India via San Francisco, via Frankfurt where they took one night to rest before heading to a very intense schedule in the Holy Land. The trip is being sponored by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji of the JSS mission in Karnataka. Shivarathri Mahaswamiji visit Kauai Aadheenam in 2010 and invited the monks to attend a big function there in January 2012. See the report below.

Natyam Satyanatha and I are high above the Pacific Ocean, heading to Mumbai, India, via Frankfurt. Sitting on the flight, I marveled at a two-year-old girl working an iPhone like a teenager. Swiping and gesturing, opening and closing apps, playing with one for a minute, then off to the icons to fetch another. Barely able to speak, she was already literate in mobile devices. Just now she looked across the aisle and saw me admiring her skills. Then, turning to her parents, she put her index finger on her forehead and said, “Mommy, he has ouch,” pointing to me. She thought I was injured, and for a full five minutes would not be appeased though mommy told her I would be alright.”

Our journey to India is multi-faceted, including several publication meetings, film discussions, Iraivan carving site reviews, a giant mela in Mysore, temple visits, Hinduism Today planning sessions, meeting our Kerala artist, and more.

And breaking news from Mumbai: Sadhaka writes:

Aum Namasivaya,

After long long flights we arrived in Mumbai. Half a million people at the airport even as early as at 2am, or at least it seemed like it. We checked in at a hotel nearby, in a neighborhood slightly better looking than a slum. Stepping inside the Mumbai Mirage, the contrast struck us: a brand new building, with a friendly staff that spoke impeccable English and European standards. A perfect depiction of today’s India. We love to be here.

All is well. Many meetings tomorrow.

Love from Sadhaka Satyanatha and Paramacharya Sadasivanatha.

The new Siddhidata Kulam office is heading toward completion. Yoginathaswami is here sorting out the ethernet network cabling for his teams' desktop computers.