This morning the monastics began their new phase after two days of retreat. Today is also the day of Chellappaguru's Mahasamadhi, so his image adorns Siva's feet in Kadavul's inner sanctum. Senthilnathaswami performed the puja, while other monks chanted Sri Rudram and meditated in Siva's depths. Sishya and other guests also joined for worship and blessings through this ancient and powerful ritual. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami burned the submitted written prayers and following the homa, gave his usual weekly upadesha. He discussed the importance of daily sadhana, even if it is just 10 minutes, as well as the inherent perfection in our mistakes and negative experiences, provided that we learn from them.

"Don't be discouraged when the mind runs wild as you sit quietly and are unable to control it. Don't be discouraged if you find that you are unable to even choose a time to sit quietly for one half hour on a regular daily basis. If you persist, soon all this will be overcome and a firmness of mind will be felt, for it is through the regular practice of sadhana that the mind becomes firm and the intellect pure. It is through the regular practice of concentration that awareness detaches itself from the external mind and hovers within, internalizing the knowledge of the physical body, the breath and the emotions. Concentration of the forces of the body, mind and emotions brings us automatically into meditation, dhyana, and into deeper internalized awareness. The spiritual practice should be reasonable, should not take up too much time, and should be done at the same time every day." Gurudeva

On February 1st Bodhinatha visited the Anantha Illam in Vavuniya, This home is one of the charitable funds in our Hindu Heritage Endowment. This endowment provides for the care of displaced elderly women with the goal to return them to their villages. The affected women initially receive treatment as in-patients at the mental health unit of the Vavuniya General Hospital. Once their acute illness is reasonably cured, they are generally referred to Anantha Illam. Based upon availability of accommodations, those who have no one to take care of them or who are in need of special care and are destitute, are to be given priority admission to the center. The inmates are provided accommodation, food and counseling.

Siva Sivaganesan with wife Manohari and son Ahilan visited for the first time from Ohio, US. They are from Jaffna, Sri Lanka originally and had good conversation with Satguru about his recent visit there, and rehabilitation efforts. They actively study Gurudeva's Master Course trilogy. The family also had a nice meeting with the Ganapati Kulam and expressed their deep thanks for such a wonderful visit.

"If you seek first the spirit within you each day, and make the day a little bit better than yesterday, you flood the spiritual being of you, the real you, through the mind." Gurudeva