We recently received this poem from an anonymous devotee, honoring the lives of our monastics.

If only you could capture
All that is pure, clear, holy
and just simply, good
What would it look like?
What would it feel  like?
What would it tell you?
 
Here they stand
Straight and tall
strong and humble
Twelve in orange
Nine in white
Before Nandi black
Personifying the devotion
to the Glorious line of Gurus
of yesteryears, now and tomorrows too
 
The power of their will
holds in place
their focus on the goal
Unshaken by the storms that rage
Rains that pour
Or heat that burns their very core
within and without
They quietly proclaim
their love for God, Gods, Guru
and also for you
 
Touched by the force
of their dedication
Can we remain the same?
No ... we change
knowingly or otherwise
visibly or in subtle ways
not easily ascertained
Not by motivation but inspiration
do we take the next step
A step closer to Guru
Nine closer to You!
 
 Infinite love and eternal gratitude
Aum Namah Sivaya!

Recently the monastery's new CAT 301.7D mini excavator arrived. Thanks to an anonymous someone's wonderful generosity, we now have a reliable tool for landscaping in places that larger machines can't go. While we previously had another mini excavator, it was old and prone to disrepair. This new one is roughly the same size but with much more horsepower. It has been given the nickname of "Rajendra Chola," as this south indian king was known for his building of temple gardens. This little excavator will have that as its primary purpose, especially now while we are making ample progress on the landscaping around Iraivan Temple.