"As a traditional Aadheenam we do follow our traditional monastic protocol which is reserved and yet it is also our duty to respond to the needs of the community and especially to our leaders. In the days of the Maharaja the monastic heads were very much in communication with the leaders helping to guide and to help the king to implement dharma throughout the realm. In our recent work with the mayor, to our great surprise we learned of a great problem, which is the idea that the use of drugs is acceptable, personally and socially. We need to change this to zero tolerance for drugs on this island. And we believe that with our mind power and working together we can make a difference. We can help the youth understand and make choices. If you think about it, a five year prison sentence it is a big price to pay for one brief moment of so-called happiness from drugs. One could do yoga daily for five years instead, even just enough to get to know yourself and gain a basic awareness that the soul is separate from the body. Then, even on a mundane level, you could at least achieve victory over uncontrollable moods swings."

Gurudeva

Today was a joyous one as Dr. Arthur Brownstein and his wife Nutan joined us from Princeville. They had their sixth wedding anniversary today and read their pledges before Gurudeva and before the homa fire.

They read their pledge which we print here with their permission. It is a beautiful statement for all Hindu couples to keep in mind for their own marriages. They both read the same pledge together.

" Our marriage Vows on our Sixth Anniversary" --Arthur and Nutan Brownstein, Nov 18, 1998, Kauai

"As we reflect upon our six years of marriage we are grateful that it is God who has brought us together as husband and wife for the purpose of sharing in His joy and love. As we contemplate our future life together, we vow to encourage each other to become more God conscious and loving each and every day. We vow to think more noble thoughts and speak more sweet words in remembrance of our spiritual unity and of God who has created us.

We vow to keep and open mind to learn from each other, to cooperate with each other and to support each other while striving to realize and share in His love and peace. We vow to work together towards our higher purpose of serving God and all of humanity, while at the same time maintaining a spirit of peace and harmony in our home. We vow as parents to Shantanu Brownstein to remember that he is a wonderful gift from God and to accept our sincere responsibility to raise him as a God-conscious soul with spiritual aspirations and noble values in his life."

Garlands exchanged as their son, Shantanu Brownstein watches the fire contentedly.

The Arthur pranams to Gurudeva and the Brownsteins' participate in the final Purnahuti.