It's Sun 1 and the monastery and the morning homa began it most auspiciously. Deepavali is still in the air, and Skanda Shashti is five days hence, so we are sandwiched in the sandwich islands between two holy days, feeling the pending lightening energies of Lord Muruga as He draws near and nearer.

Gurudeva gave a most wonderful upadesha after the homa, stressing the inner path, stressing how we need to identify ourselves as a pure, eternal, superconscious being. He gave some wonderful keys on how to know when you are and when you are not living in superconsciousness. It's easy, he said, which proves one theory: Anything in life is easy if you know how to do it! The photo is of Kauai members speaking with the swamis after the upadesha.

The talk was videotaped and hopefully will be sent out to the members. It's a bit dim in the temple in the hours before dawn, but we will see what came through and prepare a tape for all to enjoy. We are also experimenting with our digital video for the web, and this could be part of our first small step in that direction. Gurudeva spoke with the Seyon family after the morning events. Deva and Amala have a wonderful story to tell. They are noble examples of dharma and love, and have just brought Deva's father and mother to Kauai to take care of them, look after them, bring joy and affection into their lives.

Be sure to listen to the talk today by Gurudeva. He spoke of taking time to reflect on our life, to look at the past and thus create a better future for ourselves. He said we can adjust the past using this simple practice: each day, at the end, sit for a few minutes quietly and alone. In your mind review the events of the day, good, bad and neutral. Think how you would handle a situation differently in retrospect. Then let the day go, let it be resolved by your intelligence and dive the next day into your experiences with the new knowledge born of yesterday's encounters and lessons. The photo is a special one, an annual Deepavali Party the monks have. This joyous happening is due to the big heart of Mrs. Rukmani Krishnasamy of Taiping, Perak, Malaysia. Each year she collects funds from her friends and family, and then sends a Big Check for the monks to have a party. She knows they do not have such things usually, for they are vowed to a simple life and budgets are too tight for such things. So, she makes sure there is pizza once each year. This year it took 22 pizzas to feed the Mathavasis! Burp!