Today is unusually busy at the monastery. In addition to our usual guest day, there are 25 of the leaders of our island coming for a tour and feast. They are the politicians, the businesspeople, the educators and media folks. Barbara Curl, a true woman of vision, has brought them together. Despite the last few days of pouring rain, the sun is cooperating. They met at the Nepalese Ganesha and walked in procession to the Bangalore Gallery, where the swamis chanted and greeted them formally. Then Sadhaka Thondunatha gave them an overview of life in a Hindu monastery, showing them our video and the temple and crystal.

Gurudeva met with half of the group in the Cedar Room while the other half toured with Katirswami and Karttikeyaanathaswami in our little safari vehicles, riding through the paths, beside the ponds and through the varied groves. At the end of the morning, they all gathered in the Peacock Court for lunch with the acharyas. They were delighted to eat in South Indian style, on mats, eating with hands (forks and spoons were banned from the feast!) off of banana leaves.

Acharya Palaniswami gave a short talk on karma in the temple today, focusing on how we conquer our karmas, how we discoveer them through observing our day, watching our mind think, witnessing our reactions and responses to things during the day. By carefully observing, we reveal to ourselves what we need to work with, what knots of karma are yet to be untied, loosened, so we can be freed of them. It's a slow process, and as Gurudeva teaches us: Consistency is the key to the conquest of karma. Do a little sadhana each day. It does not have to be enormous, or frantic. A little each day, every day, is the key.

The Church families helped the monks to serve our special guests, Jaffna-style. In all it was a great and joyous Friday morning in Polynesia.