A brisk, surprisingly cool day (for September) on Kauai, with the full moon setting over the mountain as we arose before dawn.

It is Sun One, the first day of our phase, and the morning homa was serene, uplifting, carrying consciousness up and up and in and in. The members came to witness the morning. Gurudeva blessed each one, placing sacred vibhuti on their forehead and announcing that "This morning's homa is dedicated to offering our prayers that Lord Hanuman will carry the Iraivan Temple to Kauai island from India. It is also for our Paramacharya Bodhinatha, who leaves today for Singapore, Malaysia, India and then Mauritius. He will be meeting with all the members of our fellowship in those countries, speaking with them about many aspects of their spiritual life and their families and service. Traveling with Paramacharya will be Nilakantha Veylan and Markendeya, and they will connect up with Yogi Tapodana who is in Mauritius today and will meet them in India in a week.

At the homa Jyothi Palani and Nilanantha took their initial vows preparing themselves for monk life, vows of humility, obedience and purity. Jyothi received a new spiritual name, Jivananda. Welcome, Jivanandaji!

Gurudeva blessed them by rubbing sandalwood paste on their heads, and they joined him in making special offerings into the sacred fire.

Sadhaka Japendranatha also received his silver ring.

Gurudeva then spoke at length on the India mission: "I have asked Bodhinatha to speak to all the members of our Church fellowship about their diet. We want all those connected to us to live a long and healthy life, to eat right. Sometimes it is difficult for people to make the changes they should, to change their habits. I can tell you I have a junk food congregation in Asia!"

"It's true. So Bodhinatha will tell each family what we would not buy and what we do not eat here in the monastery--canned foods, white bread and rice, preserved foods, fatty and fried foods. He will help the wives and mothers to feed their families well. A pure diet is important on the path and we want all of you to be strong, and change eating habits, for the sake of the next generation."

Gurudeva ended thanking the members for taking such wonderful and hospitable care of the 25 island leaders who visited the monastery Friday. Here is a photo we took of them in the Bangalore Gallery.

Today a very special women of vision visited and spent time with Gurudeva and the swamis. Sandya Rao is a trustee of the famed Parliament of the Worlds' Religions, known for Swami Vivekananda's visit to Chicago in 1893. Mrs. Rao is here to seek Gurudeva counsel on issues, and to inform him of the 1999 Parliament that is planned for December in South Africa. Gurudeva asked that we write about this wonderful conference in Hinduism Today soon, and encouraged Mrs. Rao to inform the Hindu world about it, and seek lots of Hindu participation. It was an animated and wide-ranging discussion with so many ideas shared, and hopefully there will be a strong collaboration of the Parliament and Gurudeva in the years ahead. She stayed for a humble lunch with the monks. Here is Mrs. Rao's photo.

The young monks had a wonderful exploratory outing over the retreat, and took a couple of digital photos of the island that we will share here.

We end today's report with a last photo of the "spagetti" behind our editor's Macintosh. Notice that we simplified and organized it yesterday. It used to look very complex and disorganized. Notice the difference?