Lots of rain on the Garden Island today, not a torrent as can occasionally come in the tropics, but a light sprinkle all through the morning.

A copy of the newly published "Encyclopedia of AIDS" arrived from Michigan. AIDS? you say. Yes, we were approached by the editors to give a summary of the Hindu view of the epidemic, to sit alongside all the other faiths. So, there is a 2-page summary of the Hindu view of disease, and of death and dying, and a bit also on sexual mores in Hindu traditions.

Rajkumar, our wonderful Task Forcer from Malaysia, is in the midst of a massive copying project for the Ekadanta Kulam. They are working on outreach to the members and their families, and on helping students of Himalayan Academy make their next step toward full membership in our global fellowship. Rajkumar is remarkable. He has given so much of his time and energy to Gurudeva this last few years. He spent a full six months here in 1997, then went to India and worked alongside Jiva Rajasankara for another year, and now is back for three more months. He will be going soon, and will be dearly missed. He does everything so lovingly and so competently, no matter whether it is picking the day's vegetables, brainstorming ideas for Iraivan (very close to his heart), organizing students' files, corresponding with the many hundreds of people who write to us each month or worshipping with all his heart before Siva Nataraja in Kadavul Temple.