 Satguru Siva Yogaswami Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
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 Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA |
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July 11, 2000
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Vishaka Hindu Year 5102: Vikrama, the "Year of Fulfillment" |
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 Gurudeva is back from Vancouver and joined everyone for the 2nd day celebrations of Guru Purnima. Here he is covered with gorgeous garlands from the devotees.
Cybertalk: Today we post Gurudeva's answers to two separate questions: a short answer to someone who asked Gurudeva if his followers study the Bhagavad Gita, and a longer answer to a follow-up question about interfaith marriage. What should the two spouses do if the interfaith part of the marriage happens long after the marriage itself, and after the birth of the children? Gurudeva stresses that harmony, finding points of agreement, is the key.
Do you have questions for Gurudeva? A detailed index of past inspired talks is available here. Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks June 22, 2000 Title: Findind a Guru Category: The Guru A cyberspace question from a devotee of Lord Siva in Texas, in the United States, wanting to find a guru who will uplift, inspire and teach all the necessary things that need to be known for peace of mind and God-Realization. There are many gurus in the world today who speak English, teach and preach and bring forth the Sanatana Dharma. What you need to have is a guru that your soul is akin to. The best way to choose a guru is to observe those that surround the guru and question them as to their spiritual advancement. Have they gotten more from their guru than just learning how to sing and eat? In today's world, we observe people putting in more time and energy and study to buy just the right computer and the correct screen to go with it and just the right automobile. But they rush into ashrams, accept gurus into their lives, accept a spouse into their life, without any kind of research at all which would precede it. We find people today trying to qualify themselves, find just the right university to enter which they're there for a few years and then they're out. They don't qualify themselves even at all, or even think about it to enter an ashram or to study with a guru or to take on a spouse for a lifetime. So, cyberspace cadet, you're off to a good start by asking the right questions. Meet as many gurus as you possibly can, and then when you do find one, give your entire heart, loyalty and dedication and be co-operatively intelligent in performing the sadhanas.  It is a very joyous time at the Aadheenam. We have pilgrims here from all over the world. Canada, Australia, and Malaysia . . .with Malaysia bringing the strongest contingent.. here Gurudeva blesses Sadhaka Dandapani's mother, Nirmala.  Swami Bua joins in the chanting of Sri Rudram for the morning homa, which is being performed daily during the festival.  Such a spiritual convocation of beautiful souls brings that "nectar" from the inner worlds. . .it is the blessing of satsang, the gathering of devotees.  Preparing for the final offering to the homa fire.  The Rig Veda says: "With oil and sacred gifts I sprinkle Agni who makes his home in front of all things living, Broad, vast, through vital power o'er all expanded, conspicuous, strong with all the food that feeds him."  Gurudeva answered Cyber Cadet Questions. One was about the importance of temples for preserving our Hindu culture. Then our resident artist, A. Manivelu asked Gurudeva to comment on the fact that the Kadavul temple maintains a 24-hour a day vigil performing 8 pujas every day all through the day and night. Gurudeva explained how the Gods never sleep so he asked the monks to perform this discipline by holding vigil shifts through the day and night. He said that it is what makes our center here so magical. We have been maintaining this vigil for 27 years. Now Kadavul is the center of our live. Everything we do, revolves around God and the temple.
 Then off we go to the site of Iraivan temple. We are happy to have with us one of our Bala Yogis, who is nearly a full grown man--Ishana Kantan Sivam (in yellow) from Klang, Malaysia.  The early morning showers have blessed the land which is fresh and clean as Gurudeva starts a small homa at the temple site.  Natyam Tyaganatha is showing the arati flame to end the homa.  From the yagasala homa the group parades around the foundation of Iraivan Temple. Each corner is blessed with the water from the kumbha that was empowered during the homa in Kadavul Temple.  One of our guests, the brother of Sadhaka Dandapani from Australia, Arunachalam, plays the drum for us. He is quite a musicion and added a dynamic rhythm to the parade, which is now up on the foundation.  Over 50 people were with us this morning as our pilgrim family is growing with new arrivals each day.  Later in the morning classes were given to various groups. Here Acharya Palaniswami speaks to the adults about see the Guru as Lord Shiva and understanding the subtle levels of obedience.  He described three levels of being in tune with the Guru: First is to hear the words of the Guru and follow his instruction, second is to catch the thought of the Guru and fulfill his wishes even before they are spoken and third is to be so attuned to the heart of the Guru that one responds even to his inner intentions.  A surprise guest today was Mr. Ananthanarayanan Seshan originally from Madurai, now living in Bombay. Retired from the Reserve Bank of India in April of 1993 where he served as head of the department of Economic Analysis and Policy. Subsequently he went on assignments for the International Monetary Fund to Kygerstan and Sierre Leone in Africa as advisor to the Central Banks. Now he is a freelance writer and publishes articles on economics, music, travel and sports. He was in Honolulu for an alumni meeting at the East West center and, having seen our site on the web, came to visit. He was surprised and over joyed to be here on this auspicious occasion.  Now we are going to run a series of photos of all our Guru Purnima participants Here is Neesha Alahan, recently returned from 5 years of study at Kalakshetra in Madras.
 This is Darmaguhan from Australia. Sadhaka Dandapani's brother now working for Northern Telecom in Melbourne.  Vasuki Sendan, Kauai resident and quiet Sivathondar for many things happened here at the temple.  Toshadeva from Southern California.  Acharya Ceyonswami with Sadhaka Nilakantha, giving a class to the participants on meditation.  Saravan Veylan who recently spent six months of Task Force with us returned to Edmonton and is now back with his whole family. Saravan was our key book sales distributor during the festival in Edmonton.  Our two elders, Markandeya Peruman 92 years old and Swami Bua, celebrating his 112th year in this incarnation.  Pilgrims returning from the parade, Tara Veylan on the right and Brahmacharini Lila Shakti Devi on the left.  Devasiva Veylan, son of Tara, calls the devas with the conch. Gentle summer showers bring out the umbrellas, then minutes later, sunshine.  Sadhaka Thondunatha with Sadhaka Dandapani's mother, Nirmala and her eldest son Darmaguhan.  Afternoon classes for the youth include hatha yoga (by Sannyasin Kartikkeyanathaswami)  And then color meditation by Sannyasin Sivakatirswami  Practice: "Aaaa oooooo mmmmmmmmmmm" Aum  Everyone is trying to visualize colors, Red, Blue, Yellow, Green and then flood your aura with white!  More Photos from Vancouver, Sunday, July 9th. Sri Thurkadevi Temple 7468 Edmonds St Burnaby, BC
 Gurudeva received a grand and very traditional reception at the Vancouver temples.   Here a very traditional pada puja is performed by the the Sri Lankan devotees.   Over a thousand people were present at the Durgadevi Temple.  The priest performs the arati now to the living Satguru.  Gurudeva prepares to give his talk.  The media was on hand and Gurudeva's one hour talk was broadcast on Tamil Radio to one million devotees in 35 countries.  The Sri Lankan community looks to Siva Yogaswami and Gurudeva as their spiritual lineage, including them with the four Samaya Acharyas, as shown in the photos on the wall here.  The trustees introduce Gurudeva. Sadhaka Thondunatha will translate. Stay tuned for more photos tomorrow.
Gurudeva's Travel Itinerary/Visiting Kauai's Hindu Monastery Click here for information about Gurudeva's travels. He will be home today from the trip to Canada and his next schedule trip will be to New York for United Nations events from August 24th through August 29th. And if you are planning to visit Kauai, please go first to our our visitor's page.Thank you. Visit the Himalayan Academy Book Store Web Site to purchase books and to read our many wonderful not-in-print on-line publications. 12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Join Gurudeva for Himalayan Academy's 17th travel-study program, the 2001 European Innersearch, themed the "Hinduism Today Adventure". Go to www.innersearch.org and for more detailed information, please contact Sadhaka Dandapani. Space is limited and filling up fast! Very Important: Please include your mailing address and telephone number in the body of your message. We will keep you posted as the program develops. Sign our guestbook and we will send you a free issue of our global full-color bi-monthly magazine, Hinduism Today. For those who have been touched spiritually by Gurudeva's work, his books, his guidance, his inspired life and example and even his website, the "Thank You, Gurudeva Fund" has been established within Hindu Heritage Endowment. Proceeds from this fund last forever; they're not a one-time gift. So gifts to this fund have eternal gratitude built into them. They live on in perpetuity. Each month Gurudeva receives the income from the fund to be used at his own discretion to promote his work and mission around the globe. He loves this, for he knows that it comes from all the good souls who have met him and studied with him, traveled with him or just talked with him over the years. A contribution to this fund is tax-deductible. |
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