 Satguru Siva Yogaswami Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
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 Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA |
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May 2, 2000
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Revati Hindu Year 5102: Vikrama, the "Year of Fulfillment" |
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 Two families visited Gurudeva today. Mr. and Mrs. Satchidananda from Boulder, Colorado, on the left, met Gurudeva years ago when he visited Denver. Kowshik and his wife, Catpakam, from Fremont, California, are long time devotees of the Palaniswami temple in California since the days when Gurudeva and the monks managed that temple. Catpakam is a very accomplished singer and sang very beautifully for Lord Siva in the temple today. It was a rare moment for us as we don't often have such live devotional singing offered right before the Deity like this! Thank you, Catpakam.
Cybertalk: Gurudeva speaks at length in response to a question about what inspired him to create the magazine Hinduism Today. Hear about the events leading up to Gurudeva's realization of the need for Hinduism Today, who we target with the magazine, whether it has served its intended purpose. Do you need to subscribe before listening to today's talk? No, but you certainly welcome to!
Do you have questions for Gurudeva? Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks Date: May 1 2000 Title: The Technological Religion Category: Hinduism and Tradition Duration: 1 min., 30 seconds Another question from the Jain community in London. "How do you feel about modern technology to promote religion?" Well, we marvel at our ancient scriptures. The stylus and the olai leaf were modern technology at one point in time, the pen and paper at another, as was the old typewriter at yet another point in time. Now we have the computers and the Internet, which is modern technology capable of bringing the spiritual beings, and religious people of the world closely together wherever they live. This one thing the typewriter could not do, the pen and paper could not do, the stylus and olai leaf did not do. "Gurudeva, we have heard that all of your monks have Macintosh computers. Is this true?" Well, actually ... no, it is not. Because two of the monks have a Macintosh computer plus an IBM computer, as well! But, all the others have Macintosh computers. They are given their robes, their beads, their staff of tapas and they are given their Macintosh computer. To serve the very best that we can, from our tiny little island here.  Gurudeva stopped by the publications office to check on his book team. Sadhaka Japendranatha is working hard on the cover of "How to Become a Hindu" and the list of nearly 2000 Hindu names being included as a resource in the book. Acharya Kumarswami (in the background) is working on other aspects of the book.  The cover art was commissioned and executed by S. Rajam in Chennai, India. It depicts Hindus of various races and ethnic backgrounds from countries around the world. Our friend, Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri), who you saw in yesterday's picture, has recently published a book entitled "How I Became a Hindu." He reviewed the manuscript of Gurudeva's upcoming book and had some wonderful comments for us. He thinks it will dispel many a myth about Hinduism, such as the idea that one has to be born a Hindu and cannot convert. He also feels that it is possibly the most important book on Hinduism ever, giving a detailed snapshot of an ancient religion being practiced by a billion people worldwide with great vigor in the modern age, importantly showing the relevance of Hinduism worldwide. It is a guide for those who have found their soul's roots in Hindu beliefs and practices and wish to have the religious identity and cultural foundation to make sincere progress on the spiritual path. This book will be available in August, 2000. You can pre-order your copy now by e-mailing books@hindu.org or calling 1-800-890-1008.
 Gurudeva gave his second weekly spiritual discourse today (the morning of the fifth day of our lunar phase), answering questions from the "Cyberspace" congregation. These will be coming to you soon as audio and transcription files.  Seven of our guests who came for the weekly tour of the monastery purchased Merging with Siva, and Gurudeva signed them in our Mango Mandapam, a covered outdoor gathering area next to our publications facility which has a gorgeous view of Mt. Waialeale.   Three students from the Kauai Community College Journalism Class came to visit our monastery and learn about how we produce our magazine Hinduism Today. In the foreground (right to left): Carol Bain, instructor, Victoria Wickman and Bernadine Enrigue. They participate in the production of a school newsletter called Kaleo KCC which is published online at the College. Sannyasin Arumugaswami talked them at length about about what it takes to produce a magazine, working on articles sometimes three years in advance, dealing with correspondents in several nations, working with images resources all the way from paid professional photographers as far a way as Nepal to online stock photo companies such as Corel. He reviewed several actual articles that are going into the just complete July-August issue, showing them how it begins with raw materials from the correspondent and evolves to a fully formatted, designed article and finally goes through as many as eight different readings and editings before being "signed off" for completion.  Today was the last day of this phase and brought an unusual group of souls from all walks of live and places far and wide. Sadhaka Rishithondunathan hosts the tour.  If you would be interested in visiting our temple the public tour days are listed on our Visitor's Page.
For Hindu pilgrims, the monastery temple is closed on Purnima, Prathama, Amavasya, Ashtami and Navami tithis. For a daily Siva puja schedule please send your email address to thondu@hindu.org or call 808-822-3012 ext 237.  Gurudeva's other monastery in the island country of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean near South Africa  Our day at Gurudeva's Indian Ocean Monastery of Mauritius began at 5:30am with our daily routine of devotions, affirmations and meditation. After these, at 7am, we pilgrimaged along with householder disciples of Gurudeva to the easternmost point of the Spiritual Park where Arumugam (six-faced Lord Karttikeya) dominates over the spot where the river meets the sea. This morning was overcast, with a light rain which heightened the mystical ambiance of the place and made Sri Arumugam glisten majestically.  Sadhaka Haranandinatha performed a simple arati (worship with the flame) to each of the six faces. Here he is about to offer the flame to the fifth face.  Then, he comes around to the sixth face to culminate the short ceremony. Afterward, we pilgrimaged back to the Panchaganapati Mandapam to listen to a terrific recorded talk by Gurudeva on "soul power" and the difference between one who lives a life limited to eat-work-study-sleep-eat-and-so-on and one who is soul-driven. People who are soul-driven, he explained, uplift themselves and make a difference in the world. After the talk, we all proceeded to the monastery and spoke with Gurudeva over the telephone, where he gave instructions and abundant blessings to everyone present. AUM, jai Gurudeva!  Attending these functions was 19-yr old Jnanavel Arnasalon of Riviere du Rempart who is preparing to enter the University of Mauritius on August first to begin a study of Economics and Statistics.  The flow of wonderful visitors to our Spiritual Park continues. Here are Mrs. Sarita and Mr. Kishore Fowdur with their bright boy. They purchased Gurudeva's Merging with Siva and gave us the impression they are going to derive a great deal from it.  Then, this radiant group of souls graced our humble establishment. The first, second and fifth gentlemen, left to right, are businessmen from Delhi, India, guests of Shri Veerendra Ramdhun of Mauritius, front in blue shirt. The other gentleman, behind him, is Sri Bijaye Madhou, the former director of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, now retired. He recalled the happy times in the 1980s when he recorded and aired a series of interviews and talks of Gurudeva's.  These two inspired ladies, Mrs. Vidyawatee Julleekeea and her daughter Kamla Devi, returned to the Spiritual Park today to purchase their copy of Merging with Siva which they are eagerly looking forward to reading, one lesson per day, as a discipline. Mrs. Julleekeea has been meditating daily for a very long time, and both are pure and proud vegetarians. Jai! 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". For 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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