 Satguru Siva Yogaswami Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
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 Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA |
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October 30, 2000
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Mula Hindu Year 5102: Vikrama, the "Year of Fulfillment" |
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 This is a wonderful shot taken at the Radisson Hotel when Gurudeva was there speaking with members of the Mystical Sciences Institute. There was great synergy in the room. Many of the participants were already studying his books. Many were involved in care of the terminally ill, helping them with their transition to inner worlds. As Gurudeva talked everyone avidly took notes to study when they went home. Away from the formal atmostphere of the monastery, they were a little more comfortable about asking questions. The session went for over three hours. Thanks to Fred Morton, one of the participants, for taking this wonderful picture.
Cybertalk: Two deep questions are answered today. First a web-cadet tells Gurudeva how his head seems to disappear in light. Gurudeva affirms that this is Satchidananda, superconsciousness, and he says that this is a state that everyone should be in at one time or another. Gurudeva adds an important caution as well. Another e-devotee asks about all the other Hindu Gods that we never hear about. Who are they? What do they do? He also asks about animal sacrifice.
Do you have questions for Gurudeva? Send to questions@hindu.org.
Please note: Gurudeva only responds to questions from the general public on matters that are suitable for our public cyber audience. Personal or intimate questions sent to this address are not answered. A detailed index of past inspired talks is available here. Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks October_29_2000 Title: Memory; To Become a Sadhu; The Eyes of Meditation Category: Meditation and Yoga Duration: 2 min., 25 seconds Date Given: October 25, 2000 A cyberspace question from San Diego regarding memory. "People when they get a little older can't even remember yesterday or what they did three hours ago." People of all ages have the same problem of not being able to remember what they're not interested in. If you can remember the future, your goals, your aspirations that's enough to remember. A cyberspace devotee, a young man in Oklahoma. Wants to know, "now that I'm connected to Hinduism, I'd like to renounce the world and be a Sadhu in India or serve the Sadhus in India. Please give me some advise." (I've only been a Hindu for a very short time, he mentions.) Well to answer to your question properly I'd like to get to know you better. This is a very big and serious step and also many, many people want to renounce the world and give up all things when they dive into Santana Dharma, the Eternal Truths. It's not always practical or is it wise. To become a Sadhu or even to serve the Sadhus, one must have a firm philosophical foundation within one of the many philosophies of India. So we'll have a conversation through e-mail, we'll get to know you better and then answer your question. In the mean time be patient. It's a long path and you're on the threshold. A cyberspace cadet in Long Island, New York wants to know about meditation, "should you have your eyes open or should you have your eyes closed?" There are various forms of meditation, very deep meditation and then there are surface meditation or preparation for meditation leading to deep meditation. For deep meditation the eyes will naturally close. Otherwise it's all right to have your eyes open but still looking within yourself as you look at some religious object on the outside.  The fourth day of Skanda Shasti brought several of our families to the temple. This magnificent image of Lord Muruga in the monastery Siva temple is about six feet tall. It is in the "Subramaniyam" form. When being carved in India it was coveted by people far and wide. The then president of Sri Lanka asked if he could buy it to take home for his country. But, it was already spoken for, having been commissioned by Gurudeva for Kadavul Hindu Temple. Gurudeva has always worked hard to help foster and nurture the traditional artisans of India.  Another picture of the Mystical Sciences Institute participants with Gurudeva.  We are in the middle of a year-end progress report mailing for Iraivan Temple. Ten thousand flyers were printed and will be sent to as many people all over the world who have supported the San Marga Project. It's a big job. The devotees who came to the temple this morning for Muruga Puja, stayed on to pitch into the work. It's a simple mailing and gave everyone a chance to talk and be together while serving God.  A beautiful family from Grass Valley, California. Mr. and Mrs. Greg Lien, 5 yr. old Kirsten, and 7 month old Joshua. They happened upon the temple through Divine inspiration last week and have come to the morning puja every day since. Greg said, "the monastery has now become the high point and focus of our visit to Kauai." They are hoping to join Gurudeva on the next Innersearch.  An eleven acre site in Bangalore, India, where 75 Indian families live and daily carve the sacred white granite edifice of Iraivan Temple which will soon begin to be assembled on the island of Kauai  We have an outstanding series of photos from the Bangalore work site. Jiva Rajasankara says: "We had a joyful celebration of the annual Ayudha Puja (Vijaya Dasami). We held pujas for the gods, vehicles, tools and followed by dramas, dances, comic sketches etc. Here are photos showing the activities. After the main puja we first offer the arati light to all the silpies.
 Then blessings are offered to all the tools and throughout the workspace. Sundaramachari, our assistant to the resident sthapati, is begining the puja to the blacksmith fire place.  Arati is shown to the fire place.  Arati is shown to the manual blower and the tools. The blacksmith operations are a vital part of the process, hundreds of chisels will be heated and sharpened daily.  Arati is shown to the silpis themselves. The iron used for the chisels must be relatively soft. A hard steel chisel transfers too much shock into the arm of the worker. But the soft iron dulls quickly keeping the chisel smiths very busy.  Gurudeva's other monastery in the island country of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean near South Africa  Around the world, Gurudeva's most dedicated devotees gather together in congregational extended family groups called missions for the purpose of worship, study and personal change through self effort.
Sitting on the steps of the Panchamuka Ganapati Mandapam is the Mauritius North Shore mission.
 In our modern and rapidly changing world each mission performs all the functions performed by the village in previous eras and, as in ancient villages, each mission is guided by one of the community elders. This elder, along withi his wife, works closely with Gurudeva to guide mission members in the four basic aspects of life: spiritual, social, cultural and economic. The North Shore Mission has just come into being, and here they are reading a special pledge to all work together to support and move forward the goals of the Mission.  Each mission member has been with Gurudeva for many years, and has demonstrated his devotion and dedication to the ideals of Saiva Siddhanta Church through consistent personal discipline and study.  Mr and Mrs Arnasalon have followed a rigorous regimen of study and disciplines and on the day the mission was formed they were brought into membership. Here they pose with two of their sons, Chandrasegaran, left, and Jnanavel, right. "How to Become A Hindu"! Gurudeva's latest book release is now available Hot Off the Press! Visit the Himalayan Academy Book Store Web Site get the book and read the incredible testimonies of the early pioneers from the west who chose to make a full and complete conversion to Hinduism, legally change both their first and last names to Hindu names, change their lifestyles, sever their formal connections to previous faiths and joyously face the challenges in joining the tribe of the Sanatana Dharma Visiting Kauai's Hindu Monastery If you are planning to visit Kauai, please go first to our our visitor's page. Thank you. 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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