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As we write today's TAKA Bodhinatha has completed his time in Malaysia and moved on to Singapore. We pick up the thread of events of his journey from September 6th with photos and captions from Acharya Kumarswami.

Here is giving an inspired talk to the sishya in Malaysia at a satsang of in Klang.

On the 6th morning in Malaysia, Bodhinatha paid a visit to Swami Guha Bhaktananda at his Sivananda Ashram, Batu Caves. Swamiji is head of the Divine Life Society in Malaysia. He has served here for about 20 years. Here Swamiji is greeting Bodhinatha.

Bodhinatha, as did Gurudeva, always visits Swami whenever he comes to Malaysia. Swamiji also accepted into his ashram young aspirants to monastic life from Malaysia, who would serve there at Batu Caves for a time before coming to Hawaii. In this way, they gained experience in ashram living, in karma yoga, worship and meditation.

Swami told us of the various activities he is currently overseeing, with the help of the younger monks here with him, especially a new orphanage that has just been completed for twenty children and which has a capacity for fifty. The grand opening will be held soon. The actual care and schooling of the children is being done by family people.

As we left the ashram, it was pouring down rain. Still we made a brief visit to the Batu Caves compound at the base of the sacred hill to gaze upon the newly completed, 100 or so foot tall golden statue of Lord Murugan, and even got a photo to capture the moment.

A relaxing moment at one of the pleasant spots at the hotel.

The afternoon was devoted to preparing for the seminar this weekend in Singapore.

The main event of the day was the mission satsang at Kulapati Selladurai's home. Here is an artistic shot of Bodhinatha's entering the compound.

Lots of people had gathered on the full moon evening.

Arati of welcome.

Soon everyone got settled for the pada puja, ceremonious worship of the feet of the satguru.

The pujaris started out by bathing the feet and offering arati.

Bodhinatha closed his eyes and went into meditation.

At one point his feet were covered with holy ash.

Near the end of the puja his feet were covered with flowers.

Then Bodhinatha gave an wonderful inspired talk about applying the principles of spirituality to daily life.

Everyone came forward for vibhuti blessings afterward.

The newest edition to the mission satsang, just 30 days old, gets a special blessing--the child of Navukarasu and Mohana Vilashiny. The little girl's name is is Yehanthini.

�and a first feeding for the child of Sivanathan and Puvana, whose name is Hiteshvar Skandanatha

At the Aadheenam today we began another short four-day phase with the homa

Paramacharya Palaniswami gives a talk after the homa.

Earlier in the morning at about 7 AM, another little girl entered this world -- an addition to our herd of cows. Her name is Deepti.

A very beautiful white coat, with black spots. The monks bring her to the temple for a blessing.

Strong and healthy, unlike humans, calves arrive fully ready to roll, able to stand almost immediately, walk in hours and stronger than a person by the end of day one.

She already thinks we are her mother...

Welcome to the Bhuloka Deepti!

Shanmuganathaswami and Sadhaka Jivanandanatha, the team who take care of all our Pillaiyar Kulam business matters, are also our cow caretakers.

Occasionally on long 3-day retreats the monks will go for a camping trip, a few at a time, to the "end of the earth," the famed Polihale beach on the very, very end of the west side of Kauai.

Seas are calm there this time of year and the view is spectacular. Being in the middle of the week there are very few visitors.

The sun set here over the Pacific has to be experienced to be known....

And then camping out under the light of the full moon is always an amazing experience. As God lights up the beach, you can go walking along gently kicking the sand and the flourescent algae throws showers of colors before your feet. It's a magical macrocosmic world away from the little world of mundane affairs, putting you into a visionary mood to ponder the destiny and evolution of the soul through it's long, long journey to merge back, into your true home, into the Ocean of Divinity.