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Yogaswami once made a pilgrimage from Sri Lanka to the famous holy city of Kashi (Benares) on the river Ganges in North India. This is one of the oldest living cities in the world, if not the oldest, with a continuity of civilization going back at least 6 millenium. It is considered one of the sacred abodes of Lord Shiva and the places where people honor their ancestors. From there he wrote this letter home to the devotees:

LETTER FROM KASI

"After wanderings far in an earnest quest, I came to Kasi and lo, I saw the Lord of
Kasi--Viswanathan within my heart. Let not your hearts be troubled by wearisome pursuits. There is
a fine saying that the herb that you have been searching assiduously lies at your feet within easy
reach. In this place too, men live very much in the same manner as our people. There is nothing
wonderful, nothing mysterious in this world. In this holy city of Benares, I have performed the rites
and obsequies most solemnly for my countrymen who have lived in bygone yesterdays, and to
those of today and even of the morrow. From henceforth, live in obedience to your inner spirit
imbued with love for one another; and live in harmony with the world under the protecting shelter
of His Feet."

--Nathchintanai. 373.

Cybertalk: A cyber devotee asks how does one tell the qualities of a guru. Gurudeva says that those who surround the guru are a reflection of his inner qualitites. The duty of the guru is to take 9 steps toward the devotee when the devotee has taken one step toward him. Another cyber devotee from Trinidad asks if there is a heaven and a hell. Gurudeva says those who are living in heaven practice ahimsa (non-violence) and those who are living in hell practise himsa (violence).

Cybertalk Ends"
For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Do you have questions for Gurudeva? Send to questions@hindu.org.

transcription begins

Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks
Date: May_24_1999
Title: Karma Created by Good Conduct
Category:
Duration: 4 min., 59 seconds
Date Given: May 24, 1999

Today at Kauai Aadheenam, May 24th. This is Gurudeva, greeting each and everyone in cyberspace. The doors of our ashram are open. We are very happy that you have walked through them.

We have a question here, about attachment to somebody that somebody loves.

Well, that is only natural when you are growing up. But, before you get too attached, check the compatibility through Vedic astrology. Often attachment could be only animal magnetism. This means the physical bodies are attracted to each other, but perhaps, the emotions and the intellect are not. If the compatibility is not good, it leads to endless arguments and often separation. If the compatibility is good, this means each one is helping another to succeed in life. The quality of the children will be much better, than in a bad compatibility.

Jyotisha, Vedic astrology has it all within it. Contact a competent astrologer, there are a few in the world today. He or she will let you know. We have seen compatibility that is good between two people, is like velcro. They cling together mentally, emotionally. They support each other and physically, it is a good association. We've seen compatibilities that were not good. True, they enjoy sex. But fight the rest of the time, do not support one another emotionally. They are always putting one another down. Vedic astrology has it all.

So, be careful of attachments. Many people choose a spouse faster than they would buy a car.

From Australia, Prasad asks, "In Australia now, there is a very big debate over whether to legalize safe, drug injection rooms for addicts. What does Hinduism say about this social problem?"

Well, from the Hindu point of view, everybody has his karma. The dependency on one drug or another, is a problem, because it is mind-altering, brain-destructive. It brings a person to a different personality with emotional highs and emotional lows that are uncontrollable.

I think prevention is better than treatment. Here on the island of Kauai, we are working to prevent the use of drugs. We have just finished a CD, called 'Drug Free Kauai', which we will send to you. You will receive it in the mail, Prasad. I think you will like it. I am the moderator on this CD.

Yesterday, - or was it the day before? - we talked about, driven forward by arrogance. Give that a little bit of thought. Are you driven by arrogance or are you driven by soul force? Is your timing right in life? Do you walk up to a door and it opens for you or do you have to kick it open? Are you mad at life? Do you fight your way through? Is life a happy thing for you when you wake up in the morning or do you want to escape from it into some 'pot' or 'ice'? 'Batu', they call it here on Kauai.

That means, there are many ways of escape. Good karma is created by right thought, right speech and right action. We must all face our karma cheerfully, because what we face today we created in the many yesterdays.

Now we are going to hear the beautiful Tamil language, French language and Malay.
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The extended family of Thai people, a group of sisters, came to the temple today in honor of the death anniversary of their mother and father.

It is traditional on such a day to remember the deceased relatives by bringing offerings to the temple.

They also manage a wonderful restaurant in Kapaa, known as the "Sukotai" and part of their Buddhist tradition is to feed the monks on this special day. The prepared a large vegetarian feast and brought the food to the temple. After worshipping in the temple they fed the monks.

Three of the younger members of the family. . .with their flower offerings for the temple.

One of those lovely tropical scenes early in the morning as the sun rises behind us in the east, hitting the slopes of Mount Waialeale now covered with showers. . .a rainbow peaks out from above the fields in that unusual space where water and light converge to bring us the mystery of color.

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

Standing from left are Marimuthu, PR.Supramani (blacksmith), Munraj and
Vijayakumar. Seated are helper Iyyakannu and Ravi (gardener)

Standing from left are Anandh, Ramachandran, Vadivel and S.Chelliah.
Seated are sons of the silpis.

Standing from left are Mani, Manikandan, C. Loges and Rajendran.

Standing from left are P. Adaikalam, Murthi, helper Palanivel and P R.Supramaniam. Seated are V. Chelliah and C. Kandasamy.

Gurudeva's other monastery in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa

Mr. Devarajen Sellamuthu and family visiting from Riviere des Anguilles in the south of Mauritius.

Mr. Parmaseeven Murday and his helper Jean Christian have come today to install a sign at the entrance of the village directing visitors to the Park.

Like hundreds of others Mr Murday had gotten lost in the village when trying to visit us for the first time. Being a professional sign maker he volunteered to solve the problem.

Thanks Murday! Thousands of people will benefit from your gift

This day last year was a retreat. No page was archived.

"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.

Click here for information about Gurudeva's travels. He is presently staying on Kauai and has not immediate travel plans.

And

2001 EUROPEAN INNERSEARCH

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries
and One Chance in a Lifetime!

Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all.

Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia.

www.innersearch.org

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