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August 10, 2003 
Sadhu Paksha, Day Eight
Today was the auspicious day of the commencement of the Iraivan Temple Vimanam.
Our Beloved and Revered Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Attained Maha Samadhi on November 12th, 2001
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All the monks climbed the ladder up to the temple construction site where the traditional ceremony was performed for the installation of the first stone of the seventeenth course, which is the first course that is above the temple roof line. Here Bodhinatha blesses this stone with milk.
Bodhinatha's Sun One Video. Most Recent update: July 30, 2003.
Bodhinatha speaks on Japa, Mantra Repetition, niyama # 9, elucidating the many dimensions of the sacred science of mantrams, chanting a holy syllable, word or sentence again and again.Japa may be done silently or aloud. Sometimes it is best to begin aloud, so the mind is more focused, then slowly let it become internalized as concentration improves. Often japa is done right after attending a puja. Japa is not used to acquire worldly things. Instead, prayers are used for that. People who anger should not practice japa.
The simplest japa is A-U-M. This is the primary sound of the universe. Initiation is important before starting the practice of japa yoga. Once initiated it is essential to continue the practice, to strive consistently and to chant as instructed by the guru.
14 minutes, 2 seconds
Today's Inspired Talk |
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Title: The Niyama of Mati, Cognition Category: Yamas and Niyamas Duration: 11 minutes, 39 seconds Date Given: July 15, 2003 Date Posted:August_10_2003 Given by: Bodhinatha |
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Bodhinatha will be happy to hold "Prasnottara Satsang" -- "Questions and Answers" over the telephone with any Hindu religious societies, Hindu youth groups, Radio talk show hosts etc. All you need is a phone with a speaker and an enthusiastic audience. Arrangements may be made in advance by sending email to Sannyasin Saravananathaswami If you are experiencing any problems listening to the audio, please to go our Audio FAQ page and follow the directions there.
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Isani Alahan is back from her pilgrimage to India where she went all the way up to have darshan of Mount Kailas. On the way home she helped with our "Mini-mela" inventory by purchasing a large number of beautiful items for sale here at our gift shop.
Taking inventory....
Lovely malas of semi-precious stones...
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Iraivan Temple Progress Update |
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The Vimanam construction commencement ceremony was set to begin at the auspicious moment of 11:15 am... Bodhinatha walks out to the temple site with the monks.
All climb up to the construction zone where a puja is performed.
Billowing clouds of sambrani incense to begin the ceremony...
Bodhinatha makes the first offering to the small square opening that is carved into the South East corner stone of course sixteen, which will be underneath the first stone of the seventeenth course.
The silpis lighting camphor for arati.
It's windy up here!
Yogi Mahadevan looks on.
Shanmugam Sthapati performs arati to Gurudeva's picture.
Sadhaka Tejadeva, who, along with other members of the Siddhidata Kulam have been all along providing the support back up for the silpis. Today he's enjoying being a worshipper instead of a worker.
After filling the small square hole with sandal paste, Bodhinatha places into it the nine gems, with gold, silver and copper.
There are similar caches of precious gems and metals placed in layers below, all the way down into the ground course, at the North East corner.
Sannyasin Muruganathaswami enjoying the day...
A close up of the small opening... filled with chandanam.
Sadhaka Jivanandanatha also taking a break from his work to join the sacred event.
The last precious items installed.
Oh... there's one more small coin to go in...
Sadhaka Adinatha... also on the Siddhidata Kulam team that has been working steadily on the temple from the beginning.
Next, the placement of the first mortar
Acharya Kumarswami....
Each of the monks come forward to participate by putting down three scoops of mortar.
One after one....
Sadhaka Haranandinatha, who works now in the Iraivan Temple fund-raising office, one of our oldest monks, a dedicated Sivathondar for over 30 years.
Sannyasin Saravananathaswami...
Ok, now for the placement...over he goes!
Sadhaka Jothinatha taking a break from his service with at the Hinduism Today offices.
Easy, easy... down...
Paramacharya Palaniswami...
The monks touch the stone as it goes into place.
Now Sthapati guides the team to put the stone into perfect placement.
Sannyasin Yoginathaswami who is normally supervising all the logistics and back up for the temple construction enjoys participating today as a devotee in the ceremony.
Sthapati calls out directions as the silpis work their metal bar lever magic, "Back, back, to the left, over, back some more."
"More, more.. OK good! Stop!"
Perfectly level! Which is a testimony to the accuracy of the calculations and careful carving that is done before the stone is set, as the bottom edge of the each stone is carved off just right to end up in perfect position.
Bodhinatha performs arati to the stone after having blessed it with milk.
The deed is done and each of the silpis come forward to receive dakshina from Bodhinatha -- the traditional gift from the owner of the temple to the builders.
It is hard to describe the mangalam, auspicious spirit of the day. The air was full of a very precious inner spirit that we have felt only in India on pilgrimage. But today we could feel it here, as Iraivan Temple, where Three Worlds meet and where the Divine is brought into incredible intense focus, made one more step forward in progress.
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transcription begins
Date: April_28_1999
Title: A Plan for Planning Ahead
Category: The Mind
Duration: 4 min., 16 seconds
Date Given: April 28, 1999
Given by: Gurudeva
Today at Kauai Aadheenam. April 28. It is the last day of our Vedic phase. Tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that, we will be on retreat. We will see you the day after that, in cyberspace.
We want to talk today about planning ahead, looking into the future, making a definite plan and then living it out. Now, how is this done?
Taking all facts into consideration, the future therefore is obvious. On any kind of a plan, a business plan, plans for your home, plans for your activities, recreation and most importantly in all daily sadhana and meditation. It is only through regular, daily, spiritual practice at the same time that the mind becomes clear enough to look a little bit into the future and get a vision of how things will be if you proceed in a certain way, a very high-minded way. However, people are dragging a lot of the past along with them, in the subconscious mind. Harboring resentment, old angers, highly critical of other people and trying to change other people, rather than change themselves, they are blind to the future. They are fumbling along through life and are better off following a dull routine at a repetitive job than to embark on a business venture or something that might be challenging along the way.
Clear-minded people are those who have several qualities. Forgiveness, generosity, compassion for others, appreciation for all that is done for them by other people. Showing appreciation is a very fine quality. Gratitude and compassion and most importantly, humility. Humility is a strength. It is not a weakness. With those qualities well intact, shall we say, looking into the future, a week, a month, a year or even several years or a lifetime is rather easy and then living out that vision is a joy.
How is this done? How do you clear your mind? There are various techniques that tell you, you are perfect soul. Every soul on the planet is a perfect soul, untainted, unmarred, unblemished. However, little misunderstandings come up along the way, in the tool of the soul which is the mind. There are three phases of the mind. Instinctive, that is a big one! Intellectual, that sometimes can become confused. Superconscious or intuitive, that is the mind of the soul.
This is a rather complex message today. I suggest you play it again and then again and make it part of your life. Begin with regular, daily sadhana at the same time each day, preferably before the sun rises.
We'll see you in four days, everyone, for another happy darshan time! Now, the beautiful Tamil language and the beautiful Malay language. Where is our French-speaking mathavasi? He is not here, maybe he will come in, in the meantime.
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