Blog Archives
October 23, 2003 
"Beginning to meditate can be likened to starting a long journey. The destination and the means of travel must be known before setting out. Meditation is an art, a definite art, and well worth working for to become accomplished. Meditation is not easy, and yet it is not difficult. It only takes persistence, working day after day to learn to control and train the outer as well as the subtle, inner forces. We must realize that meditation is the disciplined art of tuning into the deepest and most subtle spiritual energies. It's not a fad. It's not a novelty. It's not something you do because your next-door neighbor does. It is sacred, the most sacred thing you can do on this planet, and it must be approached with great depth and sincerity. At these moments, we are seeking God, Truth, and actually controlling the forces of life and consciousness as we fulfill the very evolutionary purpose of life--the realization of the Self God. Unless we approach meditation in humility and wonder, we will not reach our goal in this life. " --Gurudeva
Our Beloved and Revered Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Attained Maha Samadhi on November 12th, 2001
Click to read for Details.
We are pleased to announce the web release of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami's monumental work on Hindu culture and lifestyle:
Living with Siva.
Click here for the entire text and artwork, now on-line!
Bodhinatha conducted today's session with the pilgrims...
~~~~~
Last day of phase notice
This is the last day of this phase and this edition
of TAKA will remain posted until
Dvitiya Tithi, Sun 1, Sunday, October 26th evening.
Bodhinatha's Sun One Video. Most Recent update: September 12, 2003. Bodhinatha speaks on Ahimsa, noninjury, yama #1, which is noninjury in thought, word and deed. The law of karma decrees that it is wise not to harm or hurt others, for we will then receive harm and hurt in exchange in the future. 12 minutes, 29 seconds.
Maha Samadhi observances continued today with a morning meditation as usual. Gurudeva was "everywhere."
Our pilgrims today went to San Marga for their morning worship and meditation.
The afternoon was "off" and everyone had a chance to relax, help with decorations and enjoy the beautiful Kauai day. This is Kulapati Adi Srikantha, Kulamata Nilima and son Tiru from North Dakota. They have been with Gurudeva for over 30 years! Tiru, who is 16, is taking his high-school studies at home... was born and raised as a Hindu.
Dr. Shun K. Sunder and his wife Thilika from Lancaster, California.
Last day of the phase, tour day guests.
Bodhinatha had a dynamic session today with the pilgrims, talking about Gurudeva's influence in their lives.
Testimony from the pilgrims is that they are really, really having a joyous and uplifting spiritual time.
Bodhinatha asked everyone to write down how Gurudeva influenced them as part of his presentation. His presentation was videoed, so we may be posting this in the days to come.
Karma yoga in the afternoon... devotees are cleaning the brass Tandavas in Kadavul temple.
Tomorrow morning is the all important special annual Chitra puja for Gurudeva. Devotees are making Toranam... woven decorations made from young coconut fronds.
Dr. Sunder and Thilaka have a profound discussion on which end is supposed to be up and which end is down, with Sannyasin Yoginathaswami. "Wait, are you sure it hangs like that?...."
It is a very happy time to have satsang with devotees during simple tasks like this...
Weaving garlands.
Huge carnations and tropical orchids for a fragrant flower mala....
Shama Vinayaga and daughter Shivani from Alberta, Canada.
Janahan, who just arrived from California to conduct tomorrow's padapuja.
Paramacharya Palaniswami is taking video each of the pilgrims, eliciting testimony from them about their experiences with Gurudeva. This will be something we can pass down through generations to help those in later years come to know of the greatness of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.
Gurudeva's spiritual center in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa
It is 10.25 am. The monthly Ganesha Homa is about to start in a few minutes inside the Ganesha Mandapam at the Spiritual Park. There is no parking left along the little road adjacent the main entrance for those coming a little late. Devotees would have to drive a little further east to park their car.
The Koothan, Moorghen and Manick kutumbas are hosting this October Homa. Everything is ready. The spiritual vibration is being built up with devotees participating in bhajans sung in Tamil and Sanskrit.
The Homa starts with a simple arathi. The youth of the membership are seated at the four sides offering ghee, uncooked grains, and other pure substances into the fire. Everyone present is chanting the special mantra
Many devotees turned up on that day. They are comfortably seated to follow and participate in the ceremony.
The men too seated on the right of the murthi are deeply immersed in the ceremony.
Attending the Ganesha Homa at the Park has become a must for many families. It is an opportunity of the whole family to go out on some spiritual pilgrimage.
The youth are happy to send hundreds of notes into the Homa fire. Beautiful and uplifting testimonies about prayers being answered will be shared at the next Homa.
When the homa is over everyone sits quietly to enjoy the darshan of Lord Ganapati. Then it is time for the main arathi to Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati.
The five Shaktis of Lord Ganapati will surely manifest in the life of all these devotees.
Here everyone is coming forward for a pinch of vibhuti after the arathi.
Devotees are being served prasadam in the cool shade of the mango trees.
Here is family enjoying some prasadam together. They are coming to the Park for the first time.
A brief introductory session was held on that day for those wishing to enrol in the for the new Master Course correspondence course. A nice group participated. Here we see Vasanthi Luchmanen on the left and Mrs Anandi Mootoocurpen on the right. Some more photos of the new students in our next TAKA..
No Audio Today
|
Be surprised! Take this opportunity for an adventure. Close your eyes and click to get a message picked at random from the vast audio archives of our Satgurus' discourses |
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks.
|
|
MORE UPLIFTING THINGS |
2004 Indian Odyssey
Join Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami on an 18 day Innersearch to South India, from Jan 19 to Feb 5, as we pilgrimage to ancient monasteries, magnificent 1,000 plus year old sacred temples and meet with India's holy men in a life-transforming adventure. Click on the above link for more details. |
|
|
Check our children and youth section for new items for the young and young at heart! | |
|
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT |
||
| 2. Newest Book: LIVING WITH SIVA | ||
|
3. Visiting KAUAI'S HINDU MONASTERY |
||
|
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND |
||