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Meet Bodhinatha in Malaysia and India, Jan-Feb 2004

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami will be traveling through Malaysia and South India this January/February on his 2004 Indian Odyssey travel-study program. You are welcome to meet him at the below places:

• Mon, Jan 19, 2004 - Sri Kandaswamy Temple, Kuala Lumpur
• Fri, Jan 23, 2004 � Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
• Sun, Jan 25th, 2004 � Sri Karpaka Vinayagar Temple, Pillaiyarpatti
• Mon, Feb 2nd, 2004 - Siva Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
• Wed, Feb 4th, 2004- Binny Hall, Taj Connemara Hotel, Chennai
• Thur, Feb 5th, 2004 - Thaipusam celebrations at Arupadai Veedu Temple, Chennai

Click here to go to his Travel Page for details.

Bodhinatha has been working on the preparations for initiation of devotees who have requested Samaya Diksha. Detailed in the Saiva Agamic scriptures, it is also called Mantra Diksha and is the first spiritual initiation on the path of Saiva Siddhanta comprising the all important transference of the Panchakshara Mantra to the sishya from the preceptor. Thereafter the devotee is bound by an obligation to himself or herself and to the spiritual lineage, to perform japa on a daily basis. This is the first stage on the path of Raja Yoga and marks a deeper, more dedicated commitment to daily sadhana.

Gurudeva always taught that such matters should never be taken lightly. Bodhinatha is bringing this vision to practical reality in a wonderful way by providing a guide for preparation for the initiation consisting of a period of organized study and carefully planned self-examination for the devotee to complete before taking the initiation.

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.

It is always a joyful day when the family of our of monastics come to visit. Here is Sadhaka Adinatha on the left with our (his) mother Cecil. Next from left to right, is Jonathan, a friend of the family, then the young lady in sun glasses is Cecily, Cecil's grandaughter, next Cecil's daughter, Cecily's mother, Ceci and her husband Bob with the hat and in the back another friend, young Coray. They are all from Colorado. Yes, you heard right, Grandmother Cecil, daughter Ceci, and granddaughter Cecily.

It was another exciting morning filled with visitors from all around. Besides this group of Hindus, there were probably another 20 or more pilgrims who came through today. Here we have, from left to right, the Kulkarnis, followed by the Ramesh family, the Doshis and the Piyush family. All were amazed by the purity and the spiritual vibrations that permeate the monastery.

Meanwhile Saint Tirumular looks peaceful. You would be too if you sat in samadhi like he does, all day long, for the past 2000 years or so. Summa Iru, Be Still, was one of Yogaswami's Mahavakkiam, or great sayings. Just try it for at least 20 minutes a day. But it's even better after an hour or so and the inner world starts to fill up with Bliss and Light!

Innersearch Sneek Previews

More visual gifts from the lense of Shankar Nathan.... Madurai temple is more than a building. It is a whole city block. Here we are walking through the outer prakarams. All around beautiful carvings and paintings.

Vendors supply the needful for devotees wanting to make offerings. Giant, fresh flower garlands to give to the Goddess...

Another look down through the outer hallways. Pilgrimage... cut off from the karmas of daily responsibilities, total focus on God, Gods, Guru and spiritual goals, taking a walk down these halls with a mind free to ponder the truly precious things of life...

Gurudeva's spiritual center in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa

Of course the greatest part of Pancha Ganapati is filling the hearts of children with joy. Giving, giving, giving is what it's all about.

"The inmost soul body is the blissful, ever-giving-wisdom anandamaya kosha."

"The fulfillment of giving that wells up within the giver as the gift is being prepared and as the gift is being presented and released, the fulfillment of the expectancy of the receiver or the surprise of the receiver, and the fullness that exists afterwards are all a part of dana."- Gurudeva.

This report from our man in Mauritius:

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On 23rd December 2003, Pancha Ganapati was celebrated at the Spiritual Park. It is a modern five-festival observed joyfully by Hindus all over the world from the 21st through the 25th of December each year. Pancha (five) denotes Ganesha's five faces, each representing a specific power (shakti). The festival, favorite among children was conceived in 1985 by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami along with elders of various Hindu sects.

Pancha Ganapati is a time of sharing gifts, renewing ties of family and friendship while focussing inwardly on this great God of abundance.

Volunteers turned up early morning at the Park to decorate and set the shrine in the Ganesha Mandapam. Here is Sanjay Matadeen, new Himalayan Academy student decorating the Mandapam with balloons.

The ceremony started with an arathi to Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati. Everyone is concentrated and feeling good all over.

The activities of the day consisted of songs, non competitive games and an energetic Ganesha Hunt. Here the children are having a tough but joyful time assembling a Ganesha puzzle.

The children were divided into five teams, each identified by a color: red, blue, yellow, green and orange, each color representing one of the five shaktis of Lord Ganesha. One team has completed their puzzle here.

Another group happy and ready for the next activity!

Here is a beautiful puzzle! These puzzles are also nice practical teaching tools used in the children Master Course classes at the Spiritual Park to develop concentration skills.

These are our youngest children of the Orange group. They too had to concentrate a lot to have their puzzle completed.

The most enjoyable activity for that day was no doubt, the Ganesha Hunt. The five teams had to each find a little gold glittering Ganesha hidden at some unusual places on the Spiritual Park property. Each team had to answer questions from The Master Course Book One and Two before they could get the next clue. Some clues were made very difficult and even adults present could not easily decipher them.

Here are participants of the Green team who at last, after much efforts found their Ganesha under a lava rock near the Lord Skanda murthi at the far end of the Park.

Another team still searching among the trees...

Here are our little friends with their orange badges on the edge of the little pool near the Mandapam where one of the gold glittering Ganeshas has been hidden.

After the Ganesha hunt, all children returned to the Mandapam for the main arathi to Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati. Everyone tired but happy!

The first shakti of Lord Ganesha is to create harmony in the home.

The parents who attended enjoyed their day too!

The second shakti of Lord Ganesha is to create concord among relatives, neighbors, and friends.

A special fund was raised on that occasion to offer gifts to all the youth and children who attended. Here is Kulapati Amba Valaytan offering a gift to our youth Saravan. Kulamata Premila Manick has been coordinating this part of the activities.

The third shakti of Lord Ganesha is to create good business and public relations.

Here is one close friend of the Park, Siven Veerapen offering a gift. Both Mr. Siven and his wife have been actively helping the organizers in this festival. They look forward to support future Himalayan Academy youth activities.

The festival is now nearing its end. Before everyone returns home with wonderful memories of the day, a last souvenir photo for Bodhinatha and our web surfers. We shall all meet again next year!

The fourth shakti of Lord Ganesha is to create cultural upliftment.

This is Sooda Koothan, university student, from Chemin Grenier in the south. Sooda has been very helpful in the preparations of this festival, making all the five-color badges for the participants. Thank you Sooda!

The fifth shakti of Lord Ganesha is to create heartfelt charity and religiousness.

Cybertalk: Bodhinatha began by speaking of the troubles in the world today, in the aftermath of 9/11. At the core of the problem is hatred, and we need to counter all the hatred by teaching tolerance and acceptance, two deeply ingrained Hindu values. Hatred is taught; people are not born with hatred in their hearts. Tolerance is taught most effectively at home, and also in the temple and community center.

Cybertalk Ends
And click here for an Index to All Past CyberTalks.