Blog Archives
January 16, 2004
Gurudeva at a desk in the Ekadanta Kulam in the days of the color iMacs.
In Living with Siva, he wrote, "Control of the computer and the Internet is important to make a house into a home. If the computer is on all the time, the house turns into an office, even if everyone is at home. Many homes these days are just offices. Human communication has stopped. The computer eats up the time that one should be giving to others within the home. Using the computer moderately gives time for gentleness, play and communication, not with a screen, but with a human being. And that is the vibration needed in the home."
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.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami during a catamaran cruise along Kauai's Napali coast.
Today Bodhinatha and five monks left from Kauai Aadheenam to Taipai on their way to Malaysia. Photos of the early morning departure tomorrow...
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.
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It was a more than eventful retreat at Kauai Aadheenam as we were hit with hurricane-force winds in a completely unpredicted storm. The winds came up in the middle of the night.
All roads and paths were blocked with something, with the "longhouse" area, as we call it, taking a hit from several trees falling from a row of swamp mahogany, famous on Kauai for breaking in the wind. This particular group of trees may shortly find its future as a neatly trimmed hedge of trees, rather than the towering giants they are now.
All of the protective tarps on Iraivan Temple were shredded in the wind, but the wooden supporting structure survived.
Notwithstanding, this being Thai Pongal morning, two of the swamis and the silpi crew headed for the blacksmith's shed by the temple -- the only tent left standing, actually, and boiled the year's first pot of rice. Doesn't take long on a blacksmith's forge. There is actually a considerable hazard of melting the pot before boiling the water and milk inside.
The temple tank outside Kadavul was the landing place for this coconut tree. Fortunately, there was little damage beyond the various tents, though certainly one big mess to clean up. You can just make out Saint Sambandar still dancing on the pedestal just behind the coconut tree.
Rainfall at the Aadheenam wasn't that heavy, but the mountain was getting its share as shown by the swollen river below us.
Bodhinatha commented that the storm was a good "dry run" for the next hurricane, now overdue on its ten-year cycle from the last one. All our emergency preparations worked fine, and Yoginathaswami had the critical parts of our buildings up and running on generators in a couple of hours, as electricity was out for most of the day.
By noon the rain had slowed and the wind become sporadic. The intense rainbow appeared above Iraivan. Even though the wind was dying off in general, this is the time we had some of the strongest gusts, in the 80 mile per hour range.
Storm aside, not only Pongal, but Chitra padapuja went on as usual, with the ceremony being held at noon as it was a retreat day. Here Sadhaka Jivananandanatha performs the final arati.
Bodhinatha worships Gurudeva's sandals.
The evening sunset was spectacular.
The next retreat day was spent clearing the paths and roads, and today crews of men came in to chainsaw trees and dispose of debris.
January 13th - San Francisco, California
Paramacharya Palaniswami and Sadhaka Dandapani are greeted by our members upon their arrival at the airport in San Francisco.
January 14th - San Francisco, California
This day happened to be Thai Ponggal and also Chitra nakshatra. So a satsang and guru puja for Gurudeva was held at one of our member's home.
Adi Alahan does the pada puja beautifully for Gurudeva and is assisted by the ever helpful Karttikeya Katir.
It has been more than 2 years since Palaniswami had been in California so the members and students did not want to miss this opportunity to meet with him.
Palaniswami elaborated on Bodhinatha's "state of the church" address and he also shared with everyone some of the goals of the aadheenam for the coming year.
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Himalayan Academy Travel Study Programs |
2004 Indian OdysseyJanuary 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004 |
It is always nice to have Sri Ananth Sivachariar with us and his wonderful chanting set the stage for what would turn out to be a beautiful evening.
Sadhaka Dandapani then shared with everyone about the 2004 Indian Odyssey that will be beginning in a couple of days. He then talked about Iraivan Temple and showed the group a movie that was recently created by the aadheenam on Gurudeva and Iraivan Temple.
Devika (left) and younger sister Yatrika sang a thevaram (devotional hymn) to get the event on the way.
A wonderful crowd of 65 people turned out to come meet Palaniswami and hear about the progress on Iraivan Temple.
Palaniswami then talked about the Iraivan project, Gurudeva's trilogy and a few other subjects.
Everyone got a very solid overview of the present status of the project, along with lots of interesting stories and insights they had not heard about before, even on TAKA.
The small hall we hired was packed with bright faces. 3 people even flew up from San Diego and 1 from the east coast just for this event.
Part of the hotel gathering.
Palaniswami addresses the group.
Deva Rajan, Hotranatha Ajaya and Venita Katir (pictured here) shared about the projects they are working on in helping with fundraising for Iraivan.
Deva Rajan sharing with everyone his involvement with the Iraivan Temple project.
Sri Ananth Sivachariar has been working closely with Sadhaka Dandapani over the last few months in planning out the event at the Sri Karpaga Vinayagar temple in Pillaiyar Patti during the Odyssey. He told us that Bodhinatha and the group are in for a life changing experience.
Here is Palaniswami with Thamby Kumaran to his immediate right, Gayatri and Deva Rajan. "Here is where we are and this is where we need to go to....."
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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. |
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