"In His own way, Siva is bringing you into realization, into knowledge of yourself and of Him. He has given you the world of experience. Study your experience. Learn from your experience. If it is painful, that is also good. In the fires of experience, which are both pain and pleasure, you are being purified. It is Siva's duty to bring you forward into the fullness of yourself. In doing so, you must go through much pain, through much joy. Both register on the scale as the same intensity of emotion. It is what caused it that makes one more pleasurable than another. Don't be afraid of experience, and don't be afraid to go through your karma. Go through it with courage.

"Of course, you can minimize reactions to unhappy experiences by performing selfless service, which will create good karma. This is what you have to do to progress your spiritual life. Moksha--enlightenment and liberation from rebirth--is the ultimate goal of all souls. The exit is through the crown chakra. Go forward without fear." -- Gurudeva

---

We bring you today some pictures from the Indian Odyssey Finale Dinner... It was a joyous occasion, though we were also a bit sad to be taking our leave of each other.

Here is Bodhinatha with one of our guests from India who was invited to join us that night.

---

At home today a new phase begins again as usual with a powerful Sun One homa.

---

Yogi Mahadevan has the fire brought up about as far as we have ever seen it.

---

The final offering.Gurudeva writes in Dancing with Siva:

"The three worlds are connected when puja is performed and worship is begun. There are certain rites that can be performed to enable individuals to communicate directly with beings in the inner worlds. Prayers are given and received in many ways. Among the most intimate, personal forms of communication is the written prayer to the devas or to God. Burned in Agni's sacred fire, it disintegrates in the physical world and quickly re-forms in the astral world. When a prayer is burned in a temple wherein this practice is consecrated, its astral image is received and read by the devas, and properly dispatched and answered, within the confines of our karmic pattern. Prayers may also be conveyed by slowly, mentally enunciating the words, visualizing them rising up the spine, through the top of the head, reaching beyond to the feet of God. The devas will not intervene unless asked. This is the inner law. The Vedas avow, "He shines forth at dawn like the sunlight, deploying the sacrifice in the manner of priests unfolding their prayerful thoughts. Agni, the God who knows well all the generations, visits the Gods as a messenger, most efficacious." Aum Namah Sivaya.

-- Gurudeva

---

Today Bodhinatha read from Gurudevas writings on burning prayers to the devas.

---

Vibhuti blessings for all...

---

Santaram and Lakshmi from Orange County, California. Though they have lived in the US for the last 30 years or more , they only recently heard about Kauai Aadheenam from a friend. They found the monastery grounds peaceful and spiritually uplifting.

---

	Himalayan Academy Travel Study Programs
	2004 Indian Odyssey January 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004 Bangalore, Madurai, Tanjavur, Chennai and Nearby Temples: Palani Hills, Pillaiyarpatti, Chidambaram, Swamimalai, Kanchi and others

February 5th was the last day of Innersearch and closed with a grand Finale Dinner held at beautiful banquet room at the Park Sheraton in Chennai, one of Chennai's five-star hotels. Everyone had been previously requested to come in formal attire

---

And WOW~! What a classy group it was tonight! Here is the elegant Mr. Joel Knepp from Ohio, one of the many who were definitely zapped by the shakti of the temples in India.

He's to be congratulated for carrying his Tuxedo all the way from the US, through Tamil Nadi and to Chennai. We think it goes perfectly with the decor and especially the green coconut cocktail he's having before dinner.

😉

---

Our innersearch orchestrators, Paramacharya Palaniswami and Sadhaka Dandapani, had done something tonight that as Joel said: "Amazing, not only do you take us to a 5-Star hotel, but you have these live exhibits... this is really over the top!"

Arrayed around the room are living exhibits of various cultural activities. This lady is grinding idli batter.

---

A fortune teller has this parrot who picks out cards from a deck... just for you. He's really friendly. Shakti Mahadevan and her daughter, Chudika....

---

Leonora Orr... trying her hand at using liquid rice flower to make column designs.

---

The dinner was traditional Indian one, but with 35 plus dishes!

---

Near the end of the meal... speeches and presentations.

---

Bodhinatha gave an inspired closing talk with an invitation for everyone to join him for the next Innersearch which will be a cruise in 2005.

---

We were all very touched as this three-week long satsang filled with love and light was coming to a close. We made new friends and though we were leaving India, sad to go, we all could feel that we had been transformed on some deep level, that we might only understand fully in the days and months to come.

---

Paramacharya Palaniswami, the MC for the evening.

---

We honor Venkatakrishnan and his wife Sheela and several others, especially Nellaiappan, for their dedicated services in the months prior and during Innersearch. Without them, and all those who helped them, we would never have been able to create such a program.

---

Today's Inspired Talk
Title: Nine Ways to Merge with Siva, Part 2 Category: The Ultimate Goals of Life Duration: 11 minutes 4 seconds Date Given: February 21, 2004 Date Posted: February_29_2004 Given by: Bodhinatha

Cybertalk: Bodhinatha urged us not to put off our efforts to merge, but begin striving today, not waiting until you think you are ready or worthy. He asked all to make a temple of the home, to do puja daily and visit the Hindu temple each week, and pilgrimage at least once each year. He then spoke of the purpose of the temple bell and flame.

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

Study Gurudeva's teachings
every day. Visit the Master Course site!

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.

MORE UPLIFTING THINGS		2005 Indian Odyssey The 2004 Indian Odyssey was a great success. Ninety pilgrims spent 21 days together with Bodhinatha in Malaysia and South India. Our next Himalayan Academy Travel Study Program is planned to be a 10-day cruise on the South side of the equator, with ports of call in New Zealand and Australia, and events with local Hindu communities there. We expect this to be held in the fall of 2005, in October or November, depending on ship routes. There have been three Innersearch cruises, all very focused on classes. If you would like to get to know Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Gurudeva's remarkable metaphysical teachings first hand and explore the Hindu spiritual tradition with Gurudeva's monks and with others on the path, start saving now to join us. Send a message to our coordinator, Sadhaka Dandapani, to put your name on an advance notice list to make sure you get details as soon as they are out.
	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