Canada Adventure Day One: Welcome to Canada!

Eight major cities and one country can't stop these relentless traveling monks. Canada welcomes us and we hit the ground running with a full on 130 guest event later that day. Let's walk through the eye of my lens and see what I saw.

Paramacharya sees the welcome party and is revved up for our 3 day minisearch

A beautiful welcoming of coffee, water and even a hand-drawn welcome sign is presented to us. We were greeted by the Pillay family and friends Thurai and Brett. You will see them later in the slideshow.

Nagarajan Pillay takes us to our vehicle that we would use for the next 3 days

As we are on a post-flight promenade we are stopped by resident devotees who recently visited Kauai Aadheenam! As we heard \"HEY ARE YOU FROM KAUAI??\" we turned around to greet these two wonderful people.

After a few hours rest at our hotel, we are off to the first event of the trip. First is a stroll through the lovely gardens of the conference center with all of our friends. Deva and Gayatri Rajan, Deva and Amala Ceyon, Pieter Veltevrede Bobby and kathy Page and Holly Young were all flown in to join the event and have an appreciation dinner in their honor.

Swami stops and enjoys the plants we don\

t have. The gardens were serene and contemplative.'

Gayatri and Deva Rajan walk with the monks and enjoy the beauty together

Billowing tree limbs sprawled all along the planes of this gracious garden

Ponds were in full residence

We now enter the Japanese gardens

The Burke family came out to see and hear Swami talk. Here is the Burke paterfamilias Ron Burke walking and selfieing with Rajanatha. It was really great to meet this amazing soul. Aubrey Burke is around here somewhere!

Kathy Page, Burke-friend and Jennifer Burke take a selfie with Rajanatha. There was a lot of joy and laughing going on!

Before the appreciation dinner we had lots of folks gathering around and enjoying some simple finger-food. Nagarajan was so busy with planning he forgot to eat for about two days.

Outside of the venue earlier that day

Amma Pillay is standing watch making sure the kids aren\

t causing any trouble'

This is the cozy appreciation dinner. All vegan and gluten free amazing food, even the salad was from the Pillay garden. Slowly each one was called up for an honoring and gift ceremony.

Pieter Veltevrede goes first. Paramacharya explains how closely they have worked together and how stunning Pieter\

s work has enriched our lives and the teachings. '

Everyone watches and soon people start crying! Not me though...I had something in my eye.

These are the 15 murthis of Gurudeva made only for this event. Thanks to the Pillay\

s for sponsering the work, Page Bronze was able to crank these out in no time. They are the only 15 in made in the world and in all of existence. '

Each person is shawled and garlended by Swami then awarded the murthi

Deva and Gayatri Rajan are next. Swami goes over the decades of work the Rajans have helped support and put their own energy into. We see the Rajans at the monastery and we know something is going to be uplifted.

Sorry for the blurry, dark shot!

Holly Young is next. Swami explained Holly\

s devotion to the work we are doing and her flawless hand in her craft. If you get a chance make sure you can talk to this woman sometime in your life. '

Bobby and Kathy Page are honored, shawled and garlanded for years of tireless work. The Master Course has called to them and they are ardent seekers on Siva\

s path. Mystical insights fall from their lips like water flowing off a mountain. It is endless. '

Deva and Amala Ceyon are up next and honored by Paramacharya. There is not enough time in a day to honor these life-long devotees of their guru. From the late 60\

s to today, these two have given their lives to Saiva Siddhanta Church and never looked back. Kauai residents and daily Aadheenam sevaks, the Ceyons worship 24\/7.'

Again sorry for the terrible photography, I was overwhelmed! and I had something in my eye, not crying.

And finally the Pillay family is honored by Swami and all for their amazing work whilst so young in the church. Little known fact, Nagarajan distributed Hinduism Today magazine at his college in Kuala Lumpur back in 1991

After the dinner we walk a few feet over the gardens and end up at the conference hall. This is the traditional peetham built for Swami to speak on.

Swami spoke on Religion and Spirituality: A Contemporary Conundrum. The young people of the world are mystical, earth-loving and ready to give themselves to their religion, whatever that may be. Paramacharya speaks on the \"buffet\" religion style of millennials and their choice to not follow any strict rules mandated by an authority.

The Burke troop comes up for a chat and blessings from the Hawaii Swami. Such a wonderfully dynamic family of entertainers.

Two close friends of the Pillays, and foundational supporters of the event at hand, come up to speak with Swami and get blessings.

Prikash and Natasha Velummylum from Seattle come up to talk with Paramacharya and get blessings. They are regularly found at Kauai Aadheenam. Baby Aditya was tired, cranky and not happy about this!

Baby Aditya gets blessings from Swami and quickly falls asleep

A shrine to the gurus who make it all work. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami were worshiped before beginning the event. What would we do without the guru? Nothing. It begins with them.

}
];

transitionSpeed:150});