From the Self; To the Self; As the Self.

The weather is getting warmer on kauai, from a cold and bitter 68F to a tropical 75F, and we are enjoying the enormous shift. A yogi walked around the monastery to see who would land in front of his camara and a long day of activity ensued.
The dance video link: Youtube channel

The first sight is a newly bloomed orchid plant

I wasn\

t kidding when I said it was a beautiful warm day. The view from our Media Studio. '

I decided to catch a glimpse from a rarely seen corner. I think this is what Yogi Rajanatha sees throughout the day.

No Ganapati Kulam members around makes for a surprisingly quiet office. Tapping fingers upon plastic keys have all but ceased and a calm stirs about the air. Pardon the dithyrambics.

Before I leave I take one more look out the window and reflect on where I can walk and how many monks I can surpise.

Nirvani Tejadevanatha is first. He is returning back to work after a water break. Notice his forehead, clad with vibhuti. Our ash-markings stay with us throughout the day for that is where Satguru has blessed us last. Each meditation ends with his guidance and there is much said within that thumb-blessing.

Natyam Jayanatha is making lunch and gets a quick shock to find a camera near his oven. Gurudeva said to realize the Self while cooking and often you can walk by the Nataraja Niliyam (the kitchen) with the hum of silent food preparation. We can dive within even when surrounded by external duties. Our goal is to transcend whilst still and in the midst of activity.

The Lambhodara Kulam is empty as well! I found the fish still around and ready for lunch.

Somehow we stumble across a dance offering in Kadavul Temple. This auspicious day keeps getting better. Sangita Rangala, from Chicago, visited with Satguru shortly after this beautiful dance.

Devotees enjoy the devotion. For them and me it appears extempore.

Sangita writes, \"I have been blessed to be trained in both Kuchipudi and Odissi styles of classical dance, by the great Gurus, Padmabhushan Dr Vempati Chinna Sathyam, and Padmavibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. I perform and teach at a professional level.\"

\"I truly believe that classical Hindu art is a vehicle that takes us all closer to God. I most especially enjoy dancing for charitable causes and in temples.\"

A short video of part of the dance is on our Youtube channel

Just outside there is more work going on. All is work, some inner and some outer, it all is from and for the Self. Yogi Adinatha works with such pertinacity and never sees me.

Natyam Dayanatha cleans the large wood-chipper

He knows machines well. Nothing is out of this monk\

s grasp. '

I think I made him laugh

Had to get another shot of this wood-devouring Bandit

A chainsaw waiting for seva

A smaller tractor used in and around the monastery

Shanmuganathaswami hosts sevaks Balu and Vishalam Balachandran from Canada. The Pillayar Kulam has a monumental tasklist on a daily bases; any help, though small as a mustard seed, means the world. Comment below which Tirukural that is referring to.

As we enter the PK we are greeted with warm smiles! This kulam prices items, manages budgets and endowments, coordinates trips for Satguru and countless other jobs; they know what hard work is and they stay two-thirds within as they serve.

Natyam Mayuranatha takes an unusual glance away from his work. Got him! This monk casts a thin and elegant shadow as he contemplates absolute reality.

Talaivar and kulam mathavasi are artisan and apprentice. They work closely together to merge minds and serve as one.

Siddhinathaswami steps in and prepares to crunch more numbers and manage the church. I snap a quick photo of this sweet and kind quant before he dissolves into numbers.

A busy workstation outside, a still mind inside

Muruganathaswami sits a few feet away making sure checks get entered into the database and Amazon purchases are accounted for. Swami\

s laconic demeaner hides a glowing smile that appears upon eye-contact.'

Kaivalyanthaswami sits with spine straight as his guru instructed

Swami\

s friendly glance is inviting and I stop to share a word or two'

Ask swami about things divine and out will come an encomium on Self and service. These swamis remind me of the great saying I often ponder from the sannyasin vow book, \"He contemplates the absolute constantly.\" I leave swami\

s desk uplifted and ever-more turned within as I reflect on his mystic teachings and portents. '

Lord Murugan as Shanmuga stops my walk and says powerfully, \"To ask if light flows in the spine is to ask if sap flows through trees.\"

I found some Ganapati Kulam mathavasi! Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami and Acharya Arumuganathaswami investigate things of an unkown origin.

And yes, it\

s sushi night. That ends today and begins tomorrow. We start with the Self in the morning sadhana period, working the forces of the world and going back to the Self, all the while as the Self. \"Bliss bliss, everywhere am I.\"'
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