We are running low on copies of the Good Thoughts book of Yogaswami’s songs, so it’s time for a reprint. These days we are using Amazon’s printing service for more books because of the flexibility to print only a few copies at a time (at the same price as many copies).
This third edition will be in hardcover for durability (especially for carrying it around to satsangs and temples), 220 pages and features several new graphics. The photos above show a “proof” copy we received from Amazon to check for any final issues to fix. Soon the book will be available at amazon.com and our minimela.com website.
The third [bonus] photo is of Lord Murugan at the end of Vaikasi Visakham puja the other day.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives his weekly upadesha in Kadavul Temple at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii. It is part of a series of talks elaborating on the inspired teachings of Satguru Śivaya Subramuniyaswami as found in his book Merging With Śiva.
“Devotees occasionally ask, “When you experience a thought you don’t like, should you go around the thought, or go to the center of the thought and find out why you don’t like it?” Look at thoughts as people. I see thoughts when I’m in the world of thought like a school of fish. I’m there in the ocean, sitting and looking, and a school of fish goes by, right in front of me. Well, look at thoughts as people. You are aware of other people, but you are not other people. You are just aware of other people. So, when you see someone you do not like, you don’t have to do anything about it. Let him be. It’s the same with thoughts. When a thought comes passing by that you don’t like, let it go. You don’t have to glue yourself onto it and psychoanalyze it; it doesn’t do the thought any good to be psychoanalyzed by you!“
This nifty broom automatically gathers debris into a dustbin as you push it
Nearby grass mower maintenance. The mower blade decks frequently need repairs.
The new welding station inside the Siddhidata Kulam’s building is now complete, sequestered by walls on three sides due to the flying sparks and smoke that occurs during welding. The equipment is all inside and the electrical work done.
A couple weeks ago we happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture a rainbow over Iraivan Temple–
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives his weekly upadesha in Kadavul Temple at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii. It is part of a series of talks elaborating on the inspired teachings of Satguru Śivaya Subramuniyaswami as found in his book Merging With Śiva.
“Many seekers work or even struggle regularly with their meditations, especially those who are just beginning. “How does one know if he is really meditating or not?” That’s a question that a lot of people who meditate ask themselves. When you begin to know, having left the process of thinking, you are meditating at that point. When you sit down and think, you are beginning the process of meditation. For instance, if you read a metaphysical book, a deep book, and then sit quietly, breathe and start pondering what you have been reading, well, you’re not quite meditating. You’re in a state called concentration. You’re organizing the subject matter. When you begin to realize the interrelated aspects of what you have read, when you say to yourself, “That’s right. That’s right,” when you get these inner flashes, the process of meditation has just begun. If you sustain this intensity, insights and knowledge will come from the inside of you. You begin to connect all of the inner flashes together like a string of beads. You become just one big inner flash. You know all of these new inner things, and one insight develops into another, into another, into another. Then you move into a deeper state, called contemplation, where you feel these beautiful, blissful energies flow through the body as a result of your meditation. With disciplined control of awareness, you can go deeper and deeper into that. So, basically, meditation begins when you move out of the process of thinking. “
Day four morning was spent at the Kuil Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Klang, where Yoginathaswami gave the first “Path to Siva Workshop” for 90 youth aged 16 to 22. He discussed Karma, Reincarnation, the three perfections of Siva, the three worlds, the mind, and the importance of Ahimsa. A key practice shared was Vasana Daha Tantra. Three videos were viewed about the monastery/monastic life, and one short video highlighted the Spiritual Workout app. The workshop concluded with a focus on daily sadhana.
After our Path to Siva workshop, we drove for about 1.5 hours and ended up at the peaceful Carpe Diem Orchard House in Serendah for our Dharma Camp event. We had about 30 younger church sishyas join us for this half-day, one-night, and then another half-day event. Swami led some inspiring Q&A sessions, highlighting the teachings and tools Gurudeva and Bodhinatha have given us to tackle even the most difficult of challenges. We discussed the intended goals of the Path to Siva workshops. The retreat center itself was amazing, tucked away in beautiful wooded hills. It was relaxing and uplifting for everyone. Swami did a Siva Puja on the second day, explaining some of the deeper meanings behind it. He stressed how important daily home puja and consistent daily sadhana are.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives his weekly upadesha in Kadavul Temple at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii. It is part of a series of talks elaborating on the inspired teachings of Satguru Śivaya Subramuniyaswami as found in his book Merging With Śiva.
“The mystic lives within himself and deals positively with the events and forces outside himself. He is always consciously striving to realize that limitless Reality within him. That is his practice. Yet he welcomes the challenges of the world, not as a karma forced upon him against his will but as his own self-created dharma. If he is really a mystic, he doesn’t run away from these challenges. He inwardly knows that life’s daily difficulties bring forth his inner strength in response to them. He sees the underlying purpose of life. He accepts and doesn’t reject. He searches for understanding, for the lesson that lies behind each experience instead of resenting the experience, which then creates another subconscious barrier for him. He knows that most problems are with man and the way he looks at things.“
