For the last couple weeks a contractor has been here to install sheetrock on the walls and ceiling of all the rooms in the new office. There is plenty of cutting involved to fit the sheets around all the windows, light fixtures and electrical outlets, and then he applies joint compound where one sheet meets another. He is nearly finished, and then a painter will come in for the next stage.
Siddhidata Kulam Office Update Read More »
During our 9am Kadavul Temple Siva puja, just before the 108 Ashtottara we chant the names of formal sishyas and some others who have a birthday or wedding anniversary on that day. Then we mail vibhuti along with a greeting card wishing them well. On the back of the card we have imagery of Aums, Ganeshas and scenes of Iraivan Temple. The scenes of Iraivan are out of date, so we’ve gathered more recent imagery in preparation for printing more cards. Enjoy the slideshow of what we’ve gathered.
Imagery For Birthday Cards Read More »
Hale Hana, the Siddhidata Kulam’s new maintenance and person workstation building, draws a lot of power from the electrical grid, which is expensive on Kauai due to remoteness. Therefore we decided to invest in solar panels and batteries. The process is complete; the building is now entirely running on solar energy and will soon be connected to the island grid so that excess energy can be sold to the utility company. This solar generation will also help power the noni building and greenhouses.
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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.
“We must be aware that it is only reawakening consciousness into a natural state, and that there is nothing mystical, difficult or inward that has to occur to hold an awareness of the inner and outer simultaneously from one central point in the mind. It is only because one is not accustomed to thinking in this way that it may seem difficult. But little children are in this state much of the time, and it is natural to them. ¶The beginning stages of watching the mind think I shall describe as similar to sitting quietly with your eyes open and, while not thinking about anything in particular, simply looking at what is around you—all of the time feeling somewhat empty on the inside, but seeing what is in front of you, to the left side of you, to the right side of you, above you, below you, and knowing what each object is, but not thinking about any object or collection of objects. Your eyes are watching; who lives behind them is the watcher. The objects that the mind perceives are similar to thoughts.”
The Nature of Thought, Part Four Read More »
Mayuran Muttulingam and son Chandipati just arrived from California for a couple weeks of sadhana and seva with the monks. Mayuran will focus on a project he started on a couple years ago to research the training of object-detecting software to recognize grantha script letters inscribed on ancient palm leaves.
Chandipati will help with various tasks. Today he is learning from Deva Seyon how to apply gold leaf to rudraksha beads as a specialized product.
Latest Monastery Seva Arrivals Read More »
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.
“We can see that from the mystic’s point of view, he is the watcher. And as the mirror is in no way discolored by what it reflects, so is the mystic in his perfected state. Your perfected state, too, as the watcher, is right there, deep within you. The next time you sit for meditation, follow my guru’s advice to us all and witness your thoughts. Be that stationary awareness, holding form in its own perfection. All you have to do is to watch your mind think. Then and only then are you experiencing your perfect state of inner being. The only difference between the jñānī and the novice is that the jñānī stays in there longer as the watcher, whereas the novice experiences this only momentarily from time to time. “
The Nature of Thought, Part Three Read More »
