We have today a visual treat, some photos sent by a visitor to the monastery. She begins at the beginning, with Pranava AUM, the Sound of the Universe, in tooled copper.

It's at the Ganesha at the entry.

Every visitor sees the land differently.

And that translates to different photos.

It always amazed us…

that two photographers…

could take the same camera and lens…

point it at the same subject…

and get an entirely different result!

Seems the very consciousness of the photographer…

is captured in the photo.

Like Shanmuga Himself, it is a mystery.

Iraivan capstone

The lotuses are beginning their annual march across the marsh.

We leave you with a final thought from a philosopher: "When we long for life without difficulties, it is good to be reminded that great oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are forged under intense pressure."