On our retreat days, computers go silent and offices are empty and the monks are busy.

Gurudeva encouraged his monks to “be engaged. Even on retreats, you should be focused. If that means making a decision to take a nap, then take a nap. If you want to go wandering like a sadhu, then wander. But don’t just let your mind be aimlessly idle.”

The Siddhidata Kulam is renovating the room outside Bodhinatha’s office which will be their new home in the year to come. Budget restraints mean that they are going to do 90% of the work themselves on their “day off.” Each Guha day morning the team gathers. First order of business: strip the old carpets out and remove old wall board. Get out all the debris, and clean it all up. Then re-install all the wiring and this time up to code standards!…

Muruganathaswami specializes in Begonia plants and has become adapt at using our Caterpillar Skid steer. Here he has moved some plants from one location to another.

Each year the annual Polihale Camp out arrives. Sivakatirswami spent time over the last few months, cutting and splitting firewood, stacking to dry. Now he loads it into bins ready to take to Polihale beach — “edge of the world” where the monks will live on the beach and cook on an open fire for three days.

The blue gum was really hard to split, very heavy and will burn long and hot!

Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami is working on preparing a new area for planting with our small track hoe.

Out at San Marga, Acharya Kumarnathaswami and Kulapati Deva Rajan at work on the roofs of Siva Darshanam Vanam displays.