Sadhaka Shankaranatha processes the harvested long beans
Our employee Eddie is busy mowing grassy areas about 2.5 days each week.
Roshan Sivayogam arrived from Malaysia for a few weeks. Here he is in a hydroponic greenhouse where they just finished harvesting a long bean planting. He is about to pressure wash the area in preparation for the next trellis crop. A cucumber trellis is in the foreground.
Gajanan Nataraj arrived from New York for a couple weeks. Here he is being shown which kind of gasoline to collect for filling a pressure washer tank. Then he started washing our utility vehicles, which is part of a maintenance routine performed on them every month or so.
“Peace is self-control, and self-control is freedom.” – Gurudeva
“What we put into our subconscious mind is creating our future.” – Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
“If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself.“ Iroquois proverb
One becomes like that which is in one’s mind–this is the everlasting secret. – Yajurveda
“Karma is movement in the mind. When the mind remains motionless, there is no karma.” – Yogaswami
Your journey on this earth has only one goal, Self Realization. You are here to attain the highest possible states of consciousness. You are not here to react to the petty incidents that occur in the valley of the subconscious. You are here to learn to control the mind and live on the mountaintop. – Gurudeva
When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. – Lau Tzu
I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you, and I am at that place within me, we shall be one. -Lakota Sioux quote
It is now clearly evident that there is a God, and that He is everywhere and so am I. Yet this body must remain in this hut. – Yogaswami
Hold firmly to goodness – Saint Auvaiyar
Jai Ganesha!
Please enjoy these photos from around the Aadheenam. The warm golden light of our island sunset always brings Kauai Aadheenam’s gardens alive with a peaceful ambiance. The gentle rustle of jungle plants, the heavy patterning of warm rain and the soft calls of our wild doves, all never cease to create a soothing experience to accompany the fading light. A reminder to pause, breathe deeply and connect with nature’s serenity.
“For me, true free will means the dharmic will that is divine and guided by the superconscious. In reality, only this kind of will makes you free.“ Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Satguru returned to the monastery two days ago after a visit to India, Malaysia, and Singapore with Shanmuganathaswami. During their trip, they attended several satsangs and gave talks. They also met with members, devotees, and those who had recently joined. We are so happy to have Satguru back with us after his long journey.
Quality is today’s pilot, with Calib acting as wingman
They begin with the flagpole
It took about 20 minutes for them to adjust the droplet size just right
Next over to the main vimanam tower
The central tower gets a bath.
Some of the granite sculptures are also protected from the mold.
The drone is about six feet in diameter and can carry five gallons of liquid each run.
Just 60 feet away Siva was showing another golden crown, the flowering of a super rare yellow poinciana in the fullest-yet bloom of its young life.
The Hawaiian tropics with its daily sun/rain/sun/rain rhythm challenges the 23-karat gold leaf on the flagpole and the five golden towers of Iraivan Temple. One of the issues is that old gold, left to its own devices, invades the new gold.
A great solution has been found. A mold-retardant called D-2 is the industry’s gold-standard (I know) for control, but there was a challenge in applying it way up there.
We tried by hand, but then we discovered a Maui-based drone company that has been applying D-2 every 3 or 4 months. It’s working!
Yesterday, the team flew in from Maui, brought their massive agricultural drone, and wet down the flagpole and towers in just a little more than 2 hours. Thanks to Quality and Calib for their careful work. They even got a taste of Chef Mani’s masala dosai in the bargain.
For the final leg of the journey, Satguru touched down in Singapore. First up was a lunch with some sishyas, followed by a event for seekers newly interested in our teachings. About 21 people signed up to keep in touch. The next day was a home satsang consisting of pada puja, bhajan, upadesha from Satguru, a brahmacharya vrata taken by a youth and Q&A. The next day, Satguru and Shanmuganathaswami flew to San Francisco, and will arrive home a midday today.
Good progress was made on the Guru Peedam roof and they are close to finishing the first half. Seven redwood boards were custom cut on our saw mill for the ceiling covering. Rafters were custom made using our band saw. All this wood came from sishya Deva Rajan 26 years back. The wood came from a water tower that was dismantled in California. This is all old growth redwood that is impossible to find today. After replacing wood planks, they laid new plywood sheathing, then tar paper on top of that as seen in the last photo. On Monday they will attach the composition roof shingles, then move to the other side.