Today at Kauai Aadheenam

Trees Fell, Recovery Spirit Rises

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  • Bhairava inspects the excavator
  • Fallen trees are consolidated to later be removed
  • While Pradeep operates the excavator, his helpers chainsaw and use the backhoe
  • Pradeep operates the large excavator

Vel Muruga!

Pradeep and his two helpers continue to clear fallen trees on the Aadhenam property. Today, they are working on trees located in the cow pasture area. They skillfully chainsaw fallen banyans and palms. They freed up the pasture area so the tractor can mow and cows can roam again. Cleaning these areas brings back access for the monks to care for the livestock. After the pasture was cleared, two major trees were handled that fell over the ditch. The area was very narrow for the excavator to access so his helpers started by clearing the way through.

After many hours of chainsawing, Pradeep needed to get across the ditch to access the fallen branches on both sides in order to move them. Pradeep used cut sections of the fallen banyan as a bridge to maneuver across. It was amazing to see his ingenious idea accomplished safely and effectively.

Our German shepherd, Bhairava, inspects the excavator that Pradeep operates during the day. He is very happy with the progress. After a productive phase for all the kulams, the monks head into a full moon retreat to replenish their pranas and prepare for another phase of dancing, living, and merging with Siva!

Aum Namah Sivaya!

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Blooming Nature

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  • Roses
    “Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will, creating his own destiny. The Vedas tell us, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil.“
  • “Flow with the river of life and merge in Siva’s ocean of oneness.“
  • “Of course if you love Siva, obviously you have to love everyone else. Love brings forgiveness. Love brings understanding. Love brings feeling.“
  • “Self Realization is finding That which is beyond even superconsciousness itself, beyond the mind—timeless, causeless, spaceless.“
  • “Yogaswami, said, ‘It was all finished long ago.‘” – Gurudeva
  • “Hope for a future life makes this life worthwhile, joyous, contented and happy, because the Hindu can live and deal with current problems, knowing that they are transitory problems, that they will not last forever; nor will they affect us forever.“

Jai Ganesha!

Today is a bright, sunny day at the aadheenam. The flowers are blooming and the lizards our out enjoying the warming light. We thought you’d all enjoy some photos of seevral of the amazing new flowers that we’re growing for the temple.

“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.” – Gurudeva

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The Path of Change

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  • Uprooted bamboo clump
    An uprooted bamboo clump
  • 30-40ft bamboo poles stacked away from the path
    30-40ft bamboo canes, stacked away from the path
  • chainsaing is complete!
    Chainsawing is complete!
  • These bamboo will heal in the years ahead!

Aum Namah Sivaya

As many are well aware, Hurricane Lowell damaged many of the trees and plants around the Aadheenam’s acreage, including uprooting several large bamboo clumps along the bamboo corridor, near the Rudraksha Forest. Today, expert excavator operator Pradeep, successfully replanted the wilting bamboo with his machine. Bamboo is very resilient, so despite being fully uprooted these ones will most likely survive. Pradeep’s team of skilled arborists pruned the plants’ branches so the they wouldn’t loose much more water to their drying leaves, while trying to re-root themselves.

This area along San Marga—from the forest to the gate below Muruga Hill— is known as the entrance into the first world. It reminds us that the Bhuloka is the most impermanent plane of Lord Siva’s Universe, because it is the most subject to change. May the bamboo’s struggle remind us that despite our seeming hardships, we can always recover and carry on down the path towards merger. Fresh growth will return to this part of the Aadheenam soon enough!

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Himalayan Academy in Moscow

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  • Every inch of the complex was dense with books.
  • There was a great emphasis on international works, and the Chinese were the honorary presenters.
  • Bust of Alexander Pushkin, one of Russia’s great poets, showing his work is still cool.
  • The venue is multi storied.
  • Book readings, presentations and small theater from the stage.

It is always a surprising delight to see the Moscow team sharing our publications with seekers in Moscow, where there is an unusually strong interest. In early September a massive Book Fair welcomed Gurudeva’s trilogy and other books (in Russian) and Hinduism Today’s Russian edition. Here is the team leader’s report:

From Dinanatha Bodhinatha

Aloha, dear Kauaians!

Namaste, dear monks!

The 39th Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF) opened in Moscow — one of the country’s main book events, which annually brings together publishers, authors and readers, bookstores and libraries, and cultural institutions. 

This year, the MIBF was held from September 2 to 6 at the Gostiny Dvor Complex. At the same time as the MIBF, the 4th Moscow International Children’s Book Fair took place.

The fair was opened by Vladimir Medinsky — Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, First Secretary of the Union of Writers of Russia, and Actual State Councillor of the 1st Class of the Russian Federation, which speaks to the MIBF as an event of national significance.

The People’s Republic of China became the guest of honour at the 39th Moscow International Book Fair this year.

“Hinduism Today” (Russia) is presenting its own products and those of friendly publishers at the fair.

Jai Ganesha! Jai Murugan! Jai Siva!

Jai Gurudeva! Jai Satguru! Jai Kauai Aadheenam!

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Total Surrender, Part One

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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.

“The yoga of pure devotion is found at the beginning, the middle and the end of the path. Merging with Śiva is more and more a deeply felt experiential reality when the soul gives of itself to Śiva inwardly and outwardly in unabashed devotion. Prapatti truly is the key that unlocks the love needed as merger increases as the years pass by and, as Satguru Yogaswami said, “Love pours forth to melt the very stones.” Bhakti yoga is not an intellectual study. It is a practice. It is also not an emotional experience. It is a devotional experience. There is a difference, which we will come to understand. Bhakti yoga is not a cure-all, nor a means to fast enlightenment. Rather, it is the foundation for enlightenment. It is not a technique. Nor is it a magic mantra. It is a way of life. The transformation that comes from living in the state of bhakti yoga is the softening of the heart. “

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Ganesha Chaturthi Celebrations in Mauritius

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Jai Ganesha!

Ganesha Chaturthi was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm at the Spiritual Park in Mauritius. The grand celebration brought together more than 500 devotees to honour Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings. It was a joyous and meaningful occasion for the Hindu community in Mauritius, reflecting a shared spirit of faith, unity and devotion.

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