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February 15, 2010
new issue coming

An immensely valuable issue
The April-May-June, 2010 issue (to be released in early March) will be our most highly researched and worked-over issue yet. Two major topics crying for attention required unusual effort, research and time. One article, we worked on for 2.5 years! And worth every minute, for it gives the Hindu world these two priceless resources:

lesson 4 cover
1. Our fourth Hindu history lesson will cover 1850 to 1947, the colonial period, a time of ruthless British domination and economic exploitation—and a time when Indians developed a national consciousness that blossomed into independence. Here is your accurate and unbiased alternative to the aberrant, often degrading, material offered in school textbooks. Don't miss it. You won't find such clear and compelling information elsewhere.

festivals pic
2. 15 articles for 15 festivals!—in one issue! A 15-part, 36-page super-article will answer those thousand questions about our Hindu holy days. Each section helps you and your family to better understand and enjoy your favorite holidays, and appreciate those that other Hindus celebrate. Our next newsletter will explain how you may download the holiday articles from our website, free, and share them around, even with the media.


Yogaswami's song book
New release: Good Thoughts. We have wanted to share this treasure for a long time. Our paramaguru (Gurudeva's guru), Siva Yogaswami, was a great siddhar saint who lived in Sri Lanka from ca. 1870 to 1963. His words were simple, powerful, and they magically drove to the heart of Hinduism. Here are some examples:

• Only one work to do here: find out who you are!
• There is no you, there is no me. Only one.
• Realize the Self by yourself.
• Just be and see.

You can enjoy a delectable translation into English of some of Yogaswami's sacred utterances in Testament of Truth—long out of print, but living in its entirety on our website. Now, when Yogaswami set those golden words to music, well... amritam!

With the help of his devotees, some of whom sat at his feet and sang with him, we have gathered the lyrics of 73 popular Yogaswami songs into this 181-page book. Included are the Tamil lyrics, translitaration and a word-for-word translation which make it easy to follow as you listen to the songs. Enjoy audios of some of the songs, and with this book in hand, savor the wisdom and the music—or learn to sing the songs, knowing the meaning of each word. Acquire Good Thoughts here.


Bodhinatha speaking with youth
Powerful dialogues. Earlier this month, Bodhinatha had an exceptionally successful visit to Texas. He spent two days at the Hindu Students Council's (Southern regional) week-end retreat in beautiful, quiet, serene Fort Parker State Park—and spoke on topics the youth had requested: How to practice Hinduism while attending college and Science and Hindu ethics—especially medical ethics. "Bodhinatha speaks like Hinduism Today," explained Ramya Ravi, one of the organizers. "He goes right to the heart of the matter and gives real answers. We felt free to broach any subject and, each time, he offered fresh perspectives that brought us clarity and ease of mind."

In San Antonio, Fort Worth and Flower Mound, Bodhinatha visited temples and offered useful advice. With a group working to build a temple, for example, he spoke on How to resolve disagreements and maintain harmony .


Bodhinatha: coming travels & satsang

  •   March 11 to 16, Mauritius. Bodhinatha will give a day-long seminar at the Swami Vivekananda Center in Pailles on March 14. Complete details here.
  •   March 19 to 26, North India—Rishikesh, Haridwar, Delhi
  •   March 27 to April 4, South India
  •   May 29 to June 6, Malaysia
  •   June 7, Singapore
  •   August 14-15, Maryland, USA
  •   August 18-22, Trinidad

  •  Stay up to date with Bodhinatha's travel plans, here.
  •  More about Bodhinatha here.
  •  Formal invitations for him to visit your area are received here.


acharya teaching
Responding to
growing interest
in Hinduism

"Since 9/11, demand for my services has tripled," explains Acharya Bharat, a popular astrologer, priest, and yoga and Hinduism teacher in the Portland, Oregon, area for 25 years. "There has been a surge of interest in other religions and cultures, with Hinduism topping the list."

Every year, Acharya is invited to give some 100 lectures on Hinduism—at high schools, colleges, universities, interfaith groups, Hindu societies, a variety of private and government institutions and, yes, even hospitals and Christian churches.

"Some denominations are keen to learn about other faiths, and I give them just what they need: a Hindu-Christian point-counterpoint, which I download and print from the Himalayan Academy website. This is my number one text. It generates immediate excitement, as most have never encountered Hindu beliefs before. I hear some saying, 'Oh! this is what I believe!' I use about 500 of the booklets every year. Students devour the 10-questions-&-10-answers in particular, and I have given away thousands of them." Acharya also refers students to the Himalayan Academy and Hinduism Today websites.

Students who show enthusiasm are invited to first read the booklet, Visiting a Hindu Temple then come experience puja, bhajan, meditation and prashadam at Portland's Hindu temple. Many then come back later, on their own, to pray and meditate. "They delight to see Hinduism in action," concludes Acharya, "and I can read the genuine enthusiasm in their term papers."

Acharya has donated a dozen copies of Gurudeva's Trilogy (see below) and about 30 copies of Loving Ganesha to university and college libraries in and around Portland.


Gurudeva's trilogy
For your own upliftment
for that of your family,

own the collected teachings of
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

The Trilogy is a 3000-page compilation of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami's teachings preserved over his lifetime—from the deepest mystical truths to practical advice for daily living.

  •   Dancing with Siva, Volume 1, is a thorough overview of Hinduism's most basic teachings.
  •   Living with Siva, Volume 2, is Gurudeva's guide to how to live—inwardly as well as outwardly to create a fulfilling future.
  •   Merging with Siva, Volume 3. Emphasis is on Hindu metaphysics: the inner bodies of man, the evolution of the soul, meditation, God-Realization and much more.

The three books may be ordered separately. But the three books together come with a substantial discount plus FREE SHIPPING.


The Trilogy is also available, in slightly abridged form, as pocket books. Keep the full set in your shrine or meditation room, and take the pocket books along when you go.

More resources at minimela.com
Or call 1-877-255-1510

Himalayan Academy
Kauai’s Hindu Monastery | 107 Kaholalele Rd
Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA