Newsletter – December 2023/January 2024
| Happy New Year. This year we start the year with our Secretary Maiju Kutty sharing his insights for our community. I will also update you on the happenings at the Temple site in Wahiawa. Stay safe and wishing everyone the best for 2024. |
| Leadership Message – Maiju Kutty Season’s greetings! We welcome another cool season in Paradise and LOTUS is delighted to bring you the latest updates, insights, and upcoming events in our community. Hoping that as we collectively strive for mindfulness, wellness, and unity, this newsletter will continue to be a source of inspiration and connection. Spotlight: Congratulations to Arini Shankarlingam, the shining star among our keiki! Daughter of Shankar and Sundari, Arini secured first place in the Keiki Kalikimaka competition featured in the Star Advertiser. We extend our best wishes to Arini for continued success in all her endeavors. Tech Corner: As we tread into a more digital world, prioritize cyber safety: use strong passwords, watch for phishing, secure Wi-Fi, enable two-factor authentication, adjust social media settings, shop from reputable sites, be wary of unsolicited messages, back up data, install antivirus software, monitor finances, and stay informed about online scams. Seeking help and practicing caution ensures a safer digital experience. Social Wellbeing: Engage in social outreach to positively impact the community and build meaningful connections. LOTUS has a history of partnering with organizations like Ronald McDonald Charities and aims to continue or restart in-person social initiatives. Share your thoughts or ideas for potential involvement by contacting us. Don’t seek Perfection Seek Balance. Seek consistence Seek justice. Seek passion. Seek a cause for humanity, and your life shall have meaning Derreck Kayongo, Global Soap Project Wishing you peace, joy, and abundant mindfulness in the coming months. Maiju currently also serves on the Board of Lanakila Pacific that helps provide Meals for our Kupuna and helps assimilate individuals with cognitive or physical challenges. |
| Temple Activities We continue our monthly pooja at the Wahiawa Shiva temple under the guidance of Prof. Bhawuk. The December Pooja was well attended and we had over 40 devotees in attendance braving the inclement weather for the activities. The leadership continues to solicit input on the status of Temple premises. In the past three to four months we have had a houseless individual sheltering at the Temple. This has created some concern for the community from the perspective of visiting the Temple safely. For many of the individuals who visit regularly, we are able to do our darshans and handle his presence without discomfort but this does not resolve the issue that we do have an individual with habits which are not in alignment with our values for the place. This individual has been very resourceful and figured out ways and means to access water even in the presence of a locked faucet box. Even as a leadership we try to engage with him to work on making the visits to the Temple still a safe event for our community. On the positive side of this issue is that the grounds of the Temple have been the cleanest in the almost 30 years that I have been visiting this site which is a welcome change. At this point we urge all devotees to continue to visit the Temple as usual. If you are concerned please do not go there alone. Be firm in dealing with the individual to get your prayers and visit done. Given that this area is open property, we have very limited options but will continue to work on solutions. Despite a few suggestions for removal of the Tarp covering the overwhelming majority of the feedback has been to leave it in place as it is felt that removal of the same will not impact on this houseless individual leaving this shelter. We will meet again in the Temple premises on the 21st of January for our monthly pooja. As of now following the pooja, it will be community sponsored pot luck.  |
| January and February 2024: Jan 14: Pongal and Makara Sankaranti Jan 21 – Wahiawa Temple Pooja Day Feb 14 – Valentine’s Day Feb 18 – Wahiawa Temple Pooja Day Feb 19 – Presidents Day Feb 29 – Leap Year celebration |
