If you’ve read my previous post on Gurudeva (link here), you know the profound impact he has had on our lives. Now, I want to share about Satguru Bodhinatha, under whom my family and I have been sincere shishyas since 2023.

In 2021, we made a small contribution to Himalayan Academy, supporting their mission to provide free digital access to all their books. It was Gurudeva’s vision that these precious teachings be available to the public at no cost. Kauai Aadheenam has carried out Gurudeva’s wishes with dedication, a mission sustained through the generosity of many devotees worldwide. If you feel inspired to contribute, you can donate here: https://www.himalayanacademy.com/donate/

As a token of appreciation, Himalayan Academy sent us vibhuti prasadam and a newsletter detailing their work. Included was a Zoom link for joining their Satsang. We joined for the first time, witnessing a beautiful padapuja in a devotee’s home shrine that left all participants, even via Zoom, immersed in devotion. Devotees shared testimonials, and I, being new, offered my own about Gurudeva, much like the reflections in my previous blog. The warmth and kindness of everyone in the Satsang community was truly welcoming. Then, Satguru Bodhinatha himself joined to present the weekly teaching.

In India, when one hears “Satguru,” there is often an immediate association with figures like ISHA Foundation’s Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. Yet Satguru is a sacred and ancient title given to lineage holders of great wisdom.

As a millennial, I initially related Satguru Bodhinatha to Rahul Dravid—methodical, process-oriented, and deeply grounded. Satguru is meticulous, organized, and calm, a balance to Gurudeva’s fiery, lightning-like energy. It took me some time to adjust to Satguru Bodhinatha’s teaching style, which is gentle, with words spoken only when truly needed.

The artist within me wanted to honor Satguru, so I drew a pencil sketch of both Gurudeva and Satguru Bodhinatha and sent it to him on 20th Feb 2022. I wrote that it was a sketch like no other.

The next day, to my amazement, I received a reply from “Satguru” himself! (How many of us can imagine receiving a direct response from a Satguru?) He appreciated the sparkle in Gurudeva’s eyes in the drawing. Our Kauai Monastery carries forward the work of Gurudeva and Satguru with dedication and precision.

This blog has already grown lengthy, so I’ll continue with Part 2 soon, sharing how I met Satguru Bodhinatha in person.