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Buddha Poornima in Prasanthi Nilayam 2013
 

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Buddha Purnima Celebrations 2013
- Morning & Evening

Day 1    -             Day 2

 

 

Day 2

Nepal, Singapore Programme…

 

Two thematic drama presentations by Nepal and Singapore marked the second and final evening of the Buddha Purnima Celebrations-2013 in Prasanthi Nilayam here today.

After yesterday’s beautiful drama by the Thai devotees, depicting the malicious vices that affect the man of today, this evening, it was the turn of Nepal and Singapore to come out with two beautiful drama presentations, highlighting the teachings of Buddha and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.

 

 

The programme commenced at 0520 hrs. with a Kauda Dance presentation by Nepalese children. This dance form, with Love as its underlying theme,  belongs to the Magar ethnic communities of the mountainous  regions of the Himalayan Kingdom.

May 26, 2013 - Kauda & Sherpa Dance presentations - Nepalese Bal Vikas children

 

 

 

Next to come was a small dance drama depicting the illustrious life of Chandalika, of Buddha’s time. Woven around the theme of untouchability and social discrimination, the story ended with Chandalika’s complete transformation and surrender at the Feet of Lord Buddha.

 

 

Chandalika lived with her mother. One day, as she was returning from the well carrying a potful of water, a handsome monk approached her asking for drinking water. Owing to ‘untouchability’ prevailing in the society, she hesitated for a while, before yielding to the monk’s relentless request. Later when she came to know of the monk’s identity, as Bikshu Ananda, the famous disciple of Lord Buddha, she became transfixed by his beauty and fell in love with him. When her mother brought the monk home one day, enamoured by infatuation she danced to attract the Bikshu. Bikshu remained nonplussed.  Later Chandalika took refuge at Ananda’s ashram to become a monk. Following the tradition, she went back home seeking alms from mother. Shocked and dumbfounded, the mother wailed before giving alms. Even as Chandalika left the ashram, mother remained grief-stricken, crying in agony of separation.

 

 

A Sherpa Dance by the Nepalese children followed next. This dance originated from the Northern Himalayan Region and is a common item during festivities and ceremonies of the Sherpas of the region.

 

 

As the title suggests, ‘All Are One, Be Alike To Everyone’, was the depiction of  Bhagawan Buddha’s message of seeing everyone with the same eye as God dwells in everyone. The drama was presented in a comic style, airing the great good message of Buddha and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.

 

 

May 26, 2013 - ALL ARE ONE, BE ALIKE TO EVERYONE - Drama Presentation

 

Showcasing the protagonist, Dr Ji, who is overambitious, devoid of any values, the drama serves as a silent reminder to the modern men afflicted with greed and passion to relent from evil and unhealthy practices, to turn to join hands in serving the society.

 

 

Dr Ji was highly ambitious and to fulfil his dreams nothing ever mattered or stopped him; he was into cheating while practising his medical profession. Serving reminders to save him, Lord Narada appears with sage wisdom to the erring medico. Blinded by his greed, Dr Ji paid no heed to the sage’s wisdom.

 

 

Even as he fails and continues with his unhealthy practices, Narada with his celestial powers, brings  his mother back from the heavens to enlighten her son of the need to lead a rightful life, rendering service to the society. The son who meet his mother for the first time offers her with all the luxuries; the mother in turn seeks three ornaments, a primary school and a hospital for the underdeveloped locality apart from asking him to get into serving the society.

 

 

 

Dr Ji, the young, ambitious and ‘blinded’ son was not ready to budge. Here he cited reasons of lack of money to get into mother’s dream projects, as according to him, it would cost ‘a fortune’.

 

 

Narada was left with no option than to use his final weapon. Now comes the final guest from the ‘heavens’, messenger of Lord Yama. After initial round of ridiculing and teasing, Dr Ji was convinced that his life was on the peril and he had no time left to redeem himself. At this point , when he was left with no hope of survival, he turned to prayer mode, falling on his knees. Responding to his sincere prayers, Buddha appeared with sage wisdom, advising him to correct his vision as – All Are One and thus Be Alike To Everyone was Buddha’s advice. Buddha redeemed him with extended life as Dr Ji was a transformed man, having leant his lesson the hard way.

 

 

The presentation had an interlude scene, wherein Lord Buddha comes to save the life of a goat, that was to be sacrificed by the ill-affected men, in the name of liberation. The scene ended with the message of Samastha Jeevah Sukhino Bhavantu, as preached and practised by Bhagawan.

 

 

The drama ended with a dance to the tune of the famous song Maula…Maula…depicting various service activities being done under the auspices and guidance of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.
 

 

 

All the participants were presented with special gifts and prasadam was distributed to the entire assemblage.

 

 

Bhajans by students continued and ended with Sunday Special, Love Is My Form…in Bhagawan’s Divine Voice.

Mangala Arathi was offered at 1900 hrs. marking the end of the session.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

 

 

Day 1

Eight Jewels – a Drama by Thaiand…

 

Continuing with the Buddha Purnima Celebrations 2013, devotees from Thailand presented a drama entitled “Eight Jewels’ this evening here in Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

 

 

Eight Jewels are the eight-fold path preached by Bhagawan Buddha helping humanity with cessation of suffering.

The presentation revolved around the ambitious life of a youngster, Preecha, a modern man with modern logics.

 

May 25, 2013 - Buddha Poornima - Evening Programme

 

 

 

Preecha, the young and dynamic one was successful in material life; he had a modern bent of mind right from his moulding days. Despite his father’s repeated efforts counseling his young son, Preecha never paid heed to his wise counseling, finally ending up addicted to modern vices. His modern logic always countered father’s logic based on Buddha’s ‘middle path’, that advocates moderation in everything.

 

 

As fate would have it, it was time for transformation and the change came in trying circumstances. Preecha met with a life-threatening helicopter mishap and landed in a jungle along with his subordinates. Completely helpless they moaned and called out God, thanking Him for being alive, intact. Grieving at their fate of being trapped in the jungle, without even having a mobile phone, to their utter amazement and relief they accidentally met a healer who offered to cure them with the help of herbs.

 

 

Even as the healer offered his healing expertise, the young man got engaged in serious conversation about his life and its travails, mysteries and the path to get rid of pains and suffering to make it more meaningful. The healer declared: Following Buddha studiously with his Eight-Fold Path is the right method for cessation of suffering; ceiling on desires is the best antidote for modern-day logic based out of greedy desires.

 

Eight Jewels – a Drama by Thaiand…

 

Observing and the youngster and happy with his right earnestness, the healer talks about Bhagawan and Puttaparthi advising him to go over to Puttaparthi to meet the living God of the Age, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Even as great hope blooms in the tender heart of Preecha, the helicopter lands to lift them out of danger, from the ‘mysterious forest’ to safety… The presentation ended with a ‘colourful’ group song, singing paeans to Bhagawan.

 

Eight Jewels – a Drama by Thaiand…

 

The presentation was entwined with a beautiful dance by the tiny tots from Sri Sathya Sai School, Thailand, a depiction of modern-day ambitions and its antidotes.

 

Eight Jewels – a Drama by Thaiand…

 

Even as International Bhajans continued, all the participants were felicitated by senior officials and prasadam was distributed to the entire assemblage.

 

Eight Jewels – a Drama by Thaiand…

 

The session came to a close with Mangala Arathi offering at 1830 hrs.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

 

 

Buddha Purnima Morning…

 

Today is Vaisakha Pournami, the day that marks the birth of Lord Buddha. Celebrating the holy occasion, known the world over as Buddha Purnima, hundreds of devotees from Region 4 & 5 of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations – Worldwide, comprising of countries Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam are currently camping in Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

 

This morning, commencing the programme Dr Art Ong JumSai, a distinguished scientist, formerly with NASA, and educationist from Thailand gave an enlightening speech touching upon the theme of this year’s celebrations – MAN. Dhammika Kalapuge from Srilanka followed next before the youth from Nepal took over singing bhajans for the next half-an-hour.

 

May 25, 2013 - Buddha Poornima - Morning Programme

 

Earlier the programme commenced at 0820 hrs., after half-an-hour Veda chanting, with a brief introduction by Dr VK Ravindran, Chairman, Region 4 & 5 SSSSO – Worldwide, introducing the occasion and the speakers for the session.

 

 

Elaborating the theme – MAN, Dr JumSai explained: Man is Maya, Atma, Nirvana, that is, overcoming Maya, experiencing the vision of Atma and attaining Nirvana (liberation), as enlightened by Bhagawan Himself. Dr JumSai spends his full-time educating the children at Sri Sathya Sai School, Thailand, teaching them to enquire into ‘what man is’ and ‘who am i’. Truth is changeless; it remains the same all the time said the speaker, touching upon the mysteries of the universe, highlighting the impermanence of the entire creation.  The universe that had emerged from nothingness will go back into its origin, nothingness, after billions of years. Illustrating the limitations of science and the absolute nature of Sai, Dr JumSai narrated a beautiful experience with Bhagawan inside the interview room, wherein, Bhagawan materialized a living object, a monkey, in presence of another three distinguished scientists. Reminding himself of Bhagawan’s peculiar way of addressing him, the scientist, as ‘Sai-tist’ , Dr JumSai added that we should try to know Sai as science will not be able to answer all our questions, knowing Sai will help…Nirvana is Sathya Sai.

 

 

Dr Dhammika Kalapuge, the second speaker for the session, spoke on the five precepts preached by Lord Buddha as way of life. Elaborating each point in detail, Dr Kalapuge narrated his own experience as to how Bhagawan helped him to follow these precepts.

International Bhajans  followed until Mangala Arathi at 0930 hrs.

Celebrations will continue in the evening with a drama presentation by the devotees from Thailand.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

 

BECOMING BUDDHA

It was the day of Buddha Poornima ten years ago. Baba was then not in Prasanthi Nilayam or in Bangalore but in the tranquil hill station of Kodai Kanal – the serene spot admist dark forests, tucked away in the Upper Palani Hills in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Baba being in Kodai Kanal in 2003 was of course nothing new as many a summer of the Divine had been spent in this green valley; right from 1986 Baba often came here with a group of students and elders to the delight of the inhabitants of this hilly little town.

But the 2003 Kodai Kanal experience was exceptional for reasons more than one. First, it was a most unexpected trip; generally Baba would visit Kodai Kanal in April and return by the first week of May or on rare occasions the week after. But that year Baba started His journey to Sai Shruti, His abode in Kodai Kanal, in the middle of May.

sathya sai baba with buddha statue

And second, it was an extremely short trip – just a week or so, while all Kodai visits were for atleast a fortnight or so.

However, the most unique thing about this trip is that the celebration of Buddha Poornima happened that year in this most pristine and peaceful locale that on one side has this beautiful lake that was covered with sparkling white lotuses, and the other side were these huge, long and majestic silver oak trees as if always straight, firm and forward in their journey to greater heights, and when you look to the third corner your eyes are filled with the kaleidoscopic beauty of this motley colour of blossoms – purple, magenta, maroon, yellow and so on, perhaps covering all hues of human emotions.

So it is in this lovely setting that the Lord decided to celebrate Buddha Poornima that year. And the most exquisite part of this festival that year that only a few privileged were fortunate to witness is this:

That morning as Baba was speaking to the boys inside Sai Shruti, He started elaborating on the pure nature of The Buddha, how He attained enlightenment and how He exemplified so many sterling virtues. Even as Baba was talking thus His palm suddenly moved in the air, caught that empty space, and immediately closed. And the next instant when the closed divine fist opened, all the boys could only gasp in awe!

What Baba was holding in His hand now was such a marvelously done miniature Buddha, red and resplendent.

Swami then asked, “Tell me, what is this made of?”

“Swami, plaster of paris”

“Swami, sand”

“Swami, clay”

Baba dismissed all the answers and then revealed, “This is made up of the Lumbini mud – the sacred soil where The Buddha was born.”

And then Baba went to narrate the various austerities that Buddha engaged in, the rigorous spiritual disciplines that this holy one pursued on His path towards Nirvana – enlightenment, and as Baba was explaining thus at one point He paused and with a sudden firmness He said, “Anyone who contemplates on The Buddha, can attain Moksha (or liberation).”

Well, this is what happened a decade ago and Baba left us with something to ponder over for lifetimes. So who truly is The Buddha? And what is Moksha?

 

Baba in one discourse explained:
 

“Buddha is not a personal name. A Buddha is one who is spiritually enlightened, mentally awakened and who has realised the Supreme Truth. He is one who practises unity of thought, word and action. His heart is ever full of compassion and love. He is unaffected by the vicissitudes of life. Sakhyamuni, The Buddha, was a muni (sage) in the Sakya clan.”

And in the Buddha Poornima Discourse of 2000 Baba clearly clarified all doubts about liberation. He said:

“People have strange ideas about liberation, imagining that it involves going to heaven and having eternal existence there. That is not the meaning of liberation; it truly means achieving selfless love that is constant, unabating, and total. This is the state that one must seek to attain; it is only when this state is reached that one is truly liberated. In the name of liberation, seekers are trying out all sorts of spiritual paths. All such exercises can at best confer temporary satisfaction. The path of Pure Love alone can truly get you there and confer permanent Bliss.

On every occasion of Buddha Poornima, Baba stressed on how this festival should be celebrated and what should be our focus as we gleefully participate in this festival. In 2006 Baba said:

“The same divine principle of love is present in all of you. When you take to the path of love, you will become Buddha yourself.

“Today is Buddha Poornima. Poornima means full moon. The underlying message of Buddha Poornima is that the mind should shine with total purity like full moon; it should unite with its source i.e., the Atma which is pure and effulgent. There is no darkness on the full moon night. On this auspicious day of Buddha Poornima, we should attain full purity of the mind.”

Baba often says that purity is the essence of all sadhana. And Buddha's life after enlightenment shone with this splendour of pure character. If there is anything that we should take home in our lives and into our hearts on this festival it is this determination to withstand any ordeal, resist any temptation and overcome any obstacle that tests our levels of purity, and strive with Buddha-like dogged perseverance to attain that peace and happiness which is permanent, transcendental and most fulfilling.
 

- Team Radio Sai

source: Radiosai.org

 
Archive

Buddha Purnima Celebrations Begin

Love and Compassion is the theme of this year’s Buddha Purnima Celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam attended by devotees from Japan , Taiwan , Korea, Hong Kong, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka,  China, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia. The programme commenced with Veda Chanting by youth of the participating countries.

 

 

Sri Ashok Sakhrani, national coordinator of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, Hong Kong welcomed the gathering for the Buddha Purnima celebrations. He spoke on the four sublime qualities of the mind that have taught by the Buddha, namely Maitri (Loving Kindness), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Sympathetic Joy) and Upeksha (Equanimity). The Chairman of Zone 5 of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, Worldwide, Sri Nari Chugani spoke on the similarity between the connection that millions felt towards Lord Buddha and Sri Sathya Sai Baba and their teachings of Peace, Love and Purity.

 

 

Dr Sunanda, a Professor from Sri Lanka and a consultant of various United Nations and World Bank Projects, spoke next on his initial confusions on following Bhagawan’s path, since he felt he would be deserting Buddhism. However Bhagawan’s Love helped him to see the similarity between the teachings of the Great Masters. He mentioned now his spiritual progress accelerated once his Sadhana was suffused with his love for Bhagawan. He also quoted an alumni of Bhagawan’s university in Sri Lanka who on questioning what is the Sadhana one has to do, pointed to Bhagawan’s photo and said, sing His name and Love Him. That will suffice. The talks were followed by international Bhajans by the devotees.

____________________

Dance and Choir light up Buddha Purnima Celebrations

 

The evening session of Buddha Purnima Celebrations commenced with Vedas by devotees from Zone 5 led by the Japanese delegation who have impressed Bhagawan on various occasions with their diligent learning of the Vedas.

 

 

Sri Ashok Sakhrani after delving on the various miracles performed by Bhagawan to save the devotees during the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, introduced the Dance by Children from Thailand. The beautiful presentation was on the theme ‘Know Thyself: Life is Bliss when Truth is Realised.’

 

 

This presentation was followed by a choir by Zone 5 devotees on the theme ‘Bhajans and its use in daily life’. The choir consisted of various Bhajan medleys in English and Japanese. The conductor speaking in Japanese conveyed her gratitude to Bhagawan. Gifts were distributed to the participants and prasadam was shared with the assembly even as the international Bhajans were in progress. Arati was offered at 1840hrs.

 

 

After the conclusion of Darshan, the devotees arranged an Abhishekam to Lord Buddha which is believed to ward away bad karma. All the members of the pilgrimage participated in the same.

__________

Valedictory Session of Buddha Purnima Celebrations

 

Sri Ashok Sakhrani welcoming everyone for the concluding session of the two day programme thanked the organisers and office bearers for their support in the successful completion of the programme especially for the Naryana Seva held yesterday. He then introduced the speaker for the evening, Dr. Periera.

 

 

Dr. Periera focused on the similarities of the teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Sri Sakyamuni Buddha. He stressed on the immense compassion shown by the Avatars with many examples. The talk was followed by a drama on the great eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Visuals from Japan were played in the backdrop even as actors performed in front of the screen. The skit contained various incidents of Love of mutual help, Compassionate Love, Love through Vedas, Love melting closed minds and Water God’s Love. It was indeed a moving presentation.

 

 

Sri V. Srinivasan, the all India president of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations congratulated the participants on even converting a disaster into an opportunity for Seva. He said how he was humbled by the great work of the Japanese Volunteers. Speaking with conviction, he reminded everyone of Bhagawan’s assurance that He is with us during our joy and sorrow but above all He is with us when we are doing selfless service.

 

 

With Bhagawan’s blessings all the pilgrims were given special tokens of Love. Prasadam was distributed to the assembly. Arati was offered at 1830hrs.

 

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