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The festivities began on the evening of 23rd. On this holy occasion, 36 Buddhist monks from
the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism namely Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and
Gelug assembled in Prasanthi Nilayam to pay their obeisance to Lord Sai
Buddha. After Bhagawan granted Darshan, He was seated on the dais and
permitted the programme to commence. After two children offered flowers to
Bhagawan, a monk from each of the sects presented ‘Kata’ to Bhagawan. The
Kata is a sacred cloth and an auspicious symbol that is presented to Lord
Buddha praying for His grace in successful chanting of mantras. They also
presented other sacred and auspicious symbols like ‘Dharmachakra’ (symbolising
the wheel of transformation wrought by Buddha Dharma), ‘Amitayu Tanka’ (a
painting of a deity who bestows long life), ‘Stupa’ (a replica of the
religious monument that is in the shape of Lord Buddha seated in a
meditative posture) and ‘Chenrizig Mandala’ (a three-dimensional
geometrical representation of the universe).
Then the monks commenced the chanting of the sacred mantra “Om Mani Padme
Hung”. This six-syllable mantra is supposed to contain all aspects of the
84,000 sections of Lord Buddha’s teachings and is believed to generate
love, compassion and positive feelings that will uplift the world. The
second mantra that was chanted was ‘Samantabhadra’ or the ‘King of
Prayers’. This mantra helps in awakening the mind and prodding it on the
path of enlightenment towards Buddhahood, and also for universal peace.
Following this, the monks chanted a special mantra dedicated to Bhagawan
composed by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The
mantra seeks to have an eternal vision of the beautiful form of Lord Sai.
This was followed by Gayathri Mantra recitation. At the end of the
chanting session, as is the Buddhist custom, the merits accrued by the
chanting of all the mantras and all the good deeds involved in the holy
activity were dedicated for the greater health and happiness of all beings
in the universe.
Following this, Capt. Ong, a devotee from Singapore addressed the
gathering. Elaborating on the significance of the mantra ‘Samantabhadra’,
he said that it is a compilation of teachings received by a person named
Sudana, as he progresses on his spiritual journey through 52 masters
culminating in his finding the realized master Samantabhadra. Captain Ong
said that perhaps he too would have passed under the tutelage of 52 such
masters in his past lives, as a result of which he has now found refuge at
the Lotus feet of his Samantabhadra, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The
evening programme concluded with Bhajans and Bhagawan graciously granted
photographs to all the monks and participants of the programme.
24th
February, 2007 heralded the beginning of
the Chinese New Year – the year of the pig as per the Chinese zodiac. At
8.30 a.m., Bhagawan was led in to Sai Kulwant Hall in a procession by
grand and colourful pageantry of lion dancers and men dressed in Chinese
regal attire to the accompaniment of drum beats. He then came on to the
dais and lit candles kept on a table that also had a statue of Lord Buddha
and other traditional Chinese items laid out like tea cups and mandarins.
Then Mr. Billy Fong Goon Poy, the Organising Chairman of the Chinese New
Year Celebrations 2007, addressed the gathering. He began by saying that
though the people of China and India look different, there are a lot of
similarities in their culture and beliefs. There are many parallels to the
Hindu pantheon of gods like the Monkey-God Hanuman (who is immortal and
known for his super-human strength) and Goddess Lakshmi (who bestows
prosperity and welfare) in Chinese belief. But by far the most striking
aspect of commonality is the emphasis both cultures place on filial piety,
the love and respect that one should have for one’s parents. While Indian
culture declares – “Matha, Pitha, Guru Daivam”, that one should worship
one’s parents and teachers as God, the Chinese declare ‘Xiao’ or filial
piety as the paramount virtue every human should possess. He concluded by
praying to Bhagawan that He should bless the Chinese people that more and
more come each year to Prasanthi Nilayam to celebrate the Chinese New
Year, so much so that not just the Sai Kulwant Hall but even the Hill-view
Stadium should be filled with Chinese devotees.
After the speech, many items like tea, mandarin, a special kind of cake,
etc., considered auspicious in the Chinese tradition were offered to
Bhagawan. Bhagawan also blessed and released a commemorative book on this
occasion. Then a group of students from the Sri Sathya Sai Education in
Human Values Programme from the participating countries recited Vedic
mantras and also selected stanzas from “Di Zi Gui” that lays down the code
of conduct for children and students. Each of those Chinese stanzas was
followed by its meaning in English and depicted through dialogues from day
to day happenings in our lives. The sweet voices of the little ones and
the catchy melody were a treat to everyone’s ears. This was followed by a
choir presentation by the youth members. They sang traditional New Year’s
Day songs and also some Bhajans in Chinese.
My Parents, My Treasure
The afternoon programme consisted
of a drama titled – ‘My Parents, My Treasure’. The story revolved around a
businessman Mr. Chin Keong, a widower with four young children and an
aging father, and how each day he struggled to attend to their needs in
addition to his professional responsibilities. One day he feels that he
will no longer be able to devote his time and energy to all of them and so
decides to send his aged father to the old folks’ home. Apart from the
loneliness and isolation that he would have to face, Keong’s father is
shocked that his son is going against the age-old Chinese practice and
fundamental virtue of filial piety. Kim Leng, one of his grandsons,
realises the trauma that his grandfather is going through, and the
conversation between them beautifully brings out the importance of
upholding filial piety through epic tales and folklores of Chinese
tradition and culture. The drama concludes on an emotional yet, happy note
where Kim convinces his father to keep his grandfather at home. The drama
vividly captured the dilemma that every man faces in his daily life – the
conflict between profound ancient culture and age-old wisdom on one hand
and the modern convenient material lifestyle on the other hand. At the end
of the drama, Bhagawan granted photographs to all the participants. The
evening concluded with Bhajans and Arati.
Jai Sai Ram
Prasanthi wears Chinese Red…
Filial Piety in absolute quintessence...
"For the people of the West, coming to seek spirituality in India is
nothing new. This has been going on for over a 100 years. But, never in
the history of human civilization have we seen Africans coming to India
seeking a Living God, Japanese coming to India seeking a Living God and
never have thousands and thousands of Chinese flocked to India seeking a
Living God. This is the first time in the history of the world that this
phenomenon is taking place" was the voice heard during the first Chinese
New Year celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam. The spiritual enigma of this
land of peace would be known from the list of civilisations filing past
with reverance, in search of peace, in search of love…
At a time when ancient values cuddled in the rich Chinese Tradition and
Culture started flagging resulting in sidelining the inner significance of
the traditional festivity, the Chinese New Year has had its maiden voyage
to the Land of Peace, Prasanthi Nilayam in the year 1997. More than 1500
devotees of Chinese origin from different parts of the world assembled to
celebrate and pray…and their prayer was to guide them to impart their rich
and great cultural heritage to the younger generation and for deeper
insights into Chinese Tradition…
Responding to the Chinese plea, Bhagawan, in His Divine discourse, by
going to the origin and route of the word “china” gave a new meaning to
the tradition and civilisation saying that “china” means “my heart is my
country”. Dwelling upon various subjects touching, boosting and thus
elevating the culture and civilisation of chinese origin Bhagawan ended
His enlightening Divine Discouse exhorting one and all to give up the bad
accepting the good.
“When you go back to your country with good qualities, people will mark
the change in you after your visit to Puttaparthi. Treat Prasanthi Nilayam
as a spiritual workshop. No charges are levied here. Everything is free. I
am ready. Make the best use of your stay here”, said Bhagawan during the
occasion.
The Chinese New Year is the longest and most significant celebration in
the Chinese calendar. Following the lunar calendar, each month in a
Chinese New Year is beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities
traditionally start on the first day of the month with the new moon and
continue until the fifteenth day, when the moon is brightest. The 15th day
of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at
night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
This New Year is supposedly the 4705th in the order starting on 18th Feb
2007.
Filial Piety
Filial Piety is the cornerstone of Chinese Civilisation and Progress…says
the hangings displayed at every nook and corner of Prasanthi Nilayam in
connection with the Chinese New Year 2007. The 'united' culture of human
civilisation has one thing in common, notwithstanding differences in
heritage, culture, language, country, race and religion etc.,
Thanksgiving, an offering of gratitude for all that was benevolently
bestowed upon the humanity. Bhagawan has time and again touched upon the
subject with greater insights, leading man to the cornerstone of his very
existence. Matru Devo Bhava…Pitru Devo Bhava…Acharya Devo Bhava…Atiti Devo
Bhava…(Revere Mother, Father, Preceptor and Teacher as God) exhorted
Bhagawan guiding humanity to greater vistas of man’s inseperable existence
with the Divine.
For the Chinese, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a
family affair, an occasion to reunite and offer thanks to Heaven and
Earth, the family deity and the ancestors, etc. Sacrifice to the
ancestors, the most significant of all the rituals, would unite the living
members with those who had passed away; departed relatives would be
remembered with great respect as they were responsible for laying the
foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.
The presence of the ancestors would be acknowledged on New Year's Eve with
a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the
ancestors, together with the living, would celebrate the onset of the New
Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the
stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honours the past and
present generations.
A Piggy Year
The advent of Chinese New Year has a unique link with animals. Every
Chinese New Year is designated by one of the 12 animals. The twelve
animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey,
Rooster, Dog and Boar. This New Year is a Piggy Year.
Fireworks and Family Feasts
During the New Year celebrations people wear red clothes decorated with
poems on red paper and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red
symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The
fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient
custom. Long ago, people in China would light bamboo stalks, believing
that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.
The Lantern Festival
The New Year celebrations end with the lantern festival on the fifteenth
day of the month. The Lanterns would be works of art, painted with birds,
animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People
hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade
under the light of the full moon.
Symbolically reminiscing the Chinese Tradition, the early hours of 13th
February 1997 Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed a Lantern Nagasankirtan, “…as
many of the Chinese women were dressed in traditional red satin
embroidered suits which shone in the light of the many, glowing red
lanterns they were carrying, as they circumambulated the Ashram. They sang
Sanskrit Bhajans until at last they reached the Mandap, when they burst
into Chinese. Behind them came the men, many of them wearing traditional
high collared suits of cream satin or brocade. Many onlookers were
impressed by the vibrancy of the singing.” Dragon dance is the highlight
of the Lantern Festival in many parts of the Chinese speaking coutries.
The dragon that might stretch a hundred feet long is typically made of
silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young
men who dance as they guide the colourful beast through the streets. This
appeasing entertainment has had its trail to Prasanthi Nilayam eversince
the first Chinese New Year celebrations was held in Prasanthi Nilayam in
1997.
No tradition, no civilisation, no religion, no country…nothing that has
ever been privileged by the Creator’s craftsmanship would be left wanting
His touch… would ever be ignored…for, in Him lies the life of
everything…The Chinese are indeed lucky to take the best out of Prasanthi
Nilayam, to enhance the already rich tradition of yore, with a greater
fillip. Thus they flock to Prasanthi Nilayam with gratitude to the Greater
Heaven...Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba ….Filial Piety in absolute
quintessence.
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