Chinese New Year in Bhagawan’s ‘Immediate’ Presence…
Friday, February 12th, 2016
Celebrating the Lunar ‘Chinese’ New Year – 2016, devotees from the Chinese speaking nations presented a glittering cultural evening here, in Prasanthi Nilayam today. The session, attended by over 300 Chinese speaking devotees from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, turned out to be an exuberant one, marked with piety and gaiety and varied hues of devotional fervour.
Coinciding with the Chinese New Year back in the South Eastern nations, this year Prasanthi Nilayam is engaged in two-day celebrations comprising varieties of spiritual-cultural offerings. Based on Chinese astrology, each New Year is associated with an animal sign, occurring in a 12-year cycle, this New Year being that of Monkey.
This evening’s session commenced at 1700 hrs with lighting of the lamp by the organisers.
‘Thanks Giving’, an essential traditional feature of the Chinese New Year followed next, offered by a group of selected children from the participating countries, who offered traditional Chinese delicacies at the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Devotees from Medan, Indonesia took over for a brief session next, airing sacred Chinese Buddist Mantras.
Delivering his welcome address, Bro Billy Fong, Chinese New Year Coordinator from Malaysia, spoke of the essential message of the New Year, from Chinese parlance, that being man’s Ultimate Goal, Realisation. Bro Billy Fong also enlightened the audience of the Sadhana regulations and procedures, prescribed by Bhagawan HimSelf. About the unparalleled preciousness of human life, that is meant to achieve liberation, the speaker connected it with the famous Chinese story of the blind turtle that comes up from the deep sea once in a hundred years, to meet up with the ‘priceless coincidence’ – the wandering wooden ring. Bro Billy Fong is currently the Regional Coordinator for Zone 41 of SSIO.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Integrity – Foundation For Life”.
Following next, a special group of devotees from Malaysia played a few Instrumental Bhajans, played on Mouth Organs.
Echoing the inspired voice of an International Sai Youth, delivering the voice of confidence, integrity and devotion, Bro Alvin Leo, a second generation Chinese-Australian and an active youth member of Sathya Sai International Organisation, addressed the assembly next. Deliberating on the Chinese spiritual legacy that points to the the treasure within, the Inner Spiritual Kingdom, the speaker focused on the Sadhana to be followed as prescribed by Bhagawan. Sadhana is a must for mind control and to amplify the will of inner voice, said Alvin. Narrating a personal experience involving Bhagawan aftermath the typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the speaker reiterated in a voice of greater confidence and enthusiasm that, “In the name of good God Is there.”
The speaker also related the beautiful story of the greeting ‘Hai’ connoting the same with “Soham” (I Am That…), as proclaimed by Bhagawan HimSelf, explaining ‘H’ and ‘I’ - that being ‘He and I” Are One. Talking about Bhagawan’s Mission ahead, Alvin sounded extremely confident and convinced, who proclaimed, “…now it is up to us to continue this great Miracle of Love that He has set in motion”, calling out everyone to write the special chapter in the history of humanity. “Each and everyone of you are His legacy and it is through you His Love will manifest ever and ever”, concluded Alvin Leo. Bro Alvin is currently Media Coordinator for Zone 3 and a committee member of the International Youth Programme, of the SSIO.
Medley of Chinese New Year songs, in Chinese Mandarin next was followed by live session of International Sai Bhajans, in a mix of Chinese Mandarin – Prasanthi.
Bhajans by the students continued and the session ended with Mangala Arathi at 1850 hrs.
The session showcased in ample measure the traditional glitter and spiritual glory of the rich Chinese-Buddhistic culture.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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