Holy Buddha Purnima In Prasanthi Nilayam…
Saturday, May 18th, 2019
Today Is Holy Buddha Purnima in Prasanthi Nilayam. Rededicating themselves at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet, re-pledging to follow the teachings of ‘Sai Buddha’, devotees from Region 4 & 5 of SSIO comprising of countries Srilanka, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong commenced their 2-day Buddha Purnima celebrations this evening in Prasanthi Nilayam. The theme for the year’s celebrations is Chatur Brahma Vihar, 4- sublime attitudes of Buddhism.
A serene procession of Buddhist monks to the backdrop singing of Narsingh Gatha marked the commencement of celebrations this evening. Ceremonial lighting of the lamp at the Sanctum Sanctorum by the SSIO officials followed next, accompanied by recitation of traditional Buddhist slokas and chants.
Delivering his opening remarks, Programme Coordinator Sri Amar Karki, Chair, 4A of SSIO reminded the audience of the significance of Bharat Varsha, that is a unified region embracing many countries where Siddhartha ‘Buddha’ was born 2563 years ago. Referring to the theme of the celebrations Chatur Brahma Vihar, he then invited the Guest Speaker for the occasion Mr Teerakiat Jereonsettasin, a medical professional, former minister, currently a senator, from Thailand and above all a long-time devotee of Beloved Bhagawan.
The experienced speaker who had the great good fortune of being in His ‘close’ physical presence on many an occasion commenced by reminding the audience of the rarest of the rare opportunity, that is to be in the immediate Divine OmniPresence of The Supreme Lord in Prasanthi Nilayam. He Is Buddha Sai, what the seekers seek and not a monk, said the speaker reminding one and all of the importance of reaping the best of His Presence.
Talking on the Chatur Brahma Vihar, four aspects of love of Buddhism, the speaker then divulged into Teachings of The Buddha as expounded by Beloved Bhagawan. The ‘sailent’ pointers he touched upon this evening talking on ‘Buddha’s responses to the abuses’ were rejecting all abuses or all that can be labelled ‘bad’, practising detachment, where detachment becomes ‘Deep Attachment To God’ and attachment, ‘Detachment From God’. On the sacred chants ‘Buddham Sharanam Gacchami… the speaker explained what he learnt about the same at His Lotus Feet, important one being to embrace fundamental discrimination that helps the society at large. This alone will help one to transform the mind, said the speaker quoting Bhagawan.
Summarising his talk on the sacred teachings of Bhagawan on Buddhism, he asked the audience to develop Peace Within & Love Without that is very much in line with Bhagawan’s favourite axiom ‘Love All Serve All’ – ‘Help Ever Hurt Never’. As a parting message he reminded the august assembly yet again of the rarest of the rare opportunity befell on them all. By having His Darshan we are all enlightened and now we have to preserve it, by not losing it… which is the rarest of the rare reminding ourselves that SAI SHARANAM GACHCHAMI.
Devotees from the Himalayan Kingdom, Nepal took over the final session, presenting a series of offerings. Commencing with dance to the tune of a Ganesha Strotram, the next to come was a drama offering entitled Buddham Sharanam Gachchami that spoke about how The Buddha post his enlightenment effectively served the society at large, bringing in transformation. The final offering was a dance presentation on the theme ‘sacrifice and self control’.
Bhajans by the SSIO followed next and the session ended with Mangala Arathi to Beloved Bhagawan.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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