Text & photo source - copyrights: Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust -
sssbpt.org - Radiosai.org Prasanthi Diary -
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Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust & Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation -
We
gratefully acknowledge the publishers
HOPING for
greater insistence and practice of Filial Piety, respect and reverence for
parents, hundreds of devotees from South East Asian Chinese speaking countries
namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore assembled in
Prasanthi celebrating the advent of the 4013th Lunar
Chinese New Year this evening here in Prasanthi Nilayam.
This year’s
Chinese New Year is the year of the snake and Chinese all over the world
celebrated the advent last week, on Saturday, 9 February with raucous
celebrations.
H..O..P..E..Honouring Of Parents Everyday was the theme of this year’s New
Year and speaking on the occasion Mr Billy Fong, coordinator for the
celebrations, from Malaysia, stressed on the greater significance of ‘filial
piety’, honouring parents as practised in the Chinese culture and tradition.
Earlier, the programme commenced with holy Rudram chanting by the ‘chinese’
that was followed by traditional offering of delicacies, to Bhagawan, by
children from Indonesia and Malaysia.
Holy Tibetan chantings continued before Mr Billy Fong from Malaysia took over
speaking on the significance of Chinese culture and tradition, stressing on
Filial Piety. Speaking on the theme, recalling quotes from Confucius, he invited
the Regional Chair of SSSSO Dr Ravindran to release a compilation of teachings
of Bhagawan on the theme Filial Piety at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet.
A burst of songs in Mandarin Chinese and English followed that ended with a
combined Mandarin – English piece on the joy and bliss of the advent of Happy
New Year.
A surprise item was to follow, a Carnatic rendering by one of the Chinese
speaking youth who was trained by Padmabhushan Dr BK Pattammal. Singing “Rama
Ninnu Namina…”, , the young singer rose to the expectations of the capacity
audience receiving rounds of applause.
Even as participants were felicitated bhajans continued and ended with
Mangala Arathi at 1830 hrs.
The 2- day Chinese New Year celebrations would
continue tomorrow.
Text & photo source - copyrights: Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust -
sssbpt.org - Radiosai.org Prasanthi Diary -
theprasanthireporter.org | Web layout - Photo
graphic design : saibabaofindia.com "SBOI" |
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust & Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation - We
gratefully acknowledge the publishers
Chinese New Year in Prasanthi Nilayam
Monday, January 30th, 2012
Every tradition that reaches the Lotus Feet of
Bhagawan brings native values and rich cultural heritage, seeking ultimate
Divine blessing. Chinese New Year 2012 that entered into its 15th year in
Prasanthi Nilayam was not different as the Holy Abode witnessed a glittering
function on the 28th January evening, attended by over 250 devotees from three
Chinese speaking countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Chinese New Year 2012 began on the 23rd January and would last fifteen days.
This New Year is identified as year of Dragon that symbolizes activity, great
vitality, luck and prosperity.
The theme chosen for this year’s celebration was “Love and Gratitude”.
The programme commenced at 1700 hrs. with Lighting of Chinese Candle by Dr. VK
Ravindran and Bro. Billy Fong, senior officials of SSSO from Zone 4, organizers
of the event.
The first item was a traditional Chinese prayer participated by elderly women
devotees from Malaysia in traditional Chinese prayer attire. Melodious prayer
song of Kuan Yin calling out the Chinese Goddess of Mercy was played setting
backdrop for the prayer.
Next to come was offerings of traditional Chinese items like mandarin oranges,
‘nian gou’ (a traditional Chinese cake), red dates and other delicacies etc. by
children from Indonesia and Malaysia.
This was followed by a traditional Chinese prayer ceremony. A priest dressed in
ancient Chinese costume offered pranams to Bhagawan in ancient Chinese poetic
style. The priest continued with expressing gratitude on behalf of the four
categories of people namely the Government officials, the farmers, the workers
and the business communities and prayed for continual blessings and prosperity
for the common people.
The next item was a performance by the “Pa Shen” – the ancient Chinese
immortals. These Immortals, eight in number, represent the transformation of man
to God. They represent the 8 Chinese values of discipline, detachment,
compassion, love, non-violence, sacrifice, humility and gratitude. These eight
immortals sang traditional Chinese New Year song on the significance of the holy
occasion.
Bro. Billy Fong, the Zonal 4 Coordinator for Chinese New Year in his welcome
address elaborated on the importance of the value of Love and Gratitude to
Parents which is the cornerstone of Chinese civilization as well as the core of
Swami’s teachings. Many Chinese had transformed their lives as a result of
having known Swami and practised His teachings, said the speaker emphasizing on
the need to have constant self-introspection. The need to surrender negative
qualities to Swami with a prayer to help overcome all negative qualities is
important, said the speaker reiterating that Bhagawan wanted all to transform.
The highlight of the evening was a drama presentation on the Legend of Miao
Shan, a princess who renounced worldly comforts in pursuit of the Ultimate Goal
finally to emerge as a Bodhisattva. The presentation staged by the youth and
children from Sai Study Group, Medan, Indonesia was based on an adaptation of an
ancient Chinese folklore. Presenting the story, the drama highlighted man’s
evolution from human to Divine.
Mio Shan, the third born of the King was a special child, embodying great human
values, treating all alike with great compassion. Completely detached to the
royal comforts and affluence, Miao sets out to seclusion, seeking a life of
renunciation.
As years rolled by, the aged King was afflicted by a strange disease. The wise
medicine man of the palace who was summoned pronounced that one of his children
should sacrifice both her eyes and arms to save the King from peril. Two elder
daughters found excuses to escape the situation citing various reasons. No one
remembered Miao Shan, the third child, who had left home for good.
With the two elderly princesses giving lame excuses to escape the situation, the
medicine man advised the royal court to seek the advice of a nun residing in the
Fragrant Mountains. Hearing the plea, the nun immediately agreed to do the
sacrifice, citing that the King was suffering from his own Karmic deeds. The nun
was none other than Miao Shan. With Miao’s sacrifice the King instantly
recovered.
Out of this great sacrifice emerged a Bodhisattva, effulgent with thousand eyes
and thousand arms, the Avalokiteswara whose gaze is always turned down with Love
and Compassion to help all those who look up to Her – Goddess Kuan Yin, the
Goddess of Mercy who is worshipped by one and all for eternity.
At the end of the presentation all the participating children were felicitated
with special gifts. Bhajans, both traditional Prasanthi style and adaptation of
Chinese version, continued in full devotional fervor and Mangala Arathi was
offered at 1830 hrs. Prasadam was distributed to the entire audience.
Earlier on the 23rd February, on the first
day of Chinese New Year, 36 High Lamas of Tibetan Order from Sera Jhe Monastery
in Mysore joined by hundreds of devotees from various countries, including
westerners, presented a Buddhist devotional evening engulfing Prasanthi with
holy chants.
The proceeding began with initial offerings by Capt. Ong and family, organisers
of the day’s presentation. This was followed by offering of Tibetan Khatas by
the High Lamas, amulets and Naivedyam by devotees from Singapore.
Purificatory rites continued next, in the backdrop of Buddhist chantings
followed group chantings of Buddhist verses and Mantras from holy scriptures
coupled with rites by High Lamas.
The second part of the programme commenced with the chanting of various Buddhist
Mantras, namely, Om Mani Padme Hung, Medicine Buddha Mantra, Green Tara Mantra,
Special Eternal Prayers composed on Bhagawan, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha Mantra,
Mantra of the Heart of The Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom, The Long Dharani
of Chenrezig, Gayathri Mantra followed by another round of Om Mani Padme Hung to
concluded with a recital of dedication of Tibetan Buddhist Chants For Universal
Peace 2012.
Master Of Ceremonies, Ong Sai Keet, elaborated the significance of the Mantras,
Rites and other proceedings. The whole programme lasted for an hour and forty
minutes.
At the end of the day’s events, all the High Lamas were felicitated with special
presenatations before Mangala Arathi offering.
Celebrating the commencement of 4012th Lunar Chinese New Year, 36
High Lamas of Tibetan Order from Sera Jhe Monastery in Mysore joined
by hundreds of devotees from various countries, including
westerners, presented a Buddhist devotional evening today here in
Prasanthi Nilayam.
The proceeding for the evening began with initial
offerings by Capt. Ong and family, organisers of the day’s
presentation. This was followed by offering of Tibetan Khatas by the
High Lamas, amuletes and Naivedyam by devotees from Singapore.
Purificatory rites continued next, in the backdrop
of Buddhist chantings followed group chantings af Buddhist verses
and Mantras by from holy scriptures coupled with rites by High
Lamas.
The second part of the programme commenced with
the chanting of various Buddhist Mantras, namely, Om Mani Padme
Hung, Medicine Buddha Mantra, Green Tara Mantra, Special Eternal
Prayers composed on Bhagawan, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha Mantra, Mantra
of the Heart of The Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom, The Long
Dharani of Chenrezig, Gayathri Mantra followed by another round of
Om Mani Padme Hung to concluded with a recital of dedication of
Tibetan Buddhist Chants For Universal Peace 2012. Man of the
ceremonies Sai Keet elaborated the significance of the Mantras,
Rites and other proceedings. The whole programme lasted for an hour
and forty minutes.
Even as bhajans continued, prasadam went for
distribution. All the 36 High Lamas were felicitated with special
presentations.
