Text & photo source - copyrights: Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust -
sssbpt.org - Radiosai.org Prasanthi Diary -
Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation - h2hsai.org . | Web layout - Photo
graphic design : saibabaofindia.com "SBOI"
| -
We gratefully acknowledge the publishers
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust & Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation
Buddha Poornima in Prasanthi
Nilayam 2013
Watch the Live Video Webcast
of the Buddha Poornima Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam, on (Saturday)25th May
2013 - Sairam
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.
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.
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.
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.
Even as International Bhajans continued, all the participants were
felicitated by senior officials and prasadam was distributed to the
entire assemblage.
The session came to a close with Mangala Arathi offering at 1830 hrs.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SBOI-Group 
