CHINESE NEW YEAR PILGRIMAGE February 2014 Final Report

Transcription

1 CHINESE NEW YEAR PILGRIMAGE February 2014 Final Report Theme Sai Baba s Teachings His Greatest Gift & Blessing For Mankind Participants A total of close to 350 participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand participated in this event. As a result of the worldwide circulation of the pilgrimage flyer, we had also received some registration from USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. We also had participation from devotees from Japan, Italy, Brazil, Russia who were already in the ashram. The audience in a packed Sai Kulwant Hall on Day 1

2 Decoration of Sai Kulwant Hall A series of 2 x 6 buntings with short but poignant messages of Swami in both English and Mandarin, decorated Sai Kulwant Hall on both the man and ladies side. Front View of Maha Samadhi

3 The Programme The programme of the pilgrimage is detailed as below: 30 Jan Thurs 31 Jan Fri 1 Feb Sat 2 Feb Sun 3 Feb Mon 4 Feb Tues 5 Feb Wed 6 Feb Thurs 7 Feb Fri C H I N E S E N E W Y E A R Arrival Arrival Om Mani Padme Hung Retreat 4 World Peace (North Shed) 9.30am to 7.30pm Free & Easy CNY Cultural Program (Sai Kulwant Hall) 4.00 to 6.30pm Cane Rejuvenation Exercise (Open Field in front of N7) 6.30am to 7.00am Origin Point Therapy Workshop (North Shed) 10.30am to 4.00pm Phai Thien Kong (Behind N7) 7.30am 8.30am Om Mani Padme Hung Retreat (Mani Retreat) 1 st to 3 rd February 2014 ; Venue: North Shed The Mani Retreat is a recitation retreat organized by Captain Ong and Sis Meng Meng from Singapore with the support of Zone 4. Participants gathered in this retreat to recite the six- syllable mantra OM MANI PADME HUNG, which is the heart mantra of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guan Yin), for universal peace. Six Tibetan lamas from the Tantric College of the Sera Jie Monastery were invited to initiate and conduct this auspicious chanting event. A total of 1,736,617 Om Mani Padme Hung was collectively chanted. Many of the participants expressed their joy of having being able to participate in this spiritually uplifting event. The Mani Retreat In Progress

4 Chinese New Year Cultural Program Day 1 (5/2/2014) The programme commenced at 5.00pm with the lighting of the lamp, done jointly by Zonal Chairman Dr VK Ravindran and Chinese New Year Coordinator Billy Fong. Children from Malaysia and Indonesia then offered traditional Chinese delicacies to Bhagawan. The melodious and uplifting chanting of sacred Buddhist and Kuan Yin hymns lead by devotees from Indonesia followed. Bro. Billy Fong in his welcoming address, introduced the theme of the Chinese New Year celebration, Sai Baba Teachings His Greatest Gift and Blessing for Mankind and delved in brief details on the greater significance of Swami s teachings. He then introduced the main speaker for the session, a very dedicated Sai devotee, Mr. Phoa Krishnaputra, an octogenarian, from Medan, Indonesia. Mr. Phoa spoke on his evolutionary spiritual journey, praying to Mother Tara for help in building a Buddhist temple and how he met Swami. He also spoke on the greater significance of the Kuan Yin Mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Mr. Phoa Krishnaputra delivering his speech

5 This was followed by a devotional singing session by the youth from Malaysia and Indonesia singing an assortment of devotional numbers, in Chinese, English and Sanskrit. Their final song Remind Me My Lord Remind Me My Lord You Are There vibrating the Sai Kulwant, was filled with bhava and bhakti. Bhajans continued and ended with Mangala Arathi at 1830 hrs. Devotional singing in progress Devotional singing in progress

6 Chinese New Year Cultural Program Day 2 (6/2/2014) The programme commence at 1650hrs with the Malaysian Sai Youth Choir presenting 4 melodious songs. The youth ended their spirited performance with the melodious singing of Akhanda Jyothi Jalaao Sai Mana Mandir Mein, fervently praying to Bhagawan for His grace and blessings. Dr VK Ravindran, Chairman, Zone 4, SSSSO Overseas then addressed the assembly introducing the ensuing session. Wishing one and all a Happy Holy Chinese New Year, Dr Ravindran introduced the speaker for the session, Bro. Yong Kong Why from Malaysia, who deliberated on the theme Chinese Culture and Traditions. Bro. Yong Kong Why from Malaysia delivering his speech

7 Bro. Yong Kong Why whose maiden pilgrimage to Prasanthi was in the year 1994 spoke of Sai as the Mastermind. Extensively quoting Bhagawan, Yong said: Bhagawan is the Mastermind of our lives; transformation happens when we align our lives with His laws. Bro. Yong who was formerly the Vice President of the Sai Chinese Affairs Wing of the Sai Organisation of Malaysia is currently in charge of the translation of Sai publication into Mandarin. He also divulged in brief details of the Organisational initiative to take Bhagawan s messages to the masses through the publishing media. The Sai youth from Indonesia, then presented a drama entitled The Confucius The Righteous on the life of legendary Chinese philosopher, teacher and spiritual master Confucius who lived over 2500 years ago. The presentation began with a dialogue between a grand father and grand daughter leading unto Sai, Nine Point Code Of Conduct. Caught off guard by the grandfather, for knowing Sai as everything, but not practising His 9- Point Code Of Conduct, when the girl turned perplexed, a consoling and caring grand father, pacified the girl narrating the ideal life story of Confucius. Confucius having a discussion with his disciples Showing some of the noted incidents from his illustrious life, highlighting his golden rule: What we do not expect others do to us then do not do it to others, the

8 presentation illustrated how Confucius could bring radical changes in Chinese civilization, helping the society from the clutches of despicable inhuman rules. Even as a famous Confucius subsequently earned the wrath of jealous men in the palace, resulting in him being exiled from the Kingdom, Confucius travelled across the country preaching his philosophy to the eager and anxious ones only to return much wiser helping humanity at large, leaving his footprints in the sands of time. The performance ended with a dance presentations. Flag bearers from Medan Indonesia Finale dance by youth from Medan Indonesia

9 Cane Rejuvenation Exercise (4-6 February 2014) Maintaining health and wellness is part of the Chinese culture and tradition. This traditional Chinese physical exercise was conducted in the morning from 6.30am to 7.30am in the open space in front of N6 where participants were taught how to use a bamboo cane to massage the various parts of their body from head to toe so as to increase blood circulation and improve physical wellness and agility. About 100 participants took part in this 60 minutes exercise. Cane Rejuvenation Exercise in progress Origin Point Therapy Workshop (4-6 February 2014) Origin Point Therapy which was discovered by one Dr. Chang of Taiwan is now a very popular therapy amongst the Chinese community. This three days traditional Chinese Wellness workshop was conducted by Bro. Loo of Malaysia where participants were taught how to relieve pain in their body by massaging certain acupuncture points.

10 Phai Thien Kong (Prayer to Heavenly God) 7 th February 2014 This is an open air prayer on the 9 th day of Chinese New Year is a tradition amongst the Hokkien Chinese. This year the participants from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia set up an altar in the open space behind N7. Various types of traditional Chinese delicacies were prepared and offered for the prayers. The participants offered traditional Chinese joss sticks and chanted prayers for peace and prosperity of the world Conclusion Many participants had expressed their enthusiasm and interest to come for the next Chinese New Year Pilgrimage in 2015.