Reflections about the recent Universal Love & World Peace Festival

10-13-2003, 12:43 AM

Source: http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/release/151.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Reflections about the recent "Universal Love & World Peace Festival"
held in the City of Parramatta, NSW.

Linda Walker- Muschelknatuz's (Consultant, Performing Arts) has
provided interesting comments of this event is reproduced below.
These insightful observations and comments will be useful for those
who would be engaged in the Sai organisation for similar productions
in the future. We have taken the liberty to release this statement
with individual identities removed.

"Flight of the Geese" referred to in the statement below is provided
as an associated download below the reflections.

Linda Walker-Muschelknatuz's coments:

"WITH TOTAL FAITH AND TOTAL LOVE YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.......
NOTHING CAN BE CLAIMED AS ONE'S OWN ACHIEVEMENT."
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Guru Pournima Discourse, 1998

"Firstly I wish to point out that this type of event is put on by
many community groups, if we do it, what would our purpose be? Can
we do it better?

Secondly they are very professionally done by donated time as there
is big media coverage that exposes the artists and the purpose or
deeper message.

The programme does not run more than 2 hours to maintain quality of
performance and presentation. Is this what the Organisation needs to
do or would large Community Based Service Projects (local and
global) be more beneficial to the community and humanity?

There is a theme chosen that every performer/performance adheres to.
A broad base of the community are invited to submit a performance
that fulfils a criteria /brief including etiquette and dress code.
The best is selected for the concert. Programming is scheduled to
enhance the message, and build up momentum.

Every performer must be ready one hour prior to performance (to
absorb last minute gliches). The purpose and message is clear to all
attendees.

Was it Multicultural or Multi Faith?

Did the Sai Organisation achieve any of the above last Saturday?

The objective of such a presentation should be clear and well
communicated to the organisation and the public. The title of the
presentation was powerful and I feel we did not send anyone home
with the deeper message. Yes, there are mixed comments and most
people enjoyed some part of or the whole. Personally I don't believe
the objectives, if any, were realised.

One person made a comment on "awareness", awareness of what?

Hopefully meaning awareness that we are always in the Presence of
God.

Knowing that, why would we choose an offering less than our full
capability and potential?

For our part, I feel that the organisation has come of age and we
cannot take anything into the public view that is less than perfect.
We as officers of the organisation and messengers of Sai must
realise that when we go public it is a great opportunity to be an
example of Swami's teachings. We cannot offer or accept mediocrity!
We must present 100% love, effort, commitment and nothing less than
the best performances that are available. For this a longer long
lead time for sourcing is essential.

Planning on a sound, solid foundation with an enthusiastic working
co-ordinating committee with the commitment to source as many
specialists in the different fields to realise it's highest
potential.

Many such specialists are in the organisation! IT specialists, Sound
engineers, Marketing Personnel, Artists (for Set Design and
Backdrops), Graphic Artists (for posters & flyers), Costume
Designers, Choreographers, Singing Teachers, Event Coordinators with
knowledge of Public Office-Etiquette and Protocol, Professional
Performers, Communication experts, Printers, Carpenters for Building
of Stage Sets, Sales & Marketing Consultants and Financial Advisors
(for Project Budgeting).

It is the process of preparation of such an event that offers us the
potential to have the greatest personal transformation, exercising
and living the Values.

As you know I have been part of a team that has worked on many
productions and none would have been successful without the tireless
commitment, enthusiasm and love of a working co-ordinating
committee, working as one, working for the whole. A dress rehearsal
or dry run is invaluable! Meetings where all contributors working on
the day attend is also advantageous and essential. Communication of
all facets should be available to all working parties, transparency!

This helps all concerned to understand the finer details of the
mechanics of such a project, making it an invaluable teaching and
learning experience. The more information we share the stronger our
foundations for future events, especially where the Youth are
involved.

If one is too busy with other commitments, delegation would be the
answer. Team Work being the operative. Together Everyone Achieves
More.

Swami likes us working together to achieve! Share the load and move
the mountain. I feel this is the greatest lesson for anyone
embarking on such a project for the future. We don't have to keep
reinventing the wheel when so many sources are available to us.

Those who worked in Staging who have not done so before did the best
they could. However a better prepared team with an experienced Stage
Manager would have overcome the difficulties with greater ease.
There were quite a few last minute programme changes that should not
have created the looming potential catastrophes! It was a great
learning experience for all concerned; I guess for that we should be
grateful.

I had 3 people advising me of the changes! Communication was a major
challenge on the day. I know everyone did their best knowing that
more could have been achieved. I agree with some of the different
persons' comments offered. Although there was a very large crowd in
attendance the majority of faces I saw were Sai family and parents
of performers! I am sure most enjoyed it as there was a relating
factor of seeing your child, a family member or friend perform.

We missed a great opportunity, let's work towards perfecting any
future events.

A de-brief of the event should provide valuable lessons for the
future. When could this be organised?

The opening and finale were a great success. The professional
polished performers of the day made one performance attract great
criticism. There was too wide a gap in quality.

My apologies to all involved in displays as I did not have time to
view them. Grateful thanks to the Food Provisioning Team. They did
an excellent job.

One co-ordinating person took on a monumental task and I guess did
the best he could. Hopefully we are enthused to aspire to greater
heights next time round.

>From another major contributor, I am glad you secured such an
excellent sound system for the day or all would have been lost in
the wind. Congratulations! This is the importance of consultation.

Everyone worked against the elements on the day and must be
congratulated and thanked for their efforts. My comments are
hopefully constructive in informing us all of the basics required to
run such an event.

Everything must be executed with attention to detail. Are you happy
that was done? If the answer is yes you can delete this
communication. Most important is if we can adhere to the message
below.

Above and beyond everything, such an event is a Sai offering. In
every activity that we do - be it a grand performance to the public,
or the tiniest offering at our altar at home, Sathya Sai Baba
reminds that in order for it to be a "SAI" activity, it must have
the following three aspects:

Service(Seva)
- the activity must serve a genuine need for both the server and the
one for whom the service is rendered.
Adoration
-of the Divinity within the one for whom the service is being given,
and the Divinity inherent in the very act of serving.
Illumination
- of the Inner vision and understanding of both the one who serves
and the one who receives the service that- in the famous words of
Saint Francis of Assisi- "It is in giving that we receive".
Only when all three aspects are present can any activity be called
a "SAI ACTIVITY". If any one of these three elements of Service
(Seva), Adoration and Illumination are missing, the activity, Swami
tells us, can not be called "SAI".

A concert offering is - first and foremost, Seva on three levels:
individual, group and community. It affords everyone involved in the
project the golden opportunity to work within their own groups and
with a wide spectrum of other people in other groups. We would thus
be spreading Swami's message of peace and love not just amongst our
own friends- young and old alike, but to everyone we come in contact
with: this is Adoration and awareness of the Divinity within
ourselves and other people.

Our participation in such a project addresses the need we have for
increasing our own understanding and acceptance of one another in
our individual groups, and equally important, the other faiths and
cultural groups. What a great way to learn from and about others!
This is Illumination.

Such a project is therefore an incredible chance for us as
individuals, and as true followers of Swami's teachings of Peace and
universal Love to fulfil our purpose- that of being instruments in
carrying out Swami's injunction- 'To be beacons of light, and spread
my Message of Love'.

The impact of such and activity on a community level is that it
fosters goodwill and is a great leap in understanding the other
faiths and cultural communities. This is what Swami means when He
says that we are all ONE. The concert preparation and offering are
both - in essence, the procedure which reveals to us that we truly
are one. It is like the polishing of the diamond, of which Swami
tells us - 'All are facets of the same Divine diamond'.

The Performing Arts team is available for consultation and
assistance at any time.

Yours in Sai Service,

Linda Walker-Muschelknautz."

- Festival Reflections - Adobe PDF Format
http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/relea...eflections.pdf
- Festival Reflections - MS Word Format
http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/relea...eflections.doc
- Flight of the Geese - Adobe PDF Format
http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/release/geese.pdf
- Flight of the Geese - MS Word Format
http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/release/geese.doc

sgd. T. Sri Ramanathan
Regional Central Coordinator
Sathya Sai Organisation
Australia & Papua New Guinea
43/84, St. Georges Crescent
Drummoyne NSW 2047
10th October 2003

©Sathya Sai Baba Organisation of Australia and PNG

Sathya Sai Baba Australia web site:
http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/