Christmas Report 2004

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Christmas Celebrations: December 24th and 25th

It is a remarkable feature of festival celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam that

they are not confined to any particular religion or deity. They are universal

in character emphasizing the underlying unity of all religions and the

fundamental message of love and peace. Indeed, Bhagawan had declared in a

discourse delivered on the occasion of the First World Conference of the Sri

Sathya Sai Seva Organizations at Mumbai in July 1968: "This is a human form in

which every Divine entity, every Divine Principle, that is to say, all Names

and Forms ascribed by man to God, are manifest". Thus, we see today, devotees

professing different faiths being drawn to Bhagawan from all over the world,

seeing in Him the Name and Form that is most dear to them, and also deriving

the bliss of celebrating their religious festivities in His Divine presence.

December 24th Evening: Carol singing by overseas devotees

The Christmas celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam this year commenced on the

evening of December 24th with carol singing by the overseas devotees, first by

a choir consisting of children, followed next by the adults. The Sai Kulwant

Hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Two platforms were erected on

either side of the main portico, on which small statuettes were placed. One

depicted the scene of Nativity, with the child Jesus and the parents Joseph and

Mary, in the manger where He was born. Another showed the three wise men from

the East who had brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the divine

child. Christmas trees were placed on either side of the idol of Lord Ganesha

in the center of the portico. Decorative stars and the angels and cherubs

usually associated with Christmas, were hung at various places in the Mandir.

Early on the morning of December 25th, after the chanting of Suprabhatam at

5.30 a.m., there was

carol singing by overseas devotees. Bhagawan granted Darshan to the multitudes

who had gathered in the Sai Kulwant Hall at 7.30 a.m. The morning programme

commenced with a rendition of Christmas carols and songs by the brass band of

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. This was followed by carol singing

by the students of Bhagawan's university and school. After arati was offered to

Bhagawan and prasadam had been distributed to the devotees, Bhagawan retired to

His residence.

Sai Kulwant Hall decorated on the occasion of Christmas

That afternoon, after Darshan, Bhagawan blessed three speakers to address the

assembly. Ms. Rita Bruce, the first speaker, is a long-standing devotee and an

author of books on parenting basing on the ideals taught by Bhagawan. She spoke

on the theme, 'Dharma for Women', emphasizing the role and responsibility women

have in transforming the children of today into value-based citizens of

tomorrow. Dr. Keki Mistry, a dentist based in Mumbai, was the next speaker. He

narrated his experience of being miraculously cured by Bhagawan of a persistent

cough caused by a tumour in his tracheal region, after all efforts by the best

medical professionals had failed. He said that it is important to regard God as

one's close and long-standing friend and not as someone distant from us. The

last speaker, Mr. John Behner, Zonal Chairman of the International Sai

Organization (Zone 2), recalled that it was Bhagawan who had taught him his

first lessons on the

importance of service to one's fellow beings through His own example, and

narrated the incident that had inspired him to take up service as a sadhana

(spiritual exercise). After the Christmas celebrations of 1974, Bhagawan had

organized a dinner for the overseas devotees and He went around serving food to

the devotees Himself. When Bhagawan approached Mr. Behner and his wife, they

expressed their gratitude to Bhagawan. Bhagawan smiled at them and said, "It is

My duty". This made a deep impression on the speaker that the Lord of the

Universe could perform such a humble task and consider it His duty. He said

that the teachings of Bhagawan and the message of Jesus were one in their

emphasis on Love towards all creation.

December 25th Evening: Bhagawan delivering His Divine Discourse

Bhagawan, in His discourse that evening, said that we must pray to God, not for

the fulfillment of our worldly desires, but for God alone. "When we secure

God's Grace all our desires get fulfilled by themselves", He declared, bringing

to mind words Jesus had said two millennia ago: "And seek not ye what ye shall

eat, or what ye shall drink …but rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all

these things shall be added unto you." (Luke 12:22–31). He enjoined on the

devotees to develop the firm conviction that all are children of God and

install Love for God in their hearts. He concluded the discourse with the

Bhajan, "Prema Muditha Man Se Kaho…"After arati was offered to Bhagawan, He

moved amidst the concourse of devotees, blessing them all and filling

everyone's heart with joy, before retiring to His residence. Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!Jai Sai Ram!

Source:

http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/Christmas_04_Report.htmDo

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