Prasanthi Bulletin , Thursday, January 1, 2009

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Prasanthi Bulletin

 

 

 

 

Index of earlier Bulletins

 

 

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Sai Students - alumni of Prasanthi Nilayam and Brindavan - were

ready to escort Bhagawan from His residence to Sai Kulwant Hall in a

procession with flag marchers and Poornakumbham with Vedam. Swami

arrived just before 10 am in a dazzling white robe seated on a golden

chair, granting New Year darshan to the devotees who filled and

surrounded Sai Kulwant Hall. When He reached the verandah, Bhagawan

blessed the cakes there and came onstage to begin the programme

arranged by the Sai Students. A band programme with symphonic and vocal

accompaniment was followed by songs composed for the occasion by the

Sai Students. The whole programme was interspersed with short speeches

by the alumni, reliving their days with Sai. A bhajan medley formed the

score for a short dance programme too. Swami blessed the participants

who came up to Him one by one, and after prasadam was distributed,

accepted Arati at 11.35 am.

Bhagawan arrived in the evening for darshan clad in a deep red

robe. When He came onstage just before 5.30 pm, He blessed the brass

band of the University to perform, and they played a couple of pieces

with brief introductions. Songs by the students followed. Swami called

up some of the alumni singers and asked them to sing, and they sang

some of the group songs which used to be sung by the students in the

mid-90s. After 45 minutes of music, Bhagawan delivered His Divine

Message. Bhagawan's emphasised the message of Advaita, stressing the

point that there is nothing in this world which is not divine, and that

we should conduct ourselves bearing this in mind. After speaking for

more than 70 minutes, Bhagawan asked for Bhajans to begin at 7.25 pm.

Prasadam was distributed, and Swami accepted Arati at 7.45 before

returning to His residence.

 

Wednesday, December 31, 2008 The

alumni of the University and Higher Secondary School campuses at

Prasanthi Nilayam and Brindavan have been gathering on 1 January for

the last few years. This time, they had arranged a workshop for the

alumni in the Poornachandra auditorium, with presentations on how to

interface better with their alma mater and with the Sai Organisation.

Bhagawan indicated last night that He would grace the proceedings, so

all the alumni were seated in the Poornachandra by 8.30 am. Swami went

to the Mandir where the Bhajans began at 9 o'clock, and accepting Arati

at 9.15, came to the Poornachandra where He was welcomed with Vedic

chants. The nearly 500 strong gathering was given an introduction to

the speakers by Sri Chakravarthy, former Registrar of the University

and current Secretary of the Central Trust. Former Vice Chancellor Sri

S. V. Giri and the All India President of Sai Organisations Sri V.

Srinivasan were the two speakers for the morning. Following their

speeches, Bhagawan addressed the alumni, with translation by Prof. Anil

Kumar. Bhagawan's 30 minute Discourse was followed by a 20 minute

interactive session, in which the alumni got some points clarified by

Swami directly. Prasadam was distributed, and Bhagawan left for His

residence after Arati at 11.30 am. The alumni continued their workshop

with presentations by some of their own number. In the evening, many of

the alumni sat in the Bhajan Hall for the five o'clock bhajans. When

Swami came to the Bhajan Hall at 5.15, He moved down the aisle and took

a round of the verandah, returning to the Bhajan Hall to accept Arati

at 5.50 pm.

 

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