Om Sai Ram - December 10th Singapore Programme in Kulwanth Hall

[Guest guest]

After a beautiful programme by the home team - Vishakapatnam,

it was the turn of an overseas team to bask in His love today! Swami

had permitted the devotees from Singapore to put up their presentation

in the Divine presence. It was an early arrival by current standards as

Swami came at 4:05pm for darshan. The Singapore group, however, were

ready and the backdrop was in place. A part of the sets was a

transparent board that proclaimed, "Spiritual Bank". It was a beautiful

sight to see Swami as He arrived for darshan through this for isn't He

the true Spiritual Bank? Everyone 'banks' on Him for any Spiritual

need! Moving across the ladies' side, Swami glanced up at the backdrop

and seemed to study it for a while when the coordinator for the

programme rose up on her knees and told Swami what the programme was

about. As Swami moved ahead, He enquired from the youth also as to

where they were from. They rejoiced at this opportunity of Sambashan as they told Him that they were from Singapore!

 

By 4:30pm, Swami was on stage and He asked the coordinator about

the programme. The members of the administration of the Singapore

organization went to Swami with roses and other flowers. On Swami's

command, one of them announced the programme, "Bank Balance", for the

evening. Then the children moved up towards Swami. Seeing them dressed

in crowns and kingly paraphernalia, Swami seemed surprised as He asked,

"The programme is about Bank then how come Rama and Lakshmana are there

in it?" The boys who had come did not catch the point and they bowed to

Him. They then offered the card which He read through, line by line.

Blessing them, He told them to go down. Beautiful interactions with the

other children followed and then the girl children too moved up the

stage to make their offerings. After that, the programme began.

 

Singapore is a mix of multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-faith

society, with the main races being Chinese, Malay and Indian. The

performance highlighted these aspects of Singapore through songs and

dances interspersed in the play. The play was based entirely upon

Swami's discourse about the Divine Spiritual Bank. The financial world

may come tumbling down with various recessions and bubble pops, but one

can always 'bank' upon the Spiritual bank! The deposits here are made

in the five human values and the returns are automatically credited

whenever there is a need. Based on one's 'history' of good actions, the

bank also issues an 'over-draft' in times of dire need and there is no

limitation to this saving grace! One needs no greater insurance than

this. The whole concept was illustrated with the lives of King Harishchandra and Ahalya.

Interspersed were songs by the choir and they sang as a well knit unit.

They did a commendable job by singing a Tamil song, a Hindi song and a

Telugu song to the delight of the devotees assembled in the Hall. The

whole programme was about 45 minutes long. Whenever the 'ideals' spoke

about the Spiritual Bank to their ignorant friends, Swami seemed

impressed. At the end of the programme, the whole group came together

in a formation.

 

Swami moved down the stage and granted them group pictures. Then He

asked one of the little boys as to what role he did in the drama. "Dead

boy" was the reply and Swami said, "Paapam!" and

materialized a chain for him. But the kid seemed scared to go to Swami!

He refused, just like a baby is 'scared' of somebody new! Swami

lovingly called him and put the chain around his neck. After that, He

gave white cloth pieces and sarees to be distributed to all of them.

What more! He sat down itself, facing all of them as all the

distribution went on. They were thrilled. Ensuring that all had got

prasadam too, Swami moved up the stage. Bhajans began by the

Singaporeans and Swami moved into the interview room. When He came out,

He gave the photo of the little kid receiving the chain to him. Then,

He called one of the students and asked him to ensure that all the

children had received clothes. Having confirmed that, Swami received

Aarthi at 6:10pm and retired.

 

Om Sai Ram

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