The
conference began on the morning of the 30th in the vast auditorium in the
Hotel. The specially prepared stage was in tune with the spiritual theme of the
conference. An illuminated white screen served as a backdrop and in the middle
of the stage was installed an artistic ebony Chair, specially designed by a
Greek devotee, according to a vision he had experienced earlier.
Everyone
who faced it experienced the presence of Bhagavan in that Chair.
The
atmosphere of the Conference was sanctified when Antonio Craxi, while
welcoming the delegates and visitors, began with the recitation of the "Om"
mantra and the "Asato maa Sadgamaya" prayer. The entire
gathering joined in the recitation of that universal prayer.
Welcome
To Rome
Welcoming
the large gathering of the global Sai family, on behalf of the Organising Committee,
Craxi said: "First and foremost, I should like to express, what
I believe is shared by all here today, our respectful homage and thanks to
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who has been the inspiration and motivator of
this Symposium and who is now with us, present within our hearts. Let us not
forget that this Symposium was made possible because He willed it so. It is through
His Grace that leading personalities from the worlds of religion, science, arts
and culture have come from all over the world to Italy, moved by the
unquenchable thirst for peace and joy. Many of you, who have not yet seen Him,
have come here hoping to be near Him. To you I repeat the words He spoke to me
before my departure for Italy, ‘Everyone who attends the Symposium will later
visit me at Puttaparthi.’ This is a promise; when the Lord so wishes, His will
prevails."
Craxi
extended a warm welcome to Prof. V. K. Gokak, the President of the
Conference, and the
Chairmen of the Committees dealing with the five topics to be discussed at the
Conference — Dr. John S. Hislop, Mr. Howard Murphet, Dr.
Sandweiss, Mr. V. K. Narasimhan and Mr. V. Srinivasan—and the
three Guest Speakers, Sir George Trevelyan (U. K.), Mr. Eugene Roy
Davis and Mr. Victor Kanu (Sierra Leone). "Our heartful
thanks,” he said, "go to all the delegates from the United States,
England, France, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland,
Spain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Babrein,
Greece, Yugoslavia, Ghana, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Singapore, Sierra
Leone, Thailand, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and
Mexico. Each one of you will be contributing to the work of the Symposium by
your active participation in the meetings and in helping to compile the reports
of each Committee."
Referring
to the choice of Rome as the venue of the Conference, Craxi said, “Rome,
the capital of Italy, once 'Caput Mundi', the capital of the known world, was
the heart of a civilization where the disciples of Jesus sowed the seeds of the
Christian faith, which later spread throughout the globe. Even though Rome is
no longer the 'Caput Mundi', it is without doubt the most important religious center
of the western world-a world where materialism has suppressed the true values of
mankind, and where corruption, crime, drugs and dissipation are serious signs
of a moral decadence. This cycle is now coming to an end and once more the
winds of Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love are blowing in from the East to
cleanse what is rotten and corrupt and to bring back morality to the world and
peace to the hearts of men. This Symposium announces to the whole world that
the Era of decadence is coming to a close and the dawn of a new age is evident
on the horizon.
"The
Word has become Flesh and has reincarnated at Puttaparthi! The new Jerusalem, headquarters
of a revolution of the Spirit, a revolution more powerful than ever before, is
now based in Puttaparthi. All roads used to lead to Rome; today all roads lead
to Puttaparthi!
"The
Lord is calling on all men of good will, whatever their religion or ideology,
to form a world movement which will sustain, by its purity and love, the flame
of unity so that the peace and prosperity of humanity is ensured. We are all
part of this movement and, in so far as we have faith and endeavour to
translate into our individual lives, families and societies the ideals of Sai as
regards Love, Dharma, Truth, Peace and Non-violence, its purifying power will increase,
and the world will change completely. All social; strata are represented in
this movement and the Divine Call is being heard by men and women of goodwill
everywhere.
"The
moral codes established by the sacred texts of all religions are signposts
along the Royal Road which leads to unity, but for many, religion has become
mere outward pomp and the exercise of economic power. This power is not real.
Love is the true power. It is with Love that God created the Universe, and with
Love He nourishes it and it is with Love He regenerates it.”
Prof
V. K. Gokak,
President of the Symposium, then read Bhagavan's Message to the Conference.
Mr. Craxi read the Italian version. The entire gathering stood up and
greeted the message with loud and prolonged applause. (Bhagavan's message is
published separately).
Expatiating
on the theme of the symposium, "Unity is Divinity,” Prof Gokak
said: "Man evolves
towards consciousness through identity with all the manifestations of life,
where the Many become One. Divinity is the foundation of man's consciousness
and existence. Today two problems face man: the reorganization of the
individual and the reorganization of society. For the individual there exist
ways for developing his consciousness and assisting his spiritual evolution-the
true pilgrimage of man." Speaking on Bhagavan as the Avatar of the
Age, Prof. Gokak said, "The Avatar is the summit of human
creation. He is the Divine Itself in the human, come down to play and shape
anew. He is a direct descent from Sat-Chit-Ananda, the triune Reality in its
transcendental aspect. He stands above Cosmic Law though born within the cosmos,
and he can manipulate or change it at will. He identifies himself with the
human level and strives incessantly to raise it. As a matter of fact, his
advent itself marks a decisive step in the evolution of the human race."
Prof.
Gokak
concluded with the touching exhortation: "To be on the way to the
Divine is as exhilarating as to be one with the Divine. Fellow pilgrims! Let me
salute the love on your lips, the song in your hearts, the lightness in your
limbs and the sweetness in your soul. The way shall not be long because of your
companionship, and the wind shall not be cold because of your warmth of heart.
May it be given to each one of us to tread the path steadily and to reach the goal!"
The
delegates met in the afternoon in five separate groups to discuss the five
topics announced earlier. Each group of over 200 delegates met in separate
committee rooms under its respective Chairman. As during the inaugural session,
the speeches were translated into English and Italian. The committee meetings
lasted over three hours and some committees met even after dinner to complete
the discussion.
Prasanthi
Nilayam in Rome
All the
participants reassembled in the auditorium at 6 p. m. for bhajan, by a group
which was international in its composition. The bhajans were rendered
excellently and created the Sai atmosphere at Prasanthi Nilayam. The bhajan
session was followed by the screening of the film, "Love is my form,”
produced by Mr. Jerko Tognola at Prasanthi Nilayam. In Its simple realistic presentation
of Bhagavan's activities at the Mandir and the way He showered His blessings on
the thousands of devotees, the film transported the entire gathering for a
brief hour to the holy precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam and the Divine presence
of Bhagavan.
Source:
Sanathan Sarathi, Nov. 1983 - SRI SATHYA SAI
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