18 Oct 2008, Kobe, Japan
Swami Purnamritananda Puri arrived in Kobe, Japan on the morning of October 11th conducting the first program of his month long tour in Japan this year at Sanda Satonone Hall.
The program began with an introductory video about Amma’s Tsunami Relief work and the Japanese Student Volunteers who participate in the housing project every year. A famous Japanese opera singer made a musical offering to Amma, by singing the song “Amazing Grace,” which set the tone for Swami’s program to begin.
Swami began with an eloquent satsang on the present state of affairs in the world, and how we can restore the lost balance of nature, the economy, society, and humanity as a whole, by learning from Amma’s example of selfless living. The over 400 attendees all listened with rapt attention. The hall was then filled with the peaceful strains of Swami’s devotional singing, including a new Japanese translation of his own bhajan, ‘Azhikkullil’. After the bhajans, the Japanese devotees were instructed to meditate on the sound of the bamboo flute, guiding everyone through a musical meditation. Swami also answered their spiritual questions before the program was concluded with prasad distribution to one and all.
At the end of the tour, Swamiji and Br. Shantamrita will return to Kobe again for an IAM Meditation technique course.
– Kusumita