Sangha Sings Dharma, Shah Alam, Malaysia

Being an eclectic, the day before the Buddhist Music Concert by Sangha & Youth (佛

法青年音樂會), which took place in Melawati Indoor Stadium Shah Alam on Saturday, he was both skeptical and unenthused to join his gal friend, Joy, to whom he had promised to accompany. He accepted his unhelpful feelings and sufficed experientially in the stance of acceptance, and must accept the virtue of a promise. His feelings flawed him to the floor, a fact that is irrelevant and unworthy to sweep, let it be. Off he went with Joy while his mind relaxed a smidgen.

A short drive and with peculiar ease they reached the stadium, used the correct gate to the nearest car park. However, not before they had to stopped and queued for waves of people sweeping across the car parks, the roads and up the high staircase, which anyone could see leisurely from their vehicle in timely queue. As many cars parked, another wave of people swept towards the stadium. He saw hundreds of enthusiasts were sitting in an enormous tent waiting to register for membership while others hundred were peopling everywhere in swarms of youths, parents and the elders. “Quite a reception!” so he thought when he summed up the waves, approximated two thousands at least.

A certainty was positive energy prevailed in the air.

Wasted no time, they entered the stadium’s entrance as the doors were closing, which was ten minutes before three.

From daylight into darkness the stadium they entered, their path shined and shown by a spherical brightness of colors above many towering shoulders and heads. Curiosity was piquing, ‘Why the commotion? Must seek higher ground to catch sight!’ (FYI, dear readers, the blogger is only 5’1” or 155cm in height. Where ever he goes, he faces towers full frontal. Chuckle, chuckle! )

Sound of musical sutras filled the stadium. Voices of thrills and excitement echoed, if not devotion, at least, joys and happiness. A few steps up some staircase, a gleam of light stole my eyes, exploded into lotuses of warm colors. Three clusters of giant lotus leaves at each end of a 5-tiers stage. Six huge standing lotuses stood on the highest stage. The giant leaves and huge lotuses stood out in pink brilliance with sparkling white contours. The clever decoration was not elaborate but eponymous to the occasion.

Looking for seats; without walk far or search high, two vacant seats with an excellent stage view as if were awaiting! The blogger is not a Buddhist but an eclectic – the repetition is obviously relevant. As good as premeditated, the journey from a home to their seats had been incredibly effortless. He sat down and realized that it would take more than a few thoughts to summarize the charged atmosphere, reasons for, and the message lie within this concert.

Beside one end of the stage stood a three to four stories tower where streams of laser lights shoot out in all directions. He could see three rows of drums, about 20 if his counting was near, placed at the side before the stage. On the highest stage and some walls, huge screens were in place. Granted it was not Madonna’s concert but it was impressive. Entry was gratis and the audience’s response was even more impressive – it could be a consensual feeling across that gave rise to a concerted rapport of at least seven (7) thousands’ voices. Everyone, anyone could see a concerted rapport on those giant screens. Nearly everyone sang along the lyrics displayed on the screens; they waved in unison the flags or glow sticks in their hand. It was a concert. All these before the concert even started!

Finally, the concert started at 3:05pm with our local singers belting out Buddhist songs. Pleasing the crowd many times were four colorful, large groups of teenagers wearing red, green, yellow and blue polo shirts moving in rhythm to every different sound of music.
Intermittently, a group of 100 monks in traditional robes performed their devotion in the form of a sutra song. They performed twice but in different robes in which the first was rice with brown and the second was gold with orange. The laser lights were at all times in coordination, in heightened effects with every occasion or performance. Throughout every performance, the audience sang along with flags and glowing sticks stretched and waved. Joy, happiness and obedience, are the words the blogger would use.

According to his friend, Joy, the monks or sangha, who came from many countries, are students under an educational program established by Fo Guang Shan (佛光山), a monastic order also called International Buddhist Progress Society.

Fo Guang Shan 佛光山, great works of Wikipedia!

But the ultimate highlight to the blessed delight of the huge audience was when the Venerable Master Hsing Yun (星雲大師), the founder of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order an affiliated Buddha’s Light of International Association (國際佛光會), a surprise presence as soon as was captured in everyone’s awareness, an immense roar was drew as if to embrace his presence. The Master was on wheelchair as the Master made his way to the highest stage with two aides. The Master gave an address that focused on education, the blessing to have an education. The telling anecdotes, were informative of one’s life, perhaps of love and affection. Although at an advanced age of 86, the Master’s voice is still clear as bells. His unguarded utterance exacted an interwoven by many points of issue. The effusion of words the crystal-clear water in an untouched brooklet.

More on Master Hsing Yun 星雲大師, courtesy of Wikipedia!

The atmosphere, reason(s) and message(s) of this occasion constituted a reverberation of love and affection, and education among the audience, among their family, among their friends, among everyone around them. No few thoughts can brush as perfect a picture of the atmosphere, reason(s) and message(s) as being there.

The air was definitely positively charged. An extraordinary concert.