April 8, 2012
HOUSTON: The Sathya Sai Organization will present a musical tribute to mark the anniversary of Sathya Sai Baba’s departure from his mortal coil. This free concert features one of Baba’s well-known devotees, multi-award winning British blues singer, Dana Gillespie.
April 8, 2012
HOUSTON: The Sathya Sai Organization will present a musical tribute to mark the anniversary of Sathya Sai Baba’s departure from his mortal coil. This free concert features one of Baba’s well-known devotees, multi-award winning British blues singer, Dana Gillespie.
As a renowned radio, music, film and theatre personality, British blues singer Dana Gillespie has given numerous performances, won several accolades and traversed the globe. But, this talented artiste who played Mary Magdalene in the first run of Jesus Christ Superstar felt that there was something missing. As Dana herself puts it, she did not have a “bed of roses” life and this left a yawning gap in her being. Unexpectedly she picked up a copy of Howard Murphet’s Man of Miracles (a book that has drawn thousands of devotees, including many westerners to Sai Baba). The very next week, Dana was winging her way to India in the hope that her life would finally be complete with the grace of a spiritual guru.
Dana continued to make the journey to India each year, for she experienced several instances of Baba’s presence and grace in her life. Dana gave expression to her yearning for Baba in the only way she knew-through the soulful medium of the blues. After many visits, Baba finally blessed her with ample opportunities for a unique form of service that of reaching hearts and souls all over the world and delivering his message of universal love and peace through the unlikely, yet soul-stirring, medium of music, specifically the blues.
In the thirty one years that Dana has been in Sai Baba’s service, she has performed several times in his august presence. She has transported his message to countless music lovers and spiritual aspirants across the world. Dana’s concerts are amazing, life-changing experiences; the themes of her concerts continue to be common blues themes, the ones that have engaged, delighted and often agonized the human mind, matters of love, separation, happiness, yearning, the narrative of the plethora of emotions that move human beings from the zenith of ecstasy to the depths of despair. However, since coming to Sai Baba, the locus of Dana’s expression has seen a sublime shift, she still sings the blues, but her allusions to love now revolve around love of and for God. Her expressions of yearning now point to man’s eternal quest for union with God. Her depiction of the range of emotions has now transcended from the human to the divine; she still sings songs of hope and yearning, but the goal is now happiness of an everlasting nature, the joy that comes from universal love and peace.
Sai Baba bequeathed to his devotees the message of universal love, omnipresent divinity and encompassing unity. This message has manifested itself in a myriad of service initiatives, including educational projects, health and infrastructure initiatives all over the world. Throughout his life, Sai Baba has been an oasis of love and comfort to all those in need. This magnetic love has drawn remarkable musicians, artists, sportspersons, statesmen and people from every walk of life to him. Dana Gillespie is one such, rather unlikely devotee. Dana has served as an important instrument in Baba’s mission through her music and performances all over the world. Her music is a true reflection of the rich experiences that she has had with Baba, redolent with hope, love, joy and devotion.
Mirroring the global nature of Baba’s followers, Dana’s music incorporates a rich amalgam of rock, the blues and Indian music to create a mellifluous blend that is as inspiring as it is serene. Bold yet soothing, emotional yet melodious, Dana’s dulcet vocals transport the listener to a world of divinity and harmony.
In the last three decades, Dana’s rich and evocative voice has given manifold expression to the tenets of universal love, oneness, harmony, peace and such core human values that were so dear to Sai Baba himself. Her music exhorts us to see God in all, to love one another as we would want to be loved, and to experience the joy of our inherent divinity.
“Love the Love” is organized by The Sathya Sai organization, a network of groups (Sai Centers), which facilitate service, devotional and educational activities along with living the spiritual ideals instructed by Sathya Sai Baba. Sai Centers welcome people of all faiths while providing a place to meet, study and practice the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba. Sai Centers also give back to their local communities by encouraging members to engage in selfless service.
The Sathya Sai organization has a presence in over 114 countries with more than 2,000 Centers worldwide, 200 of which are in various cities across the United States.
Love the Love concert will be held on Saturday, April 28 from 3:00-5:30pm at Unity of Houston Church.
Courtesy: indo-american
