“Choosing Happiness” Event at Albert Hall, Canberra, Australia

BK Sister Shivani was the keynote speaker at the heritage-listed Albert Hall, a very successful and heart-warming event on a cold Canberra evening on the topic “Choosing Happiness.”  It was a full hall filled with a responsive and interactive audience of 550 Canberrans.

The people of influence program (before the main event) included professionals from Canberra interfaith, academia, Indian associations, and the local media (Punjabi, Hindi, Tamil and multicultural radio and newspaper). It was amazing to hear how Sr. Shivani had deeply touched the hearts and influenced the lives of each one of them.

The main event unfolded with BK David’s melodious music and MC Dr. Kim Cunio’s equally melodious commentary introducing Sr. Shivani.

Sr. Shivani took everyone on a hilarious journey to choose happiness using knowledge in an insightful way. As soon as she began her talk, the words began floating with the lightness of a summer breeze filled with the fragrance of deep knowledge, coated with light-hearted humor and simple common sense.  God’s knowledge was given out in a manner that was not only very palatable, but also very real.  Meditation commentaries interspersed with silence, gentle music and reflective prompts made the evening a tangible and memorable experience.

Some quotes included: We are a diamond sitting in a box with wrappings and labels, constantly forgetting the diamond and worried about the box, wrappings and labels. We like our chairs (job, husband, house, etc.) and if my chair is better than yours, then my happiness is perceived to be better than yours.

The event ended with Sr. Shivani leading the audience into silent meditation, like an angel, flying and making them all fly with her. The Canberra BK family worked for weeks together with Canberra Service Programs Department representative Mary Patrech, planning and organising, leading up to the successful program. Every one in the BK family contributed to the success of the program with their finger of cooperation.