From the moment that the LOTUS Shrine was exposed to the class by Professor Rasnic, I was determined to visit it. The photo displayed on the homepage of the shrine showed great beauty and I became very curious about what was enclosed in the giant lotus structure that I saw on the computer. Rather than watching a virtual tour or scanning the pictures on the LOTUS website, I decided to make the drive on Saturday April 23rd.
In order to get to the shrine it is necessary to drive through country roads. I didn’t realize how isolated the property was after learning of the meaning of the LOTUS, it makes complete sense to why it was stationed on the Yogaville property. I knew once reaching the top of the winding hill that I would be in awe at the sight.
I eagerly anticipated my visit to the shrine. I had expectations of meeting many Hindu followers and possibly participating in Hindu worship. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be the only visitor to the shrine who was not a Hindu and I was terrified I wouldn’t know what to do upon my arrival. I expected there to be vibrant colors and much decoration within the shrine corridor. Visions of crowded meditation areas stuck in my head as the countdown for my visit occurred.
When I first walked onto the property, I realized it was very, very calm and serene. There were very few visitors and a very welcoming staff who were there to answer questions and instruct you with Hindu tradition.
After watching a welcoming video and having the opportunity to talk with the members who volunteer at the shrine, I realized that the LOTUS shrine is not a Hindu temple- it's a place of worship and appreciation for all religions of the world. I had it in my mind that I was going to have a Hindu experience but instead, I had an overwhelming sense of connectedness between Hinduism and all religion. The lower section of the LOTUS is an area with different 'shrines' to 12 major religions and another section that displays prime concepts of most small religions that exist in the world. I took pictures of our most recent religions of focus in our class.
It is clear to see the historic Buddha in the picture above.
From the apparent yin-yang above, this is a shrine to Taoism.
I finally understood that the purpose of the LOTUS shrine is to have a place of worship for all religions. It was built by H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda who had the goal of establishing a sacred place where "universal and spiritual vision" can produce a positive change in the world. This idea was clear by statues and artwork throughout the establishment.
In the top portion of the LOTUS shrine there is a meditation room. With exception of one half hour in each day, it is open to individual mediation and one of the most beautiful rooms I had ever seen. I probably spent about 20 minutes walking around and reading famous sayings from the different scriptures of prominent faiths and about 30 minutes of individual meditation on the edge of the room. The gorgeous ceiling was symbolic of all types of paths (in this sense religions) leading to one ultimate goal (truth/happiness). The symbolism within the shrine was very moving.
"Truth is One, Paths are Many."
By the end of my meditation I was very happy and at peace with everything. I wasn't stressing about my upcoming tests or the two hour drive home; I was happy to be there at the very moment in time. It was very calming and exactly what I wanted it to be.
After having a chance to visit Sri Swami Satchidananda small shrine and traveling to the top of the hill (advice from a volunteer), I was able to see a breathtaking view of the entire area which solidified my happiness in the moment. At the top of the hill I was able to see very exquisite statues of Ganesha and Krishna.
The most beautiful view of the mountains and the LOTUS really made the trip worthwhile.
My visit to the LOTUS shrine was slightly different from what I had imagined it to be. The busy Hindu temple that had imagined was actually a quite, peaceful shrine to all religions that exist. I found this trip extremely rewarding and I really hope to visit the LOTUS shrine again. I really hope to have the chance to go soon and have another chance to meditate in the peaceful meditation room again.
