LOTUS: The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine

LOTUS Light Of Truth Universal Shrine

Integral YogaÂŽ Publications Yogaville, Virginia

Acknowledgments Our greatest gratitude to H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda for creating the LOTUS. His glorious vision made it possible for people from all over the world and of all faiths to come together in a place of peace, beauty and spiritual harmony and be inspired to “do their own part to build a more peaceful world.”

Our deepest thanks to all who served in the construction of the LOTUS; to Maithreya Cerone, Dr. Prasant Hansma, Bhaktan Liczwinko, Rama Di Maria, Swami Sharadananda, Swami Tyagananda and all others who contributed their photographs; to Paraman Barsel, Prakash Shakti Capen, Swami Jyotirmayananda, Karuna Kreps, Swami Lalitananda, Ganesh MacIsaac, Jnanam MacIsaac for their help in compiling the text; and Swami Hamsananda, Steven Rosen, Abhaya Thiele and others who worked on various aspects of this book.

Our sincere appreciation to Ananda Siva Hervé for the layout/photo-editing of this book, to Peter Petronio for the cover design and to Rev. Prem Anjali for production supervision. Special thanks to Richard Mangum for technical support and to Bish Bailey and all at Bailey Printing Inc. (Charlottesville, Virginia) for their outstanding service.

Our deepest gratitude to the following donors for their support in making the publication of this book possible: Sivani Marlene Alderman René­­­and Shankara Bookoff Lindy Chan Lau and the Chan Family Kamilla and Mohan Harilela and Family V. Karunananthan and Family Rani and N. Pemmaraju Rao and Family Padma and Harry Wadhwani and Family The Integral Yoga Institute of New York and all the Integral Yoga® Magazine donors

ISBN 978-0-932040-58-9 © Copyright 2006 by Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville®.

All rights reserved, Integral Yoga® Publications Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville Buckingham, Virginia 23921 USA www.lotus.org wwww.integralyoga.org 2

Dedication On the special occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the LOTUS, this book is dedicated to the Light of all faiths, world peace, the founder of the LOTUS, to all who contributed to the creation of this unique Shrine, and to all who spread the message of unity in diversity.

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Contents Introduction............................................................................... p. 7 1 / Why LOTUS?............................................................................................. p. 11 2 / Why Interfaith?

Many Paths, One Truth........................................................................... p. 15 World Peace through Interfaith Cooperation........................................ p. 16

3 / Why Light?

The Presence of Light . .......................................................................... p. 19 Light of Lights......................................................................................... p. 19 Light Permeates the Universe................................................................. p. 20 Life, Love and Light................................................................................. p. 21 Designing the LOTUS Light..................................................................... p. 22

4 / Design of the LOTUS

An Overview of the Design.................................................................... p. 25

The Mystical Geometry and Design of the LOTUS................................ p. 31

5 / Construction History Development of the Dream.................................................................... p. 35 LOTUS: A Unique Construction.............................................................. p. 37 LOTUS Construction Timeline................................................................ p. 46 LOTUS Dimensions................................................................................. p. 47

6 / The Dedication of the LOTUS............................................................. p. 50 7 / World Faiths The All Faiths Yantra............................................................................... p. 61 Introduction to the World Faiths............................................................ p. 61 LOTUS at-a-Glance: Altar Quotations.................................................... p. 62

Hinduism................................................................................................. p. 64

Judaism.................................................................................................... p. 66

Shinto...................................................................................................... p. 68 Taoism..................................................................................................... p. 70

Buddhism................................................................................................ p. 72

Christianity.............................................................................................. p. 74 4

Islam......................................................................................................... p. 76 Sikhism..................................................................................................... p. 78

African...................................................................................................... p. 80

Native American....................................................................................... p. 82 Other Known Faiths: Religious................................................................. p. 84 Other Known Faiths: Secular................................................................... p. 86

Faiths Still Unknown................................................................................. p. 88

8 / Interfaith Prayers The LOTUS Prayer by H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda .......................... p. 89 The Universal Prayer by H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda ............................. p. 89

9 / About His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda Designer and Founder of the LOTUS...................................................... p. 91 Interfaith Pioneer..................................................................................... p. 92

A Global Interfaith Mission...................................................................... p. 94

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INTRODUCTION The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) is a unique temple dedicated to the Light of all faiths and world peace. Emanating from the vision, design and inspiration of H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev), the LOTUS was dedicated in 1986. Nestled in the peaceful countryside of Virginia, its doors are open to people of all faiths. In fact, anyone would feel at home at this universal Shrine, for its individual altars represent and honor the world’s many faiths.

This book presents information on the philosophy behind the LOTUS as well as the importance of interfaith cooperation in our world today. Here, you can read about the purpose of the LOTUS in the founder’s own words; discover its beauty through color photographs and a virtual tour; bask in its unique architecture and construction—and experience the 1986 Dedication Ceremonies through recollections and photographs of the occasion. You can also learn about the religious traditions represented in the LOTUS through scriptural quotations and photographs from the displays in the All Faiths Hall. We also include information about Sri Gurudev, the founder of the LOTUS and a pioneer in the interfaith movement.

“I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.”

—H. H. the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso “Every human being under the sun is graciously welcome at the LOTUS.”

—The Very Reverend James P. Morton, The Interfaith Center of New York “The LOTUS stands as a living monument to the interfaith ideals.”

—Dr. Karan Singh, M.P., International Chairman of The Temple of Understanding “The LOTUS was built to address the challenge of the hour: for us to work together in the formation of a global spirituality that will make us realize that we are all one and the welfare of any one lies in the well-being of us all.”

—Father Basil Pennington, OCSO, Abbot, Cistercian Monastery “The LOTUS celebrates the unity of all faiths, the many paths but one God.”

—Rabbi Joseph Gelberman,

The New Synagogue; Founder, All Faiths Seminary International “I appreciate the LOTUS which promotes understanding among all people and among all religions. May we all come to the path of unity that will allow us to overcome the enemy of separation that is now trying to destroy all of the earth.“

—Sun Bear, Founder, the Bear Tribe Medicine Society “The LOTUS is a ‘Statue of Spirituality’ equal to the Statue of Liberty. It unites spirituality into the reality of the Oneness of God and Light and gives everybody unity in diversity.”

—Yogi Bhajan, Sikh Dharma Chief for the Western Hemisphere “The LOTUS is a visual testimony to interfaith understanding and stands as a beacon of Truth and Peace.”

—The Venerable Prabhasa Dharma, Founder of the International Zen Institute “More people have died in the name of God and religion than in all the wars and natural calamities. But, the real purpose of any religion is to educate us about our spiritual unity. It is time for us to recognize that there is one truth and many approaches. The basic cause for all the world problems is the lack of understanding of our spiritual unity. The need of the hour is to know, respect, love one another and to live as one global family. Our humble aim in building the LOTUS is to spread this message.”

—H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda, Founder of the LOTUS 7

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Participants in a world peace celebration encircle the LOTUS.

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1 / WHY LOTUS? The purpose behind the LOTUS is to bring people together so that we can remember the unity behind the diversity. Before I even started building the LOTUS, I seriously asked myself, “Is it necessary? Should we spend money for that? Why can’t we spend that money for the more needy people?” People ask me that question. My answer is that I don’t deny the importance of immediate service to the needy, poor, sick or hungry. But, why are people poor, sick, or hungry?

The reason is because we don’t care and share enough.

That is why in Yogaville we are trying to lead a life filled with caring and sharing—a life centered around the recognition of our spiritual unity. In the name of the LOTUS, that is what we are trying to do. What is it that we should see if we really want a peaceful co-existence? We should see the one unifying factor, the Spirit. If we see the Spirit in us, we realize that we are all one. The challenge given to each and every one of us is to remember that oneness behind the outer differences. When we forget that and identify ourselves with the superficial differences, we lose sight of the spiritual oneness. So, religion asks us to get back to that original state. The very meaning of the word “religion” is “to bind back;” to get back to our original oneness.

All the different religions are there to help us to achieve peace and communion. They may offer different prayers and practices, but all of these are designed to help us to commune with God. There are many different roads that lead to the same goal. Because we are one in Spirit, it doesn’t mean that we need to renounce our own path or approach. That is not unity; that is conversion. Real unity means accepting all the various approaches. That is what the LOTUS and interfaith understanding are all about.

The idea behind the LOTUS is not to have all faiths merge into one or to give up one religion for another. Just because I love my mother, should I ask you to renounce your mother and only love my mother? I should know that just as I love my mother, you also love your mother. That is why in the name of the LOTUS and interfaith understanding we are saying, “Let us love all our mothers.”

You can be loyal to your parents, your religion, your country, and at the same time you can love and respect another person’s allegiances. There is nothing contradictory in that. You don’t have to renounce one to love another. Ultimately, we all aim for the same truth while walking on different paths. It is time to understand each other better and to live as one global family.

That is why my motto has always been, “Truth is one, paths are many.” We must do everything within our capacity to follow the principle that we should not, and cannot divide ourselves in the name of God and religion. Otherwise, we are looking at the superficial side of religion and forgetting to go deep into its foundation. If we did go deep, we would find that all the religions ultimately talk about the same God, the same Truth. It is time for us to recognize that there is one truth and many approaches.

Many more people have died in the name of God and religion than in all the wars and natural calamities. Let us not forget that. So, what is the cause? We don’t seem to recognize that we are all brothers and sisters in the same spirit. We may look different, but the same spirit runs through us all. The purpose of any religion is to teach us about our spiritual oneness, to help us to live this truth: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” That’s why the purpose behind the LOTUS is a universal aim.

It is not uniformity, but universality—unity in diversity. We are not trying to put everything into one religion. The world is really beginning to understand this now. There are many, many global interfaith conferences. The time has come; the world has shrunk. We cannot separate ourselves and deny each other. It’s time to know, respect, love one another and to live as one global family.

Our humble aim in building the LOTUS is to spread that message.

May the entire universe be filled with peace and joy, love and light. OM Shanthi.

—H .H. Sri Swami Satchidananda 11

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The LOTUS appears to be floating like a flower in a lotus pond.

Visitors can walk around the upper pond.

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Representatives of world faiths celebrate at the LOTUS dedication, 1986.

2 / WHY INTERFAITH? Many Paths, One Truth The purpose of any religion is to educate us about our spiritual unity. Everything that God created belongs to all of us and our future generations. The entire world belongs to us, to be shared by us as one family of God. Nobody can put a label and say, “This is mine alone.” All the resources of the world are given to us for our use and we have a responsibility as caretakers on this earth.

Truth is one. The great sages and saints have experienced the same truth but only expressed it in different ways. It does not matter what name you give to the nameless Spirit. The only way to eternal peace and joy is to realize that Christhood or Buddhahood or Krishnahood. But when we miss that point, we fight in the name of Spirit.

There are so many things that can separate and divide us. We say, “I’m an American,” or “I’m an Australian.” “I am white,” or “I am black.” “I am fat,” or “I am thin,” “I am a boy,” or “I am a girl.” “I am Christian,” or “I’m Hindu,” or “I’m a Jew.” My color may be different from your color.

Her color may be different from somebody else’s color. We are all of various colors and hues because nature never makes duplicates. There is constant variety throughout the creation. But inside, we all have the same Light; we are all made in the image of God. The same Light is shining through many different colored lamps.

When we look at the outside alone, we will only see differences. But when we go a little deeper, we see the oneness. Don’t we say that “beauty is only skin deep.” Scratch less than one millimeter beneath the surface and we all have the same color blood. So, if we see the difference, we are different; we are separate. But if we see the Spirit, we are the same. I am you, you are me; we are not different. We have all the differences and individual distinctions, but we are so much more. These definitions are what you use in order to function in this world. The challenge given to each and every one of us is to remember that oneness behind the outer differences.

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God gave each of us a different costume, different makeup, a different role, in order to play our part in the world. But behind all these differences, we are all one in Spirit. When we forget that and identify ourselves with the superficial differences, we lose sight of the spiritual oneness.

So, religion asks us to get back to that original state. The very meaning of the word “religion” is to “bind back,” to get back to your original oneness.

When we argue about what is the right path and whose religion is best, there is something terribly wrong with our approach. We are looking at the superficial side of religion and forgetting to go deep into its foundation. If we did go deep, we would find that all the religions ultimately talk about the same God, the same Truth; but somehow we ignore that common base and continue to fight over the superficial aspects.

It is time for us to recognize that there is one Truth and many approaches. As long as you are a spiritual seeker, follow your spiritual path with your goal in mind. Don’t worry about other people’s paths. Whatever path you choose according to your temperament and taste, stay with that consistently. Though God can be approached through any form or name, if you keep changing from one idea of God to another, you won’t progress at all. You can’t travel on ten roads at the same time, even if they’re all going to Rome.

So, let us resolve to not fight in the name of religion. When the understanding comes that essentially we are one appearing as many, then all the other problems—physical and material—will be solved. Until then, they will never be solved because the basic cause for all the world problems is the lack of understanding of this spiritual unity. Wherever you go say, “We look different, but we are all one in Spirit. Hello, brother; hello sister.” No religion is superior and no religion is inferior. We are all doing God’s work. We should learn to live together and work toward one goal: to share and care, love and give.

World Peace Through Interfaith Cooperation In order to have a better world we must learn to think of the globe as a whole. Whatever problems face us as human beings, there are also solutions. This needs a lot of cooperation and all should rise above personal, selfish interests and think in terms of the whole world. Only by having a universal and spiritual vision can we bring positive change into the world.

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We are literally destroying ourselves in the name of religion. We criticize each other’s faiths, proclaiming, “Mine is the best, yours is the worst.” Even the same religious groups have splintered factions. Is that the purpose behind religion? Do you think our God will be happy? Because we are one in Spirit, it doesn’t mean that you should renounce your own path or approach. That is not unity; that is conversion. Real unity means accepting all the various approaches, and that is what interfaith understanding is all about.

Interfaith dialogue is designed to bring people together so that we can remember the unity behind the diversity. Sometimes people ask if the interfaith approach is an effort to have all faiths merge into one. That is not the point. If there is only one kind of flower in the garden, it is no longer a garden. Should the flowers fight about their colors, their scents, their shapes, and forms?

Should they hate each other for their differences? We seem to appreciate the variety, texture, shapes, and scents of the flowers as they blend together to create a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

God created all this variety for us to enjoy and for this beauty to enrich our lives. Our aim should be to understand the unity and enjoy the variety.

You can be loyal to your parents, your religion, your country, and at the same time you can love and respect another person’s allegiances. We can love our own faith and respect the other person’s faith as well. There is nothing contradictory in that. You don’t have to renounce one to love another. Ultimately, we all aim for the same truth while walking on different paths. So, in the name of interfaith understanding, we are not advocating uniformity, but universality.

There are many conferences now being organized worldwide to promote this kind of interfaith perspective. There are many peace efforts sponsored by religious and interfaith organizations working cooperatively. The time has come and the world has shrunk. We cannot separate ourselves and deny each other anymore because we are aware, more than ever, that we are a global village. It’s time to understand each other better and to live as one global family.

Each individual can do their own part to build a more peaceful world. By devoting a few minutes a day to meditation—to peace prayers—you can send out nice vibrations that will go around the globe and influence political leaders. If we want a peaceful world, first we must have a peaceful mind. Change the mind, you change the person; and change the person, you change the community or the society or the nation or the world.

—H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

The “World Faiths Symposium” during the LOTUS dedication, 1986.

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The 22-foot central LOTUS light divides into twelve smaller rays illuminating each of the world faiths.

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3 / WHY LIGHT? The Presence of Light The Light is built into everything in the universe. Everything has that Light. It is the cosmic Light that illuminates our way. It is the most brilliant light, but it doesn’t burn us. If we want to see it, we can see it. If we don’t want to see it, it is still there to enlighten us, to clear our doubts and make us feel light. It is not only outside; it is inside also, and if we meditate deeply we will see the Light within.

We all have that Light in common. Nobody rejects the Light. All faiths honor it. Every altar has Light. Every religion has a festival for Light. That means that, at least once a year, most people think of the Light. If only we could think of it always—not only at special festivals—and make sure that no darkness enters our hearts, then every day will be a celebration of the Light.

Let us all make a renewed effort to be sure that no darkness comes into our lives and that we don’t bring darkness into the lives of others. Let us remember the Ultimate Light and keep ourselves in the presence of that Light always. Let us pray for ourselves and all others that our lives may be always in the presence of God’s Light, and that we will know how to proceed toward our common goal.

—H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

Light of Lights Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, the renowned, dynamic sage of the Himalayas, was the guiding light for many spiritual seekers. One of his most respected disciples is Sri Swami Satchidananda.

To meditate is our foremost duty. It is for that we have taken birth here. To purify, meditate and realize our essential nature is our duty. Realization cuts the knots of ignorance, desire, action and reaction, and gives us permanent satisfaction, everlasting peace and eternal bliss.

There are various kinds of meditation, among them: meditation on form for devotees, abstract meditation for Vedantins, and meditation on Light or jyotirdhyana. Lord Krishna says: “The Light of lights, which transcends darkness, which transcends inertia, which is attainable through knowledge, is seated in your heart.”

Nowhere will you find this in philosophy books. It is only a realized sage who can give the summum bonum of human existence in one phrase. What is the nature of Brahman (God)? It is the Light of lights. It is seated in the hearts of all.

That Light of lights which transcends darkness is close to you, closer than the jugular vein, closer than your breath. How to realize this? Through wisdom, through meditation. The ear is a light. The eye is a light. Every organ of perception is a light, because through them you get knowledge of this world. Intellect is a light. Prana (the vital energy) is a light. But that which gives light to these lights—the Light of lights—is your own Self. Meditate on this, attain wisdom and be established in the Supreme Light.

So, let us practice meditation, either with form, without form, or on Light, and become one with the Light of lights, free ourselves from the trammels of karma (action and reaction) and become liberated, not in the unknown future, but in this very birth!

—H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda The sun does not shine there, neither the moon nor the stars nor the lightning. Through Its Light all the objects of this world are illuminated.

—The Upanishads 19

Light Permeates the Universe Light has been an object of worship since before the dawn of history. In its least sophisticated—though not necessarily least effective—form, this worship deifies the object that gives light; for example: the sun, moon, temple fires, candle flame, and so on.

A worshiper may also be attracted to abstract worship. He or she may feel devotion for God who has neither form or substance, while yet recognizing that God manifests in multiple forms and substances. Light has both form and substance as well, but here they are microscopic, especially when compared to everyday sensate experience. That being said, light seems a suitably abstract object for expressing formless Divinity. At the same time, it plays a role which seems to be at the very heart of creation and existence in the physical world. Thus, light symbolizes both the abstract and manifest nature of God. Scientists say that a low energy form of light permeates our entire universe. This universal light does not come from the stars but equally from all directions and seems to have constant intensity everywhere. It can only be detected by instruments, since it occurs far into the infrared part of the spectrum where human eyes do not respond; yet, except for its longer wavelength, it has all the same properties as the light we see. One theory holds that the universe was created about fifteen billion years ago in an intense explosion of dense matter. Astronomers today observe galaxies receding from one another, just as expanding debris from such an explosion would do. The universal light is thus theorized to be the residual radiation given off in that explosion. At this time our universe is everywhere filled with light, with only occasional lumps of matter interrupting this continuity. There is no “free space,” for light is everywhere. This is certainly one of the qualities we intuitively associate with our Creator—the all-pervasiveness of the Divine.

After decades of experimentation and observation, scientists are beginning to view matter very much as do the sages of all times. Matter might be considered illusory in the sense that its stable particles are merely a transient manifestation of some deeper reality, a periodic phase of a dynamic, cyclic process. Matter is also seen as transient, not only because it degrades chemically and “turns to dust,” but because the fundamental particles of which it is composed have a finite lifetime. From their dynamic, cyclic state, they eventually change to another, including a manifestation as photons of light. In addition, scientists now see that not only all matter, but all space as well, is in a constant pulsating dance, as aptly described by the Indian sages when referring to the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja (Siva).

The philosophical consequences of light and matter—and their interrelatedness—would be truly staggering if we heard them for the first time. But those who have listened to the sages have heard over and over that we are one with the world and with one another, that separateness is only an illusion. Perhaps the rediscoveries of science will make it easier to understand and thereby accept this seemingly enigmatic wisdom.

As an example of this helpful role science can play, it is known that the particles of which our bodies are made have a pulsating existence as energy fields that reach out to all space, even to the farthest stars. You and I are exchanging fundamental particles with the stars and with each other, even as you read these words. I find it extraordinarily moving to think that we are exchanging matter with everyone and everything, and that the views of the physical world emerging from our scientific laboratories now seem to be in substantial accord with the teachings of the sages and saints of all religions. Light—in any one of its several forms: as a wave of energy, a particle of matter, or a force that binds—does seem to be the very God-stuff we see in all the Divine’s many forms of manifestation. Is it any wonder that humanity feels drawn to worship Light?

—Dr. C. Frederick Hansen, physicist 20

Life, Love and Light Vadalur and Virginia are the two names that symbolize immortal values for humankind. The resemblances are too significant to be ignored. At Vadalur, in 1869, the South Indian saint Sri Ramalingam, constructed the first temple of Light (or Jyothi). He called it, “Almighty Grace in the form of Light.”

The LOTUS, in Virginia, bridges the gap between the East and West and establishes the unity of humankind. What Saint Ramalingam did in the East is being paralleled in the West by His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidanandaji.

The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine is built in the shape of a lotus flower. The lotus flower bud is born in muddy water and yet unfolds into a beautiful flower. Hence, it is taken as the symbol of the universe coming out of the primeval waters and manifesting itself in all its glory. In Eastern philosophy it is a symbol of spiritual unfolding. Hence, the sacredness associated with the lotus flower.

Dr. Annie Besant, who evolved the concept of universal prayer, described God as “Hidden Light” and expressed the same in the words: O ! Hidden Life, vibrant in every atom; O ! Hidden Light, shining in every creature; O ! Hidden Love, embracing all in Oneness; May each who feels himself as one with Thee Know He is also one with every other.

So, God is represented as Life, Love and Light. Vadalur, for more than a century, has been known in Tamil Nadu as a place of jyothi worship. Now, the LOTUS in Virginia establishes Light as a symbol of the Divine on a universal level.

—Dr. N. Mahalingam

The Temple of Vadalur in India.

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Designing the LOTUS Light In the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine we are given the message “Truth is one; paths are many.” Although there are many faiths, they all ultimately come from, and return to, the same Light. In designing this Shrine, obviously, the Light was of the utmost importance.

It was Sri Swami Satchidananda’s (Sri Gurudev) vision that one beam of light could give off many rays that would illuminate many paths; the one beam symbolizing the Light of Truth, the many rays symbolizing the many paths to that Truth. This inspiring vision was challenging to translate into the everyday world of glass, light bulbs and mirrors. Many attempts were made.

I was privileged to be involved in the plans, experiments, trials, errors and, finally, success in designing the central light.

The first method we looked into was to simply shine an intense beam of white light up to a system of mirrors that would, in turn, send rays down to the altars containing scriptures from the various faiths. Unfortunately, light, even in an intense beam, is not visible when passing through clear air. It could, of course, be made visible by darkening the Shrine and introducing dust or smoke from incense. But it turned out that even for the most intense beams (including high-powered lasers), the Shrine would have to be too dark and too smoky.

Another method we considered involved shining bright beams of light through rods of clear plastic. Two models were built and tested. The problem here was that the light became progressively dimmer and dimmer as it passed through the rods. Also, for both of these methods, there was no visible movement. Sri Gurudev saw that movement would accentuate the visual impact of the light system and help strengthen the illustration of one Light illuminating many paths. In all, twelve different methods were tried before we actually selected one for installation.

These twelve included the use of lasers, computer-sequenced lights, gas-discharge tubes prisms, defraction gratings, and fiber optics.

Sri Gurudev worked closely with the people who were trying out these different methods.

One night after finishing a very doubtful test of a system that involved flowing oil, and being sprayed with oil from a hose that popped off during the process, everyone realized that a new option would have to emerge. Someone—only half joking—suggested fireflies climbing up the inside of a glass pipe for the central light. After some light-hearted discussion on how to get the fireflies to move, Sri Gurudev got into his jeep to leave. As he was about to drive away, a firefly flew into the jeep and landed on his hand as if to say, “If fireflies are going to be used, I want to volunteer!” In fact, much of the work was done by volunteers.

An improved method that used a flowing liquid was finally selected for the LOTUS. The flowing liquid is a mixture of air, water and a wetting agent. The liquid is illuminated from inside by a mercury-pumped argon tube that operates from a 15,000 volt power supply. Many technical challenges had to be overcome. For example, the glass pipe was the longest that Sentinel Process Systems had ever fabricated. The mercury-pumped argon tube—impossible to make according to most companies—was the longest that Brightstar Neon had ever fabricated. Also, the fluidhandling system had to be completely custom-built to keep just the right amount of air in the fluid for a smooth upward movement of very small bubbles.

The many descending rays of light are also mercury-pumped argon tubes, but without the special white phosphor coating that is used in the central light. The descending rays are a pale blue with a transparent quality. These many rays descend from the central light to arches that contain symbols for the various faiths. From the arches, the light continues down to illuminate the sacred verse on each altar. These verses from the scriptures of the many faiths all use the image of the Light for the Divine, that one Truth in All.

—Dr. Prasant Hansma, Engineer, LOTUS Light System 22

Dr. Hansma developing the LOTUS light, University of California,1984.

The fragile 22-foot LOTUS light arrives on site to be installed,1986.

“As we were building the entire Shrine we really felt that it was more than a shrine that we were building; it was actually our own spiritual edifice that we were building. And that the inner Light was being installed within us. We realized that to attain that goal of inner Light, it is necessary to have incredible cooperation on all levels—inner cooperation along with outer harmony—and that by following that inner guru, the Light was installed within us.”

—Swami Swaroopananda 23

Reception buildings on each side of the Grand Archway.

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4 / DESIGN OF THE LOTUS An Overview of the Design­­­­­­­ The first buildings that the visitor to the LOTUS sees are the reception buildings, housing a gift shop and information center, connected across a plaza by the Grand Archway. In front of these buildings is a circular drive with a walkway leading to them. On the other side of the parking lots facing the reception buildings is Chidambaram, the Mahasamadhi Shrine of Sri Swami Satchidananda.

The reception buildings are each forty-eight feet long, twenty-four feet wide, and are four hundred feet due south of the Shrine. The receptionist and docents greet visitors and answers their questions. One building contains information on the various faiths, the development of the LOTUS, and on Sri Swami Satchidananda’s interfaith work. Those visitors new to the LOTUS go there to gain a better understanding of the Shrine and its purpose. The other building contains a gift shop. On either side of the plaza, between the buildings, are two black granite statues of a lion standing on the back of an elephant. In Hindu mythology, the majesty of the lion represents royal power and protection. In addition to power and prosperity, the elephant symbolizes gracefulness.

The Grand Archway between the buildings is thirty-seven feet high and is topped by a three-foot gold-plated spire, or kalasam, that was specially made in India. On each side of the upper portion of the Archway are twelve illuminated religious symbols: these have been etched in colored glass and are the same symbols that appear over the altars in the Shrine. Above the illuminated symbols on each side of the Archway is a colored ceramic yantra (a sacred geometric symbol), four feet in diameter.

The Archway opens onto two walkways, one on each side of a 170-foot long reflecting pool.

When passing through the Archway to the Shrine, one is able to leave behind all worldly thoughts and cares, minimizing any noise or talking by focusing on the LOTUS. Along the length of the pool are fifteen small fountain nozzles that throw jets of water three feet high. At each end of the pool is a raised pond, with water rising through the center of a large carved granite lotus flower in each pond. This water flows over a spillway into the reflecting pool and circulates up again.

The sides of the reception buildings facing the Shrine are hidden by earth berms which serve two purposes: they conceal the buildings, thus emphasizing the Archway; and they also help conserve energy in the buildings. One thousand small juniper bushes cover the berms so that, when viewed from the Shrine, they blend into the landscape. At the end of the reflecting pond, as one approaches the Shrine two black granite elephants, made in India, greet the visitors in a regal manner. In front of the lower level of the LOTUS is a receiving pond for the three waterfalls that cascade down from the upper pond that surrounding the Shrine.

A glass entranceway leads into the lobby of the lower level of the LOTUS. Just inside the entranceway stand two bronze lions from Thailand. On either side are spiral staircases to the upper level. There is another set of glass doors leading from the lobby into the All Faiths Hall. On each of the side walls are cases which contain scriptures, articles used in rituals and other items from the faiths represented by the altars in the Shrine above.

In the center of the All Faiths Hall floor is an opening into a private underground meditation chamber that measures eight feet by eight feet by eight feet. Over this chamber is a statue of a world globe surrounded by people representing the different races. This statue symbolizes universal brother- and sisterhood. Through the back door of the All Faiths Hall there is an overlook with a commanding view of the lake and surrounding area. The fifteen-acre lake has a forty-foot high jet of water coming out of its center. Swans and geese swim freely on the lake’s serene surface, creating a tranquil environment with beautiful plants and greenery that enhance the peaceful setting.

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The reflecting pool with fountains.

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Two granite angels hold garlands to welcome guests to the Shrine. The cupola is embossed with gold flower garlands.

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The exterior of the sanctuary was originally covered with glass mosaic tiles imported from Italy. It was white at the bottom of the petals, gradually turning pink as it neared the top, representing the gradations of color that naturally appear in a lotus flower. But, with the freeze and thaw temperatures of Virginia’s winters, the tiles were not able to keep the Shrine waterproof.

In 2001, the tiles were removed and the Shrine was painted with the same gradations of color.

The dome above is covered with a sky-blue finish.

On the top of the dome rests a two-foot clerestory of windows over which the cupola, or vimanam, was placed. The cupola is eight feet high and is covered with flower-embossed copper sheets from India. The copper sheets have been plated with nickel, and the embossed garlands with gold. Above this there is a one-foot clerestory, on top of which stands the six-foot spire, or kalasam, covered in gold. Three times daily, to mark the start and ending of the three daily meditations in Yogaville, the sound of bells are heard, emanating from the clerestory.

Inside the sanctuary, visitors step through an intricately carved wooden archway from Indonesia. One’s attention is immediately drawn to the central altar, a three-dimensional Yantra of black and red carved granite from India, resting on an eight-foot square wooden base that is two- feet high. A twenty-two foot column of light rises from the center of the Yantra to the top of the dome into a pink hub; once there, it divides into twelve smaller blue rays that descend to the tops of the arches over the altars. These lights illuminate the religious symbols in the arches and shine down onto scriptural quotations resting on beautifully carved rosewood altars inlaid with brass. The entrance and exit have arches, but no altars. One represents Other Known Faiths, and the other represents Faiths Still Unknown.

The ceiling of the Shrine is covered with red oak. The door on the north side of the Shrine is carved teak inlaid with brass. The main Shrine area is fifty-four feet in diameter and twenty-nine feet high. The clerestory and spire add an additional seventeen feet to the height of the Shrine.

The total height from the floor of the meditation chamber to the top of the spire is sixty-six feet.

At night the light shines from the top clerestory windows, and from the Shrine’s base, floodlights bathe the Shrine with light. From across the lake one can see the Shrine beautifully mirrored in the water. Outside the front entrance of the Shrine, on either side, stand two granite angels, holding garlands to welcome all who enter. The concrete walls around the entranceway are covered with polished red granite. The front door and railing along the walkway are clear glass, so that the light from the main altar is visible all the way to the reception plaza. Twenty-four pre-cast concrete petals rise from the circular pool surrounding the Shrine, which makes the entire LOTUS appear to be floating on the water.

The entire LOTUS site is beautifully landscaped. Crepe myrtle trees line the walkway between the reception buildings and the Shrine. Manicured grass covers the rest of the space in between.

In the concrete, before the entrance to the Shrine, are the foot-, knee-, hand-, and head-prints of Sri Swami Satchidananda, who came here during the pouring of the concrete and prostrated in front of the Shrine, humbly expressing his devotion and dedication to this project and to world peace.

“The original design was Sri Gurudev’s, and he was always thinking of ways to refine, improve and enhance it. So many of the very practical ideas were his. Sometimes he suggested an improvement, and I was amazed that I hadn’t seen it myself before he mentioned it. His involvement was total—from start to finish—and beyond.”

—James Jagadish McCabe, LOTUS Architect

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One light divides into 12 smaller rays.

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An aerial view reveals the unique yantra-like design of the LOTUS.

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The Mystical Geometry and Design of the LOTUS An aerial view of the LOTUS reveals its unique yantra-like design. Just like a mantra is the sound one would hear in deep meditation, a yantra is a physical symbol one would have the vision of in deep meditation. The measurements of the LOTUS form a mystical geometry, centering around a number that is sacred in numerology: 108. The number one represents the individual; the zero represents God; and eight represents infinity. The exterior of the Shrine is 108 feet wide. The inside of the Shrine is 54 feet (half of 108) wide and measures 27 feet (one-quarter of 108) from floor to ceiling.

The Shrine also is built in the shape of a lotus flower. This sacred flower contains all the five elements: it grows out of the mire (earth) into the water and air. The pink petals represent the fire element. The element ether—the space the other elements fill—is always present. The geographic location of the LOTUS is also very special. The five elements are strong at this location: earth, (the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains), water (the James River and the LOTUS Lake), fire (the hot summer temperatures and the homas or fire ceremonies conducted at the Shrine), air (the fresh air of this rural region), and ether. When these five elements are in balance, a strong healing energy is created.

The road to the LOTUS symbolizes our spiritual journey. As we turn onto the LOTUS road and pass under the first archway, it symbolizes moving toward something sacred. In America, cars drive on the right side of the road. However, Sri Gurudev changed the flow of traffic on the LOTUS road. We enter the road on the left side. Why? Because we are asked to leave behind our standard way of thinking, our habitual ways, and open to new ways of thinking. This represents the pilgrimage we are making. As we drive along, on this unfamiliar side of the road, we come upon an unexpected and breathtaking experience of the first view of the Shrine. That is how spiritual revelations are: You are in the darkness, and then you see things you never thought you would see; you are elevated to a different place. This experience sets the tone for the holy ground we are about to enter. The journey getting to the LOTUS is part of that.

Arriving at the gopuram (the gateway to the temple), immediately we see that everything is symmetrical. Symmetry gives us a sense of comfort and guides us inward to meditation. At the top of the Grand Archway are the Integral Yoga Yantra and the symbols of all the faiths contained within the LOTUS. Thus, the Archway also becomes a symbol of the LOTUS and designates the sacred entrance. We are given all the information we need: Truth is one, paths are many. The Yantra and the multifaith symbols are the core of the LOTUS, and we will get this same message in a more dramatic way when we enter the Shrine itself.

As we walk along the reflecting pond, we begin to reflect on our own lives. We start to turn inward, and we realize we are on holy ground. When we get to the end of the reflecting pond, the two carved granite elephants that greet us are symbols of the earth element, and strength and knowledge. The elephant is also an Eastern symbol of the removal of obstacles. Walking behind the waterfall to enter, we are invigorated by the energy of the Shrine, and the water—the negative ions and spirit of the water. We are being charged by the water and cleansed by that process.

In the All Faiths Hall, the “One World” sculpture offers the message that there are many types of people on the earth and it takes all of us working together to keep the earth in balance. This sculpture is positioned on top of the meditation vault. This underground vault, if opened, reveals a yantra that was embedded in the cement at the time of the foundation-laying ceremony.

During this dedication ceremony, sacred waters and sacred earth—brought from all over the world—and gems were placed at the very center of the Shrine’s foundation. Even a piece of moon rock was placed inside, showing that the LOTUS is not just sacred for all people on this planet but also for those beyond our planet.

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Just as in the human body there is the kundalini—the spiritual energy that moves from the base of the spine through the chakras (spiritual centers) to the top of the head, heralding spiritual realization—the energy of the LOTUS moves from the base of the foundation to the top spire. The two spiral staircases that wind upward from the ground level to the upper level of the sanctuary represent the ida and pingala, two of the subtle nerve channels. These channels crisscross the sushumna—the third nerve channel that moves up the spinal column. At the points where they intersect, we find the chakras, represented by yantras within the LOTUS. The LOTUS has seven yantras. The structure itself is a yantra and it contains six more yantras from the foundation up to the ceiling of the sanctuary—one above the other, all in line, going through the central core (sushumna). The energy of the Shrine builds from the vault filled with gems, holy water and earth, and it radiates up to the yantra on the cement. This yantra represents the muladhara, the root chakra (earth). It continues up to the stained glass yantra on the ceiling.

This yantra, that overlooks the “One World” sculpture of our human family, represents the svadhisthana, the second chakra (water).

Upstairs, on the sanctuary level of the Shrine, is the third yantra (also in line with this central core) which is embedded inside the center altar. This yantra represents the manipura chakra, the power center (fire). The fourth yantra is in the form of the center altar that holds the central light.

This is the fourth chakra, the anahata or heart center (air). The outer gates of the yantra are open and represent the infinite nature of God’s manifestation; the three gunas (elements of nature) are represented by the circles on the central altar in stone. The black carved granite star holds live flames (fire). The bindu (dot in the center of the yantra) is the central light in the sanctuary. It is moving energy, filled with a liquid containing bubbles that rise to the top of the dome through the air element. This shows us the path our lives should take—if we can move toward higher aspirations, our lives will be more peaceful and, thus, inspiring to others.

In the ceiling, we see the fifth yantra: a star. It is shaped from two intersecting triangles (representing the prana and apana or the flow of upward and downward energy). At its center is a bindu, representing the fifth or vishudda chakra, the center of creativity (ether). Above the star, the circular clerestory of windows brings in light representing the sixth chakra the ajna, wisdom center. At the top of the Shrine (above the clerestory) the cupola’s vimanam (cupola with a gold spire) is the seventh or crown chakra, the sahasrara, which serves as an antenna, attracting uplifting energy to the Shrine. The central light, after rising to the top, branches and showers light on the individual altars. The scriptural quotations about light from each faith, make it easy for us to see the similarities in all the faith traditions.

Now we realize that, when we stepped into the LOTUS, we were walking into a sacred symbol. Inside, the lotus-shaped walls reveal the sixth yantra—we’re actually inside this threedimensional yantra! We are part of the sacred geometry in a sacred symbol. The whole LOTUS expresses what we should, ideally, cultivate within each of us—that we move upward toward the higher energetics of life where we embrace everyone.

During the opening of the LOTUS, over 3,000 people, including clergy and spiritual leaders from all faiths, came and charged its “battery.” Through daily meditation inside the LOTUS, periodic recharging through special ceremonies, and continual upkeep of the physical plant, the sacred energy of the LOTUS is maintained and nurtured.

One of the most phenomenal aspects of the LOTUS is that its message—“Truth is one, paths are many”—is given to us without one word being said. This message is demonstrated through symbols and the deep experience of peace and unity we feel inside the LOTUS.

—Bhaskar Alan Deva Bhaskar Alan Deva—one of the primary participants in the building of the LOTUS and Yogaville—is now a successful Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra consultant and Yoga teacher.

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Stained glass yantra on the ceiling above the sculpture in the All Faiths Hall is one of the five yantras inside of the LOTUS. The black-and-red carved granite central light base from India is a yantra that holds live flames.

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Entrance to the LOTUS complex.

At the end of the reflecting pool, two black granite elephants greet visitors.

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5 / CONSTRUCTION HISTORY Development of the Dream For many years, Sri Gurudev dreamed of a shrine that would represent and unite all faiths and religious beliefs—a shrine dedicated to universal understanding and acceptance of the many different ways people approach God. In the early 1970s, in talks at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville in Connecticut, Sri Gurudev began to seriously discuss making this dream a reality. He had already thought of a name. It would be called the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine or LOTUS. It would be built in the shape of a lotus flower, the ancient Eastern symbol of spiritual unfolding. From the suggestions given by Sri Gurudev, preliminary drawings for the Shrine were made and several devotees started drawing more detailed sketches and making models.

A site at Yogaville West in Santa Barbara, California seemed to be the perfect spot for the LOTUS. But one neighbor strongly objected to having the Shrine there. Although other neighbors were supportive of the building plans, and Yogaville was well within its rights to build there, Sri Gurudev didn’t want to have the Shrine in a place where there was even one strong objection.

Now that the LOTUS was becoming a reality a professional fund-raiser made recommendations for a far-reaching drive to raise funds for this great project. The members of Yogaville and the Integral Yoga Institutes were enthusiastic and ready to launch a big fund drive.

But Sri Gurudev spoke up. He didn’t want anyone to feel pressured to give money.

Sri Gurudev felt that donors toward the LOTUS should be giving from their hearts because of their sincere belief in the project. Many came forward to offer services or financial donations.

Some could only give a few pennies; a few gave thousands of dollars. All donations, no matter the size, were equally prized because they all came from the heart.

As the LOTUS plans began to materialize, Sri Gurudev mentioned to the Yogaville East members that the home of the LOTUS would also be the site of the Ashram for a long time to come. In this regard, the present location of the Ashram was not ideal. The amount of available land near the Connecticut Ashram was very limited; there was very little room for the growing community to expand. Also, the heating bills in Connecticut were substantial. For these reasons, Sri Gurudev suggested a search for a new home for Yogaville East and the LOTUS. For more than a year, Sri Gurudev and the search team traveled through Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia in search of a suitable site for Yogaville and the LOTUS. While returning from one of these many trips, Sri Gurudev’s small plane flew through Virginia, over an area of the James River with the Blue Ridge Mountains in view.

Sri Gurudev commented on what a perfect spot this would be for the Ashram. The real estate agent, who had been assisting Sri Gurudev in locating and looking at properties, found that, indeed, there were 650 acres of rolling farm land available at just that spot in Buckingham, Virginia. A new home had been found.

“In 1970, Sri Gurudev described in detail the yogic community he had envisioned for many years. At the centerpiece, as a powerful statement of its meaning and purpose, he would describe the magnificent Light Of Truth Universal Shrine. He explained the concept and had us each draw our ideas of the Shrine and present them. We all got fully engaged in this project. It was a most inspiring and beautiful vision.”

—Amma Kidd (from Heaven on Earth: My Vision of Yogaville) 35

The LOTUS Lake behind the Shrine.

LOTUS: A Unique Construction On April 30, 1980, Sri Swami Satchidananda presided over the foundation-laying ceremony for the stream-fed lake that would be next to the LOTUS. During the next year, an earthen dam and a ten-acre lake were built.

After the earth work was completed, a ceremony was held to celebrate the gate closing for the LOTUS Lake on May 5, 1981. Although no rain was expected, it began to rain just as the ceremony was ending, and it continued to rain for the next five days. By August 15th the lake was completely filled.

During this time the LOTUS architect, Jagadish McCabe, a devotee from Florida, spent two weeks with Sri Gurudev, discussing and reviewing plans for the Shrine. Soon, the blueprints for the LOTUS were ready. Over the next nine months more plans were made and revised. A scale model of the Shrine and the site around it were made and set up at Yogaville.

On July 1, 1982, Sri Gurudev presided over an interfaith service at the actual site of the Shrine. The ceremony, at which representatives of various world faiths made offerings to the Universal Light, was an expression of the purpose of the LOTUS: to show all those who come to the Shrine that “Truth is one, paths are many.�

The interfaith service during the LOTUS foundation-laying ceremony, 1982.

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Dr. N. Mahalingam (l.) and Sri Gurudev placed gemstones and holy items into the foundation.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the concrete floor of the meditation chamber was poured. Gemstones known to retain positive vibrations, along with gold, silver, holy water and holy soil from sacred places around the world—even a piece of rock from the moon—were mixed together in concrete at the center of the LOTUS foundation. A large copper yantra was laid in the concrete, and Sri Gurudev placed a crystal in its center. When the concrete hardened, the copper form was removed, and what visibly remained was the center-stone foundation—a yantra in concrete with the crystal in the center that would be directly under a meditation chamber; and the central light of the Shrine. The gem-box and center-stone are sources of powerful healing vibrations that radiate throughout the LOTUS, benefiting all who enter.

A large copper yantra was placed on the foundation.

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During the next two months, over 40,000 cubic yards of earth were moved onto the site, raising the ground level about eight feet and coming up to the top of the walls of the meditation chamber. Not only did this give the Shrine a more imposing location but also one that was safe and dry, as nature demonstrated in the flood of November 1985.

With the site work completed in September 1982, the crew poured the footings of the reception buildings. That fall and winter over 400 yards of concrete were put in place for the walls and roof. The cold, rain and snow of winter slowed the work, but no matter what weather conditions prevailed, the crew was usually busy forming or pouring the concrete, and protecting their work by covering it with straw and tarps.

In the spring of 1983 the Grand Archway was erected. Since the design is so unique the Archway had to be formed in three stages. The final upper portion of the Archway was reinforced by welding iron bars onto an I-beam that spans the Archway. Shorter bars were welded on the outside ends and longer bars toward the center, giving the arch the appearance of a huge pipe organ with hundreds of pipes reaching up to the heavens. Eventually, the Archway was given its final elaborate shape and covered with a pink stucco.

The Grand Archway under construction.

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The footings for the Shrine itself were poured next, thus beginning the construction of the LOTUS building. The summer of 1983 saw the walls of the Shrine’s ground floor suddenly emerge. Electric service was run to both building locations. Electricians and plumbers started their rough-in work in the Shrine and completed this work in the reception buildings.

By late summer, the well was drilled and the water pump installed. The interior of the reception buildings was being completed, and after waterproofing and insulation were placed over the outside of the concrete, earth was filled in on the roof and also around the back and sides of the buildings.

At the Shrine, steel I-beams were placed on top of the ground floor walls in preparation for the concrete floor of the Shrine itself. Concrete columns were put up on the north and south sides of the Shrine to support the reflecting pond that would span across the entrance and exit of the lower level. Before winter arrived, form work for the reflecting pond was started.

Steel I-beams, ground floor of the Shrine.

Wet weather in January 1984 slowed the work, but during more temperate, dry days in February the glass windows and doors of the reception buildings were put in place. The drywall was put in and the rooms painted a heavenly blue. The heating system, lights and plumbing fixtures were installed at that time.

Meanwhile, work was being done in India. At the Kowmara Ashram in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, the craftsmen and artisans were carving the meru (a three-dimensional yantra) for the central altar in the LOTUS; they were also sculpting the red granite statues that would be placed in the reception areas in the entrance to the Shrine. The spires for the Shrine, the Grand Archway, and the cupola that would be placed on top of the Shrine, were being made at Kowmara Ashram and at Kumbakonam. In Chennai, the craftsmen of the Gem Granite Company were fabricating a polished red granite veneer for the Shrine entrance. Students at the Nachimuthu Polytechnic in Pollachi were busily constructing the wooden and iron framework for the cupola. The rosewood side altars and the teak door were being made in Kerala at the Fatima Woodworks.

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On April 21st, Sri Gurudev presided over the dedication of the completed reception buildings with an interfaith service.

It was especially moving to be present as Sri Gurudev sat in the first completed building of the Shrine that he had envisioned for so many years.

Efforts were now focused on the Shrine itself. In April and May, the concrete for the ground floor of the Shrine, the floor of the lower pond, the floor slabs for the Shrine and the reflecting pond around it, were poured.

Stone sculpting work underway in South India.

The 170-foot-long reflecting pond in process, 1984.

The summer of 1984 provided perfect weather for building. The 170-foot long reflecting pond between the Shrine and the reception buildings was started in April and completed by September. On July 31st the twelve laminated wood beams—that are the main structural support for the Shrine and that divide it into the twelve petals of the lotus flower—were erected with the assistance of a large crane.

Twelve glu-lam beams installed, 1984.

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By the end of November, earth was backfilled against the walls of the lower level of the Shrine and the concrete for the circular pond around the upper Shrine level was also poured.

Walkways along the reflecting pond were poured as well, bringing the total amount of concrete used to almost 2,000 cubic yards.

Carpentry work on the purlines, which are horizontal connecting pieces between the vertical beams of the Shrine, was completed, and the scaffolding around the outside of the Shrine was erected. The scaffolding totally surrounded the wooden frame structure of the Shrine. Working from the scaffolding one could come to within six inches of any part of the exterior surface, even though it did not touch the building at any point.

The engineering and assembling of this complex scaffolding took over two months.

Using the scaffolding, the carpenters put two layers of plywood over the exterior frame and covered it with tar paper for the winter.

During winter, framing and dry-walling of the interior walls proceeded. Saswathan Quinn (chief woodworker), created the wooden pieces that would be mounted on the exterior surface to form the tips of the lotus petals. He also made the framework for the small lotus petals that go in between the larger ones.

With springtime came an expansion of the lake. Two arms came halfway around the sides of the Shrine, making it quite an imposing structure elevated out of the water. The size of the lake was increased from ten to fifteen acres.

Workers removed the tar paper from the Shrine and waterproofed the plywood in preparation for setting the pink glass mosaic tiles from Italy.

The tile work took several months to complete and resulted in shining, delicate-looking lotus petals.

When the Shrine’s exterior finish was completed in November, the scaffolding was taken down. The pre-cast concrete petals that rest in the reflecting pond around the Shrine were set in place by crane. The framework for the vimanam, or cupola, that rests on top of the Shrine arrived from India and was assembled here. It was covered with nickel-plated copper sheets embossed with gold-plated garlands.

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The lotus petals under construction.

The Shrine completely surrounded by scaffolding.

Pre-cast open petals are set in place in the upper pond.

During the last winter before completion, the red oak tongue-in-groove ceiling was installed in the Shrine’s interior and the main beams were covered with red oak. The alcoves were plastered and spray-painted from white to pink, reflecting the color of the outside glass mosaic tiles. The copper spire, or kalasam, arrived from India, was gold-plated, and placed on top of the cupola.

The entire cupola and spire were dramatically set in place on top of the Shrine on March 3, 1986 [see photos below]. Also, during March, the etched glass religious symbols by Bhaktan Liczwinko were mounted on the Grand Archway.

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April and May 1986 saw dramatic changes on the inside of the Shrine. The columns and arches for the twelve alcoves were put in place, and the stained glass religious symbols were placed in each arch. The black and red carved granite central altar arrived from India and was set in place.

On May 1st, Dr. Prasant Hansma came from California to oversee the placing of the twentyseven-foot long white glass light column that arises from the central altar to the ceiling of the Shrine.

Dr. Hansma had spent two years planning and designing the lighting. To see such a complex and fragile lighting system installed flawlessly was a marvel.

The twelve smaller descending blue columns of light—that come down from the center of the ceiling to the arches above the individual altars— were hung in place. The carved rosewood altars, inlaid with brass designs, were set under the arches, and the intricately carved teak exit door of the Shrine was put in place.

With warmer weather came the final placement of the glass mosaic tiles on the petals in the reflecting pond. In total, about 8,000 square feet of 3/4 inch tile, or about 1,600,000 pieces of glass mosaic, were set in place. The final touches from India were added: the polished red granite veneer in the exterior entranceway of the Shrine; two black granite angels holding garlands on either side of the entrance; two polished black granite elephants on either side of the approach to the Shrine; two statues of lions on top of elephants on either side of the plaza between the reception buildings.

With the construction complete, the grounds were leveled, topsoil spread, and grass seed planted. A sprinkler system was installed, and shrubs and a fence were put up to decorate and define the area around the Shrine and reception buildings.

In July the stained glass yantra made by Susheela Bales was installed in the ceiling of the All Faiths Hall, directly over the “One World” sculpture made by Madhuri Honeyman. The display for each faith was completed under the direction of Swami Jyotirmayananda.

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Twenty-seven-foot long glass light column is installed.

“One World” sculpture in the All Faiths Hall.

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LOTUS Construction Timeline

July 1, 1982

Light of Truth Universal Service, Gem-box put in place with first pouring of meditation chamber floor.

August 1982

Walls of meditation chamber poured.

Over 40,000 cubic yards of earth moved during July and August.

September 1982

Footings for reception building poured.

Oct.–Dec. 1982

Structural steel for reception buildings erected.

Jan.–Feb. 1983

Walls of reception buildings poured.

March 1983

Roof of reception building poured.

April 1983

Grand Archway and footings for Shrine poured.

May 1983

Plumbing and electrical work began in reception buildings.

September 1983

Walls of All Faiths Hall poured.

October 1983

Structural steel for Shrine put in place.

November 1983

Reception buildings waterproofed and backfilled.

April 21, 1984

Dedication of completed reception buildings.

April–May 1984

Floor slabs poured for Shrine.

June 1984

Floor slabs for All Faiths Hall and footings for reflecting pond poured.

July 1984

Footings for lower pond poured.

July 31, 1984

Main glu-lam (laminated) beams erected for Shrine.

July–August 1984

Walls and floor of reflecting pond poured and backfill against Shrine walls completed.

Aug.–Sept. 1984

Upper pond poured.

October 1984

Valley beams and purlines set in place in Shrine.

Nov.–Dec. 1984

Plywood sheathing put on Shrine, scaffolding erected.

January 1985

Lower level interior walls framed.

May-June 1985

Columns and arches for alcoves and altar lighting system designed; lake expanded.

June-August 1985

Dryvit put on exterior of Shrine and reception buildings.

June-Sept. 1985

Shrine waterproofed and tiled.

October 1985

Scaffolding taken down.

Final lake expansion completed; topsoil spread around site.

November 1985

Vimanam (cupola) arrives from India and receives nickel/gold-plating.

November 13, 1985

Pre-cast concrete petals set in place in upper pond.

Dec. 1985–April 1986

Wood ceiling and trim for the Shrine put in place.

Vimanam assembled; kalasam (spire) arrives from India and receives gold-plating.

January 1986

Alcoves plastered.

Jan.–July 1986

Development of the All Faiths Hall displays and the “One World” sculpture

March 3, 1986

Vimanam and kalasam set in place.

April 1986

Alcoves painted; columns and arches set in place.

Topsoil leveled and seeded; shrubs and trees planted.

April 3, 1986

Granite meru placed in the Shrine; 10 altars from India installed.

May 1, 1986

Main light tested and put in place.

May 1986

Carved stonework arrives from India.

Descending lights installed.

June 1986

Polished red granite veneer affixed to exterior entranceway.

Statuary put in place.

July 20, 1986

LOTUS Dedication.

June 29-30, 1996

LOTUS 10-Year Anniversary celebrated.

October 18–20, 2002

Re-dedication of the LOTUS after major renovations completed.

October 7, 2006 LOTUS 20-Year Anniversary celebrated following final renovations.

LOTUS Dimensions

Reception/Grand Archway Reception buildings:

48 feet long, 24 feet wide, 400 feet due south of the Shrine

Grand Archway :

37 feet high with 3-foot gold-plated spire

Shrine Main shrine:

54 feet in diameter; 29 feet high

Clerestory on top of dome:

2 feet high

Cupola :

8 feet high

Clerestory on top of cupola:

1 foot high

Spire:

6 feet high

Total height (from floor of meditation chamber to top of spire): 66 feet

22-foot column of light

24 precast open concrete petals

Lake/Fountain

15-acre lake

170-foot long reflecting pool

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Each altar has a scriptural quotation about “Light.”

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All Faiths Hall: Displays contain items about each faith.

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6 / THE DEDICATION OF THE LOTUS In 1986, the International Year of Peace, a beacon of peace, harmony and love was lit in Buckingham, Virginia. On July 20th, the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) was dedicated and offered to the world. Sri Swami Satchidananda, who had envisioned and designed the LOTUS, was joined by spiritual leaders of all faiths and dignitaries from around the globe for the opening services, and at the World Faiths Symposium on the day before.

At the height of the Dedication festivities, approximately 3,000 people gathered at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville. Everyone was deeply moved by the experience, and resolved to find ways in their own lives to promote harmony among all people.

World Faiths Symposium The Grand Opening and Dedication of the LOTUS began on Saturday, July 19th, with religious leaders and dignitaries from around the world joining Sri Gurudev Swami Satchidananda for the World Faiths Symposium at the Charlottesville Performing Arts Center.

Over 1,500 people attended the morning program where thirty-two speakers addressed the theme: “Truth is one, paths are many.” Sant Keshavadas, one of the Dedication celebrants, summed up the feeling of the morning perfectly when he said, “The flower garland represents the unity of world religions. The group of speakers sitting here is a flower garland to God.”

Guests arrive from around the world for the Dedication Ceremonies.

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Thirty-two speakers represented the world faiths during the LOTUS dedication.

In the afternoon, a rich and beautiful variety of sacred music and dance from the world religions was presented. This date also marked the twentieth year of Sri Gurudev’s service in the West. In a gala program on the evening of the 19th, devotees and friends paid tribute to this great servant of all humanity.

To introduce “One Small Voice”—one of the many wonderful songs Carole King sang that evening—she said, “This song is about one small child who spoke up for what he believed in. And Gurudev is kind of like that child. He was one person with a dream, a vision. Then more and more joined in; more will join . . . It’s a song about how every one of us can make a difference . . . If it weren’t for every one of us, there wouldn’t be a LOTUS. But there is one!”

That evening, Sri Gurudev spoke about God’s guidance in everything. “I have heard many beautiful prayerful songs written by great saints. But one always stands out, continuously haunts my heart. The meaning of it is: ‘Lord, you are the indweller of all beings. You are omnipresent.

You make things move; you make people move. So, who am I to do anything? How can I do anything? It’s You. You feed me; I am getting fed. You make me sleep; I sleep. You show me; I am seeing. You make me happy; I am happy. You make me dance; I dance.

And not only me, but the entire universe. Therefore I know that without You I am nothing.’

That prayer has become my guiding light. I never planned anything. I never wanted anything. I’m not an ambitious person. God has simply moved me from place to place. This is all God’s work, not mine.”

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Sri Gurudev presented special awards of merit to: Dr. N. Hari Harilela, who donated the beautiful Venetian glass tiles covering the LOTUS; Dr. N. Mahalingam, who donated all the items made in India; and Carole King, who made a very generous contribution that was used to purchase the Yogaville property on which the LOTUS is built.

Then Sri Gurudev himself was surprised with an award. Mr. William Veprin, National Commissioner of Appeal and Director of Development for the Anti-Defamation League, presented Sri Gurudev with an ADL award. He was proclaimed a Trustee of the Society of Fellows of the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith: “In recognition of distinguished leadership and dedicated service in advancing the cause of human rights, dignity, and equal opportunity, preserving freedom, counteracting bigotry, and promoting brotherhood for all.”

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Sri Gurudev and Dr. Hari Harilela discuss installation of glass tiles.

Sri Gurudev receives the Anti-Defamation League award from Mr. William Veprin.

Sri Gurudev reads the Award of Merit being presented to musician Carole King (left).

Sri Gurudev presents the Award of Merit to philanthropist Sri N. Mahalingam.

The LOTUS Blossoms On Sunday morning, the LOTUS was sparkling in the sun. Near the Shrine’s Grand Archway, thousands of people waited in hushed readiness. Suddenly, from the distance, bagpipe music was heard. The parade was coming. Everyone looked up toward the sound. They could see the bagpipe player rounding the bend at the magnificent overlook on the path coming to the LOTUS. Next came a beautifully decorated baby elephant. But it was the sight of the celebrants and the blue satin banners with the symbols of the world’s faiths that really stirred people’s hearts. A choir sang, “All Creatures of Our God and King” as the celebrants came in stately procession to the all faiths altar on the stage.

A tremendous emotional impact was felt throughout the audience. One remarked, “Seeing all the celebrants in their colorful clerical robes—so colorful and varied— watching them march in representing all the religions of the world, listening to the Western choir singing a traditional Western hymn, all the cultures and countries seemed to be coming together. For me, that memory said everything about what the weekend meant.”

The procession of faiths.

The celebrants arrive for the interfaith service.

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The celebrants light the central candle together during the interfaith service.

The service allowed everyone to deepen that experience. A simple altar stood in the center of the stage. In the center of the altar was one large candle. The voices of the choir rose once again in song as all the celebrants together reached out with their lighted candles and simultaneously lit the central light. Each celebrant spoke briefly and made an offering to the central light.

Sri Gurudev offered this prayer: “Beloved Lord, in the form of this light, please accept all of our humble prayers and worship. Bless us to raise above these physical and mental limitations.

Help us to experience the one Light within us all; let us live harmoniously as Your beautiful children. Bless this holy place to vibrate peace, health, prosperity and harmony. Let there be a lot of healing vibrations in this area so that people can be healed of all their physical, mental and material problems.”

Among the many other beautiful words spoken that morning: Wallace Black Elk (Native American): “Today I respect this candle lighted here. This will be the light of the world. It will lighten our minds and our hearts. This was a gift to us from Grandmother, the Earth . . . There are sacred colors, the rainbow colors. All life has sacred colors. We’re in a color TV world right from the beginning. Yet, so recently people discovered that. But now we’re all here and all the beautiful colors are here and we’re not going to be colorblind anymore.”

Rev. Victoria Parvathi Pratt-Ford (African): “Let this light remain as a never-ending symbol of our constant faith that this is the truth, that we are all one, that we are all light, and that we can radiate throughout the universe with this light.”

Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan (Sikhism): “Today is a special day. A united religion is born. The Shrine of the LOTUS represents that unity, that grace, that divinity and that infinity. It is that which the heart and head must bow to.”

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Rabbi Joseph Gelberman (Judaism): “All is one. That which seems to be an opposite really is not in opposition because all is one.”

Brother David Steindl-Rast (Christianity): “It is a great privilege to represent here the Christian tradition, not as separated, but as united with all. If we address God as our Father, our Mother, I’m reminded of all God’s children; not only the two-legged or the four-legged, or the crawling ones, but all God’s children.”

Venerable Prabhasa Dharma Roshi (Buddhism): “I pray this wonderful incense will spread out to the whole world in the ten directions as an offering to all the Buddhas, the wonderful dharmas, and enlightened beings and saints and sages. I pray it will form an altar of light and do the cosmic work it is intended to do. I pray it will benefit all sentient beings so they will raise the enlightenment mind, depart from evil karma and attain the highest way.”

The beautiful worship service came to an end. As the choir sang Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the celebrants began a stately procession out of the tent and into the LOTUS. Along the way, ribbons were cut to open the Grand Archway, the All Faiths Hall and to unveil the beautiful statues. Finally, the celebrants entered the upper Shrine.

One observer noted, “When people walked in they were overwhelmed by the magnificence of the Shrine. There was this great feeling of awe and enjoyment of the beauty of it. It felt like we were entering this protective cave. I remember the blue violet feeling inside of the Shrine. It felt like another place in time—like coolness in the midst of the heat. It was the way you would imagine a lotus flower in the bright hot sun of India; it would be floating on the pond but would nevertheless itself be very cool and poised. It was almost like entering another realm, like a pocket of heaven in the midst of the earth. As we settled in, there was the feeling of anticipation. And almost before we knew what was occuring the climaxing moments of lighting the light happened.”

Incense was burned. There were prayers and chants in different languages. Lights were waved. Flower petals were offered. The flames in the star-points of the meru were lit by the celebrants. At precisely 12:00 noon, the central column of light went on. From floor to ceiling, this magnificent light shone gloriously. At the top of the dome, it divided into twelve rays that came down to shine on all the altars of all the faiths. Bells rang. Outside, hundreds of multicolored balloons were released to float high and free into the air.

At noon, the central light is lit inside the LOTUS.

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Pouring the blessed water over the Shrine.

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The celebrants walked out to the LOTUS balcony, overlooking the reflecting pools.

Thousands watched as Sri Gurudev honored the builders of the LOTUS and presented them with beautiful medallions. “We cannot forget the main ones behind the entire construction: the firm of Andrews, Large and Whidden. They have done a beautiful job. We will always remember them.

May their business grow more and more, and may they build more and more LOTUS shrines so that people can come together and enjoy the harmony.”

Sri Gurudev turned to the LOTUS construction foreman, Lewis Thompson. “Without him, I couldn’t have done anything! To come to this day, we have gone through a lot of difficulties; still he was here day and night. Every inch of this Shrine’s construction was observed and supervised by him. Lewis Thompson, God bless you!”

Sri Gurudev addressed the assembly once more. “Beloved friends, with your permission, let me take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to all those beautiful ladies and gentlemen, Swamis and Maharishis, sages and saints, who came to bless us, bless this occasion and to open the various sections of this LOTUS.” Children from the Yogaville Vidyalayam (school) came forward to reverently present medallion garlands to all the celebrants who took part in the Dedication.

What happened next was a spectacular surprise to most of the thousands gathered for the opening. In the procession from the tent to the Shrine, each of the celebrants had carried a small pot of holy water from the worship service. At the Shrine, they had all poured this water into one large vessel. After the speeches from the balcony, Sri Gurudev took the large container of holy water and entered a helicopter which had been waiting near the LOTUS. The fascinated crowd watched as the craft hovered right over the spire of the LOTUS. Sri Gurudev—holding the vessel of consecrated water—put one foot on the helicopter’s runner and leaned very far out over the LOTUS. In a truly magnificent moment, he performed the abishekam (pouring consecrated water over the Shrine). Loud cheers went up from the crowd, and the cheering continued as Sri Gurudev, in the helicopter, circled the LOTUS three times.

In the crowning moment of the whole weekend, which was the glorious achievement of his interfaith work up to that point, it was a perfect visual metaphor for his whole service in this modern world: He was a master who honored the past without clinging to it. He never hesitated to use technology to extend his service.

The point was that he had taken the essence (which the abishekam was) of the teachings and showed how they were totally applicable to our place and modern times. He seemed to say there was nothing off limits if it was good and useful. A helicopter was totally appropriate in the midst of a puja if it was the right tool to serve.

Festival of Lights Following an afternoon of musical entertainment, a light supper was served. By this time night had fallen, and the LOTUS, lit so spectacularly, looked truly other-worldly—like some majestic and lovely vision from heaven. Jnanam Maclsaac, the LOTUS dedication coordinator recalled it as, “a magical, spiritual wonderland of lights and colors. I have never seen or experienced anything like that.” That evening the LOTUS celebrants led the procession to the other side of the LOTUS lake.

Watching from a distance, one could see a long line of lights moving in stately promenade around the lake. Gentle melodies arose from the line as everyone sang, “God’s Light, pure and free; Light of lights, enlighten me.”

Finally, the procession reached the far side of the Lake. Jnanam added, “The whole impact was quite overwhelming. Watching the fireworks shoot up over the beautifully lit LOTUS with the clear sky, the full moon and the bright stars, was just spectacular beyond belief.”

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Fireworks over the beautifully lit LOTUS—the clear sky, the moon, the bright stars…

Before giving a closing prayer to the day’s auspicious events, Sri Gurudev thanked “all my beloved children who made this a grand success.” But the real thanks, he reminded everyone, was to God, Who created the LOTUS, made its completion possible, and gave us all an opportunity to be part of it. In a spirit of joyous quiet, everyone walked back toward the front of the Shrine.

There was a feeling of tremendous good will and love.

Everyone felt eternal, inexpressible gratitude for Sri Gurudev, who envisioned this great Shrine of Peace and Light; who designed its physical manifestation, who often participated in its actual building; who—in spite of an unbelievably busy schedule—supervised every step of construction; who oversaw, choreographed and directed the beautiful Dedication; who had the endlessly patient love to make the LOTUS a reality; and who offered it as a gift to the world. Now, the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine sits amid the beautiful Virginia countryside. Visitors from all countries and all walks of life visit daily. Throughout each day people sit in silent meditation and offer prayers for world peace.

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Sri Swami Satchidananda, the founder of the LOTUS offers prayers and thanks.

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7 / WORLD FAITHS

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The All Faiths Yantra The All Faiths Yantra, an integral part of the LOTUS complex, is a geometrical pattern that represents the entire universe and which is used for meditation. Sometimes external images are used in meditation, or worship, to symbolize, or express, certain aspects of the Divine. That is why there are so many holy pictures and images in temples and churches.

The Yantra represents the entire cosmos. God is originally unmanifest. The first expression of God begins as sound vibration. As the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word . . .”

The dot in the center of the Yantra represents the first physical expression of that—the very core of the cosmos. And all the rays of manifestation—shown in the rings, the petals and the colors—come out of it. The entire Yantra is then surrounded by an open border, to show that the Divine Expression is infinite and unlimited.

When mantras—sounds that represent various divine qualities—are meditated upon, certain images are brought out, almost like liquid crystallizing into a solid form. Those images are yantras.

When one sits and prays or meditates in front of a yantra, one can feel those divine qualities: the love out of which God manifested the world, the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

And because God is not limited to any one tradition or creed, the symbols of all the religions are there. These symbols appear on the outermost petals of the Yantra and are the visible indication of the interfaith teaching of Sri Swami Satchidananda: “Truth is one, paths are many.”

The symbols represent the twelve faiths on the altars in the upper sanctuary of the LOTUS. These altars circle and connect to the central altar honoring the One Light. ”In this way, the Yantra is also a beautiful reminder that we can respect and learn from all the paths, and follow any one of them to reach the Divine.

Introduction to the World Faiths Close examination of the faiths of the world reveals their basic unity. There are certain principles and truths on which they all agree. The structural core of every religion is some form of prayer or communion with the Divine, combined with love and service to fellow beings. The essence of every religion is an experience of the heart.

Faiths differ in their exterior forms, ceremonies and ideas due to cultural, racial and historical factors. For example, some people stand to communicate with God, some kneel, some sit crosslegged, and some prostrate. But the feeling in the individual heart is communion with God. The river of life is ever-flowing. Whoever feels thirsty can dip a bucket directly into it. The same truth wells up independently in the heart of every seer and seeker. True religion is a way of life, and a truly religious person of any faith will exhibit the same sparkling qualities of contentment, joy, love, mercy and kindness.

We are all sparks of Divinity. Each faith is a precious pearl strung on a common thread of love and unity. Since all paths lead to the same goal, let each individual choose and follow any road that leads to the Light.

On the following pages readers will find some of the basic teachings of the faiths represented in the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine. The faiths are placed in the same order as they appear on the All Faiths Yantra. This order reflects the age of each faith, from the oldest to the youngest faith. The symbol and the quotation on the altar of that faith begin each short article. Certainly, in such short essays one cannot give an in-depth study of each faith. A few gems from each rich storehouse of spiritual wealth have been selected.

—Ganesh MacIsaac 61

LOTUS at-a-Glance: Altar Quotations

NATIVE AMERICAN FAITHS “The Light of Wakan-Tanka is upon my people.”

—Song of Kablaya

THOSE UNKN

AFRICAN FAITHS "God is the sun beaming Light everywhere."

—Tribal African

SIKHISM "God, being Truth, is the one Light of all."

—Adi Granth

ISLAM "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth."

—Holy Koran CHRISTIANITY "I have come into the world as Light."

—Holy Bible

OTHER KNOW "Truth is One, p 62

E STILL NOWN

HINDUISM "In the effulgent lotus of the heart dwells Brahman, the Light of Lights."

—Mundaka Upanishad

JUDAISM "The Lord is my Light; whom shall I fear?"

—Psalms

SHINTO "The Light of the Divine Amaterasu shines forever."

—Kurozumi Munetada

TAOISM "Following the Light, the sage takes care of all."

—Lao Tsu BUDDHISM "The radiance of Buddha shines ceaselessly."

—Dhammapada

WN RELIGIONS paths are many."

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HINDUISM “In the effulgent lotus of the heart dwells Brahman, the Light of Lights.”

—Mundaka Upanishad 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Yama: Abstinence Niyama: Observance Ahimsa: Non-violence Saucha: Purity Satya: Truthfulness Santosha: Contentment Asteya: Non-stealing Tapas: Austerity Brahmacharya: Continence Svadhyaya: Spiritual Study Aparigraha: Non-greed Ishvarapranidhana: Self-surrender to God —The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

“Howsoever people approach Me, even so do I welcome them, for the paths that they take from every side are mine.”

—Bhagavad Gita

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That great spiritual light of modem India, H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, compared Hinduism to a melon. He explained that the rind of a melon is divided into various sections, yet, when it is opened, it reveals the same sweet, undivided flesh throughout. Hindus worship the Divine in many different ways and forms.

In a similar way, behind each Hindu sect is the principle of unity and the goal of realizing the oneness of the spiritual Self and the Absolute. True Hinduism is true universalism; the Hindu accepts, and even embraces, all paths to the Truth. He or she honors Truth wherever it may appear and in whatever garb it may wear.

The roots of Hinduism, which is also known as Sanatana Dharma, or the eternal religion, can be traced to the Rig Veda, perhaps humanity’s earliest spiritual text. Ancient rishis (seers) “heard” or “saw” the four Vedas in deep meditation. No individual can be called the author of these ideas.

They already existed, and the rishis simply “discovered” them.

The simple, joyous praise and wonder of the Vedas flowered into the philosophy of Vedanta found in the scriptures called the Upanishads. These truths became more accessible in the epic poems, The Ramayana and Srimad Mahabharata.

The crest jewel of this tradition is a portion of the Mahabharata known as the Bhagavad Gita. This dialogue between a man and God beautifully describes the human dilemma and the necessary steps to salvation. In the Gita, Arjuna represents all people. After many objections and rationalizations, he surrenders his small will to God in the form of Lord Krishna. By Grace, Arjuna is then blessed with a vision of the Absolute.

Many Hindus follow the ancient teachings of Yoga. Yoga is the Sanskrit word for “yoke” or “union.” To be a successful yogi in the ultimate sense is to be in a state of union with the Divine.

Traditionally, the word Yoga by itself refers to Raja Yoga, the science of the mind; the primary text of Raja Yoga is called the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. There are yogic methods for people of active, introspective, intellectual, or devotional natures, as well as a system of physical postures to promote suppleness and dynamic health. These Yoga practices are based on a strict moral code called Yama (abstinence) and Niyama (observance).

The concept of rebirth is also a part of Hindu thought. Human attachment to earthly things creates karma and necessitates reincarnation. The Hindu concept of karma, the law of action and reaction, is described in the following passage from the Upanishads: “As is a person’s desire, so is his will; and as his will, so is his deed; and whatever deeds he does, that will he reap.”

All Faiths Hall Quotations “Whatsoever form any devotee worships with faith, I make him steady in that faith.”

—Bhagavad Gita “Let us meditate on the excellent glory of that Divine Being who illumines everything. May He guide our understanding.”

—Rig Veda “What avail is learning if they do not worship the benign Feet of the Pure Intelligence—God?”

—Tirukkural “Thou art the glorious Effulgence that is yet imprisoned within the atom of Love. O, Thou art the Transcendent God that is Love and Love alone.”

—Saint Ramalingam 65

JUDAISM “The Lord is my Light whom shall I fear?”

—Psalms The Ten Commandments 1.

2.

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4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbour’s.

—The Old Testament

“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one.”

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

—The Shema, the central prayer of the Jewish faith, from Deuteronomy 6:4-5

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The religion of the Jews is inseparable from their history as a people. Its predominant aspect is the belief in one God, known as Jehovah or Yahweh, who is all powerful and concerned with each individual.

Judaism evolved thousands of years ago in the desert areas of the Middle East. This nomadic people settled in the land of Canaan, which they called Israel. How the people evolved, became enslaved, and finally were delivered by God into the promised land is told in Genesis and Exodus, the first two books of the five books of the Old Testament (called the Torah). The Torah can also be seen as a mystical pattern—of thought, belief, and action—that is eternal, infinite, and fundamental to life. The Torah was revealed by God to Moses, the foremost of the Hebrew prophets. He led the people from slavery to freedom, and he received the Ten Commandments in the revelation at Sinai.

Judaism emphasizes maintaining a high personal code of ethics. The Talmud is a result of this concern. It contains a storehouse of the traditions, laws, and wisdom gleaned by Jewish sages from study of the Torah. Judaism has no doctrine of Original Sin, nor is it evangelical in nature. Through their wanderings and persecution as a minority people in other lands, the Jews strengthened their traditions in the face of adversity. Using the family unit as a base for religious worship, Judaism does not create a great division between the sacred and secular worlds; it asserts that any and all parts of life can, and should, be made holy.

“When someone makes a mistake, before you blame that one, think first: ‘If I had done this, what excuse would I find for myself, to justify myself?’ Then give the other person the benefit of your excuse. This, my friends, is the ultimate in love.”

—Yisrael ben Eliezar, The Baal Shem Tov

All Faiths Hall Quotations “For the commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, nor is it far off. But the word is very near to you; it is in the mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

—Deuteronomy “The Torah is a tree of life to them that holdfast to it, and its supporters are happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace.”

—Prayer Upon Returning The Scroll to the Ark “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let His countenance shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you peace. Amen.”

—Concluding Prayer of Morning Service “Grant us peace, Thy most precious gift, O Thou Eternal Source of Peace, and enable Israel to be its messenger unto all peoples of the earth.”

—Sabbath Prayer

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SHINTO “The light of Divine Amaterasu shines forever.”

—Kurozumi Munetada The Ten Precepts

Do not transgress the will of the gods.

Do not forget your obligations to ancestors.

Do not offend by violating the decrees of the State.

Do not forget the profound goodness of the gods through which calamities and misfortunes are averted and sickness is healed.

5. Do not forget that the world is one great family.

6. Do not forget the limitations of your own person.

7. Do not become angry even though others become angry.

8. Do not be sluggish in your work.

9. Do not bring blame to the teaching.

10. Do not be carried away by foreign teachings.

—Shinri Kyo Sect 1.

2.

3.

4.

“To the most holy Kami, Izanagi, who purified himself by ritual bathing in the calm sea in the morning sun—I entreat him to purify away all the impurity, disasters, sins, and faults.”

—The Purification Words

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Shinto, “the Kami Way,” is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people. Deeply connected with Nature, Shinto finds a healing and purifying power in mountains, streams, wind, and trees.

The essence of life energy in natural phenomena is deified and worshipped as Kami. The four elements of worship are purification, offering, prayer, and symbolic feast. The goal of Shinto is the removal of the “dust” which hides the divine nature of human beings.

The earliest historical works of Japan, the Kojiki and the Nihongi, are highly regarded by Shintoists and are rich in information concerning early Shinto rituals and practices. These books, however, are not believed to be revealed scripture.

Shinto mythology describes the formation of the Japanese Islands as a result of the union of Izanagi, the male creator, and Izanami, the female creator. Their daughter, the sun goddess Amaterasu, is the central figure of many Japanese shrines, including the Grand Shrine of Ise. Of the 100,000 Shinto shrines gracing the Japanese landscape, Ise is unique. This majestic shrine is dedicated to the highest expression of respect for the Imperial family and all that is best in the culture, history, and racial consciousness of the Japanese people. Like other Shinto shrines. Iso has a torii gate, which separates the mundane world from the purified atmosphere of the temple.

Purification is central to Shinto. The ceremony of bathing for purification is called Misogi. It is ideally practiced in a calm ocean facing the sun. This harmony with water, the life of Nature, removes the heavy, impure kegare vibrations. This invisible dross collects as a result of negative thoughts and emotions and must be removed by the Shintoist to realize his or her own Kami nature.

The mirror also has an important role in the Shinto path. The goddess Amaterasu told humans to worship the mirror, which reflects their own image, as if they were worshipping Her in Her presence. The mirror, therefore, is the symbol of Amaterasu’s spirit.

“The mirror hides nothing. It shines without a selfish mind. Everything good and bad, right and wrong, is reflected without fail. The mirror is the source of honesty because it has the virtue of responding to the shape of object. It points out the fairness and impartiality of the divine will.”

—Jinno Shotoki

All Faiths Hall Quotations “There is no place on this wide earth, Be it the vast expanse of ocean’s waste, Or peak of wildest mountain, sky-caressed, In which the ever-present power divine, In even/force of nature’s not a shrine.”

—Senge-Takazumi-Izumo Shrine “Faith is like a sacred fire, Pass it on from generation to generation Without extinguishing it.”

—Konko Daijin “My child, when thou lookest upon the mirror, let it be as if thou wert looking on me; let it be with thee on thy couch and thy hall, and let it be to thee a holy mirror.”

—Message from Amaterasu Yamakage “He who lives within the truth of heaven and earth fears neither birth, nor life, nor death—nothing.”

—Kurozumi Munetada 69

TAOISM “Following the Light, the sage takes care of all.”

—Lao Tsu “Those who know do not talk.

Those who talk do not know.

Keep your mouth closed.

Guard your senses.

Temper your sharpness.

Simplify your problems.

Mask your brightness.

Be at one with the dust of the earth.

This is primal union.

He who has achieved this state Is unconcerned with friends and enemies, With good and harm, with honor and disgrace.

This, therefore, is the highest state of man.”

—Tao Te Ching “The best of people are like water; water benefits all things and does not compete with them.

It dwells in the lowly places that all disdain—wherein it comes near the Tao.”

—-Lao Tsu

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The Chinese concept of Tao means the unmanifest God from which all things spring and also the path to union with that force. The constant change created by the interplay of the Yin and Yang, or the negative and positive forces of creation, form the central focus of Taoism. A Taoist seeks oneness with nature, for by being in tune with change, the individual becomes a quiet spot in the storm of existence. Changes still occur but they flow through the Taoist as a ripple in water or wind through leaves.

The best known Taoist master was Lao Tsu. His philosophy accented Wu-Wei, or nonaction. “Do nothing and everything is done.” Rather than forcing the will on a situation, a Taoist practicing Wu-Wei lets actions come from the unconscious. Lao Tsu wrote only one book, the Tao Te Ching. In this slim volume of only 5,000 characters, Lao Tsu presents the paradoxes of life; for example: “Stretch a bow to the limit, and you will wish you had stopped in time.”

The Tao Te Ching is predated by the I Ching, or Book of Changes. The I Ching presents an interconnected system of relationships affecting every aspect of life, showing the balance of Yin and Yang in each. It has been used throughout the ages to isolate the moment and to predict the future. The works of Confucius, the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching, and the works of Chuang Tsu—who was the greatest of the followers of Lao Tsu—form the backbone of Chinese philosophy.

The pure Taoism of Lao Tsu and Chuang Tsu is a very individualistic faith. Devoid of dogma and ceremony, Taoism was practiced by mystic hermits and wandering monks. Its random nature was the balance of the orderliness of Confucianism, a highly-structured Chinese religion.

The practical teachings of Taoism can be summarized by four lines from the Tao Te Ching: “Reveal thy simple self. Embrace thy original nature. Check thy selfishness. Curtail thy desires.”

—Lao Tsu

All Faiths Hall Quotations “Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment.

Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength.”

—Lao Tsu “Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without; for much knowledge is a curse.”

—The Works of Chuang Tsu “See the small and develop clear vision; Practice yielding and develop strength; Use the outer light to return to the inner light and save yourself from harm.”

—Lao Tsu “Surrender yourself humbly; Then you can be trusted to care for all things.

Love this world as yourself; Then you can truly care for all things.”

—Lao Tsu

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BUDDHISM “The radiance of Buddha shines ceaselessly.”

—Dhammapada Dasa-sila (Ten Requisites of Good Behavior) 1. Abstinence from destroying life.

2. Abstinence from taking what is not given.

3. Abstinence from false speech.

4. Abstinence from adultery.

5. Abstinence from slander.

6. Abstinence from harsh or impolite talk.

7. Abstinence from frivolous and senseless talk.

8. Abstinence from covetousness.

9. Abstinence from malevolence.

10. Abstinence from heretical views.

—Sutta Pitaka The Ten Perfections 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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Giving Patience Virtue Truth Renunciation Resolution

7.

8.

9.

10.

Insight Loving-Kindness Fortitude Serenity —Visuddhimagga

“My doctrine makes no distinction between high and low, or between rich and poor. It is like the sky. It has room for all; and like the rain it washes all alike.”

—Lord Buddha The primary goal of Buddhism is described as Nirvana and defined as the end of change. It literally means “to blow out” as one blows out a candle. Buddhism, in giving a practical path to this goal, emphasizes experience rather than theory.

The central figure of the Buddhist tradition, Gautama Buddha, was born to a royal family in the Himalayan foothills. After spending his youth shielded from any knowledge of pain, old age, and death, he confronted these harsh realities. The Prince’s reaction to this confrontation was to renounce the world of comfort and wealth and to take up the life of a wandering monk. He practiced severe austerities without finding the answers he sought. Finally, he sat beneath a fig tree, resolving to remain there until the Truth was revealed. After seven weeks of meditation, he attained enlightenment.

For the next forty years, the Buddha, or “Awakened One,” spread the doctrine of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Lord Buddha’s experiences taught him that to give oneself up to indulgence in sensual pleasure or to give oneself up to self-mortification are extremes to be avoided. He advocated a moderate way of life known as “the middle path.”

The greatness of the Buddha’s teaching is demonstrated by his own life. A human being who attained enlightenment through his own effort, he embodies the timeless ideal of humanity perfected. If it was possible for the Buddha to undergo this transformation, then it is possible for all.

“Not only the fact of suffering do I teach, but also deliverance from it.”

—Lord Buddha

All Faiths Hall Quotations “There are Four Noble Truths: suffering, the cause of suffering, the destruction of suffering, and the path leading to the destruction of suffering (The Eightfold Path).”

—Dhammapada “The Eightfold Path, the middle way, discovered by the Buddha for the realization of Nirvana: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.”

—Dhammapada “I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dhamma, I take refuge in the Sangha.”

—The Three Refuges “Nobody is condemned in Buddhism, For greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest, Just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds.”

—Lord Buddha

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CHRISTIANITY “I have come into the world as Light.”

—Holy Bible The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

—The New Testament “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

—Jesus Christ

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Christianity is based on service, self-sacrifice, and surrender to God. In short, “Loving thy neighbor as thy self.” Faith in Lord Jesus as the Son of God on earth is essential to the devout Christian. It is this faith that makes Jesus and his teachings a living presence in the Christian heart.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea and grew to manhood as the son of a carpenter in the town of Nazareth. His ministry began in earnest at the age of thirty with his baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

During the following three years, he traveled throughout Palestine with his twelve disciples and many followers. He performed miracles, healed the sick and taught “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus spoke the pure truth without fear, despite the disapproval of those in power.

Eventually, he was crucified on the cross, under Roman law, as a criminal in Jerusalem. Three days after the death of his physical body, Jesus rose from the grave, appeared to his followers, and ascended to heaven.

Several generations after his crucifixion, the drama and lessons of Jesus’ life were recorded in one of history’s most influential books, the Holy Bible. The teachings of Jesus recounted in the Bible stress forgiveness, love, inward purity of heart and mind, and the return of good for evil.

In this modern world of fear and distrust among nations, the words of Jesus spoken in his “Sermon on the Mount,” ring through the ages with the power of love and truth: “You have heard that it hath been said: thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven. For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

—Jesus Christ

All Faiths Hall Quotations “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all else shall be added unto you.”

—Jesus Christ “Unless you become as little children, you certainly will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

—Jesus Christ “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.”

—Jesus Christ “Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; While love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side and bend to every necessity of our brethren.”

—Martin Luther

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ISLAM “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.”

—Holy Koran The Five Pillars Shahada:

Salat: Zakat: Sawm: Hajj:

The duty to recite the creed: “There is no God but God, and Mohammed is His Prophet.”

Devotional worship through prayer, five times daily.

Obligatory tax for the needy in the Islamic community.

The fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

The pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca once in one’s lifetime.

The Six Articles of Belief

Belief in One God. Belief in Angels.

Belief in the Revealed Books.

Belief in the Prophets.

Belief in the Day of Judgment.

Belief in Predestination and Free Will.

“Everything which you ask of Him, He gives to you; and if you would reckon the favours of God, you could not count them!”

—The Koran 76

The word, Islam, means “surrender to the will of God.” In Islam, all humanity is a vast brotherhood of equal beings, with one all-powerful God as its Creator and Master. Thus, the Muslim religion is based on unity of God and unity of humanity.

God’s instrument in the creation of Islam was the prophet Mohammed. His teaching of “the one God” galvanized the entire Arab world. His one-pointed spirit led this desert people into the light of Islam.

As a successful businessman through much of his early life, Mohammed was always drawn to meditation, prayer, and fasting. During a pilgrimage to Mount Hira, he was blessed with a vision of the Angel Gabriel. The divine message he received resulted in the holy book of Islam, the Koran.

The Koran covers all aspects of life from the great to the small. It deals with the nature of God’s existence. His attributes, creative activity, relation to humanity, and prophets. The influence that the Koran holds over the life of the practitioner is far-reaching. In addition to the Koran, the other sacred books of Islam are the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospels of Jesus.

The mystical branch of Islam is known as Sufism. Called the religion of love, Sufism is based on the concept of the devotee as the lover and God as the Beloved. The Sufi mystic experiences cosmic vision by seeing the Beloved everywhere and in all objects. He or she seeks total unification with God, so that the lover and Beloved become one.

“One’s true wealth hereafter is the good one does in this world to his fellow man.”

—Mohammed

All Faiths Hall Quotations “O son of man, should your sins reach the horizons of the heavens, and then you ask my pardon, I would pardon you.”

—Allah Ta’ala “He who cheers up a person in difficulties, Allah will cheer him up in this world and the next.”

—Mohammed “O Light of light, Thy light illuminates the people of heaven, and enlightens the people of earth.

O Light of light, Thy light is praised by all light.”

—Mohammed “May the Blessings of God rest upon you. May His Peace abide with you. May His Presence illuminate your heart, now and forever more.”

—Hazrat lnayat Khan

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SIKHISM “God, being Truth, is the one Light of all.”

—Adi Granth Mul Mantra: Basic Principles as taught by Guru Nanak “There is One Reality, the Unmanifest–Manifested; Ever-Existent, He is Nam (Conscious Spirit), The Creator: Pervading all; Without fear; without enmity; The Timeless; the Unborn and the Self-existent; Complete within Itself.

“Through the favor of His true Servant, the Guru, He may be realized.

He was when there was nothing; He was before all ages began; He existeth now, O Nanak, and shall exist forever.”

—Guru Granth Sahib “Truthfulness, contentment, and divine knowledge are obtained by hearing the name of God.”

—Guru Granth Sahib

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Sikhism emphasizes the importance of selfless service, devotion, purification, and intense repetition of God’s name: Sat Nam, Waheguru. A Sikh believes that there is only one God and that all people are equal in His eyes. The Sikh path toward oneness with God is the active way of the warrior.

Sikhism has ten great Gurus. Each embodied a specific spiritual quality and made important contributions to the Sikh movement. The Sikh religion was born in the 15th Century when Guru Nanak, the first of these ten Gurus, began to teach people how to find happiness and peace through repeating the name of God. Among the other Gurus were Guru Angad, the second Guru, who created the language of Gurmukhi for the transmission of spiritual understanding; Guru Amar Das, the third Guru, who was a vigorous proponent of equality among all people regardless of social or economic position; Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru, who dug the water tank for what was later to become the Holy City of Amritsar; and Guru Arjun, the fifth Guru, who completed the building of the most holy temple of Sikhism, the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar. He also initiated the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, by compiling orally-preserved sayings, songs and teachings of the four previous masters.

The last of the ten Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa Order, or “Brotherhood of the Pure Ones,” using a baptism ceremony and the five symbols (white clothes for purity, a sword for bravery, an iron bracelet for morality, uncut hair for renunciation, and a comb for cleanliness). He finished the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib, and at the end of his life, declared that it was to be considered the Guru from that point forward. This book of song and prayer is sung daily by devout Sikhs.

Central to many of the Sikh cultural and religious practices is human equality. Sikhs are opposed to formalism and ritualism. Each Sikh is encouraged to find God in his or her own way, using wisdom and common sense. However, the teachings of the Guru are of utmost importance as a guide.

“Various are the manifestations of God and various His ways. Various are the guises He assumes, but He is ever One.”

—Guru Arjun

All Faiths Hall Quotations “May the Respected Sword (God in the form of the Destroyer of Evil) help us!”

—Ardas, common Sikh prayer “Knowing God as the source of peace and harmony, and washing off ego and sin through the Guru’s Word, one comes to live in the True State of fearlessness.”

—Guru Nanak “O my foolish mind, why do you cry on? You get what is ordained. For God is the dispenser of pleasure and pain. So leave all else and call only on Him.”

—Guru Arjun “O my eyes, the Lord has put His light in thee; See none but the Lord in everyone.”

—Guru Amar Das

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Traditional African Faiths “God is the sun beaming light everywhere.”

—Tribal African From The Oral and Cultural Traditions of East Africa Kwanza is a time for families and communities to come together and a time to reaffirm the traditional African values. Kwanza is based upon seven principles called the Nguzo Saba: Umoja - Unity Kujichagulia - Self-Realization Ujima - Collective work and responsibility Ujamaa - Commitment to family and community Nia - Dedicated life Kuumba - Creativity Imani - Faith “Lord God, give me a life, a strong life, that I may flourish in health and light. My sons and daughters belong to You. They are Your children. All that I have is Yours. You are the Master.”

—Baluba prayer, Zaire

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In the traditional religions of Africa, God is the supreme creator, planner, and procreator—at once mother and father of the universe. The sacred is found in the highest aspects of everyday life. While different ethnic groups in Africa do not necessarily follow identical beliefs and practices, there are more similarities than differences among them.

The emphasis in African religions is on close relationships with nature, the living, and the dead. These relationships are based upon love, respect, and reverence toward the ancestor spirits.

There is no separation of religious life from other aspects of life. All things organic and inorganic are produced through various interactions of human beings and divine forces within the universe.

Ancestors, the guardians of the spirit, pass on to humans the energy of the Divine. This energy is made available to humans when they live in accordance with the laws of Nature. In this way, people can use this Divine Energy to attract and heal those who have moved away from Nature’s laws. In African religions, human beings are vital forces who operate in active, intimate rapport with the forces of Nature—influenced by them and influencing them.

Since there is no distinction between daily life and religion, there are no specifically identifiable ancient teachers or sacred texts. In traditional African life, religion is a matter of right living, the secrets of which have been orally passed on from generation to generation by the ancestors, high chiefs, and often royalty (who are believed to be descendants from God). The greater body of works that tell about African religious beliefs can be found in myths and legends transcribed by scholars. Myths emphasize human interactions and the unity between the living and the dead. The living are instructed to live harmonious lives through carefully guided traditional rituals and practices. If people are successful in their lives, they are given back to the spirit world as a reward for their conscientious living. In mythology, the dead reappear on earth through reincarnation as spirits or other beings. Myths also explain African concepts of death, creation, evolution, and the relationship of humans to other living creatures and natural phenomena.

“Father, O mighty force, that force which is in everything, come down between us, fill us, until we be like Thee, until we be like Thee.”

—Susu from Guinea

All Faiths Hall Quotations “Great Elder! Ruler of all things earthly and heavenly, I am Your warrior, ready to act in accordance with Your will.”

—Kikuyu, Kenya “Beauty! The world is full of enjoyment.

Beauty! There is joy in the world.

But should God remove His hand, all would vanish.”

—Ibo, Nigeria “And though I behold a man hate me, I will love him.

O God, Father, help me. Father!

O God, Creator, help me. Father!

And even though I behold a man hate me, I will love him.”

—Prayer of a Dying Man, Dinka, Sudan “We are on a market trip on earth; Whether we fill our baskets or not, once the time is up, we go home.”

—Ibo, Nigeria 81

NATIVE AMERICAN Faiths “The Light of Wakan-Tanka is upon my people.”

—song of Kablaya “You will truly have good lives if you help each other. That is the way you could make each other happy—always feel willing to do for each other. This you are to do as long as the people’s earth remains.”

—White Buffalo Dance, Fox “Kindness is to use one’s will to guard one’s speech and conduct so as not to injure anyone.”

—Oral Tradition, Omaha “Our parents taught us that lying was the ‘great shame’—that it was the ‘battle-shield behind which the coward hid his shame.’ ”

—Buffalo Child Long Lance, Sioux “Stealing is a bad thing. One who is not in the habit of stealing easily continues to get property for his own.”

—Singing Around Rite, Fox “O Great Spirit, I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy—myself. So when life fades, as a fading sunset, my spirit may come to You without shame.”

—Yellow Lark, Sioux “We have a religion which was given to our forefathers and has been handed down to us, their children. It teaches us to be thankful, to be united, and to love one another. We never quarrel about religion.”

—Red Jacket, Seneca

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Native American worship takes place in the cathedral of Nature, frequently in silence. The fruits of silence are thought to be self-control, true courage, endurance, patience, dignity, and reverence.

“Guard your tongue in youth, and in age you may mature a thought that will be of much use to your people,” said Chief Wabashaw of the Mdewakanton Sioux.

“Seek lonely places and be still, listening, hearing the songs and cries of the winged ones, the sounds of the four-leggeds, and the cries of the insect people; feeling the breath and touch of the earth, of leaves, of bark; for all have messages for you from the Above One—let your prayers rise like smoke rises from our fires, freed from all selfish desires,” spoke Sees-Beyond-The-Lightning of the Sioux.

Through group rituals such as the sweat lodge, sacred pipe ceremony, powerful chants, and dances, the Native American strives to purify the body, mind, heart, and soul in order to be an honorable and useful member of the tribe.

Doing good deeds for one’s people is held in the highest honor. “Let neither cold, nor hunger, nor pain, nor the fear of them, neither the bristling teeth of danger, nor the very jaws of death itself, prevent you from doing a good deed.” These words were spoken by an old chief to a scout about to seek buffalo in mid-winter for the relief of starving people.

Native Americans have an enlightened attitude about death. Death holds no terror for them. It is met with calmness and simplicity; an honorable end is the last gift to one’s family and descendants.

Native Americans are encouraged to compose a “death song” to chant courageously in time of danger and at the time of death itself. “When you die—sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”

—Tecumseh, Shawnee

All Faiths Hall Quotations “We do not walk alone; Great Being walks beside us. Know this and be grateful.”

—Polingaysi Qoyawayme, Hopi “My great corn plants, among them I walk, I speak to them, they hold out their hands to me.”

—Navajo “Our entire way of life will change—but it will never die, because it is of the spirit. It is a truth, and truth cannot die.”

—White Wolf, Crow “Fair is the clear sky, the green grass, yet more fair is peace among men.”

—Wawan Ceremony, Omaha

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OTHER KNOWN FAITHS: Religious “Truth is one, paths are many.”

In addition to the major world religions, there are many other faiths that have developed over time. There is no end to the variety of approaches to the Absolute One. Each faith is a brilliant color in the rainbow of religions. In embracing the spirit of interfaith understanding, one acknowledges that the same Truth found in one’s chosen faith is reflected in the other paths as well.

In the LOTUS All Faiths Hall, the following traditions have been selected to represent Other Known Faiths: Pacific Region, Jain, Zoroastrianism, Baha’i, Confucianism, and Integral Yoga.

Pacific Region O lo - the - hidden -face!

Rest within the heart, Within the roots of origin; O lo - the - learned!

O lo - the - determined!

O lo - the- self-created!

—Maori, New Zealand May the earth continue to live.

May the heavens above continue to live.

May the rains continue to dampen the land, Then the flowers shall bloom, And we people shall live again.

—Ancient Hawaiian 84

Jain “O God, help me to win victory over myself, for difficult to conquer is oneself, though when that is conquered, all is conquered.”

—Jain Scripture

Fivefold Invocation Reverence to the Arhats, Reverence to the Perfect Ones, Reverence to the Heads of the Sangha, Reverence to the Preceptors, Reverence to all Holy Monks in the world.

—Jain Invocation

Zoroastrianism “The first step that the soul of man made placed him in the good thought paradise; the second step . . . in the good word paradise; the third step . . . in the good deed paradise; the fourth step . . . in the endless lights.”

—The Abodes Of The Soul, Zend-Avesta

“In Thy image, let me pattern my life, O Ahura Mazda, let me awaken with Thy name on my lips, in my eyes let me ever carry Thy image to enable me to perceive Thee, and Thee alone, in every one else.”

—In Thy Image, Zend-Avesta

Baha’i

“To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.”

—’Abdu’l-Baha

“Let all the nations of the world consort with each other with joy and fragrance. consort ye, O people, with people of all religions with joy and fragrance.”

—’Abdu’l-Baha

Confucianism “The superior man in the world does not set his mind either for anything or against anything; what is right he will follow.”

—Confucian Analects-Book IV

“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”

—Confucius

Integral Yoga “Lord, it’s all Your name; it’s all Your form; it’s all Your deed; it’s all for good.”

—H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

“Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realize, Be good, do good, be kind, be compassionate.”

—H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda 85

“Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

—From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble, General Assembly of the United Nations, 1948.

OTHER KNOWN FAITHS: Secular Faith in a higher good is one of the most powerful forces on earth, and this is true whether it is expressed through the name of God and religion or through a secular approach. Ultimately, all paths point to the omnipresence of the Divine, for the same Light of Truth that illumines all religions is the wellspring of all other paths as well.

The quest for the Truth takes myriad forms. People seek it through faith in the grandeur of nature; through faith in humanity and the nobility of service; through art, education, and social and political ideologies; through science, philosophy and psychology; and through faith in any uplifting path followed with a pure heart.

As with the world’s religions, these secular paths are diverse. At their core, however, they are one in humanity’s universal desire for true and lasting peace and happiness. Whenever we seek the higher good in ourselves and in others, the result is the same: greater peace, unity and harmony.

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All Faiths Hall Quotations “Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to help make others so.”

—Robert Green Ingersoll “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity.”

—Marie Curie “Nations are the wealth of mankind, its collective personalities; the very least wears its own special colors and bears within itself a special facet of divine intention.”

—Alexander Solzhenitsyn “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these the homeless, tempest-tossed to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

—Emma Lazarus, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty “We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.”

—Maria Montessori “We learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same . . . . One becomes in some area an athlete of God.”

—Martha Graham “Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but a supreme beauty—a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture.”

—Bertrand Russell “Art class was like a religious ceremony to me. I would wash my hands carefully before touching paper or pencils. The instruments of work were sacred objects to me.”

—Joan Miro “Does a bird need to theorize about building its nest, or boast of it when built? All good work is essentially done that way: without hesitation, without difficulty, without boasting.”

—John Ruskin “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve . . . . You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart . . . . I can feel the suffering of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right.”

—Anne Frank “The same stream of life, that runs through my veins night and day, runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures . . . . My pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.”

—Rabindranath Tagore

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Faiths Still Unknown

In addition to all the known religious and secular paths, there are approaches to these same goals that are as yet unknown to us. Wherever beings purify themselves and thus allow the Divine Light to express itself through them, we offer our homage to them and their great faiths, which are one with all others in essence.

Thus, the LOTUS also honors those faiths still unknown. The symbol (at the LOTUS and also represented in the All Faiths Yantra) chosen to represent the faiths and wisdom paths yet unknown is the unfilled circle. The LOTUS is truly a model for the precept, “Truth is one, paths are many” and it is unique in the world for being the most inclusive shrine ever constructed in the world.

“There is one Cosmic Essence—all-pervading, all-powerful. This namelss, formless Essence can be approached by any name, any form, any symbol that suits the taste of the individual. Variety is necessary for enjoyment. If life were the same everywhere, it would become monotonous. Follow your religion, but try to understand the real purpose behind all of its rituals and traditions, and experience that Oneness.”

—H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda (The symbols of each faith that appeared on the preceding pages are from fabric banners hand-crafted in India.)

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8 / INTERFAITH PRAYERS The LOTUS Prayer O Lord, the Light of lights, You are the Indweller of the entire Universe.

You are the Light of Awareness.

You are the Light of our Consciousness.

You are the One who enlightens everything and everybody.

You are the One who makes the sun shine, who makes the moon shine, who makes the stars shine, who makes the fire burn.

Kindly lead us to that Light of Wisdom and remove the darkness of ignorance.

Enlighten our hearts. Help us experience that Light within and without.

Help us see the same Light, the same Spirit dwelling everywhere, in everything, as everything.

Help us to understand You and You alone through all these various forms and names, through all these different approaches and ways of worship. Help us recognize the central Unity.

Help us realize that we are Your image, Your children, no matter what the differences are.

Let us behold Your Spirit running through all.

Give us the strength and courage and capacity to experience that Peace and Joy within and share that experience with everyone.

Help us to get away from these selfish temptations with which we are creating all the differences, all the fights, and all the wars.

We have suffered enough due to our ignorance. Please guide us to know our brothers and sisters and to know that we are all parts of Your family.

Enlighten our paths, O Light of lights. Lord of lords. Help us. Guide us.

—H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

The Universal Prayer O Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love!

Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.

Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, Thou art Satchidananda (Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute), Thou art the Indweller of all beings, Grant us an understanding heart, Equal vision, balanced mind, Faith, devotion and wisdom; Grant us inner spiritual strength To resist temptations and to control the mind; Free us from egoism, lust, greed, anger and hatred; Fill our hearts with divine virtues.

Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms.

Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms.

Let us ever remember Thee.

Let us ever sing Thy glories.

Let Thy Name be ever on our lips.

Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever.

—H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda 89

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9 / ABOUT HIS HOLINESS SRI SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA Designer and Founder of the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) is respected worldwide as one of the major pioneers of the interfaith movement, as well as one of the most revered Yoga Masters of our time. Sri Gurudev’s teachings and spirit guide us toward a life of peace and to religious harmony among all people. Invited to come to the West in 1966, Sri Gurudev was quickly embraced by young Americans looking for lasting peace during the turbulent 1960’s. In 1969, he opened the Woodstock Festival. The peaceful atmosphere that prevailed throughout the event was often attributed to his message and blessings.

Sri Gurudev was ordained as a monk in 1949 by his master, His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, founder of the Divine Life Society, in Rishikesh, India. From the beginning of his spiritual service, Sri Gurudev was a leader in the interfaith movement. His motto, “Truth is one, paths are many,” is an essential part of his teachings.

Sri Gurudev founded the worldwide Integral Yoga® organization and continues to be its guiding light. Integral Yoga, as taught by Sri Gurudev, combines various methods of Yoga, including Hatha Yoga, selfless service, meditation, prayer, and a 5,000-year-old philosophy that helps one find the peace and joy within. Integral Yoga is the foundation for Dr. Dean Ornish’s landmark work in reversing heart disease and Dr. Michael Lerner’s noted Commonweal Cancer Help program. Today more than 50 Integral Yoga Institutes and Teaching Centers throughout the United States and abroad offer classes and training programs in all aspects of Integral Yoga.

In 1979, Sri Gurudev was inspired to establish Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville®. Based on his teachings, it is a place where people of different faiths and backgrounds can come to realize their essential oneness. Yogaville is the home of The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). This unique interfaith Shrine honors the Spirit that unites all the world religions, while celebrating their diversity. People from all over the world come there to meditate and pray.

For more than fifty years, Sri Gurudev sponsored interfaith worship services and conferences.

His teachings advocate respecting and honoring all faiths and he was invited to share his message of peace with many world leaders and dignitaries. Over the years, Sri Gurudev received many honors for his public service. Among the more recent awards: the 1994 Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award presented at the United Nations. Other eminent recipients have included H. H. the Dalai Lama, Queen Noor of Jordan, The Very Reverend James Parks Morton (The Interfaith Center of New York), Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), Pandit Ravi Shankar, and Nobel Peace Laureate Wangiri Maathai.

In 2002, Sri Gurudev received the prestigious U Thant Peace Award which is given to individuals and organizations that have exemplified the lofty spiritual ideals of the late United Nation’s Secretary-General U Thant and that have implemented those ideals in the tireless pursuit of world peace. Previous recipients of this prestigious award have included, H. H. Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela. The Rev. James P. Morton hosted the occasion at The Interfaith Center. In addition, he served on the advisory boards of many world peace and interfaith organizations.

Sri Gurudev is the author of many books, including Integral Yoga Hatha, To Know Your Self, The Living Gita, and The Golden Present. He is the subject of three biographies, Apostle of Peace, Portrait of a Modern Sage and Boundless Giving: The Life and Service of Sri Swami Satchidananda.

In August 2002, Sri Gurudev entered Mahasamadhi (a God-realized soul’s final exit from the body). Chidambaram, his Mahasamadhi Shrine in Yogaville is open for prayer and meditation.

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The Light of Truth Universal Service, Yogaville East, Connecticut, 1975.

Interfaith Pioneer “Sri Swami Satchidananda was the pioneer of interfaith work. He really lifted it up as the way to be—that there is one Creator, one universe, one God. There are 900 million ways of getting to that unity and they all have to be respected. And he was the one who really first gave language to that conviction.”

—The Very Reverend James Parks Morton, President,

The Interfaith Center of New York The lotus, like all other flowers, begins with a tiny seed which takes root, is nurtured by sun, water, and climate, and finally blossoms into radiant beauty. The LOTUS (Light Of Truth Universal Shrine) came into being in the same manner.

One could say that the seed for the LOTUS was planted in Sri Lanka. It was there that Sri Gurudev Swami Satchidananda introduced a seemingly new idea. From the beginning of his service in Sri Lanka, people of all different social classes and religions had looked to him for guidance and instruction. He was sometimes called the “Revolutionary Monk” because of the way he served everyone equally.

In July of 1953, the Divine Life Society members were preparing for Guru Poornima Day, an annual celebration honoring the divine qualities in one’s spiritual teacher. Usually each faith has a celebration, honoring only its guru. So, the Sri Lanka Divine Life Society was preparing festivities to venerate Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, Sri Gurudev had a suggestion: “This is supposed to be a day for concentration on the guru and there are many, many gurus for all the different people. While showing our reverence for Master Sivanandaji, let’s show our reverence for the other masters as well.”

Pictures of masters from many different religions were soon collected, and the celebration was proclaimed “All Prophets Day.” It became an annual event where the various heads of Sri Lanka’s religions could come together and discuss the truths behind their faiths.

Sri Gurudev’s vision of peace through greater interfaith understanding began from childhood.

Prior to his birth, his mother prayed that her child would embody the qualities of service to all—wisdom, detachment and love. Her prayers were fulfilled: As a young child he saw and served all people in the same way. Even at a tender age, he could not understand why people were divided because of caste and religion.

During his fourteen years of service in Sri Lanka, Sri Gurudev often mediated disputes between the Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. Sri Gurudev was instrumental in bringing many clergy members together and in organizing an All-Religions Group.

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Sri Gurudev with H. H. Pope John Paul II, the Vatican, 1984.

Sri Gurudev welcomes H. H. the Dalai Lama to the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago, 1993.

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On Sri Gurudev’s first world tour in April 1966 he had a private audience with His Holiness Pope Paul VI in which they discussed the idea of trying to unite all the people of the world, regardless of religion or race. In Jerusalem he visited the Holy Sepulchre and stayed in a Benedictine monastery. While there, he attended Mass and held discussions for the mission fathers, teaching Hatha Yoga techniques to a number of monks.

In May of 1967, he also visited with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at Dharamsala in North India and with Lama Govinda, a well-known scholar of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. His contacts with religious leaders from the various faiths were quickly expanding, and, as he went along, Sri Gurudev was laying the groundwork for his interfaith dream in the form of the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine.

A Global Interfaith Mission In 1968, Sri Gurudev began to spend more time in America. Together with Rabbi Gelberman, Brother David Steindl-Rast, and Eido Tai Shimano, he co-founded the Center for Spiritual Studies, in which the clergy of different faiths would meet once a month to engage in interfaith dialogue. The Center grew into the Yoga Ecumenical Seminar that would hold weekend retreats, encouraging followers of different religions to come together for prayer and meditation, and to share ideas.

During these interfaith retreats and symposiums, Sri Gurudev had another innovation: the Yoga Ecumenical Service (now known as the Light of Truth Universal Service), in which representatives of different faiths gathered together around a circular altar and performed a worship service to a central light. This light—in the form of a lit candle—was adopted as the universal symbol of the Divine. Performing the service were celebrants representing their respective faiths, and offering worship to the central light from their own faith tradition.

Over many decades, Sri Gurudev’s motto, “Truth is one, paths are many” was celebrated around the world. He organized many interfaith programs, retreats and conferences. For over twenty-five years, he lent support to many organizations, including The Temple of Understanding, Thanksgiving Square, The Parliament of the World’s Religions, the International Interfaith Centre, The Interfaith Center of New York, and the United Religions Initiative, among others.

In 1980, the World Thanksgiving Council named Sri Gurudev a “Fellow of World Thanksgiving.” In 1994, in recognition of his tremendous contribution to interfaith dialogue and understanding, he was chosen to be among the first recipients of an interfaith award presented at the United Nations by The Temple of Understanding. In 1998, the Dalai Lama invited Sri Gurudev, along with several other religious leaders to attend a plenary session in Washington, D.C. to discuss how they could work more closely toward furthering inter-religious dialogue and world peace. This group formally became the “Inter-religious Friendship Group,” and in November 1999, it met for another planning session hosted by President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Also in the fall of 1999, Sri Gurudev was invited to give the opening prayers for an interfaith service convened by The Interfaith Center of New York and The Temple of Understanding. This service was a celebration of the interfaith community’s commitment to the work of the United Nations and which marked the opening of the 54th Session of the General Assembly. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, H. E. Kofi Annan, Mrs. Annan, and the President of the General Assembly, Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab addressed the gathering. During the program, The Rev. James Parks Morton gave a tribute in honor of Sri Gurudev’s 50th anniversary of Sannyas (ordination as a monk), citing his leadership in the field of interfaith dialogue for these many years.

Then, in April 2002, Sri Chinmoy presented the U Thant Peace Award to Sri Gurudev on behalf of The Peace Meditation at the United Nations.

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“I share with Sri Swamiji the view that world peace depends on mutual understanding and unity among the different religions of the world. The only basis for such unity and understanding is the recognition that there is one transcendent reality which is beyond all word and thought and that every religion seeks to express this transcendent mystery in its own unique way. We have to learn to appreciate the differences in the expression of the mystery in each religion while we recognize our own unity in that which transcends all speech and thought.”

—The late Father Bede Griffiths of Shantivanam Ashram (India) “Sri Swami Satchidananda is one of the true religious leaders I have known in my lifetime.”

—Sister Joan Kirby,Temple of Understanding, United Nations Office “Until his last breath he continued to pursue his dedication to the cause of the unity of all religions, which is the message of my father and of Gandhi. In the spirit we are united beyond time and space.”

—Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, The Sufi Order “Gurudev very much reminded me of my blessed Hassidic masters whose characters manifested humility, wisdom, knowledge, experience, love and joy.”

—Rabbi Joseph Gelberman

President, All Faiths Seminary International and

Rabbi of the New Synagogue

Interfaith service, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, 1983.

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More about the LOTus and its interfaith message LOTUS Center for World Faiths The mission of the Lotus Center for World Faiths (LCWF) is to further the principle, “Truth is one, paths are many,” embodied in the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) through these objectives: • To further an understanding of the unity underlying the diversity of the various spiritual paths through educational displays and programming at the LOTUS. • To make the LOTUS known to interested organizations and groups through tours and day visits.

• To conduct interfaith programs and experiential workshops for individuals and organizations already involved in interfaith work.

• To develop audio-visual presentations and teaching tools for use in interfaith training and programs.

• To provide conference facilities for interfaith meetings, workshops and weddings.

• To offer interfaith training and experiential programs for teachers, seminarians, chaplains, monks, clergy and lay people.

To schedule a group tour of the LOTUS, an interfaith program, or to utilize our conference center facilities, please contact: info@lotus.org.

The LOTUS Website: www.lotus.org Share the philosophy behind the LOTUS, information about the world faiths, color photos, video clips and a virtual tour of the entire LOTUS complex with family and friends via the official LOTUS website.

Lotus Prayer Book The Lotus Prayer Book is an inspiring collection of sacred prayers from many different faiths and traditions. It is a ray from the LOTUS light, an expression of the great truth that the LOTUS represents. Its purpose is to show that the yearning and aspiration for the Divine, as well as the ultimate transcendental experience, are universal. Prayer comes from the innermost heart, and in the heart, we are all truly one. Through prayer we can see our unity and the one Divine Light as the source of all. People from all faiths and cultures throughout history have envisioned and called to God in remarkably similar ways; the same themes reoccur in their prayers. A number of these themes have been selected and illustrated with prayers from the ten major faiths represented at the LOTUS, as well as from the other known faiths.

Building the LOTUS This inspiring film (on video and DVD) chronicles the evolution of the LOTUS through the amazing story of its construction and includes the 1986 Dedication. Hear and see the tales of those who were a part of this remarkable process. It also captures Sri Swami Satchidananda in action as he teaches, inspires and changes people’s awareness through the Yoga of daily life.

Books and audio/video available from: Shakticom: Integral Yoga Multimedia 1-800-476-1347 / www.shakticom.org 96