This past weekend, I was required by a class to visit a local center of worship which was vastly different from what I was raised with. First of all, I had no idea there was such a variety of religious centers in the Atlanta area. I suppose I just never had a reason to look before, but I was very surprised. Among others, there is a Buddhist temple, a mosque, and even a Roman Catholic monastery (complete with monks). From the many choices, I settled on the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn.
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As I arrived, I was absolutely blown away by the scale of the temple. It was definitely not the kind of structure one would expect to see in Lilburn, Georgia. My biggest fear arriving at the temple was that I would be intruding. I was afraid the people there would resent me for ruining the sanctity of everything. At first, I was determined to go with a friend so that I would perhaps feel less alone and out of place. However, I came to the conclusion that going by myself would allow me to better take in everything the temple had to offer.
The grounds alone were remarkable. There were benches every few feet, encouraging visitors to sit and take in the sights. A row of fountains fed into a large shallow pool, and the sound of the water breathed tranquility into the air. It’s amazing that they were able to acquire such an amount of land in an area this populated, and even more amazing that they were actually able to build this incredible work of art.
The brochure I was given at the front gate described the Mandir as “A place of paramount peace,” and this could not have been more true. The main room inside the temple was breathtaking. There were so many intricately carved pillars and the walls were lined with mirrors, so that it seemed to go on forever. Everything was white and the shadows were blue. If someone were to tell me that time does not pass inside that room, I would believe it. The only way I can describe the silence inside is to compare it to a snowy evening. There wasn’t much light, and yet what light there was reflected off the white stone and dispersed itself evenly. There was no noise except some distant singing and chanting from behind a locked door downstairs. Walking barefoot on the cold stone floor had a strange way of making me feel like I was about six years old, small and lost in this vast universe.
As I sat alone and in absolute silence putting my shoes back on downstairs, real life seemed like an illusion. I felt so tiny and insignificant in this wide, wide world. I was lost in thought as I sat outside by a fountain, putting all my problems into perspective based on this idea of endlessness. Millions of light years away, there are universes mankind will never discover being created and destroyed, and here I am complaining that it’s hot outside. How can I think that I am so important, when I am merely a few specks of dust floating amongst the stars?
I felt very welcome at the temple, and I would highly recommend paying a visit. This experience was extremely eye-opening for me. Although I was required to stop by for class, I feel I will probably go back again of my own accord.
