Good morning hivers and globetrotters, travelers everywhere. Today's post is different from all the previous ones. It is directed towards the cultivation of faith (in which you believe), I come to present my spiritual path and how has been that awakening in a conscious way, in a poetic way I come to bare my soul, thanks to the most recent trip I made to the Bahai Temple. Disclaimer, in this post I´ll tell my story without the intention of creating discomfort in others.
To put them in context, I was raised as a Catholic, I took my first communion, I went to a school of nuns, I had a very good education, however, I always had concern towards other religions, because I have always seen them as a cultural interpretation and also because I refused to believe in a God that inspires fear, in my head and heart I still feel that way. This led me to study the Bible more, to know the Evangelical, Adventist, Mormon interpretation, I also read the Koran and the Bhagavad Gita, always connected to the intellectual part of analysis and historical evidence, I could see similarities in them, in the presence of a Creator and provider of everything.
All that information was in my head, until I lost my father and I found myself in a limbo of faith, an emotional void, a spiritual dullness and resentment towards what I knew as divinity, I did not deny God but I had a lot of anger, because I did not understand anything of what I was living at that moment. In order to weigh the pain I went again to all the books and everything that was called church, I was looking for my peace, at least to understand how to mourn, guess what? There is no formula for that, but your own history, experience and the decisions you make to learn to live with it. A wise phrase from a friend helped me a lot: "It only helps to honor him/her by doing what he/she taught you best and thinking about how he/she would like to see you".
That was how I allowed myself to experiment with the arts, thanks to this I met people related to the Hare Krishna and I went to that temple, with my doubts, surprisingly it was where I felt a little calm in my soul after long years, beyond the colors, the smells of rich food, I am sure it was because of the different reception: "Afrika what would you like?" There were options to help and that is called devotional service, I remember there were options to clean, to cook, to decorate the altar. Since I was in a craft fever I wanted to decorate but being new I felt embarrassed, however they let me clean up a bit and then gave me the task of making flower garlands for the altar.
The tranquility of my soul doing what I love while cultivating faith was something new, but encouraging. Then came the classes where they reinforced the relationship with God as a friend, from compassionate love and how we all have that gift within us. So I was going for a long time, listening and understanding that devotional service, faith and the strength that you impregnate to what you love is the cultivation of your spiritual walk, always with love and gentleness towards you. I assumed devotional service as an essential practice in my life for all the well-being that it produces me.
Then I emigrated and felt that limbo again, I visited temples, churches, but conscious of my devotional service. Although I felt tranquility in certain churches something was still not connecting. Recently, all this became stronger because it joined an emotional and professional limbo, it was a moment of self-realization, what do I really want to do from now on? I do want to continue educating, but there is no longer a desire to climb positions in companies, my artistic side is taking space step by step, it is what fills me and even more it gives me joy to accompany others in that process, I like crafts and show each person how they can also awaken creativity, art in their being. That's when I had a new awakening of faith, my ego calmed down and acceptance began.
I understood that I had limited myself mentally by social construction, forgetting that I really should do what gives me healthy and long term happiness, that I have much to offer not only here in my new home, to other places, I also accepted that I am not only an English teacher, for now that stage is over and that I have things beyond the verb "to be" to teach and learn, that which my devotional service nourishes. I always talked about this with people close to me and someone told me about the Bahai Temple, because I commented that sometimes the noise of the mind and the city does not let me concentrate on my north, because in my country when I felt the bustle it was easy for me to escape either to the temple or to the sea and here it was complicated, that person insisted that I go to the Bahai Temple.
After almost a year of having it in mind, last Sunday I went with relatives, I was incredulous with more expectations of a tourist than of faith. And, thank goodness, because when I stepped into the entrance my brain short-circuited, my soul jumped and my faith smiled. That day I woke up very late, something I rarely do, I took the time to make lunch, read and get ready for the visit to the Bahai Temple, we took a cab there, the road is curious as it is full of city and when arriving the whole area of the temple surrounds you like a forest without losing the beautiful view towards Santiago.
Once I came in, the appreciation of the great architecture, landscaping and respect for the place begins. There are several guides that group a certain number of people and give instructions to climb: it is a place of prayer and contemplation so silence and respect for others is important, the phone off and as the intention is that you have a moment for you inside the temple are prohibited photos inside, however it is possible to make them in the surroundings considering again that it is a place of strengthening faith, also show you where the library is if you want to see more information, that way you are allowed to climb.
The walk is short, full of trees, mountains and the occasional flower. At the beginning of the journey, I unintentionally got separated from my group, I stopped to read all the information which caught my attention because they put a lot of emphasis on the devotional service, that gave me more peace and in a way I said to myself: "you are not crazy, you are doing well". And as I went on I could feel how imposing the place was.
When I saw the sign: Area of Silence, then I reviewed what I had read about the place, I also opened my mind and spirit to receive the greatness and wisdom that they offer there:
"Bahá'í beliefs address such essential themes as the unity of God and religion, the unity of humanity and the absence of prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the fundamental equality of women and men, the harmony of religion and science, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the development of spiritual qualities, the selfless service of others, the value of justice in all human endeavors, the importance of education, and the dynamics of relationships that are to unite individuals, communities, and nations, the development of spiritual qualities, selfless service to others, the value of justice in all human endeavors, the importance of education, and the dynamics of relationships that are to unite individuals, communities and institutions of society as humanity moves toward its collective maturity. "
Without rituals or clergy, without icons or images, Bahá'í temples seek to reflect an ideal of universal worship, where men, women and children can meet as equals. For the Bahá'í Faith, the concept of volunteerism or service is fundamental, since it is what makes it possible to achieve the fullness of the faith. In time, universities and hospitals have to be built in the vicinity of the temples. In Chile, the connection with the community has inspired the transformation of an old golf club into an education center for youth."
Finally we arrive at the prayer dome, which took 14 years to build and believe me such architecture is worth the effort. It is made of molten glass and marble that allows natural light to enter, while accommodating approximately 600 people. It has several entrances from different parts of the mountain, however there is only one open and it is the one that allows you to appreciate its magnitude from the main staircase. Outside, it is like a lake, with lotus flowers and if you stand in front of it you have the perspective of the dome floating on the surface of the water.
Upon entering the Bahai Temple, I immediately felt and heard the silence, in a different density. The place is cozy, surrounded by wooden armchairs, this is the place to pray, to listen to yourself, to be sincere and even to meet with your faith, it is you with you and your beliefs. The center of the dome inside looks like an eye, at least that is what I perceived. However, the most important thing for me was that sense of security in me that he injected, I think it was an embrace of his devotional service in me, as an endorsement of my desire and faith. It was a reaffirmation of my will to do what gives me joy and to generate the same in others. I really do not have words to explain what I feel since then, only much gratitude and respect for the Bahai Temple, as well as for your servers, you hivers who always motivate me and all my close ones who accompany me. Sincerely, thank you.
The photos are personal record edited in canva. You can find the sources of the quoted texts at the bottom of each one, so you can expand the information about the Bahai Temple and its faith if you wish. Thanks again.