"The real prize today was the Baha'i Temple, which unfortunately I got
no pictures of (which is no real concern, since others had cameras)
due to lack of preparation in the department of batteries.
Nevertheless, the temple itself is a rather large building in the
shape of a Lotus flower, designed in a fashion that must have called
for quite a streak of engineering genius to pull off. We watched a
video concerning the Baha'i architectural achievements, and while the
information puts the construction in context, it is still difficult
not to stare at it in disbelief. I suppose I shouldn't have my mind
blown so quickly on this trip, but the folding patterns and sloping
design are incredible on this temple. It is flanked on both sides by
what look like pools (though I never got a chance to ask what they
were for, if anything, since I didn't see anyone in them – just for
show?), and when entering the temple one is to remain completely
silent and reverent. When we got back from the temple and the museum
associated with it, I stopped by the internet café to do a quick
look-up of this faith and the corresponding temple here in Delhi, and
scrounged up a few numbers – apparently over 50 million people have
visited the Lotus Temple in Delhi, which puts it as one of the most
viewed buildings in the world. Pretty impressive for such a minor
faith, I would say. Even more impressive (to me) are certain tenets of
the faith itself, for instance the refusal of donations by anyone who
isn't part of the Baha'i faith itself, which to me shows proof of a
religion willing to stand on its own two feet. Also the reconciliation
between faith and science, listed under the principles of the Baha'i
faith, and the equality of the sexes, elimination of poverty, etc,
make the Baha'i look incredibly progressive as a religion."
(http://krimsonnights.livejournal.com/7163.html)
John Taylor
email: badijet@gmail.com
blog: http://badiblog.blogspot.com/
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