25 January 2010

LOTUS: Light Of Truth Universal Shrine

The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) is a unique temple dedicated to interfaith understanding and the Light within all faiths. Individual altars represent and honor the different world religions. The vision, design and inspiration of Sri Swami Satchidananda, the LOTUS was dedicated in 1986. In the peaceful countryside of Virginia, the doors of the LOTUS are open to welcome people of all faiths.

"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 the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

"Every human being under the sun is graciously welcome at the LOTUS."
—The Very Rev. James P Morton, The Interfaith Center of New York

"Words cannot express the uplifting feelings I have experienced in visiting this shrine. The LOTUS celebrates the unity of all faiths, the many paths but one God."
—Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, the New Synagogue; Founder and President, All Faiths Seminary International

"The LOTUS stands as a living monument to the interfaith ideals."
—Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament (India); Internat’l Chairman of the Temple of Understanding

"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 and Medicine Chief of 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 Religious and Administrative Authority 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 Center; 45th generational heir of the Vietnamese Lam Te (Rinzai) Zen Lineage

"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 of the Cistercian Monastery

"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 LOTUS

1 comment:

stpetric said...

>>More people have died in the name of God and religion than in all the wars and natural calamities.<<

That's a commonly heard claim. But if it were ever true, I suspect the 20th century rendered it false. "The century of the love of death", as Walker Percy called it, saw people killed in their tens of millions in entirely secular conflicts.

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