I was walking up fifth avenue in NYC today and walked by St. Patrick’s cathedral.. I had not been inside in a long time and decided to go in. After the diwali pujas over the weekend, with the festive nature of hindu prayers I found myself just as peaceful in the solemness of the church.
Now, I am not sure whether this forum is islam specific or any relgion can be talked about. But I was amazed at the sam efeeling I had whether it was a laxmi puja or looking at the christ statue in the cathedral.
Does anyone else feel the same calm and innerpeace when they are at let’s say a synogogue or a mosque or a cathedral. A place of worship that is not necessarily their own religion.
yes, I have been to churches and synagogues and have felt at peace there too. also bhahi temples, and the naqshbandi sufi mosques, imam bargahs, etc etc
If you ever come to Chicago, visit Bahai’s temple. It’s a beautiful temple. Basically, people from all kinds of religions can go there to pray, together in one place. It’s really peaceful from inside plus when I went inside and sat there for few minutes in silence it felt like there wasn’t any difference between me and other people who were there!
yeash the bahai temple here is awesome. additionally the masjid in Northbrook is very nice, it is one place where I have met bosnian muslims as well. very nice place, and a great imam.
If in chicago downtown there is a church right on michigan avenue with an ivy clad courtyard, I often sit and relax there whenever taking a break from the hustle and bustle of michigan ave
Well the religion in the eyes of Allah is Islam, that is told to us in al Quran, the miracle of miracles and the book in which there is no doubt.
Secondly, "Naqshbandi sufi mosques" are regular mosques, the Sufi community is not seperate from the mainstream Islamic community-we are an integral part of the faith.
The answer to the question for me is No, I have been to churches for school trips, and some are gorgeous buildings, but there is no spirituality in them, not in a positive way for me any how. You feel satan around you, thats about it.
The answer to the question for me is No, I have been to churches for school trips, and some are gorgeous buildings, but there is no spirituality in them, not in a positive way for me any how. You feel satan around you, thats about it.
[/QUOTE]
Is that what your religion teaches or just your personal feelings -- that Satan inhabits churches?
All places of worship have a sense of peace & spirituality! I enjoy visiting them & it’s always a learning experience.
The Chicago Bahai temple looks cool. Maybe I will visit it on my upcoming visit there! It seems Chicago & it’s suburbs are religiously very diverse, which is a :k:
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mo_best: *
Secondly, "Naqshbandi sufi mosques" are regular mosques, the Sufi community is not seperate from the mainstream Islamic community-we are an integral part of the faith.
[/QUOTE]
1) i listed imam bargahs and naqshbandi sufi mosques seperately from bahai temples or churches, so I did not include them in the non-muslin places of worhsip.
2) They are islamic centers but of smaller sects and I can bet that majority of ppl here have not been to one. How many non shias been to an imam bargah, how many non aga khanis been to a jamaat khana? and how many non-sufis been to a naqshbandi masjid?
My feelings on Chruches are my own, not Islamic. I did not literally mean satan inhabits these places, although he'd obviously feel at home amidst such a transgression from the truth, and Sufis are not a "sect"-they represent the true spiritual nature of Islam, which is neglected my those who follow the "revivalist" Saudi path.
I appreciate your feelings but not every muslim follows the naqshbandi school of thought, just like not every muslim follows deobandi or barelvi schools of thought. so sufis are a group within muslims like there are many other groups.
as I aaid ask how many people have been to a naqshbandi sufi center and you will realize that.
and please dont start lecturing me about naqshbandi school of thought, I am not an outsider.
my school was a christian school so we went to church almost every week and sang hymns and prayed everyday in assembly...
christian hymns are nice to listen to if the music is nice and it's cool going to church because i luv their architecture but seriously i could never find the true inner peace in any religion other than Islam...
it's hard to explain the feeling i get from worshipping God according to Islam... it's totally different from other religions... all the other religions just feel like all empty rituals and after a while you start feeling down again... but the good feeling i get from praying Salat or reading Quran lasts...
anywayyss that's enuffa me blabbin on better be of 2 school. now...
I dont see where I lectured you mate, sorry if you got that imopression. Was not the intention.
I went to a Christian primamry school and we hgad a priest take Thursday assemblies every week, fat *er would just chat *. If I saw him now I'd assasinate him.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mo_best: *
The answer to the question for me is No, I have been to churches for school trips, and some are gorgeous buildings, but there is no spirituality in them, not in a positive way for me any how. You feel satan around you, thats about it.
[/QUOTE]
Maybe the 'satan' was somewhere else..
[al-Hajj 22:40] Those who have been expelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah. And had there not been Allah's repelling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah's name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty
Chaltahai, To me the state of calm or inner peace is no just confined to places of worship, but also museums, movies, old buildings, jazz clubs, my guruji’s Bethaik, track fields, nice Indian restaurants, Lahore airport, etc. All these bring spatters of spirituality in me (however not at all times but only when my soul feels consecrated). When I am in a non-spiritual mood, nothing brings clam or peace no matter where I might be.
It’s all in the inside brother.
I am at the height of inner peace when I am in the company of good friends, such as yourself, and sometimes Roman.
I dont see where I lectured you mate, sorry if you got that imopression. Was not the intention.
I went to a Christian primamry school and we hgad a priest take Thursday assemblies every week, fat *er would just chat *. If I saw him now I'd assasinate him.
[/QUOTE]
btw why do want to go after that priest guy, some bad experience?
NYA well said. actually I feel at peace in natural surroundings as well..I guess its a state of mind and a little bit of detachment from your everyday rat race and thinking about the bigger picture of life. places of worship are a good place for that
Sure! I can feel the peace. Thats what all religions are about, speading peace and hormony. I have been into many magnificent churches, in Vienna there are many old gothic churches in almost every corner. It definitely gives out a peaceful atmosphere, Although I have to say that, I have never been inside a synogogue or a hindu temple, never had the guts to :D
There is this old street that I cross everyday when I walk to my work. This street is the place of jews. If you work on saturday (I think, thats the day) you can hear them doing their prayers, or ppl walking with their black coats and curly hairs, females with wigs on, did you know that the ultra religious jew females have to cover their heads like us muslims too. They dont do it so obviously but wear a wig to cover their own hair, well what I wanted to say is that this street has a peaceful impact on me, I forget my sorrows and stress, whenever I am crossing it, I feel like I am in a totaly different world and when I cross it, the impact is over.
Chaltahai, we have some mandirs in san frisco which I visit once in a while...the devis are worth watching and admiring God for his creation. I find immense peace of mind just looking at the devi, her manohar mudra and satayam shivm sundram in her every move...but then once in a while in rare moments I turn inward, do some introspection and ask God..why the *** you made me so ugly?
Channji: As a ugly hindu...I often look at the Devis in the various mandirs in midtown manhattan and I must say I only differ from your approach in a singular fashion. I turn outwards.
God has may forms and sometimes she can be found on the corner of 5th and 42nd and in Pacific Heights and she is not as shallow as you or I.
