There is an image
in my thoughts,
this person who is me,
who is lost, who is not enough,
who lives in perpetual struggle
with phantoms and demons.

This is a picture
hovering in my brain,
a glossy magazine photo
of who I wish to be,
so perfect, effortless, noble,
who never falters, only shines.

There is a reality
beyond any of this,
a truth that shines
amidst the turmoil
inside this soul.

There is a light
within each of us,
a beauty we cannot comprehend,
a destiny so great,
nobility quietly waiting
to be expressed.

God loves each of us,
just as we are.

He has opened the door
for us to discover
our true nature,
but we walk past
and choose another path.

If only we could
dig beneath these layers
of misconception
and see the brilliant light
within ourselves, within each other,

how quickly this world
would be transformed
into paradise.

I had the pleasure of working on the website for the Baha’i House of Worhsip in New Delhi, India, which is truly a beautiful place of prayer and mediation.  Known to many in India as the Baha’i Lotus Temple, it is one of the most visited places in the country, with an average of around 10,000 visitors a day.

For me, however, the best times were when there were few people there. One night I was able to go in myself and sit in the very center under the dome.  I chanted some prayers and they were reverberating from every direction, since the House of Worship is a dome.  It was an amazing experience.

I was also there for the Ascension of Bahá’u'lláh, which is the anniversary of the passing of the Founder of the Bahá’i Faith.  It was held at 3am, which is the hour of His passing.  All of the Bahá’ís attending were there praying and hanging out beforehand.  When it was time to officially say the prayer of visitation, right before the prayer, a group of Bahá’ís sang from every side of the temple.  It was magnificent.