The first site I visited was the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center in Woodstock. I went on Saturday September 28th and arrived around 9:45am, fifteen minutes before the event started. Rather than going alone or with a classmate, I invited my mother, who also wanted to visit the temple. Outside the temples, several large Buddha statues sit cross-legged and stand near the entrances. On the door hangs a flyer titled “We Accept Everyone,” which details the fact that they allow anyone to enter the temple, regardless of ethnicity, sexuality, religion, etc. Not only that, but on their website they clearly state that they are visitors. -friendly, so everything was a very welcoming attitude from the temple. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The first thing that greets me as I enter is a sign directing me to a room where I can take off and leave my shoes. In the same room, “modesty scarves” hang on the wall, with a sign describing their use: to cover exposed shoulders or knees. Fortunately, since I had done some research beforehand, I dressed appropriately, in long sleeves and jeans. I made a mental note that if I ever came back, I would keep my shoulders and knees covered. It's good to know that on the hottest days when you wear a tank top, they have the ability to preserve your modesty. Once we took off our shoes and put them on the rack, we entered through a door leading into the room into a sort of large hall. The first thing I noticed was the spacious layout and high ceilings, which seemed open and comfortable, with the potential for spiritual energy to flow. Almost immediately I could smell burning incense and sage. The atmosphere in the temple was positive and peaceful. There is a seating area, a few tables with different leaflets and a jar for donations. On the wall were dozens of small golden plaques with the names of the temple's patrons. Most notable is that there is a gift shop right across the hall from the entrance. I was both intrigued and a little confused, as I had never imagined a store in a place of worship, but when I started browsing the merchandise, it made sense. Not only were there clothes and tote bags printed with mantras, but they also sold rugs, rosaries, small Buddha figurines, and candles. Some of my favorite things I saw in the shop were a range of books on Buddhism and mindfulness, incense materials and a variety of bracelets, each with a different meaning depending on the stones. For example, rose quartz attracts more love in life. There were dozens of stones and meanings, which was fascinating to look through. In the store there were chains of paper cranes hanging from the ceiling, handmade by the monks in a range of colorful and patterned papers. In the store, my mother and I had a conversation with one of the employees, who let us know that we could take notes during the dhamma talk. She also tells us to say we are new at the end of the service to receive a packet of information. She explains how the service is organized, how and when to bow. When you first enter the service room to sit down, you must first bow tothe large Buddha statue, then sit on one of the floor mats or a regular chair, all of which face the Buddha. We followed suit and I picked out a floor pillow. Once seated, I looked around and noticed that the participants came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and ages, which reinforced the inclusive attitude established by the temples. Most notably, when we enter the room, there is music with voices chanting and chanting, which creates a feeling of heightened spiritual energy in the room. As each new person comes in, I watch them bow to Buddha before settling down. Directly in front of us was an imposing effigy of Buddha, seated cross-legged, eyes closed and palms together in front of his chest. The figure is entirely white, with a red scarf draped across his chest and a light placed below and in front of him to illustrate that he is the focal point of the piece. The statuette sat on a raised platform in front of a mural depicting a cloudy blue sky, contrasting with the plain white walls of the rest of the temple. Placed in front of Buddha were four vases of flowers, a Tibetan singing bowl and a row of cushions for the monks, as well as a microphone. Adding to the feeling of holiness, the ceiling is even higher in this room, with the height peaking in the center with an octagonal cutout. Stunning stained glass windows decorate the walls, each with images of Jesus Christ, and the largest window depicts him, the Virgin Mary and an angel. These windows are the most vibrantly colored spectacle in the entire building, complete with flowers, lambs, bright colors and intricate designs. Seeing a famous figure from Christianity on the windows of a Buddhist temple was confusing, so I felt the need to investigate. I discovered that they were originally built before Blue Lotus purchased the building and were preserved both because of their beauty and as a symbol of religious freedom and acceptance . I think it is a very beautiful idea for a Buddhist place of worship to accept and preserve Christian materials. After a few minutes of sitting and observing my surroundings, the hymn music stopped, signaling that the ceremony was about to begin. The sound of a Tibetan singing bowl rang out, attracting our full attention. Two monks enter, a Sri Lankan and a white woman, both with shaved heads and brown robes. They settled down on the mats and began with an unfortunate announcement: Monk Bhante's father had just passed away, so Bhante would not be able to give the dhamma talk that day. Although a sad event, it provided the entire congregation with a touching and unique lesson: even if a soul passes, it is easier to make the transition with the help of the living. We could do this by directing our prayers and blood meditation toward the family and their lost loved one. They also mentioned a diary that some people keep to record all the good things they do, including small actions; While someone is on their deathbed, a family member can read this list to them to calm their nerves, remind them of the good they have done, and inspire them to reflect on the good judgment they have earned . This start of the meeting gave us all a moment of reflection and an additional lesson beyond what meditation and dhamma talk would normally provide. Then the meditation itself began. The monk in front of the microphone slowly and gently guided us to close our eyes, relax our bodies, release tension, and consciously focus on our breathingwhich enters and expires. Between words there were long periods of complete silence only partially broken by the sound of someone adjusting and deep breathing. While everyone remained silent, all attention was focused on the monk's words. He began to repeat mantras of well-being, happiness and peace that we can reflect on, both for ourselves and for everyone else. “May I be happy, may I be well, may I be at peace. » Again, after each repetition or new thought, there was a pause of calm. In those moments, when our eyes were closed, our minds clear, and our thoughts focused on positivity, I felt so connected to myself and the people around me. It was a touching experience, which I think everyone should participate in at least once in their life. After what seemed much longer than half an hour, the meditation was over. When we came out, the energy in the room was serene and light. Before the actual dhamma talk, when the monk delivered his homily, each attendant took their service booklet and sang a few hymns in unison with the monk. Although they direct you to the booklet, some things seemed to be common knowledge, like when and how to bow to Buddha, an important ritual. I came across the songs, not knowing the language and melody, but it was still a great experience. When the hymns are finished, the same monk leading the meditation begins the dhamma talk, focusing on the causes of suffering and how to prevent it. he. He explained that suffering comes from self-created fears, such as fear of guilt or fear of doing something wrong. He told stories from his childhood in Sri Lanka, in which he detailed the times he suffered due to his fears of punishment and authority. He explained that creating our own unnecessary fears ultimately leads to more suffering in our lives. He ends his speech with some general ways to limit unnecessary pain and promote self-positivity. The other monk asked all new participants to raise their hands to be welcomed into the temple. My mother and I raised our hands, along with a handful of other people. Then she showed each of us, we gave our names and she replied, “The Temple welcomes you.” It was different from what I had experienced the two times I went to church for an event with friends or family; rather than people wandering in or out, never forming a true community, the people of the Blue Lotus seemed to truly know and care for each other. It was just the cherry on top of the already established vibe of love and positivity. In fact, meditation and dhamma talk focused on the pursuit of positivity, well-being, and happiness rather than the Buddhist religion itself. At first it seemed strange to them not to talk about their deities and religious roots, but then I thought about why they might keep the discussion on something non-religious. It occurred to me that maybe they wouldn't have as many visits and donations if they kept everything purely religious, and that focusing on general positivity would appeal to a broader demographic . For example, after the service, I spoke again with the woman I met in the store. Her name is Erin and she said she is not religious but spiritual and already practices meditation. She was drawn to Blue Lotus because of their meditation and stayed for the community and wisdom...