Everybody Counts
Photography Erlend Mikael SĂŚverud
Everybody Counts
Four years ago I saw a man in a cafe with his prayerbead. He was sitting, quiet, he looked so passionate counting his bead. I wanted to take a portrait of him but I didn´t ask.. I decided to go on a studytrip to Rome photographing religious people with prayerbeads. One late evening I saw a man walking down the alley, he looked as if he was right out of a movie. I stopped him and asked for a portrait. That picture is the first I took for this project. He appeared to be the former Archbishop of Malta. I later found that counting is part of rituals in almost every religion. Some count prayers, other mantras, the beads helps them to keep track. The Rabbi counts the knots on the prayershawl. They are all counting - Everybody Counts. In this book I have asked everyone to share a sacred text, so we can learn more about the different traditions. To have the oppertunity to meet all this people has been an amazing experience, a strong personal meeting with great people. I want to thank everybody involved for making this book possible.
The Guru is an Ocean, deep and profound, infinite and unfathomable. Lovingly attuned to the Lord’s Name, you shall be blessed with jewels, diamonds and emeralds. The Guru is the Boat, and the Guru is the Boatman. Without the Guru, no one can cross over.
Sikhism
O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasent things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.
Baha’i
The Memory of a loving moment lasts forever
Spiritual Teacher
The flame of a lamp lights up countless lamps. The touch of a great personality wakes up innumerable sleeping hearts. In the same way, the eternal glow of the boundless ĂŠlan vital of Cosmic Consciousness has been illuminating the life-lamp of universal humanism since time immemorial, is illuminating it, and in future will do so even more intensely. That is why I say, the future of the human race is not dark, rather it is strikingly resplendent. So proceed on, ignoring the frowns of darkness.
Ananda Marga
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?� Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Protestantism
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
Buddhism
God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche, and within it a lamp; the Lamp enclosed in Glass; the glass a brilliant star, lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive neither of the East nor of the West whose Oil is well-nigh luminous though fire scarce touched it. Light upon Light! God doth guide whom He will to His Light.
Islam
I hereby take upon myself the Biblical commandment: “Love your fellowman as yourself.� May we merit to realize the time when we all will beat our swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Judaism
May there be peace in heaven. May there be peace in the sky. May there be peace on earth. May there be peace in the water. May there be peace in the plants. May there be peace in the trees. May there be peace in the Gods. May there be peace in Brahman. May there be peace in all. May that peace, real peace, be mine.
Hinduism
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Catholicism
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Hare Krishna
Zen Buddhism
Sikhism Ragi Rajinder Singh Khalsa
Counting with Mala “The Guru is an Ocean” Source: Guru Granth Sahib page 1401.
Muslim Imam Icc Norge, Oslo. Meboob-Ur-Rehman
Counting with Tasbhi “Al-Nour” (The light) Source: Quran, 24:35
Baha’i Vibeke Horsberg
Counting with Mala “Refresh and gladen my spirit” Source: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Judaism Rabbi Lubavitch Norge, Oslo. Shaul Wilhelm
Spiritual Teacher J Reuben Silverbird Nedni Apache Cherokee
Counting with Knots on a prayer rope “The Memory of a loving moment lasts forever” Source: Silverbird
Counting the knots on the Tallit. “Love your fellowman as yourself.” Source: Leviticus 19:18 beat our swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. - based on Isaiah 2:4
Hinduism Priest Umasuthan Kurukkal
Counting with Mala “May there be peace in heaven” Source: The Vedas
Ananda Marga Monk Dada Subuddhyananda
Counting with Mala “The flame of a lamp lights up countless lamps. Source: ‘- Shrii Shrii A´nandamu´rti A´nanda Va´n´ii Sam´graha: A Collection of the Spiritual Messages of Shrii Shrii A´nandamu´rti.
Catholicism Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca
Counting with Rosary “Our Father” Source: Matthew 6:9–13
Protestantism Bishop Emeritus Martin Lönnebo
Counting with Pearls of life. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom” Source: Romans 11:33 - 11:36
Hare Krishna Monk Martin Krogsgaard
Counting with Mala “Hare Krishna” Source: The Vedas
Buddhism Nun Thich Vien Hanh
Counting with Mala “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle.” Source: Siddhārtha Gautama
Zen Zen Master Hyon Gak Sunim
Counting with Mala
Photo&Design: Erlend Mikael SĂŚverud Print: Zoom Grafisk AS This material is protected by copyright law. Oslo, Norway. 2011
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