Loras Interfaith Trip to Chicago Opens Eyes and Minds

opportunity to speak with one of the organization’s Dharma teachers of Zen Buddhism, Noara Ellen McClure. The word “Dharma” refers to the doctrine or teachings of the Buddha. McClure answered many of our questions and provided information about their specific practice of Zen Buddhism.

“Zen Buddhists hold that all living beings are pure Buddha nature that seems to be obscured by the workings of the discursive mind, fueled by the pressures of modern life. Through daily practice of seated meditation, we allow the discursive mind to settle, and let this true nature be expressed in our daily life.”

McClure added that her title, Noara, is a “beginner’s” title in their practice and that as she progresses through the teachings and lifestyle of the Buddha, more syllables will be added to it.

In contrast to general Buddhism, Zen Buddhism focuses on the ideas of meditation and peacefulness. The Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago offers both meditation services and chanting services as opportunities to reach further enlightenment on personal journeys. Although there are specific principles one must follow to truly practice Buddhism, the journey to enlightenment looks different for every person. Each of us was given the ten main principles to incorporate into our daily lives if we desired.

The next sacred space we traveled to was the Holocaust Museum located in Skokie, IL. The museum itself was founded by survivors who relocated to the area after the Holocaust. Many of the artifacts on display are personal items or photographs of these individuals and their families, offering a unique and intimate view of the Holocaust.

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When you walk into the museum, you immediately notice the difference in lighting. The first several rooms are dark as we learn about the history leading up to the beginning of the Holocaust. As the museum continues, the hallways and exhibit rooms become more twisted and turning, alluding to the complex and often confusing circumstances of the time. Along with the indispensable information and personal items from survivors, visitors to the museum are also hit with the visually stimulating effects of the structure and architecture of the museum, making for an experience that intensifies every sense.

Although our tour lasted around three hours, I could have spent all day there. Between the information to read, examine, and digest, one can only imagine the time and dedication it took to create a place like this. One of my favorite parts of the museum was the inclusion of other similar genocides or civil rights issues experienced at different times throughout the world. Unfortunately, events similar to the Holocaust are still occurring today. It is scary to think about the ability of a country’s government to control the mass population so thoroughly. I continue to hear survivor Aaron Elster’s call to action in my head: “You matter. You can do it. You are here now.”

Through an exhibit at the museum, we were able to sit, listen, and ask Elster questions via a hologram simulation. In this way, visitors can have a personal conversation with and get to know Elster as if he were truly present. His voice, along with several other survivors’ voices, will live on in this exhibit.

“We are the last of the survivors and we have an obligation to tell the younger generations of the atrocities that humans are able to inflict on others,” Elster said in an interview with museum staff. He reminisced, “I remember thinking, why would God let me live? What’s so different or what’s so special about me?”

As a Catholic, I found this oddly comforting. Many of us might relate to this questioning of God’s purpose for our lives. We might not know the answer, but we trust that God is watching over us, no matter what happens.

The last space we visited was the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett, IL. This Hindu Temple is dedicated to service and spirituality, rooted in the Vedas or ancient Hindu sacred texts. Its founder, Bhagwan Swaminarayan, was a guru who is believed to always be present in the current guru, religious leader, or priest.

BAPS Swaminarayan is just one organization following the general Hindu beliefs, however, they have also incorporated practices and chanting that are specific to their community. In this way, they celebrate the life and teachings of their founder. One misconception that was highlighted during our visit is that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. This is not true, and instead, the belief is that God manifests here on earth in different forms and at different times. This could be in other people, such as Swaminarayan, or the statues on display throughout the temple.

Upon walking into the sacred space, we are asked to take our shoes off as a sign of reverence to God. If I tried describing the architecture of the building, it would probably fill an entire book. The inside is made almost entirely out of Italian marble, which was shipped to India and hand carved by devout believers. There is so much to look at; one could stay in the space for hours and still not see everything. Additionally, statues of the various forms of God as well as important religious leaders (in whom God is believed to have dwelled during their lifetime) surround the room. While we were there, people made their way in a clockwise direction to pay their respects to each holy icon.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to experience an Arti, a Hindu ceremony of light. It is one of the most basic celebrations of God’s presence and power in this tradition. The priests held flames in a little lantern while music played, and we clapped our hands and chanted special words. Then a smaller flame was passed around so that those who wanted to could bless themselves. Fire is believed to carry healing, cleansing, and purifying properties. Overall, our group was able to experience three very different religious traditions while also bonding and creating friendships. Back at the hotel on Saturday night, we played cards and board games and ate cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. This trip was a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions, and also get to know other Loras students from various backgrounds. Keep an eye out for other Interfaith opportunities to connect on campus. Our next event coming up is a Fasta-thon dinner on March 28th. More information will be available as we get closer to the date.