In my opinion India is a foundational place of religion much like Israel. Foundations were laid here in India for a multiplicity of religions; Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and to an extent Islam. Well maybe India isn’t the foundational place for Islam but it definitely thrives here and has an extensive history.
The ‘call to prayer’ occurs five times a day. Starting at 5:30am and commencing at 8:15pm. I am woken up every morning at 5:30am to the first call to prayer. There are two Mosques in this neighbourhood and I usually hear the one closest to my window. A man that works for the Mosque comes on a P.A system and calls or sings out calling all Muslims to the Mosque for morning prayer. Not all Muslims answer, and not all Muslims go to the Mosque at this time. Nonetheless the call to prayer happens everyday without fail and it is part of the norm here in India.
Five times a day. Five times a day there is a reminder or focus of faith and religion. I can barely brush my teeth twice a day and that is a matter of hygiene! It gives one something to think about though. How many times a day do we stop and think about the most important thing/s in our lives??? How many times a day are we encouraged to check ourselves out of the daily routine, the daily grind, and remember what we are doing . . . everything for??
I understand, and support, the fact that not everyone has or needs a religion. However I do feel that we all hold certain things very dear to our hearts. For me the most important things are family, friends, health, laughter, love, happiness, nature, and a good cup of coffee J If, in my everyday life, I stopped five times a day to remember, reflect, and just sit with how important those things are to me, how would my life be different? Would my life be different? Would I actually stop and feel the meaning of those things? Would I stop and solely think about the importance of those things? Would I stop and practice the importance of those things, perhaps by writing an email, going for a walk in the woods, making a phone call, or popping in to see a friend I haven‘t connected with for awhile? I am not sure. Being in India, many many miles away from some of those very important things definitely makes me think about them much more often. As well as feeling the absence/distance of them more strongly. It also makes me practise the importance of them as well as I do not want to take any of those things for granted. Family and friends aside I have only been away for twelve days and I am already in withdraw and dearly missing my beloved Rocky Mountains.
I do not know much about Allah, or Mohammed, or the Muslim religion in general, but I do appreciate their daily reminder to come back to the things that are important. For them, religion, and God, are important. So much so that they are called to it multiple times a day.
I think I will take a page from Islam and the call to prayer and attempt to be called back to the things that are most important to me at least five times daily!
*** Last evening I had a very poor nights' sleep. I had many nightmares, which made me restless, and did not provide a restful sleep. This morning's 5:30am call to prayer was not only very unwelcome but exceptionally loud and disturbing. I guess we can't be humble, graceful, and full of gratitude everyday :S
The ‘call to prayer’ occurs five times a day. Starting at 5:30am and commencing at 8:15pm. I am woken up every morning at 5:30am to the first call to prayer. There are two Mosques in this neighbourhood and I usually hear the one closest to my window. A man that works for the Mosque comes on a P.A system and calls or sings out calling all Muslims to the Mosque for morning prayer. Not all Muslims answer, and not all Muslims go to the Mosque at this time. Nonetheless the call to prayer happens everyday without fail and it is part of the norm here in India.
Five times a day. Five times a day there is a reminder or focus of faith and religion. I can barely brush my teeth twice a day and that is a matter of hygiene! It gives one something to think about though. How many times a day do we stop and think about the most important thing/s in our lives??? How many times a day are we encouraged to check ourselves out of the daily routine, the daily grind, and remember what we are doing . . . everything for??
I understand, and support, the fact that not everyone has or needs a religion. However I do feel that we all hold certain things very dear to our hearts. For me the most important things are family, friends, health, laughter, love, happiness, nature, and a good cup of coffee J If, in my everyday life, I stopped five times a day to remember, reflect, and just sit with how important those things are to me, how would my life be different? Would my life be different? Would I actually stop and feel the meaning of those things? Would I stop and solely think about the importance of those things? Would I stop and practice the importance of those things, perhaps by writing an email, going for a walk in the woods, making a phone call, or popping in to see a friend I haven‘t connected with for awhile? I am not sure. Being in India, many many miles away from some of those very important things definitely makes me think about them much more often. As well as feeling the absence/distance of them more strongly. It also makes me practise the importance of them as well as I do not want to take any of those things for granted. Family and friends aside I have only been away for twelve days and I am already in withdraw and dearly missing my beloved Rocky Mountains.
I do not know much about Allah, or Mohammed, or the Muslim religion in general, but I do appreciate their daily reminder to come back to the things that are important. For them, religion, and God, are important. So much so that they are called to it multiple times a day.
I think I will take a page from Islam and the call to prayer and attempt to be called back to the things that are most important to me at least five times daily!
*** Last evening I had a very poor nights' sleep. I had many nightmares, which made me restless, and did not provide a restful sleep. This morning's 5:30am call to prayer was not only very unwelcome but exceptionally loud and disturbing. I guess we can't be humble, graceful, and full of gratitude everyday :S
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