Sufism Reoriented

Beliefs that shape our design 
The core principles of our faith have shaped the design of our new sanctuary. Like others before us, we are a people who have fallen in love with God. Just as in human love, our members experience an irresistible longing to draw ever closer to God as their Beloved, the source of meaning and purpose that inspires their lives. In Sufism Reoriented, our very purpose is to provide an environment that nourishes this inner longing. And a critical part of that environment is the architectural design of our sanctuary.

Different streams of faith fashion their religious expressions in ways that best align with their spiritual understandings and missions. For example, the bold and intricate mandalas of Asian faiths, the iconography on stained-glass windows and the sacred statuary of Western faiths, and the intricate and artistic calligraphy of Middle-Eastern faiths—–these all testify to the marvelous range of religious expression that exists in our world.

We can see, too, how many religions around the world express their faith through their architecture. The cruciform design of Christian churches reflects the cross as Christianity's central symbol. Buddhist pagodas represent the Buddha's throne. Hindu temples represent both the universe and the interior world. Many sacred buildings incorporate domes, steeples, and towers. Others add seven-tiered roofs or carvings of divine figures.

Yet there is one architectural principle common to all these faiths. Each design is intended to express the central tenets and beliefs of that faith. In the case of Sufism Reoriented, we have designed our new sanctuary to be a physical manifestation of our faith, and each design element has spiritual significance for us.

For our members, God the Beloved is considered the pinnacle of a supreme Love that embraces all in existence in an uncompromising and indiscriminate unity. As such, one's journey toward God awakens the experience of this love and unity in increasing measure. And that journey is advanced when practiced together in sacred settings. We have designed just such sacred settings into the architecture of our new sanctuary.

The circle
In our church’s design, the circular shape of the visible sanctuary reflects the curvilinear form of the emblem of our founder, Meher Baba. Like God, the circle has no beginning and no end. This expresses eternity, the eternal life in God the Infinite. The circle is also recognized as a symbol of unity since all points on the circle are equidistant from the center, as all beings are in relation to God. This symbol embodies our belief in the essential unity of Creation and the Universal Love at the heart of all life.

Domes
Our gently sloping saucer domes also reflect this important symbol of the circle. Equally important, when worshipping beneath the tranquil and uplifting interior spaces created by a dome, the heart awakens for prayer, meditation, and communion with God.

For this reason, domes are found in houses of worship everywhere. Baptist churches in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco have central domes. Some of the most beautiful buildings in all of Christendom—like St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy—feature multiple domes. One can also see domes on Jewish synagogues, Buddhist temples, Islamic mosques, and Hindu temples. Today, domed structures are commonly used in the sacred architecture of virtually every major religion around the world, and there are businesses in the United States dedicated to helping congregations create modern domed churches.

The color white
The color white symbolizes purity, unity, and inclusiveness because all the colors of the rainbow blend together to produce white light. Although there are widely diverse streams of life in Creation, the color white represents our belief in their essential oneness. For aesthetic reasons, our plan is to use a soft shade of white and not a stark one.

Meher Baba's emblem under the dome in the sanctuary's center
Meher Baba's emblem contains the symbols of all the world's major religions embraced in a circle of unity. In our sanctuary, this emblem will be embedded as a sacred feature in the floor directly under the center of the main dome. We believe that our worship services, focused on this emblem's message of unity, will help to foster lives of respect, love, and service.

Summary
In summary, members of Sufism Reoriented believe that on this marvelous journey toward Beloved God, sacred external structures are critical to support the internal processes of spiritual growth. Just as the wind serves the sailor at sea, a sacred setting serves as the favorable wind that impels the traveler on his or her journey homeward.

We have designed a church building that intentionally embodies our most sacred beliefs and supports our worship. We couldn't be happier with the design we have. We think it is perfect for us. It touches our hearts.