Myriads Quarterly Newssheet for Norfolk and Waveney Baha’is, and their friends Issue 22 Sharaf 171 BE to Jalal 172 BE New Year 2015 THE BAHA’I LOTUS TEMPLE in Delhi, India, is well known to several Baha’is in Norfolk. Tom Fox, a film maker and sound engineer from Edgefield near Holt, recently returned from a trip to India where he took film footage of the Temple. He then went on to Hinduism’s holiest city, Varanasi, to film stock footage of images of Hinduism. Whilst at the Lotus Temple he recalled the work he completed on the Temple’s highly sophisticated sound system when it was first dedicated in 1986. As a consequence of the Temple’s domed structure - along with hard surfaces and few furnishings - internal sound reverberates for an extended period. This means the spoken word may take up to 4 seconds to die away, mixing the sound of the last few words with the ones being said, causing sound confusion. The solution was to have a speaker in close proximity to everyone in the audience, which at a low volume would be close enough to listen to while the reverberated sound went on overhead. Therefore speakers were installed under the benches in the auditorium allowing people to hear the speaker sound. Volunteers with skills in audio electronics were called on to help with this in the lead up to the dedication of the Temple. Tom was one of three volunteers working on the sound system during the night as construction work went on during the day. Norfolk Tech in Indian Temple “The memories of working through the night threading wires under the marble auditorium floor with the wind blowing though the building as there was no glazing installed yet, seeing the stars and watching the sunrise, with many local people about the area stirring to get to work, are still very vivid in my mind” recalls Tom. During the day the volunteers installed audio equipment, converting stereo amplifiers to drive over 150 speakers attached to alternate Temple benches. Because sound travels relatively slowly, delay processors were installed so that sound from the speakers would coincide with the natural sound coming from the podium. Therefore each row of speakers would have their own delay time (in milliseconds) depending how Above: Tom in India in 1986 wiring the sound far back from the podium they were. system shortly before the Temple dedication Tom reflects how “… having such a Below: Benches in the Prayer Hall bounty being around the Temple site (auditorium) are laid out in circular rows during its completion enabled me to photograph the House of Worship at sunrise and sunset and to record many of the changes that were taking place, and eventually to put together a three projector slide show when I got back home which was screened at many local and national Baha'i events .… I remember working right through 36 hours non-stop in the time leading up to the screening of the audio visual programme at the conference” Happy the days that have been consecrated to the remembrance of God, and blessed the hours which have been spent in praise of Him Who is the All-Wise. Baha’u’llah The Baha’i Lotus Temple in Delhi, India, is one of the most visited sites in the world with 9,000 daily visitors On his recent visit, despite issues with foggy weather Tom was able to film footage of the Lotus Temple which will be used in his next film Architects of the Spirit. He also left a copy of his film The Promise for use in the audio-visual centre at the Temple with the promise to send a copy of the new film when it is completed. In Varnasi, despite torrential rain and some fog, he was able to film footage along the Ghats on the Holy Ganges and to visit Sarnath where a stupa (type of Buddhist shrine) was built several hundred years ago by King Ashoka, to commemorate the spot where Buddha delivered his first public sermon. All of this footage will be included in Architects of the Spirit. The Promise is occasionally shown free on Baha’i Exhibition days in the Forum. When completed, Architects of the Spirit will also be shown at no charge. Please check the Calendar in future editions of Myriads for dates of these exhibitions. Calendar of Events The events below are OPEN TO ALL. Please call or email for more information on the event you would like to attend. You are assured of a WARM WELCOME! DATE TIME EVENT DETAILS and EMAIL CONTACT LOCATION Mon 19 Jan 7.30 pm prompt start Edgefield World & Spiritual Cinema Club: Departures: Comfortable seats. All welcome [[email protected]] Edgefield Village Hall, near Holt 01263 587246 Sun 25 Jan 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Forum event: Norfolk Baha’is host an Exhibition Stall at the Forum on Millenium Plain. We’d love to see you there! [[email protected]] The Forum, Norwich city centre 01603 446233 Weds 28 Jan 7.30 pm Tranquility Evening Beccles 01502 712369 Fri 30 Jan 7.45 pm Questions That Arise: Explore questions arising from life’s journey. Open to all [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Tues 10 Feb 2 pm - 4 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Weds 11 Feb 7.30 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Edgefield, nr Holt 01263 587246 Sat 14 Feb 6.30 pm Soul Food: Live music, readings from all over the world. Food served. All welcome [[email protected]] Off Yarmouth Road, Norwich 01603 700295 Please RSVP Fri 20 Feb 8.00 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Gorleston 01493 665820 Fri 27 Feb 7.45 pm Questions That Arise: Explore questions arising from life’s journey. Open to all [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Weds 25 Feb 7.30 pm Tranquility Evening Beccles 01502 712369 Sat 28 Feb 6.30 pm Ayyam-i-Ha Pot Luck Devotional & Dinner: Join us for a celebration of the intercalary days before the Fast in the Baha’i Calendar. All welcome. [[email protected]] Off Yarmouth Road, Norwich 01603 700295 Tues 10 Mar 2 pm - 4 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Weds 11 Mar 7.30 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Edgefield, nr Holt 01263 587246 Weds 25 Mar 7.30 pm Tranquility Evening Beccles 01502 712369 Fri 27 Mar 7.45 pm Questions That Arise: Explore questions arising from life’s journey. Open to all [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Sat 28 Mar 6.30 pm Soul Food: Live music, readings from all over the world. Food served. All welcome [[email protected]] Off Yarmouth Road, Norwich 01603 700295 Please RSVP Weds 8 Apr 7.30 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Edgefield, nr Holt 01263 587246 Tues 14 Apr 2 pm - 4 pm Devotional: All welcome [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Fri 30 Apr 7.45 pm Questions That Arise: Explore questions arising from life’s journey. Open to all [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 Sat 2 May Afternoon and evening 12th Day of Ridvan Event: 3.00pm - 6.00pm Junior Youth & Children's Arts Activity, then 6.15 pm - 10.00 pm Potluck Commemoration and Celebration All welcome! [[email protected]] Thorpe St Andrew 01603 705031 [[email protected]] [[email protected]] [[email protected]] TEL. Local and National Contact Details: If you would like to join a local Study Circle (adult) or local Children’s Class (age 4 - 11) please contact Taraneh Jahanpour on 07876 254 976 For local Junior Youth (age 11 - 15) or older Youth groups please contact Emily Green [email protected] For all Baha’i activities in North Suffolk please contact Rose Norgate on 01502 712369 For national enquiries please contact: The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom, 27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD Tel: 020 7584 2566 UK website www.bahai.org.uk International website www.bahai.org/