UN Meditation Room Proposal
Sana Mujahid

It is through the process of symbolic interaction that one learns to associate symbols with meaning. This process is directly influenced by our socialization and the environment around us. Various religions and cultures can view the same object or symbol under different lights. Today we come in contact with people from so many different parts of the world, it is essential that we are able to co-exist for the betterment of global society. The clashing of different beliefs can result in moving away from social equilibrium and may end in chaos. In fact, religions tell people to obey the social order to maintain equilibrium and hence they play a functional role in society.

The meditation room at the UN should be such that it unites people in their beliefs. It would serve the role of inspiring and inculcating respect for persons as individuals, regardless of their different ideologies. Symbols present in the room should be universal and neutral. Each individual should be able to relate to them with their own set of values and beliefs.
I imagine entering a blue painted room. One can see a tree in the center. An oculus is situated in the ceiling, directly on top of the tree. A water feature surrounds the tree with thin, thread like streams of water. The tree and the water feature are placed within a circle, which is drawn on the floor. There is a bench next to the wall on the right hand side.

A circle is an ancient and universal symbol of unity and harmony. When thinking of a circle, one is reminded of Mother Earth, and its rejuvenating, healing powers. The Earth is considered sacred by many cultures. Other religions consider it to be one of the magnificent creations of God and a portrayal of His powers. The nature of the universe is such that all the planets are spherical and they orbit around each other in circular pathways. It has a strong association with wholeness and completeness. Another connotation affiliated with a circle is the continuum of life. Throughout history, the circle has been significant to earth-centered religions as well as many contemporary pagans. Gnostic traditions linked the unbroken circle to the "world serpent" forming a circle as it eats its own tail. Variations of the circle are used by many religions such as Hinduism, where a dot in the center of a circle represents the merging of the male and female, and in Wicca or Native American traditions a quartered circle depicts sacred space or the sacred earth. Placing the circle in the middle of the room represents equilibrium. Humans, no matter what their set of beliefs, incline towards orderliness as opposed to chaos. Their beliefs usually reinforce whatever social order is in place.

Light has a whole array of associations in different religions. It is representative of truth, purity and guidance. In Islam, a person who has been blessed with guidance is considered to have light, whereas a person who is not guided is described as a person who fumbling in darkness. “Allah 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 is in a glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor the west, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is the All-Knower of everything.” (Quran 18:35) There are also inferences in Christianity to a relationship between light and the divine "I (God) am the light of the world," (John 8:12).
It is considered somewhat like a mystical symbol of God and the image of the transcendent that would be most inclusive of all nations. Light also symbolizes hope. The rising of the sun signifies the beginning of a new day. Furthermore, it may illustrate truth and clarity. Humans have a natural inclination to lean towards truth and doing what is right. The yellow color of light connotes renewal and hope in many religions and cultures.

Water is an important part of many religions. It plays a role in physical and spiritual cleansing, especially before carrying out certain acts of worship like in Islam and Shinto (Japanese religion). The Hindus consider water as sacred. It is also associated with revelations and divine text like in the story of Moses and the children of Israel, in which the Red Sea was separated to enable them to flee from Egypt. This story is common to the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. Water is also one of the basic building blocks of life and is essential for its continuation. Furthermore, it links us to the environment and hence the integrated planetary system at large. Water can symbolize purity, serenity and rejuvenation of life.

Trees are considered to be a link between the heaven, the earth and the underworld. It was under a tree where Buddha received enlightenment. In the Judeo-Christian tradition it is believed that it is the Tree of heaven that is the source of rivers that water the earth, which is similar to the Tooba Tree of the Quran, from which rivers of milk and honey would spring in heaven. Trees, just like water, connect humanity with nature. We are dependent on them for fruit and for building materials. It is off eating trees and plants that animals can survive and are essential in the food chain, symbolizing the circle of life. The green color of the tree represents growth and prosperity.

The blue walls symbolize the sky and heaven, as well as truth. The tree needs water and light in order to photosynthesize and make glucose. The entire food chain is solely dependent upon plantation. They also play an important role in the water cycle. If plants don’t transpire, it would hinder the formation of clouds, and subsequently affect the amount of precipitation. Light, represented by the oculus, is the source of energy which enables all of these events to take place. It is clear to see that each element relies on the other.

The purpose of this room is to serve as a meditation/prayer room that can be used by individuals who belong to any religion or culture. The symbols present in the room are universal; hence no one should have any objections to them. I decided against placing traditionally religious symbols there because, first of all, not everyone has a religion. Secondly, some people might find some of those symbols offensive to their beliefs. And it would be practically impossible to represent all of the religions of the world.

This room represents the dependency that we have on our surroundings and reinforces the connection we have with one another. This is the reason why I chose symbols from nature to be present in the room. We are all part of this vibrant circle of life. No matter how differently we think from one another, we live on the same planet and have the same physical restrictions. I think if one can internalize this fact alone, we would be able to co-exist more peacefully.

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