We’ve been trying to juggle lots of thoughts of how things need to be arranged inside a home. This morning we found some kind of metaphor which has been helpful in making sense of it all. It crystallized when we recognized the two extremes of play and meditation.
Meditation is best in an isolated and quiet space. We want it to be karmatically connected to the main body of the house but we also want it to be isolated. Isolation makes it possible for meditation and everything else (including play) co-exist peacefully. Isolation keeps distractions out of the meditation space without having to subdue the distractions.
Playfulness is engaged and noisy. It can be watching TV, listening to music, making love, having guests over, children playing and running around. It can happen in many places and should be facilitated (just as meditation is).
Work at home (as we experience it) is a diverse experience – from writing at the computer to working in the kitchen (of course there are other kinds which take place outside the house). Sometimes it thrives closer to playfulness (writing on a laptop computer while watching TV) and sometimes it thrives close to meditation (sitting with a notebook, pen and a cup of tea).
Rest is generally closer to meditation – but it generally less fragile. It can be relaxing in front of the TV or with a book in a living space and it can be napping in a bedroom or sleeping at night. Rest space should be somewhat removed from living spaces. It is a more intimate experience in spaces that are less frequented by visitors. It benefits from a certain degree of isolation and distance from the living spaces but not as much as meditation.
These four energies can be arranged on a scale which can and should be used in laying out our home.
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