“Where are you?” “What time is it?” “What are you doing?” “What are you thinking?” We all need ways to localize, situate, and frame things or people to make sense of our reality. However, let’s remind ourselves that what we call reality is simply a representation of what is, shaped by our personal, ideological, philosophical, metaphysical/spiritual, scientific, and political experiences and upbringing.
Freud said that “normal” is merely the majority consensus—the common denominator of how people react to and experience the world. Einstein stated that space and time are simply the axes by which we think, not the actual reality of nature and the universe.
So, what is the reality? That is the very journey of both science and spirituality. In the end, it’s about dropping our dualistic mindset and reaching deep into our true nature—our true self. After all, reality cannot be experienced outside the subject’s gaze or mind. As we say in Zen, “The universe is created by mind alone.” Therefore, it is essential to clear our minds of limiting filters and dualistic thinking to really experience “what is” beyond all of that. In the 21st century, science and spirituality converge to reveal that the universe is a single conscious field—Oneness—from which everything arises and to which everything returns through transformation and evolution. As Jude Currivan clearly states, the greatest disease on Earth is the belief in separation from Oneness. And that is where suffering, in the Buddhist sense, originates.
“Zen and quantum physics are alike—they both question the reality we live in.” That is a quote from a scientific book I read 30 years ago. Zen is about returning to Oneness. In this blog, I challenge you with the concept of “space.”
What is space? Can we function beyond this concept? If so, what would that look like? We usually think of space as a physical, geographical, and geometrical organization of objects in a three-dimensional reality. But I encourage you to question the concept of “space” in relation to your “self,” such as:
- Physics/Astronomy: expanding space, the universe, how does it relate to you
- Physical: what we call home, office, what’s your relationship with it
- Geographical: the country you are in, the place you feel connected to, or nature & open space
- Figurative: the illusion of space in art, video games, etc., how you relate to this
- Linguistic: as in “Give me space to breathe.”
- Private/Public: what you consider private versus public
- Conceptual: spacing between words, or pauses/silence when speaking—observe yourself
- Psychological/Energetic: feeling drained by someone, feeling invaded by constant presence—are you aware of it?
- Bodily Space: the interstitial void within our bodies—you are made of “empty space.”
And now, here are two stories illustrating spiritual space or Mind Space:
- Full and Empty: A university professor visits a temple to learn about Zen. The master serves tea while the professor talks endlessly about what he already knows about Zen. After 10 minutes of monologue, the master pours tea for a third time until the cup overflows. The professor is surprised and tells him to stop pouring. The master replies: “Your mind is like this cup—so full that nothing else can enter.”
- More Space: A famous Zen master was giving a talk in a small, crowded room. One participant, frustrated by the lack of physical space, interrupted the lecture, complaining: “I can’t breathe! People are too close to me! I can’t concentrate!” The Zen master calmly replied: “If you drop ‘I, me, myself,’ you will have more space.”
Enjoy your journey to “empty space” for a clear mind. A clear mind opens your consciousness.
Namaste!
