Playful quietness

I have space to think here.

Without question today was holistically fun. Fun-ness radaiated from every moment. Nanzen-ji Temple by bicycle.

The ride was liberating. Wind in my hair, the freedom to travel where my hands and feet can lead me. And without helmet, I felt like a kid again. I love bicycle friendly places. I loved Nanzen-ji.

There is something about the layout of a Zen temple, the absolute spacial consideration for every object, leaf, and grass that quiets my body-artificially so, some may argue-but today, I found it utterly satisfying.

Balance.

The consideration in these temples is holistic. It seems that every possible angle, for a person of any height, in any state of physical movement-standing, sitting, walking-is carefully regarded. It's profound. The mindfulness involved in preparing this space is palpable. I felt like a special guest, quietly greeted. And yet, totally at home.

As I walked along the the soft wooden floors, barefoot, I was visual satiated. Each minimally equipped room aked me to enter with a clean slate; emptiness made evident my internal activity. I love the room for reflection. I espeically love when rooms are empty at chest level; for me, it quite literally feels (after repeatedly enter empty rooms) that my chest just pours out onto the floor.

There is also a relationship, for me, between these open thoroughly considered meditating rooms and a well curated gallery...or even better, an absolutely empty gallery just before installation.


Transitions (a raised floor, asks us to lift our foot, acknowledging our step).
Quiet (to bow one's head toward the room, it's guests, the floor, and our chest)
Space.

For me this quiet brings about playfulness, the reverence makes me laugh, and the activity of the silent space breaths.