The Home As Spiritual Temple

“I know when to go out

When to stay in

Get things done.”

Modern Love - David Bowie

I recently traveled to visit Sangha in Florida and I did what I always do at the places we’d stayed. I set up an altar and blessed the space and practiced my daily devotions. It got me to thinking about how important the Centering Space or Butsudan (Buddha Altar) is and how our homes, either temporary or transit are our primary place of practice. For many years I have advocated for seeing the home as one’s primary, personal temple. The concept was first brought to my attention by the Influence of Jewish family and friends on my father’s side. Their home observation of the Sabbath was one that impressed me with both its deep solemnity and familial celebration. The second was my relationship to my Tibetan teacher and clergy. They too, were in diaspora from their homeland after the Communist invasion, and emphasized the home as temple.

Here, in America, Buddhism has grown greatly in both influence and recognition. And while many physical places of worship and edification have been established over the years (including our own Dojos and Houses of Meditation), it was always understood that spiritual practice begins and is maintained at home. Even the majority of mainline Catholic and Protestant churches have experienced decline in attendance at their sacred buildings and have shared in the contemporary virtual experience.

The recent past pandemic has also brought this to bear even more so. Many more folks began to work from their homes, and businesses had to adapt. Home shopping, once influenced by the Sears Catalogue, has now evolved into the use of Amazon and other online outlets. This development was presciently presented back in the seventies by the science fiction master, Arthur C. Clarke. He foresaw the methods of convenient modern communication that all utilize today (he also foresaw the satellite).

This has brought the focus of life back to the individual and family home and hearth. The interdependent space of the Internet can be a blessing and I believe, that ultimately, this can be a beneficial change.

So what can we do to experience this benefit? Well, In some sense, we all experience a kind of diaspora from things that matter most in life.  But by focusing on the home as a spiritual space, we can make it a temporary manifestation of what Buddhist call, The True Country of Nirvana.

Even in in places like Japan, where glorious Buddhist cathedrals and temples dot the landscape, it is well understood that spiritual practice has to be centred at home. So, what practical things can we do to affirm and experience the joys of this?

The first practice that we can do is to set up what we call a Sacred Centering Space. (Butsudan Altar). This is a basic observation for all who study with us. Every morning and evening we mark the day by Taking Refuge and remembering to reorient ourselves from the Ego Self to the True Self (for more on this please read Free Your Mind  https://www.amazon.com/Free-Your-Mind-Directions-Mindfulness/dp/1387037978/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=free+your+mind+anthony+stultz&qid=1569892454&s=books&sr=1-1).

We bow, offer incense and prayers and take up our personal symbol of devotion, usually a Mala, and take it with us a constant reminder throughout the day. If we make the effort we can also use this devotional period as a quiet time of reading, reflection and meditation too (see especially our two books that offer passages for contemplation, Mere Buddhism and A Short Catechism of Oneness in the Legacy of the Buddha https://www.asksenseitony.com/store.

The second practice is to observe daily or weekly, the Liturgy of the Day, at home before our personal altars (please read our Book of Common Meditation https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0359653073/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). The liturgy allows us to experience a mindful awareness of all aspects of the teachings and even if we practice by ourselves we are never truly alone and are a part of a cosmic communion (you can join us online for regular services and talks any time by going to our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/a7c4S876EGY or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thedragonflysangha  . For more information contact us at dragonflysangha@gmail.com).

The third practice is enjoin all our friends and family members in the Way of Mindful Living and to listen to the Word of Liberation. Make one day every week or two very special. Do the Liturgy of the Day and then have fellowship and/or food together afterwards. You won’t believe until you try it, how wonderful it can actually be.

The fourth practice is what I do when something in my life “hooks me.” I know I can turn to my wife, son or confidential spiritual friend, to take me through the Four Questions from The Four Directions System of Mindfulness https://www.amazon.com/Free-Your-Mind-Directions-Mindfulness/dp/1387037978/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=free+your+mind+anthony+stultz&qid=1569892454&s=books&sr=1-1

and offer me both loving wisdom and compassion. Even my animal companion, the “zen” cat, Sir Basil, participates! I bow with him every day and his presence often reminds me to take time to play, rest or be contemplative. So, if you already haven’t, try it today and experience how powerful it is to practice with the home as temple.

All in all, these home practices keep us centered and when the seas of our lives stir and become rough, our abodes become safe arks to weather the storms. And when the seas are calm, we are reminded daily of what matters most.  Blessings to all.