In discussing behavior in the hondo during a dharma talk recently I mentioned that the genkan (entranceway between the outside to the inner, the sanctuary, is a liminal space. A space between the sacred and the mundane or profane. Stepping across the sill at the door of the sanctuary is by its very nature the act of entering the sacred.
Thinking about this after that Wednesday evening it seems to me that the notion of the sacred may not be understood or accepted by many people. This idea is foundational to Buddhism.
The distinction between the sacred and mundane was observed by our ancestors for tens of millennia before our existence.
All religions have totems, rites, and taboos that are considered “sacred.” Émile Durkheim believed society is largely underpinned by them. Mircea Eliade observes “. . . that while contemporary people believe their world is entirely profane or secular, they still at times find themselves connected unconsciously to the memory of something sacred. . . . it has manifested in space, time, nature and the cosmos, and life itself—and buttresses this expansive view of the human experience.” (The Sacred and The Profane: The Nature of Religion. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,1987)
Sacred in modern English is intertwined with the European concept of religion. Thus, it’s modern usage is derived from monotheistic concepts that related to God or deities. By comparison the term sacred is translated as Shinsei in Japanese, meaning precious, noble, valuable, exalted, priceless. Note that deity is not present in the Japanese term.
There is a relationship between these concepts; one that is worth noting. According to Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacred) “The term sacred comes from Latin sacer (“set off, restricted”). A person or thing was designated as sacred when it was unique or extraordinary.”
This concept is exemplified in Japanese Shinto by the use of shimenawa (rope), often with Shide (zigzag-shaped paper streamers) used to cordon off sacred areas. These sacred trees and rocks are perceived as possessing spirits or have been consecrated due to their distinctive qualities.
It is felt that the universe might in fact be bound together by a network of connections like this that tie us to persons, places, and even to the realm of the spirit. Once one becomes attuned to the sacred that resides within these objects, we can acknowledge them in order to live life with more connection and more integrity.
As I mentioned recently in a Dharma Talk, if we sensed our environment in a similar fashion, possessing spirits and the sacred, would we be less likely to despoil our environment so thoughtlessly?
The sanctuary of our humble hondo (main building in Japanese Buddhist temples) is a sacred space. Many people, often just visitors, comment on the peace and reverence they feel both in the hondo and on the grounds themselves.
We followed the principles of Japanese Buddhist temple construction and Feng Shui (An ancient Chinese system of designing buildings and space arrangement according to principles of flow of energy, aimed at achieving harmony with the environment) when we selected the property on which Jiunzan Tendai-ji now sits. This also informed how the building was dismantled carefully and rebuilt on a different foundation. Before, during and after its construction various consecrations were performed.
The original barn was about 250 years old when we began the process of transforming a horse barn into a Buddhist temple. We cared for the beams and other original wood as one would care for a loved family member. There is an ineffable living quality to this simple building.
The gongyo, meditations and other ceremonies that take place in the space are also sacred by design. People gather for a shared purpose which is worship, meditation, etc. This is a time set aside for both inner nourishment and reverence to hallowed teachings.
Once a person steps across the threshold into the sacred there should be no distractions.
This is a time set aside from the mundane. That is why we ask people to leave their mobile phone and other electronic devices turned off in the genkan, or at least put them on airplane mode. Our mundane world is filled, if not inundated, with constant distraction. Take an hour away from the mundane. Respect the people around you. Permit the sacred to enter your consciousness.
To experience the sacred requires our full attention.
Walking in the hondo, be aware of the fragrance of incense that permeates the wood and furnishings, experience the quiet, revel in the subdued light that casts a mystical ambience to the setting, feel the soft wood supporting you across the space. ‘Take heed, do not squander your life.’
With Love and Gassho . . . Monshin