the room as a metaphor for nonduality

[iamom]

Via the Nonduality Highlights, as usual...

BEING HERE NOW ALWAYS

One of the nicest metaphors I heard was from Ajahn Sumedho.

He talked about our experience of being in a room.

We can look at, say, the picture on the wall or a chair or a foot stool.

Then have opinions or inner commentary about each of the things and their relationships...

...nice picture, pretty colours, reminds me of a story I once heard, that footstool doesn't go with that chair...the fung shui in here sucks...etc

ALL THE WHILE MISSING THE SPACE IN THE ROOM. -

(Which is ALWAYS THERE whether the objects are or not, and no matter what our opinions, fantasies, inner dialogues about them are.)

The space is "as true" as the perception of any object.
The space is always present.
The space is a constant; a given....not dependent on any of the things.
The space is independent even of the observer.
The space exists even without the room.
The space exists independent of the idea of time.
The space is simple, obvious and ever present.
The space is so easily overlooked by the human inner verbal commentary.
A lovely metaphor aimed again at effing the ineffable and allowing direct experience of the herenow always.

- Keith Nightingale (Swaraja), from his blog http://realisingherenow.blogspot.com/2010/03/one-ness-ness-ness.html