I want my space. You’re in my space. I’m spaced out, you’re spacey. And while I’m at it – give me some space. It appears space is important to us.
In the West, the notion of personal space is important to people. The space we live in, the space around our body and our psychological space are some of the spaces that concern us.
The Buddhist see space (emptiness) as the nature of reality. The average Joe on the street of Mayberry, USA probably doesn’t give too much thought to his body, the street he is walking on, the city he lives in and the planet he lives on as fundamentally being space or emptiness.
Then again, many Buddhists and other spiritual seekers and practitioners may not have an articulated understanding of the psychodynamic power of space and how it affects ego structure.
In his book, The Void – Inner Spaciousness and Ego Structure, A.H. Almaas articulates a very precise understanding of the nature of space (emptiness), its relationship to ego structure, and the function of space for transformation of the soul.
Without the functioning of space, real change and transformation is not possible. The accepted understanding of change involves the application of effort and concepts in a particular direction to produce a desired result. This is not transformation, but more reworking the surface of things.
Space removes the effort, erases the concepts and establishes an orientation to complete openness and allowing. This is the ground for transformation – no concepts, no ideas, no preferences, no positions, no self-image – anything and everything is possible.
Next time you hear the word space – ask yourself – What is this person really saying? If I want my space, what’s that really mean?
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