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Post by Adona Mara on Feb 1, 2007 18:08:57 GMT -5
Originally posted by Jinsei
Eventually, on all sites, the topic of having a temple comes up. So, I thought I'd be the first here.
What is a temple? Is it a holy place? A place of worship? A place of learning? Or, just a place of gathering?
If you look all around you, everything is holy... the trees, the rocks, the water... everything.
If you choose to worship something greater than yourself, is there a need to do so within the confines of a building that blocks you from the world?
If you seek to learn, you are given this chance everytime you open your eyes and/or your ears. You can learn from everything if you want to.
If you seek a place to gather... does it have to be inside? How many times have people gone to gather in a field, a park, or just a friends house? There are unlimited places to gather in our world. So, if this is your definition of a temple, then can't the world (or universe) be a temple?
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Post by Adona Mara on Feb 1, 2007 18:10:54 GMT -5
Originally posted by Jinsei
This isn't about one large temple for all to go to, but instead, I'm wondering what everyone else thinks should be involved in a personal temple.
I'm sure that many of you have heard me talk about building temples in garages, spare bedrooms, etc. But, I've never touched on what should actually be part of a temple or what it should be used for.
Tonight, I was sent something that suggests the following:
1. Dojo - A place for training in the martial arts. 2. Classroom - Somewhere for book learning and lectures. 3. Meditation Area - For meditating. 4. Council Chamber - For the council to meet in. 5. Workshop - For Jedi build their equipment. 6. Library - For books, places to read books, and the archives.
My own personal take is that this can be achieved with less than 6 areas.
First, if you absolutely need an indoor dojo, then you'll have to have room enough to be able to do it. If you don't need it to be indoors, then you can fix an area in the backyard on the grass and utilize a closet to store the equipment in.
Second, the classroom and library could be combined into one room. This may have a slight "Hogwarts" feel to it, but imagine a room with books lining all of the walls, from floor to ceiling, and having a few tables in the middle for students to sit at. If you're giving a lecture, you can stand in front of the tables. If the students are just studying, they have instant access to every book in the library.
Third, for a meditation area, you could pretty much meditate anywhere... in a room, outdoors, etc. I'd recommend not worrying about actually having a room for this, but instead stock up on some comfortable bean bag chairs and pillows. Then, those wishing to meditate could just grab those and go where they feel comfortable.
Fourth, if you really, truly do need a Council Chamber for the Council to meet in, then I suppose you're left with no choice but to have a room designated for that. However, I could get by with the two couches and chair in my living room or the dining room table. If your temple eventually does have a Council, start small and gradually build on what's needed, but remember that the Jedi don't need anything like a corporate conference room to discuss what needs to be discussed.
Finally, for the workshop, if you're planning to do any kind of work on building your own materials, I do highly recommend having a place with all of the tools in a handy spot and room enough to move. There's just no way around it, you're probably going to need a workshop eventually.
Any other ideas?
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Post by Adona Mara on Feb 1, 2007 18:15:51 GMT -5
Originally posted by Cath
I can't think of any other material items that'd be necessary. But, like I was telling a friend earlier today, I am in a real mood where "props" are concerned. My friend and I were talking about Tarot cards and those sorts of readings; the psychic I'd been trained by referred to herself as being "prop-free" because of her own spiritual beliefs. She knew how to use Tarot cards, but she never did, trusting to her own intuition and instincts for readings instead.
And in a corny way of making the analogy, that is how I feel about a physical temple in any sense, even as a private one. What I "need" is all in my head, in my spirit. So "props" aren't a necessary part of the experience for me.
Hope that makes some degree of sense.
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