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Zen Furniture |
We hear the term 'zen' so much nowadays that we take it for granted, as it seems to applied to almost anything. Take Zen Furtniture, for example - what
exactly do we mean by this term? Once we determine this, then we can make decisons about it's value and if it fits in with our world outlook. The word 'zen' is of course Japanese and conjures up images of sculptured sand gardens and meditating Buddhas, but these are very shallow representations. A useful
interpretation is to observe that awareness is the key to peace, which is what all of us are trying to achieve in this life, whether we realize it or not! Our human problem is that we don't know how to get it! So where does Japanese furniture fit into this scheme of things - let's take a look ...
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Of course, our surroundings are a very important part of our lives and can have a profound effect on our well-being. The furniture in our home is something that we come into intimate conatct with every single day, and we should give it a lot of consideration. Even if we don't go so far as to practice Feng Shui, the art of positioning household furniture according to set ideas of sympathetic vibrations, we can choose items of ' zen furniture. '
Such furniture is simple, in the first instance, but not only that. Its form and line carry a simple beauty that help us to feel comfortable amongst our surroundings. Wood is a great choice for Zen Furniture, as is bamboo, which may be covered in simple, organic light colored fabric. Wonderful furniture of a beautiful simple form can also be fashioned from plastic and metal, but natural materials are traditional and undoubtably best. Another aspect of Zen is awareness and good furniture promotes simple awareness of our immediate reality, which are the surroundings in our own home. We are reminded of the natural resources used to make the furniture, and also the skills employed by the men and women who craft the chairs, tables cupboards and beds
that we come to cherish every day. We don't have a lot of individual control over our outside environment, but we can do our best to ensure that our home furnishings reflect our desire for comfort and peace in the world. Peaceful environments make peaceful people - peaceful people make peaceful communities and those communities help build a peacful world. Zen Furniture is a great start!
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