The Concept

How do Rooms and Boundaries fit in with the goals of Everyday Enlightenment?

The majority of these types of exercises are about being present in The Now. It may be that we are hard-wired to find comfort in just one "room" at a time, and experimenting with the feeling of awareness of other rooms and how they relate to each other is analogous to the feeling of being lost in thought and then being brought back to the present moment. To bring that point home, note two important goals of these exercises.

Being aware of the quality of mind associated with the room you are in is something to develop, as it trains you to become present continually, and especially whenever you move between rooms, or notice a boundary between rooms.
There is a strong parallel between what you experience with Rooms and Boundaries exercises and what you experience when shifting from being lost in thought and back to a clear and mindful mental state. Try to notice this parallel and appreciate its importance.

How to approach each of these exercises?

Sense how your perception of "here" can rely heavily on what Room you are in. There is a clear sense that other Rooms are not this Room. Feel that difference, and move your perception between
- This Room
- That Room
- What contains both rooms
- Are there other rooms related? What about windows, mirrors, etc?
- Remember to pay attention to the change in mental clarity when you return your attention back to the room you're in.

Rooms

Take a moment to feel the space of the room you are in, to the furthest corner, stopping that awareness at the ceiling, walls, and floors. Notice the difference in quality between rooms of different sizes and shapes.
- You can especially learn to do this whenever you cross through a doorway - encourage an immediate awareness of the boundaries of the new room you are in.

Doors and Windows

In a room with many openings, notice the difference in quality between open doors (including doorways without doors), closed doors, and windows (including any transparent door)
Appreciate how a window divides the space between the room you are in, and the space beyond, while at the same time inviting you to sense that the "outside" and the inside of the window are being brought together by the window because it is transparent. Be aware of the space of the room you are in, and the space of the "outside" and the space of the two places added together.
Many of the Mirror exercises can be repurposed for Windows as well.

Fences and Walls

Even without actual walls and windows, we can still appreciate the quality of areas that are being divided. Some examples of how these exercises can apply everyday in many situations...

In the neighborhood, there's a quality to be found when inside a backyard fence, or looking at another neighbor's yard in their fence, or passing by houses that have fences and knowing you are outside of those areas
Inside a stadium there's a powerful feeling of thousands of people all being enclosed together within the boundaries of the stadium, whether it's indoors or outdoors
Any kind of delineation such as a soccer field, even without fences, has a boundary

Mirrors

These exercises can be done whenever you are doing a stationary routine activity like brushing your teeth. Place a sticker on the mirror you use, near where your face is reflected, as this will be a visual cue you use when seeing the mirror as a special type of doorway. Take time to visually appreciate the following and notice the quality of your mind and awareness.

Your body exists on "your side" of the mirror
There are two bodies here, you can see them both at the same time
The "mirror you" is more clear and real than the "real you" (See People.)
The "mirror you" exists in a room with its own quality and feel, while being essentially the same room
The mirror itself exists, independent of either room. Appreciate the quality of the mirror itself, while being fully aware of both selves.
Relax your perception of the room being divided into two rooms, and feel it as one larger room, double the size. Move your perception back and forth between one room and two rooms.

Mouthwash in the Mirror

While using mouthwash, especially if it's the kind that stings...

Watch yourself in the mirror
Go back and forth between yourself, the surface of the mirror, the Self in the mirror, the Self behind the eyes and the Self that encompasses all this experience
After becoming comfortable with these different states..
Continue using your mouthwash, sensing it's affect on your mouth and all its parts
Shift to the Self in the mirror and practice projecting the sensations onto that Self and at that moment feel that is certainly not you
Repeat as many of these steps to appreciate what you are experiencing

Guide: Rooms and Boundaries