Location, Location, Location!

A quick note on what role location plays in productivity. Buddhism is very clear on the power of the visual. The capacity of the eye consciousness to distract us is phenomenal. So, the fact that a spacious visual field leads regularly to an open mind, and the fact that a cluttered visual field leads regularly to a closed or stuffed or narrow mind - this shouldn’t be even slightly surprising. I think the saving grace here is the application of the housecleaning principle in a flexible way, and to continuously have a warm heart to all activities that seem tough. So also, apply the same idea to the internal voice that tries to convince me that I am powerless. Not indulgence or submission but a simple warm acknowledgment to that habitual mental current… neither positive nor negative.

I can also see the value of contemplating emptiness in a rapid application of the housecleaning principle. What does this look like in practice? Well, everything, including an organized work space, is a dependent arising. Moreover, seeing the cause-effect chain between present actions and future results clearly, and maintaining metta through this process, can be very valuable. The fact that the inner space can benefit and be benefited by the organization of outer space, that should not be too much of a stretch. The value of this is something that I’d like to explore some more.