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Centering places

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Specially marked centers

"What happens to nature, rootedness, places of transcendence and centering, and all those things you spirits of place were supposed to provide?"

"Look, you've read your Buddhism -- we had to -- so you know that the center is everywhere. Some Greek said that, too."

"But we humans have bodies; we need architectural occasions and reminders, constructions where we can feel centered and collected. Your shrines and their temples have worked pretty well that way."

"You're exaggerating. I've looked into the hearts of people coming by my shrine for centuries. Not much centered living there; mostly raging desires. And our festivals are a bit more de-centered than yours."

"But I still maintain that we won't feel right if there aren't places where we can come together. Places that speak openness, places that affirm our central values."

"What 'we,' white man?"

"Well, yes. But imagine nothing but miles of porches, and endless malls."