The word sacred refers to what is most precious to us, usually in a religious sense. In Buddhism, the most remarkable thing one can do is aspire to awaken one’s own innate wisdom, so everything that reminds us of this purpose is seen as sacred. Everything that reminds us of the three jewels—the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha—can remind us to remember the view of sacredness, tune our motivation, and practice the teachings.

Many theistic religions regard certain beings and aspects of nature as imbued with a sacred divine presence. Specific books, places, buildings, and even individuals are considered particularly holy. Likewise, in Buddhism, things and places associated with the Buddha and his enlightenment are viewed as sacred.

To reinforce the idea of sacredness, various traditions employ different methods, such as elevating dharma texts and avoiding placing them on the floor. Like much of dharma practice, this approach can be somewhat tricky. We are training our minds to respect and admire certain things because they aid our practice, but this does not imply we should look down on everything else. Ultimately, it is taught that these sacred qualities extend everywhere and exist throughout everything; however, for ordinary, unenlightened sentient beings, this distinction between the sacred and the ordinary is useful on the path.

All the world is sacred. Sacred spaces, shrines or altars, and objects are reminders of our connection to our highest aspirations and can support contemplative practice. We each have the ability to define what is sacred to us and can demonstrate respect for others by showing respect for what they see as sacred.

Think about what is preeminently important to them, such as family, nature, and playing. Create an area that pays homage to that thing.

• What does it feel like to enter a sacred space?
• How can you recognize when you are entering a space that is sacred to others?

Analyze the Buddhist understanding of sacredness in relation to the Three Jewels and practice objects; evaluate how creating and maintaining sacred spaces supports contemplative practice and community building; and design sacred space practices that honor Buddhist principles while fostering reverence for the dharma.