THE FOUR STATES OF “BEING”

It is my observation that there are four states of being. One is always inside and shifts from one to the other on a loop. Architecture is only to reflect on these states.

STATE OF ABSORPTION

In this state, one is only receiving information in the built environment as it is, without conditioning of the mind.

STATE OF CONTEMPLATION (Reason + Emotion + Imagination + Intuition)

In this state, one begins to now add to the received information, becomes analytical, and begins to form an opinion.

STATE OF CREATION

This is the state after absorption and contemplation where one actually starts to create. During creation, one does not contemplate or absorb but only sets oneself free of any baggage of contemplation and absorption. This creation eventually becomes the new point of reference for absorption and contemplation. As a result, one evolves as a better and enriched human being.

STATE OF MEDITATION

The only other state out of these four states of being is the state of meditation, which is the state of nothingness. In this state, one does not receive, contemplate, or create anything.

STATE OF FEMINISM AND MASCULINITY

Human beings’ natural ability to listen is a moment when one is in a state of feminism. Else, when one commands and throws an opinion, he or she primarily dissects through a set environment by inserting a thought—he or she is then being masculine.

Hence, feminism or masculinity is rather a state of being—a state of reception (learner/child-like) or a state of performance (masculine/god-like). For constant growth, one must constantly be swinging between these two states.

These are two out of the four states mentioned earlier:

• State of Absorption (Receptive / Feminist)
• State of Creativity (Decisive / Masculine)

The other two states of being left are:

State of Contemplation (Where one is both male and female)

State of Meditation (Where one is neither male nor female)