--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This building we're in has doors and…" description: "\"This building we're in has doors and windows. If we close the doors and windows, we can't get out. People lock themselves inside a house of delusions. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/bill-porter-48616_building_this-building-we-re-in-has-doors-and-win_2429382.jpg" --- # This building we're in has doors and windows. If we close… ![“This building we're in has doors and windows. If we close the doors and windows, we can't get out. People lock themselves inside a house of delusions. But they're only delusions. They can leave anytime. Actually there is no house to leave. There's not even any leaving. What we see are flowers in…” quote by Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/bill-porter-48616_building_this-building-we-re-in-has-doors-and-win_2429382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/bill-porter-48616_building_this-building-we-re-in-has-doors-and-win_2429382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/bill-porter-48616_building_this-building-we-re-in-has-doors-and-win_2429382.jpg) > “This building we're in has doors and windows. If we close the doors and windows, we can't get out. People lock themselves inside a house of delusions. But they're only delusions. They can leave anytime. Actually there is no house to leave. There's not even any leaving. What we see are flowers in the sky, the moon in the water. As for the meditative powers of Zen masters like Hsu-yun, sometimes it's useful to meditate and sometimes it isn't.” [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects on illusion, confinement, and the fleeting nature of perception, suggesting that perceived boundaries are mental constructs that can be transcended. **In simple terms:** Our thoughts create false prisons we can choose to leave. Key Takeaway Recognize and release mental constraints. Themes illusion perception freedom mindfulness Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - meditation practice - creative writing Key Concepts Zen philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What mental "doors" limit you? - How can you see beyond illusion? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Zen master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen-master/) ## Related quotes > [The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman/the-house-of-delusions-is-cheap-to-build-but-drafty-to-live-in/) [A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman/) > [Close some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/close-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Close the doors on anything and anyone, that bring anger or sadness. And open the doors to those that bring you joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/close-the-doors-on-anything-and-anyone-that-bring-anger-or-sadness/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I close the doors and yank off my sweater, and she pulls off her shirt, and I say, “You are driving me crazy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/i-close-the-doors-and-yank-off-my-sweater-and-she-pulls-off-her-shirt/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [Pray that God will open the doors you can't open and close the doors that need to be closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pray-that-god-will-open-the-doors-you-can-t-open-and-close-the-doors/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I close the doors on people because I dont wanna be read I'm more insecure then you think so I become distant from others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitsune/i-close-the-doors-on-people-because-i-dont-wanna-be-read-i-m-more/) [Kitsune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitsune/) > [The more you close the doors, the less free your ideas can come, and they come from up here and come through you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-tempest/the-more-you-close-the-doors-the-less-free-your-ideas-can-come-and/) [Kate Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-tempest/) > [“Take what the moment offers. Don’t close doors. Be thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/take-what-the-moment-offers-don-t-close-doors-be-thankful/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Close some doors..Not because of pride, or arrogance ,but simply because there no longer lead anywhere .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/close-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-or-arrogance-but-simply-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As novices, Carthusians are taught to turn around and close doors without pushing them or letting them swing shut. Do you know why? Miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-sanmartin-fenollera/as-novices-carthusians-are-taught-to-turn-around-and-close-doors/) [Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-sanmartin-fenollera/) > [By and large the United States has been able to resist the temptation to close its doors to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/by-and-large-the-united-states-has-been-able-to-resist-the-temptation/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [We are born into a vast room whose walls consist of a thousand doors of possibility. Each door is flung open to the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-teachout/we-are-born-into-a-vast-room-whose-walls-consist-of-a-thousand-doors/) [Terry Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-teachout/) > [In life sometimes, in the universe, you have to close some doors to have others open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-ween/in-life-sometimes-in-the-universe-you-have-to-close-some-doors-to/) [Gene Ween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-ween/) > [Keep your mouth shut, and close up the doors of sight and sound, and as long as you live you will have no vexation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/keep-your-mouth-shut-and-close-up-the-doors-of-sight-and-sound-and-as/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I don't just pray for God to open doors, I also pray for God to close doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-don-t-just-pray-for-god-to-open-doors-i-also-pray-for-god-to-close/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Bill Porter > [In the face of impermanence, if your next thought is good, this is what we call the realization body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/in-the-face-of-impermanence-if-your-next-thought-is-good-this-is-what/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [The world has no hold on you. Whatever has a hold on you comes from your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/the-world-has-no-hold-on-you-whatever-has-a-hold-on-you-comes-from/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [When you are free of form and not confused, you are focused. To be free of form externally is 'Zen.' Not to be confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/when-you-are-free-of-form-and-not-confused-you-are-focused-to-be-free/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [Reading texts is no substitute for meditation and practicing Zen. If you read a book about a place, and you want to go there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/reading-texts-is-no-substitute-for-meditation-and-practicing-zen-if/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [When you're blind to your own nature, the Buddha is an ordinary being. When you're aware of your own nature, an ordinary being is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/when-you-re-blind-to-your-own-nature-the-buddha-is-an-ordinary-being/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [Every place is a place to practice. Every time is a time to practice. Zen is concerned with the thought we have this moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/every-place-is-a-place-to-practice-every-time-is-a-time-to-practice/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [There is so much baggage we burden ourselves with over the years that keeps us from seeing things the way they are. Some baggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/there-is-so-much-baggage-we-burden-ourselves-with-over-the-years-that/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) [Explore all 8 Bill Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This building we're in has doors and windows. 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