There are such things as “necessary nonessentials.”

The approach to a Zen temple or Shinto shrine always has several gates—large red archways that we call torii.

Before reaching the main hall of a Zen temple, you pass through three gates—the main gate, the central gate, and the triple gate—that represent the journey toward enlightenment. Shinto shrines also have three torii.

Why bother with such superfluous structures?

Well, they are what we call “necessary nonessentials.”

We refer to gates and torii as “spiritual barriers.” In other words, they connect two separate worlds. As you pass through each one, you come closer to a pure world—what in Buddhism we consider to be “sacred ground.”

This is why Buddhist temples feature these three gates. By creating a boundary between worlds, they help you to become aware of the distance between each one. And as you pass through each one, you experience the sensation of crossing over to sacred ground.

You might think of your commute to work as a similar “necessary nonessential.” It can provide time for you to switch between your private self and your work self. This may seem superfluous but can be indispensable.