As
I lay in the hammock in my backyard, a big yellow butterfly passes
by, capturing my attention. I am immediately transported to a world
of floral delight, fluttering from flower to flower. I feel the wind
blow and begin losing myself in the movement of the leaves mixed with
shadows in the tree above me. After a few minutes I gaze through an
opening in the tree canopy and concentrate on the passing clouds,
each animated shape becoming alive before it dissolves into the blue
background. A mocking bird calls me back to Earth and then the
melodic sound of the waterfall entrances me with its gentle rumble.
Take
time to be with nature, time to be one with nature. The above
backyard meditation is easy to do. Just sit quietly and observe your
surroundings without commentary. Use your senses and explore
the wonders of the natural world.
The
ocean is my sanctuary,
Where
I return like rivers and rain,
Reminding
me of the greater whole,
from
whence my soul once came.
No
matter how far mankind has tried to distance himself from nature, the
fact remains that humans are a part of nature. We live in a time
where people have learned to spend most of their day disconnected
from Mother nature. In the modern world, we spend time in a variety
of boxes that separate us from our natural surroundings. There is
the house where you live, perhaps spending half your day or more
inside this domestic box. There may be the building where you work,
and some of you even have a little office or a cubicle box. There
are the mobile boxes such as cars, buses, and trains. We spend our
time moving from one box to another, keeping ourselves as far away
from nature as our money can buy.
Watching
nature is viewed from television sets and computers. The art of
sitting outside, relaxing, and just being with nature is becoming
uncommon. The electronic age has taken over our minds, luring us to
spend countless hours watching TV, connected to the Internet, and
glued to our cell phones waiting for the next text message or tweet.
Our minds are being hooked by audio visual electronic stimuli to the
point where we have tuned out what we feel with our body and the
smell and taste of our food because we aren't paying attention. We
are forgetting the purpose of having a physical body is so that we
can experience the world through our senses.
Not
all of you are caught up in your boxes, but most unhappy people have
this in common. If you are one of those people, get out of your box!
By getting fresh air and sunshine you will give yourself a boost of
happiness. Take a short walk, read outside, go for a hike, go
fishing, camping, biking, or just sit quietly outside taking in the
sights and sounds. You will begin to reconnect with the natural
world. You'll begin to notice your habitat and surroundings. You'll
become aware of and even stop to watch birds and butterflies. The
more you can incorporate being outside in nature, the bigger the
emotional reward will be.
Besides
the relaxing benefits of reconnecting with nature, the human body
benefits from sunlight itself. The amount of sunlight we receive
affects our levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is absorbed through
exposure to sunlight. Studies have shown that low levels of vitamin
D may cause some people to feel symptoms of depression. So sunshine
can actually brighten your day emotionally! Take a few minutes every
day to bask in the sunlight and renew your spirit
When
we take time to connect with nature we recharge our spirits and relax
our minds. Being outside encourages us to use our senses as they
were meant to be used: experiencing our surroundings. We give
ourselves the opportunity to feel the sunlight, rain, and wind. We
can experience the sweet sound of bird songs and be a witness the
miracle of flight. We can dig our toes in the sand at the beach, or
smell the freshness of damp grass on a summer morning. Being with
nature allows us to be present, which reduces stress and rejuvenates
the soul. Increase your awareness of your surroundings and you may be
surprised how much it enhances your life.
Lesson
#26:
Being
with nature encourages presence, which reduces stress and rejuvenates
the soul.
Exercise:
Spend
some time everyday outside. Incorporate outdoor activities as much
as possible. Practice being with nature. Learn to hear the sounds,
distinguish the scents, and appreciate the sights of the the natural
world. If you find thoughts of the past or the future coming to
mind, refocus on your surroundings. This exercise helps train your
ability to focus and to be present while rejuvenating yourself at the
same time.
Simple
outdoor meditations:
Sit
quietly, close your eyes, and listen to as many distinct sounds you
can sense.
Watch
the movement and pay attention to the shadows of the leaves in a
tree.
Close
your eyes and see how many distinct scents you can sense.
Sky
watch. Gaze at the clouds or the stars.
