By opening to the deeper reality of the natural world, we open to the deeper (and natural) reality within ourselves – the deeper we ‘see’ into nature, the deeper we ‘see’ into our self. The opposite is also true: by becoming aware of the depths within, we open to the depths without. It works both ways, because the essence of one is the essence of all; at the core, all is one and the same – there is only one truth, one reality.
Opening to the wonder and beauty of nature allows our consciousness to expand. This heals the pains of our mental, emotional, and physical imbalances – it frees us from suffering by allowing us to be consciously aware of truth: the oneness, the unity, of all life. We can experience this in any situation or circumstance, it just tends to be easier in nature (or when sitting meditatively in stillness and quiet) than it is amongst people and the distractions of everyday life.
The natural world helps us to reconnect with our natural self – to become aware of who we really are. Inner imbalances obscure our awareness of the stillness and peace of our true nature, but the natural world has no such encumbrance, and by observing it with a still mind (without labels or judgment) and with an open heart, we open to life’s truth; we harmonise with life, we balance within and we know peace.
We all have access to nature, whether we live in the countryside or the city. Wherever we live, we can all buy a plant or some flowers, look at the sky, go for a walk in the park or the country, watch a nature DVD, or attach a bird feeder to the window. Nature is all around us, we just have to open to it. It’s where we are within ourselves that determines our appreciation and connection to the natural world, not our physical location.
I walk with our dogs every day. When I’m distracted or lost in stuff I appreciate absolutely nothing of the beautiful landscape through which we pass. When mindfully aware of the surroundings (when my mind is still and my heart open) I am awestruck by the things that I experience; from the enormity of the rising sun or the light on the distant fells, to the intricacies of tree bark, or the detail of a spider’s web as it sparkles in the morning dew.
It is always beautiful, whatever the season or the weather. The only variable as to whether we appreciate that beauty is us – more precisely, our inner state of being. Are we present, aware of the beauty and wonder around us, or not?