Unity with our environment

This article may be a bit different than the previous articles. In this article, we shall discuss our environment and nature. Do we perceive it as something separate from us? Something that we see as 'other' in comparison to 'self'? Or, do we feel in unity, do we feel a one-ness with our environment?

In general, we may have the feeling that what is outside of me is 'there' and I am 'here'. Two separate things. Don't we? We feel a separation. And, what are the consequences of this way of thinking? We treat our environment as something separate and different from us. This may lead us to abuse our environment, manipulate it to satisfy our everlasting demands and desires. In this way, we may actually turn our environment into our 'enemy'.

Consider this. Is it not true, that in reality, we fully rely and depend on nature, in order to exist? From the food we consume to the water we drink and the air that we breathe. Even the textiles we need for the houses we build. All of this, comes from nature. In addition to that, all the elements found in our bodies can be found in nature too. How are we actually different from nature? Nature supplies us with our basic needs, and even more! This must mean, that surely something that is supplying us with all our needs, something we totally rely on, must be indeed very intelligent or, what do you think?

Some of us may have observed plants or flowers. When we treat them with love, care, and kindness, they deliver the most beautiful flowers and fruit! Is this not amazing?

Our surroundings are alive and aware

Most of us may never have an opportunity to contemplate the following, but if not, here is the opportunity now. If we feel or observe closely, we can actually see and feel that everything around us is alive and intelligent! Yes, our surroundings are aware, awake, and conscious. Of course, not on a human level, but on a very special and unique level of its own.

What does this mean? It may just mean, that if we treat nature and our environment with love and respect, it has the potential to treat us the same. Why not?

The following may be a 'blunt statement' to make, because of the lack of hard evidence, so to speak, to support it, but at least give this some consideration. If we truly allow ourselves to get into contact with nature, we start to feel it. The less 'me' or 'I' we focus on, the more space this leaves in order to connect with what we sometimes consider to be 'not me'. This means, the less ego involved, the more space there is to feel and experience what is not the ego. It is a beautiful paradox! The 'smaller' we become, the 'bigger' we actually become!

The less 'separate me' there is, the more oneness and unity exist, and we can feel in harmony and unity with our reality.

Let's ponder on the next point. When we speak of our surroundings, our environment, what is the one main factor that is always needed, to have this experience? On what grounds can we say, does anything get experienced? Well, it requires someone to observe it, to experience it. It requires an experiencer. This experiencer, this is you! You and me, we, what we are in our true nature, this is what is needed to experience anything. Thus, our environments totally depend on us, to be experienced.

Let this sink in for a moment...

There was never any real separation, only an illusion

When we rest on this for some time, we may come to the conclusion that in reality, we are our environments! We are the Universe that we are experiencing! How we treat 'it' is in return, exactly how it treats 'us'. So, what we are doing to our surroundings, we are actually doing to ourselves! Be this other people, nature, office space, house or street, animals, whatever we may think of.

When we come to this understanding, we cannot feel anything other than to deeply love and respect our environment and nature, as if it is part of us. In fact, it is part of us and it has been part of us all along. We can also look at it in a way in which we see that this is all God or part of God. It is alive, awake, aware, intelligent. We were simply too busy focusing on the ego, to experience this. 

To conclude, when we are mindful and respectful in the way we treat our surroundings, we may be surprised about the experience we receive in return! It is there, always alive, awake, never existing apart from us. All we need to do is quiet down, give the ego less attention, and submit to the loving presence we find around us.

A photo where we may see 'other' things, but they are actually just part of ourselves.