Lessons from Mother Nature

In this short article, we are going to reflect upon the teachings of Mother Nature. These simple but profound lessons are nothing new. When we look closely, we shall see that all of this is well known to us. It is just that we tend to overlook Her valuable lessons.

It is easy to get caught up in our daily lives and stuck in our routines. We start to overlook the beauty of what is around us. We lose appreciation for nature and Her wisdom.

We won't go into too many details. The idea is not to explain the teachings of nature, but simply to become aware of them, to point them out. They are quite obvious.

With that said, let's learn from Mother Nature.

Change and oneness

The first lesson is the lesson of impermanence. We see change happening all the time. Seasons change, leaves fall to the ground, and trees are left naked. Later, green spots appear, they turn into green leaves. The greens turn into yellows, reds, and browns, until they dissolve again.

There is no need to call one change 'bad' and the next one 'good'. With each change comes a new chapter, a new experience. There is beauty in every change. And, in every change, there can be peace.

Then comes the lesson of inter-dependence. We learn that nothing is really separate. Trees depend on sunshine, rain, soil, and more. Animals depend on plants, fruit, fresh water, and clean air. It is all quite simple and obvious. As soon as we start to think that we are separate, disharmony starts. This too, we see around us.

Thirdly, we learn that for creation, space is needed. Mountains, trees, rivers, clouds, they all appear in space. Yet, space is not touched or influenced by this. Space is free, and what happens in space does not affect space itself. Objects appear in space, and they dissolve into space again.

We are the Space in which everything appears and dissolves.

Shining and present

Now, let's consider the blue sky. The blue sky remains behind the clouds, even if we cannot always see it. The sky may be full of activity, birds, planes, clouds. Yet, the blue sky remains untouched by what appears within it. Our True Nature is the same. There are many activities, thoughts, emotions, sensations, but our True Nature remains untouched. Always there, even when veiled by activity.

Lastly, we can consider the sun. The sun illuminates all activities, but the sun does not depend on the activities or external light. Without the sun, there is no life. The sun is self-luminous. Its very existence is shining and brightness. The sun shines, and it also illuminates itself. Yet, it does not illuminate itself as an object. Its inherent nature is to shine.

We can compare the sun to consciousness. We are consciousness.

These are a few simple and short lessons. In this instance, we can say that life is a school, and Mother Nature is one of our kindest Teachers.

Mother Nature's cup overflows with precious wisdom. All we have to do, is pay attention.

Related articles on this blog:

How are we all connected? - 31 July 2021
Separation and suffering - 4 July 2021

Nature, a great teacher - 20 August 2020