Saturday, 3. June 2006, 05:48:43
nature, ecology, interconnectedness, environment
...
: Today's Reflection is about paying attention to a wonderful,
: patient, wise, often-forgiving, powerful and yet fragile,
: teacher of life. Nature.
Picking a leaf off the ground and contemplating it as an object in and of itself is very inspiring. Its shape and color, the way it feels in your hand, its delicate veins and the stem that once held it fast to the branch of a tree - all of these qualities reveal a leaf to be a miniature work of natural art. As we contemplate this small object more deeply and consider where it came from and what purpose it has served, we find that the leaf is one small but essential part of a system that harnesses the energy of the sun, plumbs the depths of the earth, and in the process brings into being the oxygen many living things rely on to live.
:: "Until a man creates something as perfect as a blade
:: of grass, he can only dream of being the master on
:: this planet." - Albert Einstein
A leaf transforms the elements of its environment - sunlight, carbon dioxide, rain -into nourishment for its tree. This beautiful, nearly weightless, ephemeral piece of nature is a vital conduit to the branch that is a conduit to the trunk that is a conduit to the roots of the tree. The roots, in turn, draw nourishment from the earth to feed the trunk, the branches, and the leaves. The living beings that inhale the oxygen that comes from this process exhale the carbon dioxide that feeds the leaves through which the tree is fed. It is difficult to know where one cycle ends and another one begins.
One of the many gifts that nature offers us is a clear demonstration of the interdependence between all living things. The person or a creature who exhales the carbon dioxide, the clouds that produce the rain, the sun that gives light, the leaf that transforms all these things into sustenance for a tree - not one of these could survive without being part of this cycle. Each living being is dependent upon other living things for its survival. When we look at the world, we see that this is not a place where different beings survive independently of one another. Earth is home to a web of living things that are connected to each other through a spinning kaleidoscope of relationships. We need each other to survive and thrive.
:: "This evolutionary pattern [of cooperation and collaboration]
:: has been repeated by countless species, as well as by entire
:: ecosystems, and is now on the agenda for our human species.
:: We will learn to cooperate as a global community or we will
:: live in increased misery and perhaps go extinct in the not
:: so far distant future." – Elizabeth Sahtouris
The more I think about it, the more I see the magic of Mother Nature. I also wonder about how I participate in this planetary game, called Life. I haven't started it - I was placed in it. And there is no way to not play, to not participate. How do I participate really? How do you?
A sunny week to you all, inside and out.
Simon
Tuesday, 2. May 2006, 07:37:36
inspiration, king, environment, metaphor
...
: Today's Reflection is about a warrior king
: in a faraway land. Or is it?
A mighty warrior king. Yes, that's what he was. He knew it, and so did all the neighbouring countries, for they all lost to him and his supremely trained armies. He spent his time training his armies, perfecting his military strategies, and winning wars. One after another. Other kings collected ancient treasures, prized horses, or concubines. He had no need for these. He collected victories. Yet, despite the fact that he already had many, it was never enough. A new war and a new victory would leave the king satisfied only for a short time, and then the excitement would subside and fade away. Time will come for another war and another victory. Then the next, and the next.
But, you see... the king had a secret that nobody knew. Deep down, he often felt alone, and even lonely. Because of his fierce warrior nature, he really didn't have any friends, and didn't know what to do with himself when he was not conquering a neighbouring country, or planning another war. Not even one person to really talk to.
Then, one night he had a strange and vivid dream. In it, he saw a young boy. This boy didn't run away, as did everybody else when they saw the king coming close. Instead, the boy looked at the king, asked "Are you happy?" and smiled.
Even though the king knew it was only a dream, he could not get this simple question out of his mind. It stayed with him, and would jump into mind at various unpredictable moments, as thoughts often tend to do. When working on a plan of a new sophisticated attack on yet another unsuspecting neighbour, when practicing his swordsmanship, and even during battles - the thought would pop to mind, together with the picture of the smiling boy.
At first, the king simply ignored the thought. "It was only a silly dream" he would say to himself. Then, as the thought persisted, he got more and more frustrated, annoyed, and even angry, yet there was nothing he could do to prevent the thoughts from appearing. Eventually, he started thinking about the question, and once even asked himself out loud, "Am I happy?" - of course, after making sure there is nobody around that could hear the king talking to himself.
"This was a quick and easy battle," thought the king to himself, as he was riding his horse back to the palace. It was indeed, for the enemy was not prepared for the swift attack by the king and his selected troops and their resistance was squashed almost instantly. The battle was barely over, yet the excitement of another victory was disappearing already. The king felt tired, disillusioned, and irritated. "I need to find something else to do."
He noticed a little creek through the edge of the forest and turned towards it, thinking of the refreshing cold water on his face. He got off his horse, and as he was about to kneel down, he noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. Right there, to his right, in between the trees...
Quietly, step by step, he sneaked in closer, while remaining hidden from view. As he carefully moved the bushes aside, he saw an opening between the trees. In the center of it, there was an old man. He was wearing strange robes, and certainly didn't look local. He was moving in circles, with his arms spread to the sides, occasionally touching a tree or bending to put a hand on the grass. It looked like an odd ritual, or perhaps a weird dance. The king could hear him chanting in a foreign language.
"What is it you are doing here?" asked the king, as he stepped into the center.
The old man finished the last circle and stood facing the king. "There is war on this land," said the old man, "and the land is suffering. Animals are being killed for food, trees are being cut for fires, and water is being polluted with blood of the innocent. I am performing an ancient ceremony which helps the land heal."
"Not much help you are, aren't you?!" smirked the king. "I am coming back from yet another war."
"Yes, I know," replied the old man. "There is only me here. I could certainly use some help. After all, what can one old man do?"
"Are you happy?" The thought popped up again into the king's mind. He looked at the old man, who - despite the enormous task he was faced with - looked peaceful, serene, almost smiling, and... perhaps even a little happy...
"Well, old man" said the king. "Guess what?! I am a king, and I am going to help you with your task."
"Ohh... thank you for your offer," replied the old man. "It is most kind of you. But you see... you cannot. A warrior cannot be a peacemaker."
Never in his life has the king felt rejected before. And by who? Some strange old man, who dared to say no to the greatest warrior of his time?! As his hand instinctively reached for the sword, the image of the smiling child crossed his eyes again. "Are you happy?" As the king stared into the old man's eyes, they suddenly looked like the eyes of the boy in his dream. Peaceful, gentle, yet radiating something extremely powerful in a way the king never felt or experienced before.
His hand froze on the tilt of the sword, and then gently moved away, as if guided by its own will. "Will you... will you teach me?" quietly asked the king. It was almost a whisper, yet the old man heard it and smiled again. "I will be happy to. This land needs all the help it can get, and the time is short."
With these words, the old man moved to face the king and stared deeply into his eyes. "I see that you have been engaged in a battle. It is all over you. I see it on your clothes, and I see it in your soul. The first thing to do is to brush the war off of you." He started chanting rhythmically in a strange language, while circling the king and moving his hands as if they were wings, occasionally touching the king's clothes. The king felt like he was being showered with waves of wind and sound, touching his clothes, skin, as well as penetrating deep into his body.
The chanting stopped. The king stood still, feeling lighter and stronger, yet somehow uncomfortable. It was like a veil has been removed from his heart, and he was beginning to see and feel parts of himself he has not known for a very long time. The old man stood facing him again, this time holding three necklaces with colourful stones in them. "These are special stones that hold ancient powers," he said. "They were given to me by my teacher, who received them from his teacher. Carry them with you and use them wisely."
He put the first necklace, with a red stone, around the king's neck, saying "With this stone, I release the pressure in your chest. You are feeling tight in your body from the wars and struggles, so I release you from that."
He took another necklace, this one with a blue stone, and gave to the king. "With this stone, I remove the tears from your eyes and heart that you have been crying because of all the people lost in the war."
Putting the third necklace around the king's neck, this one with a green stone, he said "With this one, I release your voice, so that you too can start speaking for peace."
He then said to the king, "Now, go and bury your sword, so that we can put our minds and hearts together to see what kind of a world we can leave for our children."
Time has gone by, and wars stopped in the land of the king. The king was not looking for more battles to win, for he had more important things to do. The old man has passed away, and the king was very busy continuing his work of healing the land. Lots had to be done, and the king had his hands full with the many aspects of bringing peace into the Nature, as well as into the hearts of his people.
One night, the boy from his old dream appeared again. He just sat there, smiling yet saying nothing, looking at the king. And the king saw himself, in the dream, saying "I am now."
A sunny week to you all, inside and out.
Simon
