This was a discussion-based talk. Hence some of the insights I wrote are shared by the Youths.
He started off by showing us a video of nature. The takeaway point is that we are often caught up in the office etc but forget how small we are in relation to nature. Nature isn't always perfect, with 4 seasons and rain. Buddha, Jesus etc walked in nature. Nature helps us appreciate our surroundings and confront our own thoughts.
A river has to crash and fall to reach the beautiful valley, but it moves on without complaint. Just like our life which isn't smooth-sailing. We have to have the determination to go on to reach the valley of peace.
The significance of the lotus in Buddhism:
Waxy surface; anything rolls off just as insults roll off an enlightened one. It grows in harsh conditions but emerges beautiful.
In a lotus pond, some young ones are waiting to emerge while some lotuses are dying. We can us this to contemplate the life cycle.
Ajahn Brahm's story of falling leaves: during a storm, not just old leaves and branches fall on the ground, but young leaves do as well. Just like human lives, it is natural that some die young.
When we go out in the open, the variation of colours, sounds etc is much wider than in the city. We take many things for granted in the city. Everything is interconnected. We often want perfection eg perfect partner, perfect body, but in nature there are hardly 2 trees that are the same, some have broken branches etc. Everything is unique in its own way and more beautiful. A short exercise we can do is to plant a small seed. See that everything arises from causes and conditions; dependent on many factors like water and sunlight. Plant a durian seed and get a durian plant. Similarly we reap the seeds we plant.
If we are frightened in nature we should go back to breath meditation and wish ourselves to be well and happy.
Most of us are like mudskippers, complacent, basking in the sun, without a thought for the next day. We are like mayflies that just mate, having fun, and then get eaten by swallows. We can see how things in nature relate to Dhamma.
Living in the city we feel we can control a lot of things eg what we want to eat. Nature has its own rules and we are just a small part of it.
Ajahn Brahm's story:
Walking up a hill one notices a lot more things than if one were driven. In our life we are in a hurry to do many things eg get a degree, HDB, so we forget to enjoy the journey.
Even in the city we can look at our surroundings and see the beauty rather than the floor. Good to know a few names of plants, birds so we appreciate them when we can identify them. Good to meditate by the sea. On a windy day the breeze can be a meditation object.
In life, we get enlightened for a tiny moment in nature eg beautiful sunset. That is because we are so absorbed we forget that 'I' exists and becomes one with nature with a gladness to see it. Life is like a rainbow, it goes away quickly.
We think we are very strong but in nature we are a lot weaker than we think we are. Eg in the snow, we may easily chop off our toes because the axe can slip due to numb fingers. If a log drops we may not be able to get up no matter how much we can lift weights at the gym. Forgive ourselves for that and acknowledge nature is more powerful.
We tend to quantify things eg I'm a good Buddhist if I reach 3rd jhana. We are missing the point. What is important is if we come out a better person.
A lot of times we are angry with nature eg rain but there's no point many things are beyond our control. Including other people whose actions we cannot control so there is no point getting angry with them.
A story as a analogy: a man tripped over a hump. He cursed the ground for making him dirty so dug it to teach it a lesson. He did not realize he was getting dirtier and eventually dropped into the hole. He cursed but do you think the earth cares?
When the mud has settled in a pond it becomes so clear. Just like when our mind is settled it becomes so clear.
We should take time off to go for walks in nature. It lifts the mood. The mind plays a big part in nature eg we may be calm, or imagine fearful things in the unknown.
Dhamma in nature - impermanence, dissatisfaction and non-self. We are not in control. The body is not ours, it will go back to nature which is the 4 elements, earth, fire, water and air. We are made of mind and matter. We can only shape our future through our kamma.
Who would expect the Himalayas was once a sea? Reflecting on death and nature, pick up a scoop of sand on the beach. There are shells which were once living animals. These contributed to the sand on the beach.
Make use of awareness of our surroundings in our practice. Assume a humbling attitude there's much we don't know.
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