When We Visit Nature

 

If we go out into the natural world and just talk about the same things we talk about all the time, we may as well have stayed at home. When we visit nature we should put down everyday small talk, subjective mental activity, judging and discrimination, and just open up and observe nature. 

Starting from the time of the Buddha, it was almost always the custom for those who had left home life to spend some time practicing in the mountains. Generally the hut they lived in was made so that it could be put up and dismantled very quickly, so that the person could move on to another place. The purpose was to live a life that would not foster a group mentality, but rather cultivate a holistic attitude where one would feel at one with all lives and the universe.  — Master Sheng Yen, "As Spacious as Nature"

Blessings,

Judy

Humming Bird’s Sweetness

Sometimes, you just get surprised by what happens in a meditation.  My surprise was this beautiful little hummingbird that buzzed into my sacred space inside my sacred space.  Only those energies that are for the greatest and highest good are allowed to move through this space. 

This little lady came in to share some thoughts with me.  One of the guardians of my north direction is the hummingbird.  She said that I was not invoking all of the sweetness that it could bring to my life.  

Little Lady Hummingbird said that the hummingbird’s gift was that it can transform sweetness into courage, and courage to sweetness; that sometimes people need to understand that sweetness enhances courage and strength because with sweetness, one feels sorrow.  And, she flew off.

I have been mulling over her words.  I think that I understand that sweetness is like compassion.  If you don’t have compassion, then your love is self serving.  I think she might be saying that courage without sweetness can also be self serving.

What do you think?

Blessings,

Judy

Mountain Goats in a Dream

Last night, in my dream, there were two mountain goats standing in the snow, watching me.  I asked them what was going on, and they replied that they were waiting to see what will happen next.  They indicated that there are many people who drift up to the mountains on their dream time, it seems, looking for answers.  Most people are quite disappointed when they find only mountain goats.

Mountain Goat says that their wisdom is not appreciated by humans – humans look for the easy road and the fast fix.  Being in the mountains is about being cautious and a risk taker at the same time.  Travelling in the mountains is about finding the easiest and safest route, which means that sometimes you may have to jump from cliff to cliff or jump over a crevice.  Easy is not without its challenges. 

Blessings,

Judy