I'm fortunate enough to be able to say that I live within a
20 minute walk from a small forest. It isn't a lot, but it has always worked
for me. Scientists have shown time and again through physical and psychological
research that being around trees promotes well-being, a higher sense of
purpose, increases hormone level flow from a brain, promotes deeper oxygenation
of tissue, and leads to a more bioavailable concentration of Serotonin and
dopamine, pain and pleasure receptor neurotransmitters. It doesn't take much,
and the power of nature can be exuberance, even in the smallest of quantities.
To do this meditation, you're obviously going to need some
sort of nature. If there is no Forest within an accessible distance from your
house, whatever topiary and foliage that lies in your neighborhood will do just
as well. For this exercise, find yourself in a comfortable place, and a
comfortable position, preferably sitting down or entry stance. Acknowledge of
the wind in the air, as it fills you with life. Acknowledge the fact that you
were breathing in, followed by breathing out, giving life to the plants nearby
in the form of carbon dioxide. Realize that the plant you were looking at has
its own innate personality, and that as you are undergoing respiration, so is
it.
Next, it is most important to Center yourself and to find a
calm within your Center. As a breathing, recognize a calm within your Center.
As a breathing, recognize the fact that for a predetermined amount of time,
your worries and deadlines and due dates will dissipate. As you breathe out,
let go of the tension that this causes for you. Repeat for three or four
breaths on this notion. And then, remembering that it is important to touch
something beautiful at least three times a day, reach out and caress the
nearest plants or foliage. As you make your mark of Love on it, let this plants
become your focus. Thank it for all of the wonderful things it provides you
with, and concentrate your love into that plan. Breathing in, give gratitude to
the plant, and breathing out, let the plant reflect this gratitude onto you.
You are part of one ecosystem, one planet. If possible, repeat this process for
two more plants.
After you have caressed the plant and it's siblings, and
received and gave love to and from the plants, take a deep breath in and blow
it out slowly. On the next in breath, recognize that you were present in the
Here and Now. Breathing out, let gratitude for being in the act of one mess
with nature resonate within you. For another couple of minutes, breathe In and
out, either with open eyes to take in the world around you, or with closed eyes
and focusing on one particular object of nature. Do not hold attachment to
these things, but do feel inspired by their beauty and let this beauty put you
at ease. Now that you have completed this part of the meditation, go on a very
slow and deliberate walk. This should take about 5 minutes. Walk around the
nature that you have just occupied yourself in, breathing in that you have just
occupied yourself in, breathing in deliberately and breathing out slowly. As
you breathe in, realize that you are one with the Earth and Sky. Breathing out,
smile to the Earth and Sky. Complete Water to last before stopping to thank the
plants for what they've taught you on your way back to society. Repeat this
meditation as often as possible, as the more you are cognizant of nature, the
more you will begin to let go of your problems and trials.
I am very grateful
for the plethora of wildlife by my house. Not everybody is that lucky though.
This exercise can be done in the living room with a single flower if need be. I
hope this meditation helps in the pursuit of happiness in the clearing of
conscience.
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