An Appreciation As to the Necessity of Nature

Sadly,a majority of people view what we call nature as being something over there,a little like a picture you have on your wall. Every now and then you will glance over at it  and think,"how nice." In our quest to find true peace and contentment,nature,what it means,how important it is; must be moved from the background,to the foreground of our lives.The reason for this is that recognizing our unity with nature is essential in order to become complete and balanced as people.In nature are all forms and variety of life,we are life. It is not a cliche to say that all life is interconnected. Doubt that? You believe scientists and techology can fix and control all things? Research what would happen if a species as seemingly insignificant as the honey bee were to disappear from the earth tomorrow.Consider the following by author Diane Dreher:
"Until the late seventeenth century,people in the West knew a unified sensibility,perceiving body and soul,reason and passion,nature and the individual as part of a larger whole. This unified vision was lost when scientific and industrial revolutions developed a new mechanistic paradigm.God became the Divine watchmaker who left the world to run for itself. Factories reduced individuals to specialized parts,cogs in a machine.The sense of life as a sentient organic whole was replaced by the frantic pace and fragmentation of modern life. People began to measure their worth in terms of productivity---outputs--as if we'd all become machines."
I find the last sentence to be so true. Today, worth in the workplace is measured by output.I am not just talking about people who work in factories. Even those who are employed in the healthcare industry are asked to,and evaluated on, how many patients they can care for. Taking time with the patient is too often sacrificed in order to get to the "next one." Not keeping up with the work assigned to you,even if it is due to reasons of compassionate care,will result in poor work evaluations.
Whether you choose to believe in a God or not,something or someone created a world that is interdependent.
Lose connection with nature and you lose a connection with the rest of the world and ultimately yourself.

Courage

     

 

It takes a certain amount of insight to change. It takes courage and character to make the effort to change.A willingness to change is necessary if we want to achieve true peace and contentment. Soko Morinaga had this to say about courage: "I believe that courage is upholding what you have once decided to do and enduring all troubles encountered along the way. To sustain and carry out that original intention--just this,in itself---is real courage."

Ways in which we must change to follow.

                                                                                                                                                                  

Simplicity

Inspired by Daisetz Suzuki---
We humans are too concerned with things.
Activities,things and too many people clutter our lives.
All this clutter causes us to lose sight of the beauty,the simplicity of this life.

Listen in an open room undisturbed by man made devices.
Do not be afraid of what you might hear or think.
We have forgotten to listen for the beauty.
The beauty of the ocean waves upon the shore or the wind through the trees and brush.
Accept and embrace this beauty which is life.
Leave behind the clutter and confusion we have created.
Only then will we truly experience the beauty of this life

Simplify

Ah,to simplify,the new buzz word,the bumper sticker,the popular subject of articles in a variety of glossy mags.  To simplify means more than just cleaning off your desk or getting rid of accumulated "stuff". When you truly simplify it effects every aspect of your life; this includes something as seemingly innocuous as what and how much you eat, to how you spend your time,what you buy and don't buy,where and how you live and what you do with your body.There are more aspects to simplifying which will be discussed in future posts as well as the ones I've mentioned above.
Those desiring true peace and contentment must begin the process of simplifying.There is no other way to go about it.
Consider the following:
At the start of the day do you feel that the majority of your waking hours are already committed to doing something or being somewhere? I am including your "days off" here also.
Could you take a job tomorrow that was more to your liking but paid 5 or 10,000 dollars less a year?
When was the last time you spent more than two hours in the woods or a park?
When was the last time you were in an area that was quiet,meaning free from phones,televisions and radios?
Are you overweight,fat?
Do you drink too much alcohol?
Do you eat too much?
Do you eat denatured,unnatural foods?
Do you take what they call recreational drugs,most notable of which is marijuana?
How much time do you spend in front of the television or computer during the course of a day?
Are you preoccupied with watching professional sports?
How often do you read a book.
Do you exercise,if so,how much,how often?
Believe it or not the way to true peace and contentment has alot to do with the questions I just asked.You will see this as the days pass.

Take Nothing For Granted

Where to begin--there is so much to say---I guess the best way to begin is by asking--are you thankful you are alive? I know that most people do not like to ponder their own mortality,but,approximately every 10 seconds someone in this world dies. Do not forget what a wise man once said."tomorrow is promised to no one."
And while we're on the subject of being thankful,do you take for granted your health,the fact that you have a 'roof over your head',and food to eat? The reason I ask is because the majority of people in this world do not have adequate food,shelter or good health.
The first lesson is to be thankful.

The Beginning

Everyone is seeking a sense of peace and contentment in a world that is becoming increasingly anything but. This blog will offer thoughts and musings on finding and living in peace,contentment and self-satisfaction.Set in a monastery atop Mt.Hiei in Japan,what is offered will be food for thought and a solution to the madness of this world.Aligned to no religious or philosophical school, I will acknowledge the truth that can be found everywhere if one is willing seek it out.The physical,the mental and the spiritual aspects so necessary to achieving that peace will be looked into at great length and in a variety of ways.
Although it is never my intention to offend,you may be offended when longstanding beliefs are questioned and challenged. Truth is truth.