Practice # 1:
All this requires is to go out into Nature (a city park is fine if you do not live near a forest or the ocean; NYC Central Park is a natural wonder!) and observe not only with your eyes, but with all your senses; especially with your Heart. Let what you observe and experience strike the senses, bouncing here and there like perfume.
Now connect your Heart’s energy field which is Love to what you are witnessing. And wait. Watch what happens. Pay attention to the energy field. You may detect the most insignificant player in this Natural scene returns Love to you. After all, you have created a circuit of generative energy.
Reference: Hopewell—A Therapeutic Farm Community
Practice # 2:
I came upon the following interesting practice which I commend to you.
- I asked myself what animal, plant or voice of nature might deepen my cultivation of integral resilience?
- For a few minutes I practiced Just Click! As my Mind became tranquil and as I opened my Heart, several animals—leopards, elephants bees; and plants—bamboo, rainforests, great trees seemed to call for my attention.
- At that point I searched pixabay and found am image that seemed to resonate well.
- I then refined my inquiry based on the image.
- Lastly I consulted Chat GPT 4 and the results are before you.
- I learned something special about elephant herds and great trees. Combining my inquiry with Chat GPT4 seemed to my connection with Nature more intimate., a special affinity with each creature in my dialogue.
- I hope you will have as much fun with the exercise as I am having.
AUDIO ON CONNECTING TO NATURE
You can increase your Resilience and Power directly by connecting to Nature. This is because Qi or Nature’s life force is everywhere. And it is free and unlimited! All you need to do is learn how to open the gates and balance your Qi with Love.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
For Albert Schweitzer, a voice came to him one evening on the Ogowe River. It said, “Reverence for Life.” I actually visited Dr. Schweitzer’s hospital in Lambarene by the Ogowe River with my parents when I was 13. He was away in Europe at the time. We were guided to his office, and there was a live baby antelope which he kept by his side while he worked.
Zen koans or meditative practices can be helpful in developing resilience, as they challenge our most basic assumptions, for example, that we are apart and separate from Nature. Here is one example: Case #82 from the Blue Cliff Record Case (Hekiganroku)
There was a student who asked his teacher, Dalong [Da Long means great dragon in Chinese] and the student said, “This physical body perishes and decays. What is the imperishable, the hard and fast body of reality? What is it that doesn’t decay?” DaLong replied, “The autumn foliage of the mountains spreads like brocade; the valley streams run deepest indigo.”