Have you ever given yourself
time to
just wander around and explore the nature that surrounds you? Have you ever
observed it keenly and identified what power it possesses? Have you looked
for solutions to your problems within nature?
If not yet …surely do it sometime. You will end up being amazed by its
beauty, generosity and enigma.
The elusive concept ‘nature’
is pretty hard to define but relatively easy to comprehend. It is diverse and
far beyond our imagination. It is what surrounds us, nurtures us and
facilitates our very existence. It is something which self-sacrifices to meet our demands more than ‘needs’. Nature is
an inspiration. It is a source of energy, it is peace, harmony and an ‘unconditional
giver’ that only
gives and never expects anything in return.
Nature plays a
significant role in our lives.
If we see the ancient civilizations we can understand that those civilizations
related to nature in an astonishingly different way as compared to us today. Earlier
civilizations were pretty close to nature, for them nature was a deity which
was to be worshiped, preserved and taken care of. Every activity in those times
revolved around nature, all questions were posed to nature and their solutions
were derived from nature itself. Our ancestors were in close proximity with nature, not
only physically but
also psychologically, spiritually and emotionally.
For them nature become everything; a
source of livelihood, a source of leisure and also a source which could heal every malady. Every individual back
then had a very strong bond with this ecosystem; with its trees, leaves,
animals, insects, creepers, sounds of birds etc. Individuals learnt several
life lessons from nature and while they did so they associated their feelings
and emotions with it.
The beauty and majesty of nature acted like a mantra in meditation for them, slowing down the normal ‘thought-chatter’ in minds. As a result of it, these individuals
experienced an inner stillness and energy
which contributed to their overall mental well-being
and self-awareness and hence on an average these individuals experienced less
stress in life. However,
in the contemporary times the forces of urbanization, development and progression
have somehow pushed individuals away from nature and have deprived them from
reaping its benefits. Individuals now a days are confined only
to man-made
environments which lack
essential warmth and healing power as compared to what nature offers. These environments
are so sophisticated that they leave very little room for nature to be conserved and embraced.
Apart from this, all of us are
constantly tied up with our workplace and family responsibilities thus removing
qualitative time for ourselves to come in contact with nature is next to impossible.
As a result of this, we are unable to bond back with nature and to be one with
it, as our ancestors did.
We are unable to associate our feelings and emotions
with it and this deprivation is preventing us from experiencing the innermost
stillness and energy which it offers. This in turn leaves us strained and exhausted
both physically and mentally.
And hence before its too late, it is important for us to take out
time for ourselves, just to wander off amidst nature, to reap its benefits of rejuvenation
and to be
amazed by its beauty, generosity and enigma. Hope all of us do it soon!
So true...
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