Loving Nature

I’ve been taking more nature photos lately. The responses that these photos inspire when I show them to people are so beautiful. It’s like all their troubles are forgotten in an instant. They experience a joy and wonder that expresses through their whole being. It makes me want to run around and show nature photos to people all day! There should be a TV station that just constantly runs a slideshow of beautiful nature photos without commentary. It would be so nurturing for all the millions of people who find themselves surfing cable TV daily. 

The nature here in Pennsylvania is quite different from Mount Shasta. I love them both. The trees are different. The bird songs are different. The creatures are different. I’m seeing cardinals, frogs, bunnies, fireflies, and even a groundhog. Hardly any pine trees here. No mountain with snow atop it. No freshwater springs to see. Even the squirrels look different. Nature is so amazing!

I’ll be the first to admit that I hardly ever visit nature as a destination. I remain engaged in my “To Do” list, or reading or meditating or chanting. I enjoy nature as I’m going from here to there, in passing, or when a friend invites me. What a gift, to be invited to nature. Now I have a question: Why wait for an invitation? Nature herself is inviting me, inviting us, all the time. She will never pressure us to visit, but her door is always open. How beautiful is that?

Loving Nature,
Sahadev

QUOTES FROM MY NOTES

Bhakti (devotion) means taking God into account at all times. 

Commit to giving priority to what is good over what is pleasant.

What’s the purpose of human life?
To be happy.
How?
By realizing who we truly are. 

What we are faced with is called destiny. 
How we respond is free will. 

Much of our pain and sorrow is due to our attitude. Become a master of yourself. Be alert. Understand what is right in a particular situation. Subdue selfishness. Do the right thing. And remember that obstacles alone help us grow. 

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