As we navigate increasingly disconnected lives – in our heads, in our devices, and in a culture shaped by urgency and abstraction – we may sometimes forget that nature is not something separate from us, but an inextricable part of us.
Dharma teachings and practice emphasize a real engagement with elemental life. We come alive – a feature of the process towards full awakening.
The Buddha’s path wasn’t formed in monasteries alone, but under trees, among birds, in forests and open land. Nature was so much more than a backdrop to his awakening – it was a teacher and guide.
The Buddha was born under a tree, realized enlightenment under a tree and died under a tree. He said that devas (divine, radiant, or “shining” beings) in the form of trees and birds speak to us, implying a deep interaction between a presence in nature and our consciousness. He also spoke about his reflections from watching birds, saying they were symbols of freedom as they fly through the sky – “leaving no trace, unattached and free from worldly issues.”
This Day of Practice with Christopher Titmuss is an invitation to return to our intimacy with the living world, and discover the rich wisdom we can receive from nature as we journey through life.
