here’s a vision meditation about being part of nature and interconnected with everything.
Let’s explore how our meditation goes together with building a sustainable future – let’s start by having a little vision of what sustainable future looks like – imagine waking up in 20 years’ time – what does it look like around you – if we all managed to do what would work for a good future – what would it look like when you look out the window –
Each of you might have a different vision – sustainability – with buildings, hempcrete solar panels – not many SUVs around any more – vegetables, fruit trees, ducks – this is the sort image often seen in regenerative vison of the future – you may have something entirely different –
Look at the values behind that – climate change is happening because we’ve lost our connection with nature – fundamentally – we’re wrecking nature because we forget she’s our mother – we forget we rely on her – we are totally part of nature – nature is our mother in so many ways – she birthed us out of her soil and water – air and fire – the fundamental elements of nature – she feeds us – she clothes us – we think we made our clothes – actually Mother Nature, we got the materials from her – even if it’s plastic – we’ve forgotten
this vision of a regenerative future often takes us back there – vegetables, solar and hempcrete – relating with nature in a more natural way.
the value that we are part of nature – and what we do in our world with it – is totally woven together – have a feel for that – we’re not talking theory – we’re looking at how it feels in our lives – our vision for what would be a good way to live
let’s extend further into the values of Mother Nature – I don’t know that we’ve got a word for this – value isn’t quite right – principles? principles of mothering nature does – all mothers do – human mothers – octopus mothers that sit up to four years by their eggs without eating – that is love of mothers – who love and support life – caring – we care for children – most mothers in the natural world care for their children – some lay the eggs and go off – they make a good nest before they go –
we all know what’s good for children – what kind of mothering grows a beautiful child – caring – trustworthiness – security – love – loads of love – appreciating the beauty of nature – playing in the natural environment – these are the values we need for our future if we are to survive – it’s that important to think about this – it’s about our survival and the survival of giraffes – all the birds – earthworms –
what do we meditate on to help with this – the four loves for example – four kinds of kindness – children need that – we all need – the behaviours – this is all Buddhist teaching – not to kill – value life – treat each other with honour and respect – not lie – or steal – to realise we’re all connected to each other – interconnectedness is a big principle of Buddhism – everything is based on that – we’re not separate –
what happens in nature – total interdependence – feel what your life could be like – how it would look – both how it feels inside and outside – interconnected rather than separate and isolated – we’re all connected – feel what that means for your life – we’ve largely forgotten – it’s hard to feel it perhaps – we’re all interwoven with each other – and with earthworms – many indigenous people say earthworms are our brothers and sisters – it’s a beautiful way of feeling that total connection –
what do we find in meditation – when we relax into the moment – one thing is how beautiful everything is – one thing is the deep union of all things – rest in the moment and feel that – again beyond words – preciousness of what’s around us, within us – how holy – how sacred everything is –
this attitude of Mother Nature being our sacred mother is so different from, oh well we’ll get all the minerals out and use them to build bombs with – so we can kill more effectively a bigger number of people in one shot – Mother Nature doesn’t go round killing millions of people – she’s created it all –
if you look at mothering values you get the whole of Buddhist meditation – it’s based on the same thing – caring – supporting life – being alive – being aware – all the work we do in meditation on that –when we grow veggies in the garden we foster that same life – the life force –
that sustainable stuff fosters the life of the whole of nature – we’re in the position now, we need to mother nature – as well as being mothered by her – there’s a give back – we must look after our mother – which we’re not doing right now – let all these different dimensions – the veggie garden and worms – up to the sacred nature of awareness – let them all filter into the same pot and weave together like a patchwork –values or principles – what we might do in the material world with those principles – to look after the lives of our brothers and sisters – and ourselves – relax into all that – immerse yourself in what it feels like – what does it feel like to be absorbed, immersed in those values or principles – this way of relating with nature – rest in it – how does that feel –
look at how that feels in the body – does it feel juicy and life-giving – does it make you happy – does it uplift your heart – look at what the body energy is doing – when you immerse yourself in this kind of vision – do you get a sense of being in love – in love with all nature – in love with our life – gently go back to that vision – what kind of life would we create if we were really immersed in those values – what kind of life would we create for our children – our loved ones – people in Africa as well – not just our close community –
what’s the vision of that – we started with a bit of a vision – now we can go back to some kind of vision – what would it look like – what would we create – what would it feel like – do you breathe easier –
if the answer is no to my suggestions – what is your answer – don’t think I’ve got the right answers – that you have to feel what I said – what would it feel like to you, to live on mothering principles gewa di yi
Cult Living Mother Nature’s way ox m 220215 tr ed