'N' for Nature As Our Teacher

                                                                  Nature

River:
Life is like a river. There is no pre-charted way; there are no maps to be given to you which are to be followed. Just be alive and alert, and then wheresoever life leads you go with full confidence in it. ......Allow it to lead you, don't force it. Surrender to it and allow it to lead you towards the sea. Just be alert, that is all. While life leads you towards the sea just be alert so that you don't miss anything.
-Osho

                                                                     Portugal

Volcanoes:
If what is true is repressed, it will bubble up from deep effecting everything in it's path. Volcanoes stand as an omen for change being forced if you will not flow, to a difference in perspective or shift in awareness that results when what we live isn't supporting the essence of what is really true.

Nature teaches us in so many ways if only we were more watchful and learn from Nature.

                                           The beautiful snow capped mountains of Sikkim

Ocean:
“There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater,you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”

― Dave Barry

                                                          The pacific
Mountains and Clouds:
The mountain doesn't move, trees do. The sky doesn't move, clouds do. Stability in the midst of all movement.

                                        The views captured during our 17 mile scenic drive in the US

Huge cloud formations change gradually, almost imperceptibly into another formation. This is how gradual the process of human transformation is. The changes are so small that the overall formation looks the same. But gradually the shift will happen, until suddenly, the cloud is entirely different- -- the person is entirely different.

Midnight: is the center. It touches both night and a new day at once. It touches both dark and light. It exists between past and future. The point that transcends time. Neither of the the two opposites, but a center between them: the center beyond duality.

                                         This picture was taken by our daughter in Spain

                                      This picture was taken by our daughter in Portugal

                                            This picture was taken in Conoor 

Trees:
A gigantic tree doesn't become that by knowing it's a tree while still a seed. It only knows growth.  Constantly changing, while still remaining the same. Not dwelling on  end results, it is content just to grow and not know where it is going.  The seedling, shoot and mature tree aren't the goal, but the process-- the journey.

                              This was taken in Pondicherry before we set out for Chunabar Beach

Snow:

The future lies before you like a field of fallen snow ; be careful how you tread it for every step will show.

We are so busy with our lives always watching out for what is ahead of us, that we forget to enjoy where we are. Nature seems to tell us ever so gently, to be in the present.

                                                    This was taken in Sikkim.

This the Zero point, where the road ends, as this point is the end of India and beyond is Indo- China border.... it was really awesome

Carrots:

Carrots are safe within, underground, even if its plant above is ripped and torn. At times, what is seen on the surface gives no indication of what is living within.

                                                            Carrots of Kodaikanal

Banana:

Skin hides the fruit.  For a long time we only know our superficial masks.  Do we have the strength to peel this skin back?  The time is now to know the fruit of ourselves.

Nature beautifully hints to us to take off our masks.

Nature as metaphor: it is always there to make us see  ourselves clearly, nature shows us all, if only we care to observe.

 How has Nature inspired you?

'L'- For: Life And Love

Life And Love:

                                               The beautiful up and down road.

Life is full of ups and downs:  does it mean it is not good, life is a tragedy, we foolishly wish there was an even pace, giving us a feeling of stability, security and balance.
 However, we could look at it in a different way;

                                         All airplane pictures have been taken by our daughter

                                     New York city from the top taken by my husband

  Isn't it fun going up, there is a thrill when the plane takes off, we are suddenly so high, we can enjoy the beauty of clouds from close quarters, we can also see the beauty of  the ground, all the buildings looking so small , neat and cute, as if it is made of building blocks, you don't see the dirt and filth from such a height, everything looks so symmetrical and well laid out.

  We get to see  mountains, oceans, so big , yet so calm, cities from high above. Instead of enjoying all these things, we quickly say, "Oh plane journeys are so boring", for we never allow ourselves to see the beauty of nature spread before us. 

And the thrill, which one can experience as the planes starts to descend  down slowly, we can sometimes feel that the tall buildings are almost touchable.

                                                    View  of London, taken by my husband.
See how dull boring plane rides can be turned into spectacular rides, and in the end we can always thank the creator for giving  us the opportunity to experience such wonderful sights.

Similarly,  life is fun with its ups and downs just like a plane ride, ( that was just an example).
How many times we end up cursing the rain, when there is no need to curse, for it is just a season: rainy season. 

We can protect ourselves from getting wet by wearing the right clothing, and go about our life, we can even enjoy getting wet  in the rain, like little children and have fun dancing in the rain. 

It was fun getting wet in  Wayanad Kerala, when it suddenly started to pour very heavily

                                              Even umbrellas were found to be useless, so the next best thing was to enjoy getting wet in the rain

 Trekking in the rain

There is nothing good or bad in life, everything is made good or bad according to the way we decide to look.
I know, I was always complaining about the unusual heat of Bangalore, and soon I realized, that, instead of accepting it as an unusual, weather condition, I was unnecessarily getting agitated about it and getting all the more heated up. Instead,  I could be grateful,  I didn't have to go out and work in the heat like some people  have to do, I could be grateful, that I was not residing  in some place that was much more hotter than Bangalore. Instead of fighting the heat, I decided to flow with what was happening in the moment, and felt much better doing that. I may not be able to change the weather conditions, but I can surely change my attitude towards it. No point cribbing all the time, just think of doing some cool things and become cool all at  once.
I could totally relate to this quote: 
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”― Timmy Dean

Yes,  Life is full of ups and downs and I really like and enjoy  every bit of going up and coming down too.  Remember, how as  little children,  we used to love the Seesaw, didn't we enjoy the ride up and also the ride down?

Love:  
To me the true meaning of Love is beautifully summed up in these lines:

When the one whose hand you're holding
Is the one  who holds your heart
When the one whose eyes you gaze into
Gives your hopes and dreams their start,
When the one you think of first and last
Is the one who holds you tight,
And the things you plan together
Make the whole world seem just right,
When the one whom you believe in
puts their faith and trust in you,
You've found the one and only love
You'll share your whole life through.

I believe true love, does not judge, does not impose its will  on others. Love means to be together,  giving each other enough space to do what each wants to do, if for some reasons they need to go separate ways allow that to happen without clinging, and letting them go, there is no anger, there is no bitterness.

The beautiful and meaningful lines of the great Sufi poet, comes to my mind:

On Marriage
Kahlil Gibran

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.


Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. 

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Though Kahlil Gibran had  meant marriage, it can be applied to any loving relationship,  like this quote here says:

“A mother is someone who dreams great dreams for you, but then she lets you chase the dreams you have for yourself and loves you just the same.”

Life:

 is just like chapters in a book, some good, some bad, but all come together to create the story of our lives, we have learnt many things from each chapters and changed many things and are constantly changing, and  re-creating ourselves again and again into new personalities. Isn't it wonderful to say,  hello to a new person everyday, "the new me"?

Love: The magic words for a great relationship are: I love you just the way you are.

What are your views about Life and Love?
I would love to hear from  all of you.