Nature heals the mind

Nature heals the mind

The Infinite Ocean

I was walking along the beach one morning. The great ocean, with its beautiful sights and sounds, so wide, so blue, appeared majestic and grand. It spread as far as eyes could see and there did not seem to be an end for it. Its vastness was mind boggling, and yet what I saw was only a miniscule part of this universe. The rays of the sun made the water sparkle as though gold dust was sprinkled on it.  Closer to the shore, the dry sand glistened as though someone had mixed powdered diamonds with the sand. It amazed me. I was wonderstruck.

Everyone seemed to be carefree and relaxed

I saw adults and children forgetting all their worries for the time being and entering the water and playing with the waves. Some adults relaxed in their chairs while keeping an eye on their loved ones. Others were flying kites, playing beach volleyball or other games. Kids were running around and dancing with glee. They ran into the water, but hurried back when the waves scared them. Some of them totally ignored the water, but were busy playing with the wet sand, building bridges and little crude constructions that in their minds were castles.

The Glorious Waves

The glorious waves were constantly flowing up and down, finally dashing against the shores. When the waves rose high, they had a superb brownish hue mixed with a bright blue color. It made me wonder; perhaps sand had blended with the blue water resulting in that color. I saw surfers trying to tackle the waves; some succeeding and some collapsing.

At a distance, some of the waves were rolling high, as though they were going to sweep up and drown the entire shore line. However, as they approached the shore they dwindled in size and ferocity and became sweet little waves that kissed my feet. They then retrieved their flow and returned to the ocean where its cycle can go on for ever.

The Astounding Designs

But the waves did not leave in vain. They created artistic patterns and designs on the sand that were gorgeous. So many styles of patterns, so many motifs and prints and geometrical shapes. The black and brown designs on sand color were intriguing and awesome. And on top of the designs, there were zigzag footprints of those who had already enjoyed the magnificent ocean and its awe-inspiring waves. However, even as I was watching the footprints ahead, a fresh new wave rushed towards the shore and wiped off those footprints as if to say, ‘past is gone for ever, don’t waste time over it’!

The Fascinating Seaweeds

It was fascinating to see that when the waves withdrew, they left some of the ocean’s shiny sea weeds on the sand as gifts. The beautiful, unique, green or brown colored seaweeds were a sight for sore eyes. Some of them were long and curly ribbons with huge, green succulent bulbs at one end, while some of them were small pieces that shimmered like tiny bunches of saffron. Their presence were like decorations that reduced the monotony of sand all over, and added color and beauty. The color combinations and designs of Nature simply cannot be compared with anything that humans can ever produce.

Nature is Spiritual

While I was brimming with awe and wonder at all this at the beach, I realized that Nature’s unparalleled beauty not only provides a feast for the eyes and ears, it calms and quietens the mind. It brings such peace and comfort to us that we can never get from man-made structures and concrete towers. No one goes to see skyscrapers to get peace of mind! They go to the beach to be by the splendid ocean, or the park with alluring trees and luscious green grass, or a garden with delightful, fragrant flowers, or a forest with spectacular giant trees, flowing rivers, brooks and springs, with cheerful, chirping colorful birds and scurrying squirrels.

As I was admiring all this beauty and skills of Nature, I became curious. If being spiritual is to seek and obtain Happiness, then there is definitely something spiritual about Nature. Because it makes us happy and peaceful. What is it about Nature that gives us happiness and peace of mind, I wondered!

Nature is our Teacher

Is it the vastness or splendor of the ocean that calms our mind? Is it the grandeur of the forest trees, or their sweet, gentle swaying of the branches in the breeze that subdues our egos and brings tranquillity and cheer? Is it the roaring thunder or the magnificent rain that heals our mind and restores it to good health? The fact that we realize how small we are compared to this boundless universe, that we are just dots in its infinite expanse, does this make us humble and quieten our mind?

Or is it their selfless, endless giving, without asking anything in return, that brings us peace of mind? Could it be the fact that they are doing their duty for the sake of it without egoism and without attachment to the results, that has a positive impact on us?

I think the answer for all these questions is “Yes”. Nature is constantly teaching us about Life and how to live efficiently, selflessly and peacefully. However, it is up to us to learn from Nature and live a life of fulfillment and happiness.