| I came across the Tree pose and this perspective came to me. I thought you might enjoy it. This is a small glimpse of the world/"forest" you live in...
If your mind is a forest, then every tree in it is a mantra (any thought, any perception/sensation). If a tree falls, does it make a sound? Yes, but if you are not aware of it, you won't know what's going on. Mindfulness involves monitoring this whole forest and the trees/mantras in it.
Mindfulness enables you to protect your forest from all the external mantras/seeds absorbed through your senses.
Who controls these external mantras? The same people who have controlled the design and transmission of knowledge throughout the ages. The people in power: From Monarchs to Politicians/Government, Merchants/Industry, and, to a declining degree, Religious leaders.
Text books, TVs and other media outlets, laws and regulations... Trace their evolution back to the beginning of writing some 5,000 years ago, and you'll see the same sources controlling it. This is the global forest, and as opposed to genetic non-foresighted evolution, this forest evolves through foresight, designed with purpose:
More power to those in power, survival of the fittest and most powerful: Those who control the design and transmission of knowledge.
So you are a tree in the great forest, and you have your own little forest connected to the great one. But do you manage it? If you don't, you are being led around like a dog on a leash, being told what to believe in and what to do through all these outlets controlled by your "Masters."
And you're not even aware of it.
This loss of control is stressful and likely to make you feel bad about yourself. You want to be a BIGger dog with all the trimmings, like the ones on TV, in ads, seemingly everywhere, happier, richer, better-looking. They are obviously designed for this purpose. Stress sells. Your friends may be under the same impression, influencing the way you perceive your forest and the trees in it.
So make your tree strong, exercise, grow. But know that your ancient roots are what makes you so special, so beautiful. Connected to the entire forest, to evolution itself, supporting your trunk, keeping you raised, looking up toward the sunlight. Look down and you'll see that you are never alone, and there is no individualism and no distress unless you perceive it that way.
Unless you are led to believe it.
Meditation means awareness, and when you meditate, you can see what happens in the mind you're in: If your forest is being chopped down, if someone else pollutes or plants seeds, you'll know. When you design, monitor, and protect your trees, you control your forest. And then a tree does not fall unless you decide to bring it down.
That's all.
Best wishes,
Oz
Edited by Oz1 2008-12-07 3:28 PM
|
The Tree Pose: If A Tree Falls...
