In love with mother earth

Uitnodiging Sangha Avond 22-July-2019 In love with mother earth

Dear Sangha friends, beste Sangha vrienden (Dutch below)   When mankind set the first footsteps in space, the impact was huge. Through technology and ambition the energy and curiosity was focused outward. To the great unknown. But as soon as they had left the atmosphere they came in a state of awe. The vast, baren and inhospitable darkness of space on one side and the rich, colorful and fertile earth on the other side. They all reported that it is an inspiring and humbling experience. With great respect for the achievement and with great gratitude for the blessings of technology (in for instance modern medicine), I modestly say: you do not need a spaceship for that experience. You already have one. In our daily lives we venture out into the world to achieve or escape, but when we stop and look around we can come in contact with the wonder. It is just a matter of directing our attention, to open our senses and just register what is there, in us and around us. The world is bursting and bubbling with life and color and beauty. When you practice walking meditation outside in nature you get all these presents, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the caress of the wind on your cheeks. The song of birds and the whisper of the leaves. The firm earth under your feet that carries you and feeds you with fresh fruit and water. You can practice listening: just experience how far you can hear; how many birds are singing for me? How many leaves can I see dancing in the wind, what scents are brought to my nose, how far has the wind traveled to give me that experience. The freshness of the oxygen released by the trees. Have you ever wondered how old the oxygen is that enters your lungs? Can you imagine how long ago the water was formed that fills the oceans and quenches my thirst? These atoms are here for millions, billions of years. They existed long before the earth was formed, long before plants, animals or humans started to breathe. To be alive is a miracle, to breathe is a miracle, to walk on the earth is a miracle. The flash of consciousness that we are allowed to experience in the whole existence of the cosmos is a miracle. All I can do at this moment is be still and wonder, enjoy in gratitude. And with the sense of being firmly rooted in the present, venture out into the world with this amazing body and consciousness that we have. Formed from all the elements of and being part of mother earth. Monday evening (July-22th) we will have our evening of mindfulness in 'de schatkamer' Mimosaplein 2 Eindhoven. With warm regards, This was my meditation this morning at the 50th anniversary of the first 'moonwalk'. I wish you a beautiful weekend full of stillness, wonder and gratitude, Hans Below a link to a Dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh that inspired me for the title: https://upliftconnect.com/falling-in-love-with-mother-earth/ Our Sangha meeting is in 'De Schatkamer', Mimosaplein 2 Eindhoven De format of the evening is:              19.15: preparing the room              19.30: doors open, arriving, meet with tea              20.00: start meditation                              introduction theme                              guided meditation                              walking meditation                              silent meditation                              dharma sharing 21.30: closing, cleaning up and opportunity for meeting with tea. Beste Sangha vrienden, Als je loopmeditatie doet, buiten in de natuur kun je veel cadeautjes ervaren. De warmte van de zon op je huid, de tedere aanraking van de wind op je wang. De zang van de vogels, het gefluister van de bladeren. De stevige grond onder je voeten, de aarde die je draagt en die je voedt met verse vruchten en vers water. Je kunt oefenen te luisteren, hoe ver kan ik horen? hoeveel vogels zingen voor me, hoeveel bladeren kan ik zien die dansen in de wind. Welke geuren worden door de wind naar mijn neus gebracht. Hoever heeft de wind moeten reizen om mij deze ervaring te geven. Heb je er ooit bij stilgestaan hoe oud de zuurstof is die nu je longen vult? De atomen zijn miljoenen, biljoenen jaren geleden gevormd, lang voor de aarde bestond, lang voor de eerste planten, dieren en mensen konden ademen. Leven is een wonder, bewustzijn is een wonder.  Maandag komen we weer samen in de Schatkamer (Mimosaplein 2 Eindhoven) Ik wens je een heerlijk weekend, vol stilte, verwondering en dankbaarheid, Warme groeten Hans Onderstaand een link naar een Dharmatalk van Thich Nhat Hanh die me geïnspireerd heeft: https://upliftconnect.com/falling-in-love-with-mother-earth/