Nature Within

Depending on where in the world you stand you will perceive nature differently. The world looks different in India in comparison to the south of Germany. So depending on where in the world our ancestors would live they laid out different systems about nature and the effect nature and the elements had on them. In India, you have yoga, in China TCM, which are similar to other systems in the rainforest of South America or elsewhere. A teacher once remarked to me that it is not so important to understand all these systems, but maybe to understand one deeply and get insight into all of them. Because by following one deeply you will get insight into the essence of how nature works and nature is the foundation of all of these systems. Let’s take yoga and the practice of asana for example. As you begin to follow the posture's invitation to approach and redefine them more and more internally you will begin to recognize that this body is the foundation of your entire experience. As you arrange and rearrange the body intelligently (within the postures) the feelings, sensations, thoughts, and emotions impermanent patterns will draw your attention naturally into a state of meditation. In the acknowledgment of impermanence, you can begin to observe the elements of nature. In Yoga, we talk about Prana as the vital life force. Everything is made up of Prana. You, me, and the air between us. You can begin to just observe the Prana but you could also begin to go so much deeper. ‘Pra’ also means ‘to give life to’. So what gives Prana life to? The part of us that is not subject to change. Often called Atman, Shiva, Purusha, or the inner Buddhi. Other traditions and systems have different names. Prana is the cohesive bridge that connects the part of us that is not subject to change to this world in which everything has a beginning, middle, and end. Even though nature is inseparable we make the attend to split Prana around us and within into the five elements of air, earth, fire, water, and ether to be able to understand them, talk about them, experience them. Their movement within us the Yogi called the five inner winds. Air known as small Prana (different from the all-encompassing lifeforce) explores the inward, upward, expanding, energizing force associated with the inhale. Earth known as Apana describes the downward and outward, eliminating force associated with exhale. Fire known as Samana covers the centering and stabilizing force. Samana translated means equal and is also called the middle breath or the place where prana and apana meet. Ether known as Udana, helps you understand the upward movement primarily from the heart to the head, associated with the voice. Last but not least water known as Vyana spreads through the whole body, associated with circulation and all movements in the body that proceed from the inside out.
If you find this overwhelming or difficult to sit with be patient. Just like we say that a fish is the last to discover water because he lives in it his entire life, in the same way, we are oblivious to the ocean of elements we swim in. Let this be an invitation to explore and observe yourself more deeply. If you struggle looking within yourself look at nature outside yourself first. Over time it might put you into a state of total absorption, natural meditation, and a feeling of familiarity because you are not separate from nature in the same way a wave is not separate from the ocean.