Nearness of Trees

Nearness of trees: 

by the nearness of trees - and it's here that wisdom is imparted, our life returned to the simplicity of its nature, true stillness restored. Every tree is the Bodhi offering us enlightenment, a place to rest and give deep contemplation as to who and what we really are, comforting our restless minds. By the nearness of trees, 

we are revealed. 

trees are our spiritual masters, companions, friends. It wasn't the fruit from the tree of knowledge that lead to our fall from grace, but our failure to heed the wisdom gained, giving belief to our separation from the garden. Every tree beckons our return, Eden again offered by branch and shade, an oasis for these troubled times. We are called to the woods, parks, to even single trees in a city's landscape, we are asked to rediscover our own personal Eden, healing the belief that we are apart from nature. 

before he was the Buddha, Siddhartha surrendered beneath the branches of the Bodhi tree, exhausted from a near endless search for freedom, resting here, placing his own roots deep within the earth, asking no less than to be enlightened. Every tree offers us this same surrender, seeing our own roots matched to their depth, and how at the very time we are held within the sky, truly a connecting point between earth and heaven. We are enlightened by the nearness of trees, saved in our surrender by their example, having faith in the healing touch of sun against leaf and branches, rain to quench a root deep thirst, earth to balance and restore. It was the Bodhi tree that saved Siddhartha.

by the nearness of trees, and this love they offer, we find ourselves healed, enlightened, restored to our original grace and meaning. Trees literally alter our physiology, heartbeat slowed and blood pressure lowered, our breath cleansed, relaxed, returning us to again to earth creatures, belonging to the company of trees, reminding us that this is truly home, here, our only sure and promised garden. 

by the nearness of trees, 

we remember. 

~

Peace, Eric