Clear Awareness

Closed jack pine cones - photo by Joseph O'Brien

          Most tree species disperse their seeds via wind, water or animals. Yet for some trees, the release of seeds is delayed until a specific environmental trigger is present (a process known as serotiny). In the case of some coniferous trees - such as sequoias, jack pines, lodgepole pines and sand pines - that trigger is fire. The seed cones are sealed with resin, which protects them from foraging animals. When a fire sweeps through the forest, fire-resistant bark shields the trunks. The intense heat melts the resin and opens the cone scales so the seeds can be released. The seeds thrive in the nutrient-rich, burnt soil and no longer have competition from other small plants on the forest floor. It wasn't until the 1970s that scientists began to fully understand the importance of fire in the health of a forest ecosystem. 

          Most people believe they can direct and somewhat maintain their attention when necessary. But what generally happens is our attitude toward the object of our attention shapes our experience of it. Like closed cones, we can't see with clarity what is actually there. We color what we perceive with socially conditioned responses and personal habitual reactions. Mindfulness allows us to cultivate a curious and open mind that is aware of what is happening without skewing the facts. As Shunryu Suzuki explained, "We pay attention with respect and interest, not in order to manipulate but to understand what is true." With clear awareness, we begin to notice not only what is around us but our thoughts and feelings as well. When we are conscious of our thoughts and emotions without engaging or suppressing them, they don't automatically trigger reactionary behavior. Jack Kornfield points out that being mindful of these mental states gives us a choice: "whether we want to be imprisoned and stuck or to release the painful states and be healthy." Mindfulness is the fire that opens us to the world, allowing us to relate to life without grasping, pushing away, or ignoring any part of it. 

For more information on mindfulness, see this post.

Engineering Efforts

Storm clouds over a river in Australia - photo by Randy Olson

          According to National Geographic, no other kind of natural disaster in America has caused more death and destruction than floods. A 2007 report by the Organization for Economic and Development found that coastal flooding (when a storm or tsunami causes the sea to surge inland) does $3 trillion in damage a year worldwide. Over recent decades, extremely destructive flooding has been occurring with greater regularity, possibly due to global warming. Most destruction occurs because humans desire to live near the coast or river valleys. In addition, developers often backfill and build on wetlands that would normally act as natural flood buffers. Massive engineering efforts have been aimed at preventing floods through levee systems, dikes, and dams. 

          

Overfilling a vessel is not as good

As stopping before it is filled.

Over-sharpen a blade and it will lose its edge.

~ Tao te Ching

          Wu-wei, a concept in Taoism, is action that does not involve struggle or excessive effort. It is a way to 'keep things simple' instead of over-reacting. This mindset shouldn’t be confused with laziness or procrastination; neither is it motivated by ego-driven goals or desires. In this state, we let go of our opinions about how we think things should be. Instead of forcing our standards onto a situation, we respond to the true demands of it. Wu-wei reminds us that over-doing or going to extremes (emotionally, physically or mentally) is not a better way of doing things. For instance, if our partner or friend says something unkind, we may react by blowing up and saying something equally unkind (overfilling the cup). We could react by giving them the silent treatment and pretending they don’t exist (refusing to fill the cup). Or, we could respond by calmly telling them that what was said hurt our feelings (filling the cup with neither too much nor too little). Instead of trying to engineer selfish wants, we simply respond to what is needed.

For more information on simplicity, see this post.

Run Aground

Beached whales - photo by Anthony Phelps

          Cetacean stranding, commonly known as 'beaching,' is a phenomenon when aquatic mammals strand themselves on land. Up to 2000 of these animals beach themselves each year; most usually die due to dehydration or drown when high tide covers the blowhole. The species most frequently in this predicament are toothed whales (Odontoceti). Strong social cohesion is a key factor. A distress call from one beached whale may prompt the pod to follow, stranding multiple others. Strandings can be attributed to natural factors such as rough weather or weakness due to illness, but another source is manmade. Research has shown a link between cetacean beaching and the use of active sonar by the military.

          

Faith is what happens when our beliefs run aground. Real faith is not a statement of beliefs, but a state of being. ~ Rea Nolan Martin

          Beliefs insist that one's preconceived ideas should define the truth. They reflect a desire for certainty and security. But life doesn't stand still; it constantly changes. During such fluctuation, beliefs may keep us from an accurate perception of reality; they can act as a locked door that impedes clarity and forward movement. When our beliefs 'run aground' in a crisis, we may add more ideas in an attempt to make sense of things, like adding a layer of clay around a broken jug. But perhaps a better way might be to release the tight grip on our beliefs and expose our heart. We could then stop pushing away what we don't like and rest with life as it is. Instead of judgment, we might open to whatever comes. The egoic mind attempts to bypass challenging experiences, but the faith of 'being' grants us the wisdom to live without clinging or resisting.

For more information on faith, see this post.

Making a Leap

Leaping wood ducklings - photo by Stan Tekiela

          Unlike most waterfowl, wood ducks are quite comfortable perching and nesting in trees. Since these ducks can't make their own holes, breeding pairs will search for tree cavities. Generally, these cavities occur when a branch has broken off and the tree's heartwood has rotted. The higher cavities are preferred for a nest site; inside, they can be several feet deep. Ducklings hatch completely alert with a full coat of down. Clinging with the claws on their webbed feet and bracing with their tails, they climb their way to the nest hole entrance a day after hatching. Encouraged by their mother at the bottom of the tree, they leap out, often falling 60 feet. Yet because they are so lightweight, they bounce without hurting themselves when landing. Once all the ducklings have jumped, they follow their mother to the water.
          Courage is an important trait because life is constantly full of challenges. How do we react to unsettling or unexpected news if we have not developed the ability to bravely meet life on life's terms? We often shut down and pull the covers over our head. When that doesn't work, we may lash out in anger. Then we might try manipulation, pretending to adapt while really doing our best to get rid of or fix an unfixable situation. Eventually, we become aware of the futility of our strategies. The seed of courage can begin to grow when we soften our heart and 'be with' rather than reject our experience. We can nurture this seed through new behaviors:

1. Verbally label fearful thoughts as such; thoughts are not the same as reality.
2. Redefine failure; instead of seeing it as not getting what is desired, view it as refusing to adjust to change.
3. Gather factual information from reliable resources to help make informed decisions.
4. Manage stress through meditation, visualization, and exercise.
5. Realize that feeling vulnerable is normal; it does not indicate a lack of ability to do something different.

For more information on courage, see this post.

The Benefits of Taking Notice

Fire ants - photo by Richard Becker

          Trail pheromones are a chemical secretion that leads members of a species towards a food source while also serving as a territorial marker. Many ants use such a chemical trail between their nest site and a source of food. Each colony carries a unique set of pheromones to communicate different messages; ants use their antennas to receive these messages. The initial trailblazer will leave secretions to alert others to their discovery. Ants will then recognize the chemical signal, follow the trail to the food, and renew the chemical mark on the way back to the nest. Once the food source is gone, the ants skip the renewal process and allow the pheromones to diffuse and weaken. 

          Eknath Easwaran wrote, "In everyday life, we are shaped by what gains our attention and occupies our thoughts." When we slow down and place our attention in the here and now, we have a chance to notice the joy and beauty hidden in the ordinary. As we observe the natural, inevitable course of impermanence, we come to understand how precious life is. We begin to notice small kindnesses and realize the effort at connection another person has made. Closely attending to these gifts can develop into a practice that will enrich our lives - gratitude. With experience, we mature beyond conventional gratitude and find things to appreciate in our challenges as well. Like the ant's trail, the evidence is there if we only take time to look for it.

For more information on gratitude, see this post.