Nature's relentless drive for renewal can be witnessed throughout the year, especially during the spring. Watching the resilient crocus push confidently through the last remnants of snow teaches us valuable lessons about the recurring call for courage and commitment to thrive.
Poet Mark Nepo beautifully captures the truth of nature's perennial calling to return and renew:
Every year, around the scalp of the planet, the caribou run the same path of migration along the edge of the Arctic Circle. They are born with some innate sense that calls them to this path. And every year, along the way, packs of coyote wait to feed on the caribou. And every year, despite the danger, the caribou return and make their way.
What lesson do the caribou shout to us with the thunder of their hooves as they deepen the crown of the planet? They are evidence, even as we speak, of the fact that in every living thing, there is an inner necessity that outweighs all consequences.
We, too, follow paths fraught with known and unknown perils in our pursuit of physical and spiritual wholeness. With perseverance, we push through the chill of uncertainty, face existential hazards, and resiliently grow in body and spirit.
Much like the caribou, we respond to a calling—a clear directive that promises health and fulfillment. We accept the call and follow an unshakable inner compass, braving obstacles and uncertainties. We, too, return to our source of direction and strength, embracing the risks inherent in our mission to transform and cultivate a good life. We find resiliency and renewal in an interplay of returning and becoming.
Like the caribou, our inner requisite to fulfill a calling and live out our values accordingly—outweighs all fears of disrupting our certainty about what is needed to thrive. As Mark Nepo concludes,
It is believed that their endless run, no matter what stands in their way, is what keeps the Earth turning. And somewhere, beneath all hesitation and despair, it is our endless call to being, in each of us and all of us together, that keeps the fire at the center of the Earth burning.
Our mindful attention to the process of Becoming can imbue our lives with purpose and inform us where to direct our energy. In the words of Kahil Gibran:
The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that's where the river will know it's not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.
This edition of Voices reveals how our sangha lives out intentions to see the true nature of our calling -- to live mindfully and understand that growth and change fuel our paths. We are encouraged to trust the process of contributing to our healthy Becoming. We share how living our deepest values through the commitments they inspire can transform ourselves and the beings we touch along the way. With conviction and courage, we return to our mindful living practice to create the conditions for the emergence of our true Buddha nature.
In April, we celebrate Earth Day. What does this nod to nature mean to you? Jesse Foy's reflection in Meditations, The Harmony of Nature and Our Practice, speaks of calling when he writes:
The river flows because it must,
The stars shine not for praise,
But because it is their nature.
Ornithologist and Dharma practitioner Vicki Piaskowski has dedicated her life to observing nature—through bird observation, research, and conservation work. Her Connections story is an exemplar of renewal and the endless returning rhythms of the wild.
Jessica Chapin, a neuropsychologist and longtime member at RIM, paints as a dharma practice. She shares in Mindful Mosaics, a beautiful expression of renewal. She speaks of an artistic process that requires "deep trust in moving forward, taking risks, and listening for what is called for next."
As a nature enthusiast, Christine Jacobi notes in Reflections that reciprocity is the hallmark of a symbiotic relationship and contemplates our kinship with the earth. To speak of kinship with the Earth is to speak of responsibility, gratitude, and reverence. It is to remember that we belong to the Earth just as much as it belongs to us. Christine acknowledges our deep, reciprocal relationship with the land, water, sky, and all living beings.
Jennifer Van Rossum, psychotherapist and mental wellness educator, shares in the Explorations
VOICES EDITION 1 Beginner's Mind
VOICES EDITION 2 Nature is Elemental