*This article was originally published in Green Notes, a publication of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). The original version can be found on page 6 here.
One of my greatest joys in life is reaching the summit of a mountain and knowing I can go no higher. And for a long time, nothing seemed to be able to beat the sense of empowerment and exhilaration that comes from a successful ascent.
But one book recently managed to significantly enrich my experience in the wilderness. The book may have gone fairly unnoticed had it not been for Oprah, who broadcast it to millions of people around the world in a ‘webinar’ (a web seminar). The best-selling book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle, became the common link of millions of people around the world, myself included, who met ‘virtually’ for ten weeks to discuss the lessons contained in its pages.
A devout outdoor enthusiast and spiritual seeker, I had no idea of the real influence the outdoors could have in my life until I explored this book. I have always been drawn to the therapeutic effect of the outdoors, but A New Earth helped me to become even more aware of nature’s potential to enrich my life.
Photo by: Paul Zizka
Tolle explains that many psychologists believe that 98-99% of our thoughts are quite useless and repetitive. From the moment we wake up, our thoughts are dominated by tasks to accomplish within the hour, by the conversation we need to have with our boss, by thoughts and feelings of anger about an argument we had with a friend the night before. And those same tendencies are carried into our time in the wilderness. Even a leisurely hike, or a more challenging trek in the backcountry, can be dominated by thoughts playing like a broken record. The constant chatter not only dominates our minds, but prevents us from hearing the pleasant soundtrack of the landscape itself.
The author of A New Earth insists that life does not need to be this way. Nature can help us reach a new dimension of consciousness that we might not even know exists, a dimension that brings us into the here and now.
It might be described as an epiphany or an inexplicable sense of peace, and for the most part it comes to us without our intention. Tolle points out that it can also happen when we put ourselves through extreme physical activity, like mountain climbing, because the activity requires all of our attention. The journey to the summit is only half the journey. Thinking about your boss, your to-do list, or even the dinner back at camp while descending a mountain may lead to an accident. Even thinking about the next pitch, the next ledge, or the next descent route may be dangerous. And yet we let our thoughts wander…
I know that I have had moments of inexplicable peace when I am on the tenth hour of a climb, depleted of resources, and yet feeling totally alive. But what can I do to find that peace in a more intentional way? To bring us into the present moment, whether in the city or in the wild, Tolle recommends a few exercises that revolve around our interaction with nature:
Let Go of Mental Labels
By labelling everything we are seeing, we produce a running commentary. Try to avoid seeing a tree and thinking ‘tree’ or seeing a wildflower and attaching a name to it. Without knowing the name of the life-form, we can simply experience it. Tolle remarks that if we could learn from nature to stop labelling things, we could gradually apply that to people.
Observe the Simplicity of Life
More domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, have the ability to bring us back into the present in a significant way. Tolle calls them “the guardians of being” because they tend to assist humans in experiencing the present moment through play, relaxation, and attentiveness. In the wilderness, observe the way animals take care of their needs in the moment. They seem to only care about that particular instance – and if you catch them undisturbed you will witness a beautiful simplicity of life.
See the Stillness of the Trees
Tolle remarks that when we lose touch with the sense of stillness or peace within us, we lose touch with ourselves. When the mind is restless it is impossible to experience the vibrancy and wonder of life as it is in the present moment. Tolle guides us to look to the trees and see their stillness despite the wind, despite the storm, and despite the movement around them. They do not resist the effects of the wind, allowing their branches and leaves to sway in response, and yet they are completely still on the inside. They are bursting with life if we take a moment to recognize it. Placing plants in your home or office can be therapeutic and a consistent reminder to seek stillness amidst the chaos.
The next time you spend time in the wilderness, make a point of performing these exercises. In my own experience, by being more present, I am much less stressed. Each moment is richer, more intense, more beautiful and more satisfactory. There may be things from the past to think about, or things in the future to anticipate, but my time in the wilderness is sacred, and worthy of my full attention.
For more information, please go to www.eckharttolle.com/a_new_earth.
© Meghan J. Ward, 2009.
