I can see eternity in a single flower.
I can hear its presence in a single petal
I can taste forever in a single rose
I can hear the spirit of life itself.
Do you wish to understand what spiritual enlightenment means but have been confused by the many different interpretations on how to proceed? What first steps do great spiritual teachers take to experience this overwhelming feeling and connection with all?  I believe that these steps would be in focus and attention.
Now this attention or focus is not just paying normal attention, such as a mother would her child, or a man his machine. It is far greater than this. Indeed, it is too easy to pay attention to a teacher if he is teaching the things you enjoy. However, try listening attentively to this same person, if what he is saying is of no interest to you? Soon you will find your mind wandering onto other subjects, such as what to get for tea or is Jane buying that new dress she spoke about.
Unfortunately, in some cases’ the pupil will waken when the teacher has finished his lecture and everyone is leaving the class.
No, the Attention or Focus of which I am talking belongs on a much deeper level than this simple explanation and covers many areas.
One of my most enjoyable pastimes is to ascend a high rock just behind my home. Here for anyone to see is a breathtaking three-sixty vista of the whole of Cairns. Now it is no easy thing to walk up this hill, as it is rather steep.
Often on my journey, I will see many unfit walkers huffing and puffing as they make the accent. So engrossed in the effort of climbing this small mountain that their eyes are only focused on the path ahead as they press on in diligent perseverance. The only sounds they hear is their own breathing as they huff and puff up the hill, and the only thing they may be aware of are the many thoughts racing endlessly through their minds. One of these thoughts are probably “I hope I will loose that extra kilo by climbing this hill.â€
It does not surprise me to learn by casual inquiry, that many of these walkers do not smell the exotic and enticing aromas wafting around them in great profusion as they progress along the path. Often if asked if they saw the swallows flitting above the rock, or drifting in delightful swoops below the mountain, they will express surprise and state they had never noticed before. Many of them are not able to identify the various birds singing brightly and happily as they go about their business, or for that matter enjoy the diverse sounds these lovely creatures make, which reverberate deep within the soul on a far deeper level.
They do not seem to notice these same tiny beings flitting about in the trees in absolute joy of life, and I wonder? Can they see the butterflies dancing above the many wild flowers or for that matter notice the flame trees throwing their blooms downward as the wind drifts across their massive branches? Do these many individuals feel the presence of the infinite in the nature around them, or are they too engrossed in their struggle to ascend this small mountain?
Take the time to go outside and look, feel, hear, smell and taste all that is around you now this very minute. Take time to sit on the grass, sand, or dirt for that matter. Look at a blade of grass or a leaf from a tree, do not just lift it up and put it down again, no truly look at it. Feel it, smell it, and taste it even. This tiny blade of grass or leaf is alive. Each minute intricate weave it has created in its growth, has life within. It has essence, and it has presence, it is a living being. Now look at the trees and grass in their totality, can you not feel and see the very essence of their life field abiding inside and around them? Be silent within and wait. Soon you will realise that the very earth is a living being, it has great power.
I can remember when I was travelling with my friend; we had avoided the main tourist pathways and travelled to out of the way place’s where we knew others would not disturb us. Then we had pitched our tent and lived as nature intended we should. This was my first encounter of living out-of-doors for any length of time and although I had been able to undertake such an adventure when a child with great delight, I was somewhat dubious about this at my late age I can tell you. However, it did not take long to realise that something wonderful was happening to my awareness, and soon I became aware of many things that I had left behind in those far off days of childhood.
Gradually mindfulness deep and profound came upon me. I became consciously aware of the presence of rain by just the look feel and atmosphere that the trees radiated toward me in steady outward momentum. There was an air of expectancy, which I had never noticed before. In fact, these large stately eucalypt trees reminded me of children waiting for the school bell or tea to come their way. Indeed the closer rain came, the more urgency was observed. The birds would suddenly become more talkative and the whole place would be alive with heavenly voices as they sang their praises out to the very heavens.
Then just as suddenly as they had spoken there would be a palatable silence and down would come the rain. It was if they had asked the rain to come. Indeed, sometimes it looked as if this was actually the case, as beforehand the sky would often be quite clear.
Those trees were alive, are alive. The grass, plants, and the very air are throbbing with an energy far exceeding anything you have been led to realise. The bird’s, insects and animals of any kind are part of this beat. They are in constant communion with nature and if you are open to this energy, within you, you too can feel this wonderful energy. In fact, the world is a living breathing being, which talks and communicates with each of us constantly. It is true when the sages and great men have said there is a presence. It is true when they talk about a collective unconscious for it is there around and within all of us every single minute of our life, and before any of us can truly become enlightened we must re-connect with this presence.
Take a walk, but this time when you walk be aware of all that is around you, from a flowering tree, to a bird singing on a branch. Really, notice not just look then turn away. Take time to feel and hear these presences, smell and taste them, in your mind. Take some time to be alone in nature and see what you can feel.
Make feeling the first lesson. Make a note either within your mind. Alternatively, if you prefer, write this feeling down. Poetry is a wonderful way of expressing the feeling of the moment. What do you feel when you touch a rose. Feel its texture smell it, taste it, even listen to it. The listening is the focus or attention; it is not something you can hear in audible sounds. It is listening to eternity.
