Sharing Nature Foundation - Books and Resources

Home
Flow Learning ™
Nature Activities
Programs
Calendar of Events
Sharing Nature Worldwide
Country Coordinators
Joseph Cornell
Books and Resources
Connections and More Information

Journey to the Heart of Nature
excerpt from Third Visit: Getting Close to Nature

In the early years of this century, a Japanese Buddhist monk named Godo Nakanishi devoted his life to practicing inner calmness and compassion for all creatures. As time passed, Godo’s appreciation of nature grew stronger, especially for the birds. Godo even created a new word, yacho, which means “wild bird.”

Godo once spent several days sitting quietly on a snow-covered mountain. A flock of wild birds noticed him, but their fear of humans kept them in the tree branches a safe distance away.

Godo continued to sit quietly. Gradually, the birds came closer, their fear melting in the peace they felt from the monk. In time, they accepted him as a trusted friend and perched on his shoulders and knees.

In 1934, Godo created the Wild Bird Society of Japan. He spent over 50 years promoting nature conservation. When Godo died, a flycatcher bird perched quietly on his window sill and gazed at his face. And just before the funeral procession, a Japanese kestrel was seen flying in circles over his head as if in silent farewell.

In this story, we see how God Nakanishi’s quality of peace earned the animals’ trust. In many countries, stories are told about animals that are drawn to people who are calm and have kindly thoughts.

With Beauty Before Me

There is a fable about two traveling dogs who came to a small town. One dog, finding the front door of a building open, boldly walked in for a look. To its surprise, it saw 100 snarling dogs. Frightened, it fled the building.

A little later, the second dog, unaware of what had happened to its friend, discovered the same door and happily went inside. To its delight, this dog saw 100 smiling dogs, all wagging their tails.

Why was the experience of the second dog so different from that of the first? The answer is that the room was filled with 100 mirrors and each dog saw its own reflection 100 times. The first dog, mistrusting the other dogs, snarled to defend itself, while the second dog, expecting the other dogs to be friendly, happily greeted them and thus received 100 friendly greetings in return.

Like the mirrors in the story, the world reflects your thoughts back to us. How we think affects how we experience the world.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous 19^th century American philosopher, spent his whole life looking for good and noble things in life. He took great delight in nature, and expressed his joy for living by saying, “This world is so beautiful that I can hardly believe it exists.”

This world truly is a beautiful place, if our eyes are open to see it. The following activity will help you find the special beauty that’s in your place.

Begin my memorizing the Navajo poem With Beauty Before Me. It’s very easy to remember; just think about he six directions: “before and behind,” “above and below,” “around and within.”

With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty below me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.
Wandering on a trail of beauty, lively I walk.

An easy way to learn the words to the poem is to close your eyes and take three steps forward while you repeat the first line. Stop and open your eyes, then look straight ahead and see what beautiful object first catches your attention. Close your eyes again and take three more steps while you repeat the next line. Turn around, open your eyes, and find something beautiful behind you. Repeat this for each line, looking above, below, and all around.

On the last line, keep your eyes closed and try to feel the beauty within yourself. When you’re finished, record what you saw in each direction.

With beauty before me,
With beauty behind me,
With beauty above me,
With beauty below me,
With beauty all around me,
Wandering on a trail of beauty, lively I walk.
(Feel beauty inside.)

Now walk slowly through your area with eyes open. Quietly continue to repeat the poem, enjoying the beauty of the clouds, grasses, trees, and hills, and whatever else comes to your attention.

Copyright Joseph Cornell All Rights Reserved

HOW TO ORDER:
All Sharing Nature Products are now available through secure online ordering.
Or call toll free to order through Inner Path at 866-665-7765

In the United Kingdom you can order our books from Deep Books, ltd.
Contact: David Birkett, david@deep-books.co.uk

Joseph Cornell's books are currently available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Thai.

Excerpts from Journey to the Heart of Nature

Table of Contents

First Visit: Choosing and Exploring Your Area

Third Visit: Getting Close to Nature

Fourth Visit: Caring for Your Site

| Flow Learning™ | Nature Activities | Programs | Calendar of Events |
| Sharing Nature Worldwide | Country Coordinators | Joseph Cornell |
| Books and Resources | Connections and More Information | Mailing List

Sharing Nature Foundation
14618 Tyler Foote Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-478-7650
e-mail: info@sharingnature.com

			Home Flow Learning ™ Nature Activities Programs Calendar of Events Sharing Nature Worldwide Country Coordinators Joseph Cornell Books and Resources Connections and More Information
	Journey to the Heart of Nature excerpt from Third Visit: Getting Close to Nature
	In the early years of this century, a Japanese Buddhist monk named Godo Nakanishi devoted his life to practicing inner calmness and compassion for all creatures. As time passed, Godo’s appreciation of nature grew stronger, especially for the birds. Godo even created a new word, yacho, which means “wild bird.” Godo once spent several days sitting quietly on a snow-covered mountain. A flock of wild birds noticed him, but their fear of humans kept them in the tree branches a safe distance away. Godo continued to sit quietly. Gradually, the birds came closer, their fear melting in the peace they felt from the monk. In time, they accepted him as a trusted friend and perched on his shoulders and knees. In 1934, Godo created the Wild Bird Society of Japan. He spent over 50 years promoting nature conservation. When Godo died, a flycatcher bird perched quietly on his window sill and gazed at his face. And just before the funeral procession, a Japanese kestrel was seen flying in circles over his head as if in silent farewell. In this story, we see how God Nakanishi’s quality of peace earned the animals’ trust. In many countries, stories are told about animals that are drawn to people who are calm and have kindly thoughts. With Beauty Before Me There is a fable about two traveling dogs who came to a small town. One dog, finding the front door of a building open, boldly walked in for a look. To its surprise, it saw 100 snarling dogs. Frightened, it fled the building. A little later, the second dog, unaware of what had happened to its friend, discovered the same door and happily went inside. To its delight, this dog saw 100 smiling dogs, all wagging their tails. Why was the experience of the second dog so different from that of the first? The answer is that the room was filled with 100 mirrors and each dog saw its own reflection 100 times. The first dog, mistrusting the other dogs, snarled to defend itself, while the second dog, expecting the other dogs to be friendly, happily greeted them and thus received 100 friendly greetings in return. Like the mirrors in the story, the world reflects your thoughts back to us. How we think affects how we experience the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous 19^th century American philosopher, spent his whole life looking for good and noble things in life. He took great delight in nature, and expressed his joy for living by saying, “This world is so beautiful that I can hardly believe it exists.” This world truly is a beautiful place, if our eyes are open to see it. The following activity will help you find the special beauty that’s in your place. Begin my memorizing the Navajo poem With Beauty Before Me. It’s very easy to remember; just think about he six directions: “before and behind,” “above and below,” “around and within.” With beauty before me, may I walk. With beauty behind me, may I walk. With beauty above me, may I walk. With beauty below me, may I walk. With beauty all around me, may I walk. Wandering on a trail of beauty, lively I walk. An easy way to learn the words to the poem is to close your eyes and take three steps forward while you repeat the first line. Stop and open your eyes, then look straight ahead and see what beautiful object first catches your attention. Close your eyes again and take three more steps while you repeat the next line. Turn around, open your eyes, and find something beautiful behind you. Repeat this for each line, looking above, below, and all around. On the last line, keep your eyes closed and try to feel the beauty within yourself. When you’re finished, record what you saw in each direction. With beauty before me, With beauty behind me, With beauty above me, With beauty below me, With beauty all around me, Wandering on a trail of beauty, lively I walk. (Feel beauty inside.) Now walk slowly through your area with eyes open. Quietly continue to repeat the poem, enjoying the beauty of the clouds, grasses, trees, and hills, and whatever else comes to your attention. Copyright Joseph Cornell All Rights Reserved HOW TO ORDER: All Sharing Nature Products are now available through secure online ordering. Or call toll free to order through Inner Path at 866-665-7765 In the United Kingdom you can order our books from Deep Books, ltd. Contact: David Birkett, david@deep-books.co.uk Joseph Cornell's books are currently available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Thai.
	Excerpts from Journey to the Heart of Nature Table of Contents First Visit: Choosing and Exploring Your Area Third Visit: Getting Close to Nature Fourth Visit: Caring for Your Site

	\| Flow Learning™ \| Nature Activities \| Programs \| Calendar of Events \| \| Sharing Nature Worldwide \| Country Coordinators \| Joseph Cornell \| \| Books and Resources \| Connections and More Information \| Mailing List Sharing Nature Foundation 14618 Tyler Foote Rd. Nevada City, CA 95959 530-478-7650 e-mail: info@sharingnature.com