ON NATURE

Man has become too materialistic! In his rat race for money he has lost many other comforting things in life! Modern Life is fast and he has no time to stand and stare at beautiful Nature that God has given him to experience and enjoy! ‘Look deep Into nature and then you will understand everything better. Nature’s peace will flow into you while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates and weeps!’ Normal forests and jungles have disappeared and in their place concrete jungles have come up! Environment is totally damaged by the pollution of modern day transport and other emissions! It requires an aesthetic and sensitive mind to appreciate nature and its grandeur! Poets have waxed eloquent on the beauty of nature and its exquisite charm. The banished Duke in the Forest of Arden read “books in the running brooks and sermons in stones.”(As You Like It Shakespeare). Just living the boring life is not enough. The magnificent mountains, clear blue sky, multicolored clouds and their patterns, murmuring streams, dense jungles, tall trees, flowing rivers, enchanting  flowers and many others beckon to Man to come near, observe and drink deep their beauty!

“ Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty” say the renowned scientist Albert Einstein. Sylvia plath, the eminent modern poet remarks, “ I feel my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery--air, mountains, trees, people. I thought “This is what it is to be happy” It was the nature poet William Wordsworth who glorified nature through his poems on daffodils and others. He calls nature a teacher that can educate and edify us! The stanza from one of his poems is outstanding. “ One impulse from a vernal wood  May teach you more of man  Of moral, evil and of good Than all the sages can.” Lord Byron, the Romantic poet echoes the same love and admiration for nature in these lines: “ There is a pleasure in the pathless woods There is a rapture on the lonely shore.  There is society where none intrudes. By the deep sea and in its run  I love not man the less but nature more.”

Man becomes jaded by the regimen of his daily routine! He requires a change wherein he can forget, for a while, all his worries, problems, and other troubles that invade him incessantly! There is nothing better than nature to look up to for comfort and solace! The best remedy for those who are afraid or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God! Nature shall definitely bring solace and satisfaction to the suffering soul! We have a number of parks and resorts that cater to the aesthetic nature of individuals in cities and towns. While visiting forests and jungles is out of question for every Individual, these parks and resorts can help man in comforting and bringing solace to his tormented soul!

Is nature for the mere enjoyment and comfort of the troubled soul of man? That is one of the major objectives of the creation of God! Nature is called ‘Prakriti’ the kinetic and dynamic energy! It is also called Maya or illusion that distracts man by its play and beauty! Man is lost in the contemplation of the beauty of nature. Is there anything in nature that is not beautiful? But still, Man is not much obsessed with nature! He has learnt how to get the maximum benefit from nature. Science and technology has helped him in this field. He has exploited nature to the maximum! He has abused and misused all the natural resources almost to the extent of extinction! This process is continuing. Fuel, oil, coal and other dear resources are extracted without any respite! How long can nature resist the onslaught of man for his selfishness? A time may come when the resources fail! Man should be concerned about it!

What does nature teach? It teaches regularity. The sun rises regularly and sets according to the laws of nature. Morning and night happen regularly. You cannot change it. The seasons are regular one succeeding the other smoothly and silently. “ Dina yaminyau sayam prataha sisira vasanthau punarayataha” says Sankara in his Bhaja Govindam Stotra! Monsoon is regular except for some aberrations! The waves beat against the shore regularly! Regular changes take place according to seasons. Man should learn regularity in action from nature! Without Nature man cannot exist! He should preserve nature, not destroy it! Every tree serves man in various ways though he cuts them for his benefit! They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen for man! They help man though he hurts them.The tall mountain beckons to man to rise high and be imperturbable! The rivers, trees, and every object of nature proclaim that man should be helpful to his fellow beings as nature is to him! Let us understand this lesson from nature , respect and preserve it for generations to come!