Message #30369

[Jitendra Hydonus]

The lover of nature is the true worshipper of God.

     Bowl of Saki, August 13, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Anyone who has some knowledge of mysticism and of the lives of the mystics knows that what always attracts the mystic most is nature. Nature is his bread and wine. Nature is his soul's nourishment. Nature inspires him, uplifts him and gives him the solitude for which his soul continually longs. Every soul born with a mystical tendency is constantly drawn towards nature; in nature that soul finds its life's demand, as it is said in the Vadan, 'Art is dear to my heart, but nature is near to my soul'. ... Nature does not teach the glory of God; it need not teach this as nature itself is the glory of God. People wish to study astrology and other subjects in order to understand better, but if we study astrology then we are sure to arrive at an interpretation which is given by a man, whereas what we should read from nature is what nature gives us and not what any book teaches us.

There comes a time with the maturity of the soul when every thing and every being begins to reveal its nature to us. We do not need to read their lives. We do not need to read their theories. We know then that this wide nature in its four aspects is ever-revealing and that one can always communicate with it, but that in spite of this it is not the privilege of every soul to read it. Many souls remain blind with open eyes. They are in heaven, but not allowed to look at heaven; they are in paradise, but not allowed to enjoy the beauties of paradise. It is just like a person sleeping on a pile of gems and jewels. From the moment man's eyes open and he begins to read the book of nature he begins to live; and he continues to live forever.

   from  https://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XI/XI_III_7.htm

So it is with our practices, to seek God and to find him in All things.

A true worshipper of God sees His presence in all forms, and thus in respecting others he respects God. It may even develop to such an extent that the true worshipper of God, the Omnipresent, walks gently on the earth, bowing in his heart even to every tree and plant, and it is then that the worshipper forms a communion with the Divine Beloved at all times, when he is awake and when he is asleep.

   from  https://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XIII/XIII_15.htm

I had mixed feelings about this quote as you may suspect Eric; while I completely agree to your quotes about nature I also see that astrology and the stars are also part of nature and therefore also the glory of God. And, just as we read someone else’s interpretation of Indian Totems to understand the significance of nature in human affairs we also may read the information available of the stars in human affairs. This by no means should hinder our own observation, and appreciation of what we witness. Nor should my reading the above quotes somehow diminish my own appreciation of nature but only add to it thru the eyes of someone else. I say let us learn from our differences as we share are similarities.