Walking through a park or hiking in the forest immerses you in nature.
In nature, all-encompassing meditation is possible, and here’s what it feels like: you breathe in cool, fresh air.
The scent of the grass reaches your nose, and while you typically breathe through your nose, in nature, where the air is cleaner, you might even breathe through your mouth at times.
The air is so pure that it doesn’t matter, and occasionally, breathing through your mouth creates a different sound, adding to the alertness and focus.
You walk slowly, then pause to gaze at the trees or the surrounding scenery.
Birds are chirping from all directions, near and far.
If there’s a stream, you walk along it and listen to the sound of the flowing water.
You observe the changes in light as the sun filters through the leaves and feel the rustling of the leaves in the wind, the breeze brushing against your skin.
You sense the earth’s texture through your feet as you walk on forest trails, and you touch the rough bark of trees.
You take a moment to rest by a tranquil lake, or sit beside a stream, listening to the sound of the water as it flows over the stones.
You watch how the water’s speed and flow pattern change according to the rocks and terrain.
While walking, you embrace the changing landscapes of nature.
Walking in nature connects you to its infinite possibilities and unpredictability.
It’s not like you hear the birds chirping as planned or feel the wind blowing in a pre-determined way.
In the vast flow of nature, you are simply a meditative being, becoming a part of it.
In this way, the structured environment and the repetitive, predictable routines of urban life are entirely broken down in nature.
Nature itself is meditation.