Sit Under a Tree

I watched a BBC 2 Natural World programme called Earth Pilgrim on the internet. It featured Satish Kumar, an inspirational world figure, talking about his regular walks on Dartmoor. He quoted the Buddha as saying that if you want enlightenment you must sit under a tree - or that the reason we aren't enlightened is that we don't sit under enough trees.

I really wanted to do that today but it was cold! No, it wasn't cold - I was insufficiently warmly dressed! On Sunday when I took this photo, it was warm. The view is up along the River Helford in Cornwall and the tree looks very sittable-under.

What will the tree teach me?

Stillness, faith that spring will come

Hospitality in all my branches, twigs, leaves

and fruit offered to insects and birds

That the world offers itself, here and now

no need to go anywhere

That the earth provides sustanance

water, that I give the world wood and fire

That my roots go deep and my arms reach for the sky