Wisdom
Finding Yourself Through Nature
Clove&Clive Publication
TreeHugger Project Agnieszka Gradzik and Wiktor Szostalo
T
www.treehuggerproject.com
And so she comes to dream herself the tree,
The wind possessing her, weaving her young veins,
Holding her to the sky and its quick blue,
Drowning the fever of her hands in sunlight.
Copyright © 2009 Clove&Clive
She has no memory, nor fear, nor hope
Photographs © Hor Tuck Loon
All rights reserved except for quotations. Beyond the grass and shadows at her feet.
Printed for free distribution
This printing—5000 copies (Oct 2009) —Hart Crane
Published by
Clove&Clive Sdn Bhd
F-2-02 Dataran Glomac, Jalan SS 6/5B, Pusat Bandar Kelana Jaya,
47301 Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR
A T
s I pen my thoughts for this preface, I am brought to mind a statement quoted his book would not have been made possible if I had gotten in my way,
by a meditation teacher—everything is nature, including our own mindbody disallowing Nature to flow through me. Within a period of three days this book
processes. Since it is a viewpoint that was totally fresh to my consciousness, I was created, I am at awe with the gift of flow Nature offers—perfection in the
did not quite get what he meant in the beginning until “I got myself out of my way” one midst of imperfection—when I stop perfecting myself in planning and fixing, except to
day in a meditation sitting and took on a position of a silent observer. trust; this book came to fruition.
It was a pretty intriguing experience to realize that there is “no me” in all the My appreciation goes to the wonderful people whose images appear in this work. I am
thoughts and feelings that flows at each moment, except to understand the process as indebted to my beloved friends for their readiness in expressing their naturalness in tree
a natural occurrence of the mind. Alas, this experience can be rather shortlived because hugging, in a very mature garden of a mansion in Kuching, Sarawak, during a meditation
of the incessant behavioural pattern of involvement in it; thus “getting myself into my retreat in November 2008. My special thanks to Mdm Sim for her unconditional love
way”, interrupting the flow of simply being. Being mindful is the key. in offering her beautiful house for our practice. My gratefulness too to those whose
Mindfulness offers a new way of being, enabling me to see what Nature is offering brilliant websites of quotations have allowed me to tap into the wonderful world of
me in life rather than the “me” interfering Life. Living in this new way can be challenged quotes within the comfort of my home computer, thanks to the innovative technology
by the day to day involvement of life where the touch and go mentality of survival takes of the present time. To Geraldine and Sian Sit, who assisted in proofreading the work,
precedent over appreciating what comes to my life. Paradoxically, to stay complex is my humble appreciation. My gratitude and thanks too to my wife, Lai Fun, and to my
much easier than to stay simple. inner Nature, within which this work is born. And to Mother Nature and all the trees in
To see everything as nature and take time off to be close to Nature reminds us all to the world, my deepest respect.
slow down, to live and let live. There are only two positions you have, either a conscious And to all the readers, I appreciate your holding of this book as it invites you to hug
living or an unconscious living. The former brings joy to life, and the latter deadness. As a tree, to feel the therapeutic effects of nature and to allow the flow of Nature to come
Albert Einstein puts it “There are only two positions you can take, either you believe alive in your beingness. Be inspired.
that nothing is a miracle, or you believe that everything in life is a miracle.”
Dedicate time off to be with Mother Nature, to fully be present to the life given to In wilderness I sense the miracle of life,
you, and to see each and every lesson that comes to you as a signpost of divine, of an and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.
opportunity to see your own majesty. —Charles A. Lindbergh
Put yourself in nature as
much as possible, this is
so important, and listen
to nature and receive the
energies from the earth,
flowers and trees, stars
and bees… all creatures in
oneness and awareness of
each other in harmony and
Give time-off to hug a tree, to peace.
feel the beauty of Nature—that
at any given moment of time
Nature too is unfolding in you.
Sense the magnitude of stillness the tree offers.
Allow the stillness to resonate in you, mindfully.
Nature does
not hurry,
yet everything is
accomplished.
—Lao Tzu
There is lesson in nature as
she shows you the way of
plants
a tree,
plants
a hope.
—Lucy Larcom—
The wonder
is that we
can see
these trees
As you willingly stay
with your process, you
and not
wonder
will be awed by the
wonderment of truth
emerging behind the
more.
fabric of illusion.
those planets
revolving around it
and dependent on
it, can still ripen a
bunch of grapes as if
it had nothing else in
the universe to do.
—Galileo
Listen deeply to
your heart’s
longing
to be loved
and to be free.
The poetry of
the earth is
never dead.
—John Keats
—Juvenal, Satires
Look deep into
nature, and then
you will understand
everything better.
—Albert Einstein
of children
that they miss
the glory of
parenthood,
just as the
grandeur of the
trees is lost when
raking leaves.
—Marcelene Cox
NATURE—
Body
Consciousness
Feelings
Perceptions
Mental Formations
It’s the little
things citizens
do. That’s
Each little insight adds on to the wiser you.
what will
make the
difference. My
little thing is
planting trees.
—Wangari Maathai
As within,
Trees and plants so is without.
And thus,
always look like the the world,
your reflection.
people they live with,
somehow.
—Zora Neale Hurston
When you move yourself out of
your own way, Nature reveals
itself in you.
Character is like a
tree and reputation
like a shadow.
The shadow is what Beyond all forms, essence.
—Langya
We say we
love flowers,
yet we pluck them.
We say we
love trees,
yet we cut them down.
And people still
wonder why some are
What is “love” except a word?
For what truly is has no need for words. afraid when told they
are loved.
Source Unknown
Materials are derived
from nature and yet
dimmed in comparison
For in the true to Nature.
nature of things, if
we rightly consider,
every green tree is
far more glorious
than if it were made
of gold and silver.
—Martin Luther
A fool sees not the
same tree that
a wise man sees.
—William Blake
— Nelson Henderson
Listen deep enough and you will
recognize freedom’s knock.
nature
as part of Nature
shift perception
of control to
trust and
as much surrendering.
as the
trees.
—Dan Kiley
If you would
know strength
and patience,
welcome the
company of
trees.
In quietness and
—Hal Borland stillness of the mind,
strength and patience
are bestowed.
Love All
T here is
We are the caretaker of the mind.
hope
Our freewill of choices determine
if people our lives.
will begin to
awaken that
spiritual
part of
themselves,
that
heartfelt
knowledge
that we are
caretakers of
this planet.
—Brooke
Medicine Eagle
Arriving at the core of
Approaching a tree we stillness is our
all-encompassing and
approach a sacred being who all-loving state of being.
can teach us about love and
about endless giving. She is
one of millions of beings who
provide our air, our homes,
our fuel, our books.
Working with the spirit
of the tree can bring us
renewed energy,
powerful inspiration,
deep communion.
—Druid Tree Lore and the Ogham
Today I have
grown taller
from walking
with the trees.
To understand oneself,
observe Nature.
Our naturalness arrive
at the doorway of Nature.
—Karle Wilson Baker
Adversity is mother of all growth. Storms
make
trees
take
deeper
roots.
—Dolly Parton
The
lofty oak
from
a small
acorn
grows.
A little moment of intent is all that is required —Lewis Duncombe, De
to change the course of one’s life direction. —Minimus Maxima
Every destination, a journey.
Every experience, a process.
In nature, nothing Every effect, a cause.
Understanding causal relation gives birth to wisdom.
is perfect and
everything is
perfect. Trees can
be contorted, bent
in weird ways,
and they’re still
beautiful.”
—Alice Walker
Alone with
myself
The trees
bend
to carress me
The shade
hugs
ALONE is our natural state
my heart.
a person calls loneliness,
the master calls aloneness. —Candy Polgar
To one, a bane, another a boon.
advertorial advertorial
D
o you have any of these problems plaguing your life at this point—
stress (work or at home), diabetes, panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia,
hypertension, relationship issues, financial stress, ailments etc?
Witness miracles in your life… join many others who have been shown
healing and now experience bliss, happiness and joy in their lives.
Together, lets embark on a MIRACULOUS JOURNEY experiencing this Systemic therapy based on Bert Hellinger Method
observable fact of SELF HEALING. When you witness the transformation,
you are led into the secret of changing the world outside simply by Family Constellation work is
SURRENDERING from the inside… designed for individuals, couples
or organizations interested in
The universe is ready to give. Now the golden question is… are you ready resolving life challenging issues
to RECEIVE? If you are, do contact us and we will guide you to open your and are looking to find a solid
arms and receive what the universe has so patiently waited to present you— foundation towards a new direction
the gifts of what your heart desires. in lives.
For more details write to clovenclive@gmail.com or call Boon Ling at 016 229 3699