Nature: The Creative Teacher

You would surely be astonished to discover that nature is your most intimate and creative teacher. It is a mentor that accompanies you from the days of early childhood—through games of jacks and jump rope, and frolicking across vast fields with friends while flying kites—right up to the time when you begin to dream, immersing yourself in the natural world to sense the boundless immensity of the heavens and earth, and the overflowing romance of the scenery.

Nature has been our teacher since childhood. Nature always holds thousands upon thousands of lessons we can learn, truly earning its title as our teacher. Legend has it that Confucius once went to pay his respects to Laozi. When the two arrived at the banks of the Yellow River, Laozi pointed to the water and turned to Confucius, saying: "Why do you not learn from the virtues of water? Water is benevolent; it does not contend, and it dwells in places that everyone else despises—that is the virtue of humility. Water is soft and yielding, yet nothing hard or rigid can ever conquer it—that is the virtue of gentleness."

The meeting of Laozi and Confucius. Upon hearing this, Confucius suddenly experienced a moment of profound realization and added: "Everyone else seeks the heights, yet water alone dwells in the depths. Everyone seeks comfort, yet water alone occupies the rugged places. Everyone seeks cleanliness, yet water alone accepts the filth. Since water chooses to dwell in the very places that everyone else detests, who would ever find cause to contend with it?"

Nature is truly wondrous; when we focus our hearts on observing and listening, we can perceive and learn everything it has to offer. The musician Trinh Cong Son once spoke of the noble qualities he had learned from the natural world: "Each night, I gaze at the heavens and the earth to learn the meaning of tolerance. I watch the ants' path to learn the virtue of patience. The river flows on, living its own life." "The stream flows on, living out its life. Human life, too, is meant to be lived—so let us cast aside all petty jealousies."

Nature taught this gifted musician how to perceive, understand, and express himself.

Dubbed the "Mozart of Greece"—the composer behind instrumental pieces that range from deeply lyrical to majestically resonant—Yanni once shared the source of his creative inspiration: "I often listen to nature, for I learn so much from it. I recall an instance many years ago: I was sitting by a window when a small bird flew down and perched right there.

Bathed in the light of the setting sun, it was a truly beautiful sight. I could sense a distinct language and melody within the bird's song. And so, I decided to compose the piece 'Nightingale'." Indeed, upon listening to *Nightingale*, one perceives a boundless, expansive space—a realm where nightingales, each with its own unique voice and emotion, spread their wings wide to soar toward new horizons. Nature taught this gifted musician how to perceive, how to understand, and how to express himself. Each note that rings out serves as a voice of nature itself, instantly reminding us that nature has shown humanity the way to create true wonders.

Nature—our great teacher—will guide us in discovering and understanding our own selves.

Even as our lives become increasingly confined within the products of human creation, nature teaches us how to discover and understand our own selves, guiding us back to that which is most pristine and beautiful. Nature serves as a vast repository of wisdom on the art of being human—a realm where concepts of right and wrong, good and evil, kindness and tolerance are measured with absolute fairness and integrity.