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The tool most commonly used to focus our minds in meditation is the breath.
When we sit down to meditate, drawing our attention inward counteracts our
habitual tendency to be scattered. Meditation on the breath helps us gather
our energy into our bodies, centering and grounding us in the present moment. Almost
as readily available as our breath are the sounds of the natural world. From
rain to wind to the ocean and birds, meditating on these aural manifestations
brings us not only a sense of peace, but also an experience of connection to
the physical world.
It is easy to get stuck inside our own heads and our individual lives. We get
caught up in our goals and plans and almost forget that we live in a world
that is always there, humming away in the background. There is an internal
shift that occurs when we tune into that background and really give it our
attention. It’s as if we are discovering a more expansive world, because we
are. We are also experiencing ourselves in relation to something larger. This
discovery makes us feel rejuvenated and more expansive.
The vast and ceaselessly churning ocean is an ideal place for meditating on
the sounds of nature. Sit quietly and surrender to the sounds of the
thundering, crashing waves. Let go of your ambitions and listen. Rivers and
lakes also sing their own songs. Even if you live in the middle of a city,
the wind howls and whistles and the rain taps out a variety of sounds
depending on where it falls—on the sidewalk, a tin roof, a car window, or a
muddy slope. Tune into these sounds next time you hear them instead of
letting them fade into the background. Stop and listen as if you are hearing
a sublime piece of music. Let the music of this world take you on a journey
of natural sounds.
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