Whatever exists in us is a natural situation. It is another dimension of natural beauty. People sometimes go to great lengths to appreciate nature, by climbing mountains, going on safari to see giraffes and lions in Africa, or taking a cruise to Antarctica. It is much simpler and more immediate to appreciate the natural beauty of ourselves.This is actually far more beautiful than exotic flora and fauna, far more fantastic, painful, colorful, and delightful.
Meditation is getting into this organic natural situation of what we are. It requires manual labor, individual effort, to do this. We can’t rent a helicopter to fly us into the heart of the matter, without any inconvenience. We have to walk on our own feet. We have to walk into the countryside of this intimate natural beauty. That is the first step in developing mindfulness: going directly into our natural psychological situation without renting a fancy vehicle to get us there. We can’t use an SUV or a helicopter. To begin with, we have to walk, which turns out to be worthwhile.
From Mindfulness in Action: Making Friends with Yourself through Meditation and Everyday Awareness, pages 4 to 5. Published by Shambhala Publications.