i think you should just acknowledge the fact that u are finding stillness.thats good. dont get hung up on trying not to name things just enjoy them.....your enjoyment of nature will naturally lead to a deeper enjoyment as time passes .....bringing in some rule about not naming things will hinder it. i would say just enjoying nature would in some way lead ur mind to quieten and when its quiet you wont be naming anything anyway.so let nature fix this one for you .....you just enjoy it

best wishes

Very good point. I guess I was waiting for something different if Ididn't name things....too stuck in the "rules" vs just letting it BE.

Thanks!:x

Someone here came up with a great approach.

To love and accept your mind, and put it at ease so that it can accept you will survive without constant worry and labeling.

Just tell it, "Thank you Captain Obvious, for getting the name of common items right, once again."

Tell it, you love it, and it relaxes more, and trusts quieting down again.

hi again your welcome,

actually u said it better than me lol . its only when u get frustrated that u realise u have been trying to hard ...ironic really but its all good.

I have a question on this. Trees, flowers, birds and all of nature and all of form, have different names so we can identify them. There are some trees, flowers, birds, nature and other forms I find more attractive than others. There are some I prefer over others (like in my garden). It seems silly to pretend it's not what it is. Now I realize all this is an illusion and we aren't supposed to attach to form, but we do have to communicate........and, we do have opinions..........and, what's wrong with noticing a beautiful tree?

I just planted the most beautiful orange flowers on our hill. I have no idea what they're called, but they are gorgeous! I want more of them. If I like them, but don't know the name, does that mean I'm not attached to their form?

I am sincere in my questions. If they seem silly or sarcastic, I apologize. That is not my intent.

And, some trees weather better than others. Don't we need to know what they are in order to plant them?

Hi peace!

Using names to communicate is no problem. Words are the main way we communicate. But words are never the thing named - they just represent the thing named, in our thinking minds.

Very often, I used to find myself just glancing at a tree, and thinking "pine tree", and letting the name stand in for the experience of actually being fully aware of my perceptions of the gorgeous tree.

When I label, categorize, or name, to the exclusion of actually perceiving what is, in the now, I totally miss life, and just experience my thoughts about life.

Make any sense?

love

derway

14peace2,

I guess we have to live in the world and may need names of plants, etc. for that, but when we are trying to use them for a focus to be present we can try to forgot about names. It is so far not easy to do, but I think I attain it some times for very short periods.

Middleman9.

The naming you are talking about is for pratical purposes...to communicate to others, to teach, to learn. I think the naming in "Tolle" terms is to help eliminate our mind control. Our thinking through the mind gets in the way of feeling the stillness in nature. At least that's my take on this. ;o)

LOL! That's actually what I say when I'm naming things. I'm like "duh, I know what it is!"

Makes perfect sense! I was hoping it was something like that!

This sounds so silly, but ever since this class, I actually talk to and notice the trees. I thank them for being there. During my sister's funeral, I found much comfort standing next to them.

Silly, I know!

Thanks, everyone, for answering my questions so well! Thanks, thinkgreen for letting me butt in on your thread.

___________________________

Hi thinkgreen

Did He really suggest that we stop naming things? We need to know the difference between a "Roses" and a "Venus fly trap" right? LOL..Maybe the focus is seeing the tree more than just what we call it? It's uses or how we appreciate it and why..How do plants, trees and flowers make us feel? Ok besides sick at times.. "Sense of smell, Visual in colour,touch,knowing what it's function is and how it supports us and the planet, how it supports other creatures".I thought that Eckhart was talking about it being more of a "living" thing, than a name which can make it one dimensional... LOL..

~Ruth~