Human Beings and the Universe

A human being is part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space.  He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.  This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.  Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole [of] nature in its beauty.  ~Albert Einstein, 1950

Nature and Spirituality

The power and beauty of the environment create a support for spiritual endeavors. Inner spiritual realities are reflected in the colors, shapes and forms of the outer natural world. This relationship is as a mandala, an aesthetic and symbolic arrangement of elements around a central point. [...] The world of nature speaks to the human heart directly: sustained, nourished and supported by beauty, the heart begins to open like the petals of a flower unfolding. The flower of the heart is the center of the mandala. When the heart opens, we begin to realize the unity of existence and our communion with nature -Tarthang Tulku, Mandala Gardens