Scotland

From Northumberland I made my way to the Scottish coast for some long beach walks and woodland explorations. In the magical Doach Wood I ended up taking 5 hours over a one mile route, verging off into the dense forest searching for fungi and other edible delights, until I made it to the viewpoint where I lay in the heather and watched the amber sun spray its golden light over the valleys and treetops beneath me. That night I did some extensive mushroom study, managed to communicate with a herd of bulls, and prepared a meal of all the things I'd foraged, making nettle soup, blackberry compote and rose hip tea. It must have taken three hours to prepare and although not the most tasty of meals it was one the most satisfying.

After a slightly troubling experience the night I left Northumberland I found myself having the only negative thoughts of my trip on this part of the journey and this made me ponder long and hard about the nature of happiness and suffering. Our lives are ultimately driven towards finding happiness, but due to the impermanence of all conditioned things we always find ourselves striving to maintain that happy feeling in vein.

If we step outside our complex matrix of thoughts, feelings and emotions and observe them we start to realise that they are simply our interpretation of events and are ultimately impermanent, unsatisfactory and non-self. What we have come to believe is our brain reacting to external stimuli is in fact just hundreds of years of conditioning and indoctrination that has clouded the still and peaceful mind that lies within. By practicing mindfulness and observing our thoughts, BUT NOT REACTING TO THEM, we can begin to see the Original Mind in all its beautiful tranquility. Beginning to understand this somewhat overwhelming truth has made me realise that craving happiness or trying to rid ourselves of suffering is fruitless, when what we need to do is search within ourselves to find lasting contentment. Thoughts will come and go, but if we focus our energies on maintaining a balanced mind through constant awareness and acceptance of all that is, then we can begin to find peace.

Listening to: 'Fire, Fire, Fire' - Ebenezer Calendar and His Maringer Band