Water, Life, and Mind (October 21, 2020) Thawdar Zin ‘21

Water, Life, and Mind

by THAWDAR ZIN, ‘21

Between two very dense Ecuador- which I had overlooked, is actually what ian rainforests, the water flows defines my life goals, my life philosophy, tirelessly along the path it’s cre- and purpose. I was born by a huge lake ated. It’s on a journey. The surrounding and grew up in a place surrounded by life force is overwhelming. Where it is mountains and streams. As a child, I from was the answer I was seeking, as I loved being outdoors and found myself tried to hike up all the way to its origin. very delighted and joyful in the forest, The journey of the water coming down up in the mountains, along streams and from the source and ending up in a big- lakes. These memories were stamped in ger water body resonates so much with my brain, waiting to be rediscovered. our life journey. We are travelers, finding The connection was lost when my famanswers to our life philosophy and an ily had to leave my beloved environment end, just like the water. We go as far as in Myanmar and flee to Thailand due we can until we become one with life, to civil wars the military ignited. Since and our oneness becomes eternal. The then, I hadn’t been very aware of the river may run through dry deserts, rocky significance of my connection with waplaces, caves, and through thick, dense ter until my journey on a study abroad rainforests. Its source may be a spring or course to the Amazon forest in Brazil a waterfall. But the water flows nonstop, and Ecuador. I learned that nature resoone way aggressively and peacefully, and nates so much with our minds once we along its way, life thrives. It ends up in start paying attention to it. It is nature the oceans where the water no longer that is always trying to connect with us, needs to travel, joining all the other riv- but we humans are not willing to coners as one. All the travelers’ journeys end nect back with nature. there, and we become one. My spiritual connection to nature Sometimes we tend to forget the very becomes stronger when my knowledge thing that forms a big part of our about nature is expanded, thanks to identity, and all the work we produce biology classes I never thought I would has at least some part of it, yet we may take. My eagerness to see and admire not notice it. My connection with water, life and biodiversity comes from the connection I have with water. An unexplainable joy arises when I get to Ten Mile Creek at Luther’s Lionberger Environmental Preserve PHOTO BY BONNIE TUNNICLIFF JOHNSON lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests. My mind is at peace, with not a single thought of my problems, my worries, or desires. And happiness follows. OCTOBER 21, 2020

Thawdar Zin There is a strong connection between the mind and water. No matter how disturbed the water is, at one point it is going to be settled and become transparent. A human’s mind can be just like water: settled and become transparent at one point, peaceful. And once it is settled, one can see any reflections one wants just like we can see a beautiful reflection of a sunset on a tranquil, undisturbed surface of water. Our mind can become like water, humble, peaceful, and transparent, by simply meditating. Meditation can untangle our thoughts and set them aside. It helps us become free of our worries, desires, and temptation; it smolders our inner fire. Once our thoughts are clear and our mind transparent, we will see something, someone, or an answer we seek by just like looking through transparent water. So go forth, with the will to explore and the purpose of discovering and being discovered. Find a place in your mind where you find happiness and peace. Focus on it, and just like the water, practice your mind to be tranquil, humble, and transparent, and you will find something. An answer, a reflection, a secret or a purpose.