Natural Scenes
What are natural scenes? They are scenes that mirror divine attributes. God’s glory is reflected in myriad scenes of nature if one has a discerning eye.
On a visit to London, a certain Mr U.K. Mukhapadhyaye met an elderly Englishman who had served as an officer in the Royal Air Force in India 50 years before, during the British Raj. Intensely interested in meeting someone from India, he inquired of Mr Mukhapadhyaye as to how India was progressing and recalled with great nostalgia the train ride between Bombay and Poona, which he used to enjoy, for it had provided him with a regular panorama of rivers, jungles, and other scenes of outstanding natural beauty. He expressed a wish to revisit India so that he could enjoy those scenes once again.
During the conversation, Mr Mukhapadhyaye told him that Poona was no longer as he had described it. Now known as Pune, the city had a tenfold increase in its population, and the new streets, high-rise buildings, and lighting all around had given the place a mechanical rather than a natural look. On hearing this, the Englishman’s interest rapidly waned, “No, I do not think I will go back to India. India probably no longer exists.” (The Times of India, February 3, 1984)
Industrial scenes remind one of ‘man’, while natural scenes remind one of ‘God’. The former brings one into contact with man, while the latter leads one straight to God. That is why man does not find such solace in industrial scenes as in natural settings. Human hearts will indeed find peace only in the remembrance of God. (13:28)
What are natural scenes? They are scenes that mirror divine attributes. The vast expanse of the heavens introduces God’s limitless being. When the sun rises, it announces, as it were, the Almighty being an embodiment of light. As it meanders its way through mountains and plains, the river suggests the never-ending flow of God’s mercy. The fragrance and beauty of the flowers are reminders of God’s beauty from afar. God’s glory is reflected in myriad scenes of nature if one has a discerning eye.
