This image of an elephant sitting upright under a waterfall reminds me of being a kid. This guy, and I have no idea if it’s male or female, seems to be having a glorious moment. I can see him experiencing a joy that surpasses any sense of time or worry. He reminds me of a Zen term call innocence. It is being fully present in the moment, allowing no thoughts of the past or future that cause worry or stress. He is in a moment of pure joy for physical life because the water feels so good and so precious. Our friend here seems to be trumpeting with glee singing his song to the world with the biggest smile on his lips fully present and immersed in his experience. Because he is so present, I imagine him to be feeling almost every drop that touches his thick skin with such intensity that he may sense the subtle temperature difference in each droplet.
That is my imagination of his experience. I will never know for sure what he is feeling in this beautiful moment, but I know for sure that what I imagine is what I long for; to feel completely free of mental and emotional burdens for just a few moments; to touch nature and spirit all at once for a few moments; to breathe in light in just such a way as to capture this moment into my memory and hold it. This is heaven. Timeless joy, intuitive connection to everything and a sense of freedom not felt since my teens when I’d skip school and drive to another town just to feel the sun on my body, or go swimming in the lake and stay out all night to stare at the stars. It’s all right there with the elephant and right here if I allow the emptiness to fill my mind more than the busy-ness. Just for a moment.
