Connecting with the Earth
In today’s fast-moving world, we often find ourselves disconnected from the very source that sustains our life — the Earth. Swami Shivkrupanandji, through the profound path of Himalayan Samarpan Dhyanyog, gently guides us back to this forgotten connection. Meditation, in its simplest and purest form, becomes a bridge between our inner self and the elements of nature, especially the earth element, which is foundational to our physical existence.
Our body is made up of the five elements — earth, water, fire, air, and space. Among them, the earth element offers grounding, stability, and support. When we are rooted in this element, we feel centred, calm, and secure. Swamiji teaches that this connection can be naturally strengthened through meditation, particularly when practiced in awareness of the earth element. Sitting in silence, in touch with the earth, allows us to absorb its qualities, helping us to be more present, balanced, and aligned with our true nature.
Meditation is not just an act of stillness; it is an act of alignment. When we meditate with the awareness that our body is resting on the earth, we begin to feel how deeply we belong here. We are not separate from the ground we walk upon. This awareness begins to heal the anxiety that comes from living too much in the mind — constantly thinking about the past or worrying about the future. In Samarpan Dhyanyog, Swamiji lovingly reminds us to forget the past, not to think of the future, and simply be in the present. And there is no better teacher of presence than the Earth itself.
The Earth does not hurry. It patiently nurtures seeds into trees, it holds us without judgment, and it supports us no matter who we are or what we have done. In the same way, meditation on the earth element nurtures patience within us. When we sit in stillness and allow ourselves to just be, without trying to change anything, we begin to mirror the qualities of the Earth — still, silent, deeply nourishing.
Swamiji’s teachings also emphasise that many of the emotional disturbances we feel are due to imbalances in the elements within us. When the earth element is weak, we feel ungrounded, restless, and insecure. Strengthening our connection to this element brings a sense of inner stability and peace. It’s like coming home to ourselves. The Earth is our silent companion. When we are connected to it, we feel protected, held, and supported.
Even simple acts like walking barefoot on the soil, sitting under a tree, or touching a plant with awareness can deepen this connection. But most powerful is the practice of meditation in nature — when we sit in surrender, in stillness, and allow the Earth to hold us. In these moments, we’re not trying to achieve anything. We are simply aligning with what already exists within us — the same calmness, the same strength, the same grounded presence.
Swamiji often says that in silence, the truth of existence becomes clear. When we meditate in connection with the earth, we realise that much of our suffering comes from the disconnection we fee l — from nature, from the present moment, and from our own true essence. Reconnecting with the earth through meditation is like remembering a truth we have always known but forgotten. It reminds us that we are supported, that we belong, and that peace is always available in the present moment.
