Nature is something outside our body, but the mind is within us.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej once proclaimed: “Nature is something outside our body, but the mind is within us.” These words, spoken with the wisdom of a ruler who devoted his life to harmony and balance, reveal a truth both simple and profound. Nature, with its forests, rivers, mountains, and storms, surrounds us. It shapes the world in which we dwell. Yet within us lies something even greater—the mind, that inner kingdom which governs how we perceive, respond, and endure. One may not always command the winds or the rains, but one can govern the storms of thought.

The origin of this saying lies in Bhumibol’s own life and reign. As a monarch, he sought to guide his people not only through material development but through spiritual strength. He knew that nature—the cycles of drought, flood, and harvest—was beyond human control, yet he also knew that despair or courage, peace or turmoil, resided not in the seasons but in the mind. To remind his people of this truth was to give them power: though the outer world may wound, the inner world can heal. Though the body may be subject to circumstance, the mind is sovereign.

The ancients, too, spoke of this distinction. The Stoics taught that we cannot control external events, only our judgments of them. Epictetus said, “Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views they take of them.” In the same way, Bhumibol calls us to understand that nature exists outside, immutable and vast, but the mind—that is ours to cultivate. If one’s mind is firm, then drought does not bring despair, nor flood destroy peace. The outer world may be chaos, but the inner world may remain a sanctuary.

History shows us this wisdom embodied. Consider the prisoners of war who, though caged and deprived, sustained themselves by keeping their mind free. Admiral James Stockdale, held for years in captivity, survived by holding firm to his inner discipline, reminding himself that while his captors controlled his body, they could not control his mind. His freedom within endured until freedom without was restored. So too does Bhumibol’s teaching remind us that mastery of the mind is the true source of resilience.

The meaning of this teaching is not to despise nature. Far from it—nature provides beauty, nourishment, and lessons. But it tells us where to place our efforts. We cannot halt the monsoon nor prevent the sun from setting, but we can train our mind to accept, to endure, and to find strength in what is. In doing so, we find freedom even amid hardship. A tree may bend in the wind; yet within its trunk is strength. So too must the mind hold steady while nature sweeps around us.

The lesson is clear: cultivate your mind as carefully as you honor nature. Train it through meditation, reflection, and discipline. When storms arise in the world around you—be they of weather, of fortune, or of fate—return inward to the quiet strength of the spirit. For while nature may be beyond command, the mind is a kingdom that belongs to you alone. Govern it with wisdom, and you will never be conquered.

In daily life, practice this wisdom by seeking balance. Spend time in nature to be humbled and inspired, but return to your mind to anchor yourself. When you face trials, remind yourself: “This storm is outside me. Within me, there can be calm.” Build habits of thought that give you strength—gratitude, patience, clarity. These are the deep roots that allow the tree of the soul to stand, even when the winds are fierce.

Therefore, remember Bhumibol’s words: “Nature is something outside our body, but the mind is within us.” Let this truth guide you, as it guided his people. Cherish the beauty of the outer world, but rule the kingdom within. For he who has mastered his mind is greater than he who has conquered cities, and he who is at peace within will never be broken by what lies without.