I used to know things intellectually, but now I feel them. Now I feel that my body is part of nature, so being sick is just a process of nature, and death is a process of nature, and being reborn through the soil is a process of nature.

The quote, "I used to know things intellectually, but now I feel them. Now I feel that my body is part of nature, so being sick is just a process of nature, and death is a process of nature, and being reborn through the soil is a process of nature," is from Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Japanese composer, musician, and environmental activist. In this statement, Sakamoto reflects on a shift from intellectual knowledge to embodied understanding. He explains that instead of merely knowing about the natural cycles of life, sickness, and death, he has come to truly feel and accept them as part of being one with nature.

This perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world. By recognizing that the body is part of nature, Sakamoto frames illness and death not as unnatural tragedies but as processes within the broader cycles of existence. His mention of being reborn through the soil conveys the idea of returning to the earth after death, nourishing new life in a continuous cycle. It reflects a deep sense of acceptance and peace with mortality, seeing it as a transformation rather than an end.

The origin of this quote can be tied to Sakamoto’s later years, especially after his public battle with cancer. His confrontation with illness led him to a more spiritual and ecological perspective on life and death. Known not only for his groundbreaking music but also for his environmental advocacy, Sakamoto often reflected on the harmony between human beings and nature, and how accepting natural processes is essential to both art and living meaningfully.

Ultimately, Sakamoto’s words remind us of the importance of moving from theoretical understanding to a deeper, more felt experience of life. By embracing the natural processes of sickness, death, and renewal, he suggests that we can live with greater humility, serenity, and connection to the cycles of the world around us. It is a meditation on mortality, but also on the continuity of life beyond the self.