2021 gardening intentions: dreams, creations and unity
Many people enjoy gardening for its beauty and the satisfaction of growing your own food. There is so much more to gardening beyond the beauty and food aspects. Spiritual seekers, we all long for the connection with the true self and the creator. We live with disciplines, we meditate, we do shadow work, we practice yoga, breath work, etc. Sometimes it feels like we are taking one step forward and two steps back. The sense of “I” (the ego) is a key challenge for us to attain a peaceful mind and to achieve enlightenment. The ego is important for our survival in this physical world. It’s always on the go. When we try to be still, we often get distracted by random thoughts. By being conscious about the thoughts in our heads, we can learn to work with the ego instead of fighting against it. The present moment is the gateway to stillness. Being present takes practice and there isn’t a better place than the garden to quiet the mind and enjoy peaceful moments. Spring is coming and some of us will be spending a lot of time in the garden. What will gardening with conscious intentions do to improve our mental, physical and spiritual well-being? Here are some ideas.
Dream with an open heart
I was afraid to dream. The conditioned mind weaves an invisible security net around the mind and body, confining the thinking and movements within the safety zone. This invisible net is made of rules, food, clothes, houses, education, career and social acceptance. Like a bird trapped in a box, it cannot fly without the winged spirit. People tell the bird the box is an illusion. The bird closed its eyes and tried to make the box disappear by imagining the box was gone. Of course the box was still there when it opened its eyes. Eventually, it accepted the box is where it belongs.
When I first started gardening, I was often confused by the contradicting information I found online. I was almost afraid to garden because of not knowing enough or the mistakes I could have made. I kept learning and not taking actions. Until one day, I just decided to do it. I didn’t just plant a few herbs or vegetables to see how they go, I went all out. I planned an entire garden full of varieties. The moment I stopped learning about gardening intellectually, I started learning gardening for real. There were only do-overs and no mistake. And more importantly, I was able to learn and enjoy gardening so much because I dreamed with an open heart instead of the conditioned mind.
Perhaps the only way for the bird to break free of the illusion of the box is to dream of flying instead of focusing on making the box go away.
2. Letting go of expectations to allow unlimited possibilities
We grow up believing that hard work pays off. If we don’t achieve the desirable outcomes, we just have to work harder. If we don’t achieve a certain goal after putting in the effort, we become frustrated, angry or disappointed in the situations, people or ourselves. The impulse to control the outcome stems from the fear of the negation of being. Just like every living being, human beings possess the survival instinct. Although we have the ability to solve problems which puts us on top of the food chain, our thoughts and decisions are still dominated by the survival instinct unconsciously. The idea that we cannot control the outcomes threatens the security of our being. As we go through our lives, we are forced to acknowledge that most things in life are out of our control. Instead of fully accepting this fact, we experience internal frictions with life. We resist life and we suffer. Some people use the will power to continue to work harder with strict disciplines and expectations; others become afraid to even try to set goals and stop believing in themselves.
Working hard and having goals aren’t the problems. When we feel passionately about something, we cannot help but put a lot time and effort in it. The level of intensity opens up many dimensions in life. The only difference is - are we focusing on the journey or the outcome? Having a goal is like planting a seed for a certain plant that you like. The goal is to help the seed germinate, grow and mature. We take care of it by giving it healthy soil, the right amount of water, warmth and sunlight. We observe the progress and we connect with the plant. Whether the plant grows or produces anything is not in our control. If we can be fine with letting go and accept the outcome wholeheartedly no matter what, we will enjoy the journey of life so much easier.
2021 Spring vegetable garden - Contender Beans Seedlings
3. Harvests, Feasts, Enlightenment
Homegrown vegetables taste much better than store bought vegetables because of the freshness. Being able to share the fresh produce with the community is a rewarding experience. In addition to sharing food with people, we can also share food with all the amazing lives in the garden. This year, I’m making a conscious effort to grow flowers. These flowers will be the food source for honey bees, butters, birds and a bunch of other life forms.
As Eckhart Tolle beautifully wrote, “Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, would become like messengers from another realm, like a bridge between the world of physical forms and the formless. They not only had a scent that was delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of spirit. Using the word “enlightenment” in a wider sense than the conventionally accepted one, we could look upon flowers as the enlightenment of plants.”
I have so much appreciation for flowers.
4. Becoming one with the garden
We’re used to having distractions in our lives. Sometimes, we invite distractions thinking that we are being productive. For example, listening to a podcast while driving or gardening. Instead of inviting distractions, make the intention to fully immerse in the garden. Feel the soil in the hands; listening to the birds singing; enjoying the warmth of the sun; appreciating the breeze in the air. There isn’t a better place than the garden to practice being present.
5. A glimpse of unity
I used to get everything from the grocery stores without knowing how they were grown or where they were from. Being an unconscious consumer, this convenience turned into a wall of separation. It disconnected me from Earth. Gardening helps me see how connected everything is and how unconscious consumptions can really harm the planet and all the lives that exist on the planet. I learned about how important healthy soil is and how much I had taken it for granted. The pollution we create eventually ends up returning to the soil that all lives depend on for surviving. I’m learning to respect all kinds of lives in the garden including the ones that are labeled as pests. Every life has its purpose and value in the world and everything is connected.
What are your intentions this year in the garden?
