Jain Spirit 2004 03 No 18

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 47

ENVIRONMENT 45
Photos by James Maturin-Baird
are lovingly caressing us as we insensitively trudge along life's path.
When I walk in my garden, I get sudden flashes of inspiration and lots of creative ideas. The soothing sound of the small waterfall in my garden and the chirping of the birds clears my mind, relieves stress and relaxes me. The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses - hearing, tasting, smelling, seeing and feeling.
Habits and customs differ all over the world but all people have a love for nature, Everyone should try and have a garden, whether it is indoors or outdoors, small or big, depending on the size available. Creating an indoor garden with a variety of potted plants gives the same value as an outdoor garden. The indoor or patio garden can be a therapeutic retreat, with scented flowers creating a perfumed oasis. Therefore, those without outdoor gardens need not feel discouraged.
Gardens reconcile humans, art and nature. They rejuvenate the mind, body and the soul. There is something genuinely special about working the soil, creating and nurturing life, raising a living thing dependent on the care you provide, and harvesting and eating fresh, sun-ripened vegetables you have grown yourself. The flowers and plants in the garden are responsive but non-threatening, they form no opinions or judgments about their caregivers, but enable us to change or improve our environment and they promote relaxation and tranquility. Hippocrates said: "All knowledge, science and arts are derivative of nature. Our aloofness from nature generates insecure feeling and fear in us." Therefore, soak up the colours, sounds and smells of your garden and take time to appreciate nature's beauty and spread the fragrance of gardening to all. In 1845, Ezra Weston wrote: "He who cultivates a garden and brings to perfection flowers and fruits, cultivates and advances at the same time his own nature." Where would we be if humanity had not known nature? Would our moral, our character, our aptitude for love, peace and understanding be the same? think not.
All major religions have grown and expanded during times when there were close and intimate linkages with the environment, natural resources and, in particular, trees because of their longevity. The teachings of Lord Mahavir enjoins a reverent and non-violent attitude not only to human beings but also with great emphasis to trees. Lord Mahavir was sitting under the Shal tree and Lord Buddha under the Bodhi tree when they both attained enlightenment. Also our Munis and Rishis preached and meditated under trees. Trees have a particular focus in the context of spiritual values and cultural love. The ancient forests and trees provided our ancestors not only with food, shelter and medicine but also helped to shape the consciousness of the people.
A garden is one of the best alternative therapies which soothe the soul, mind, body and the spirit with aromatic fragrance. Studies show that gardening, with its blend of physical and solitary effort, can be a 'moving meditation. The oxygen from clean fresh air helps stimulate you and your brain cells to relieve stress, it
is an antidote for depression and it lowers Jain Education International 2010_03
blood pressure. Nature is good for all of us. This is why hospitals and health centres develop healing gardens for patients. Ashrams and temples develop gardens for peace and tranquillity.
Furthermore, Pranic healing also stresses that old and gigantic healthy trees and plants exude a lot of excess prana (vital energy) which they have absorbed from the sunlight, air, water and the ground. Tired and sick people benefit much by lying down or resting underneath trees or in an area enriched by plants. It is also recommended to practise yoga and meditation in the open as more energy is gained from the trees and plants.
Take a regular walk in your garden or in the parks and observe nature, how it changes with the seasons. Enjoy the sense of peace as the natural world slumbers through the depths, and connect deeply with your surroundings by learning about the plants. What can be more miraculous than the green tip of a daffodil, emerging months after the dry bulb went into the soil. The stones, the trees, plants, flowers, the birds and little animals in the garden
Sushi Amu Shah lives and plants in the beautiful Rift Valley in Nakuru, Kenya.