FOREWORD

Growing up in a traditional Hindu Rig Vedic Brahmin family with an extensive Ayurvedic background, being grateful of nature was almost ingrained in my psyche. My parents would have me sit in our front yard on a chair in the middle of the home garden and ask me to be silent and listen to the wind, the birds, or to breathe in the fragrance of the jasmine flowers, the aroma from the kitchen—anything in the environment—just notice, they would say. I didn’t know then that I was learning a valuable skill that would help me become a more balanced individual in my adult life. My parents essentially taught me to appreciate nature, to be grateful for it, to become one with nature, and become more conscious of my actions

At this point in time, becoming a disease-free society is the high ideal that I want to help achieve. And so does Leo. The steps towards achieving this goal begin with raising our collective consciousness. The bottom-line is, when we intentionally or unintentionally violate the laws of nature, there cannot be perfect health.

Following the laws of nature is crucial in order to lead a healthy, balanced life. Ayurveda emphasizes the need for balance and harmony in life with help from nature itself. This dynamic balance needs to be achieved in all aspects of a person’s life: physical, chemical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, social, and universal. Growing your consciousness is key. Once you silence your mind, you allow the environment to talk to you.

This book provides you the tools you need to meditate and open yourself up to receiving a different perception.

Mythological stories and historical evidence show that gardens have had a depth of spirituality for humankind. From the Garden of Eden to Hanging Gardens of Babylon, to the Rishis who sat under Kalpavruksha and meditated for days on end to achieve enlightenment, humans have had a deep-seated connection with nature. Not just with the fruits, flowers, and food that gardens bear us but from the time that it all begins from the SEED.

“Water the root to enjoy the fruit” is something that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi used to say in relation to all aspects of life—from birth to business, from health to wealth. It simply means you need to put your intentions in the right area to let them sprout. Watering the roots is about putting your intentions in the right place which allows them to manifest when it is time—just like a tree bears fruit when the season is perfect. Another simple mantra to live by is “Where attention goes, energy flows” which is indicative of how scattered our lives have become. Allowing yourself the ability to focus on a specific task at hand or even a simple thought, gives rise to the possibility of manifesting your desires!

According to Ayurveda, the human body is like an upside-down tree. It has its roots at the top and the branches below. When we say that the body, the mind, and the spirit are connected, all it means is that there is hope for our individual self to connect with our cosmic self, if only we explore our preexisting connection with mother nature. Our individual self stems from our thoughts that turn into actions. A repeated action becomes a habit and a series of habits performed every day is a routine and eventually your lifestyle. Being in nature helps us become more mindful and aware of our emotions and possibilities. That’s the reason--forest bathing, spending time in nature heals the very core aspect of our Prana--which is the life force.

Even traditional science has now proved that spending time in green spaces and sunlight can boost serotonin levels in the body and hence improve the overall happiness. In a study of about 20,000 people, found that the ones who spent 120 minutes a week in nature—local parks or other natural environments—reported good health and psychological well-being than the ones who did not spend time in nature!

In the late 1940s, a Romanian doctor, Franz Halberg, started tracking the levels of circulating white blood cells in mice. He noticed that the WBC count was the highest during the day and fell at night. Even though he observed different strains of mice had different WBC counts, every type of mouse had a sharp rise during the day and a similar fall at night.

He went on to track hourly changes in blood pressure, heart rates of mice, and body temperature. He found that similar to the WBC count, these physiological responses also follow a similar 24-hour schedule. Thus, the term “circadian rhythm” was coined and Halberg went on to prove that humans also follow a similar predictable schedule based on an internal clock that was light-dependent!

What does this mean for us in the 21st century? As human beings, we are a part of nature and we are physiologically governed by nature’s laws. It is precisely why our body clocks are attuned to waking up with the sunrise and unwinding at nightfall. In the era of being surrounded with screens, our bodies defy nature’s laws and give in to the vicious cycle of sleeping late and being exhausted in the morning. Spending time in nature, keeping your body active, and eating according to your dosha type can help restore the balance and consciously live a healthier life.

My favorite way of growing consciousness is through nutrition. That’s right—we all need to eat! Nutrition doesn’t have to be all that expensive. And it can absolutely be natural, organic, and fresh from your backyard! And that’s why investing time and energy in your own garden can work wonders for your health. That’s also one of the many reasons why this book strikes a chord with me. It dives deep into the scientific significance of using plants and herbs of the garden for nutrition and establishes the spiritual connection of the mind, the body, and the garden. Through this book you can actually start your own Ayurvedic garden and bring a higher level of consciousness to your food choices. It is not only about medicine but also about wellness.

The Vedas heralded meditating in nature as a pathway to attaining higher levels of consciousness thousands of years ago. Recently, scientific studies have proven the efficacy of meditation on alleviating stress, anxiety, and trauma symptoms. This book shows you how you can tap into your relationship with your garden and learn about your true Self. You’ll be able to recognize that your act of gardening is all about interacting with living beings. You’ll bring a higher level of consciousness into the act of gardening and extend the same love and care with which you’d tend to the needs of any other human or animal.

Meditating unlocks your ability to listen, ability to talk. Ability to think. You can listen to your body. Listen to the beat of your heart. Listen to what your gut is trying to tell you.

When you’re one with nature, you’re already on your way to becoming one with your true Self. You can talk to yourself and engage in thoughts that you would normally not be able to think at your usual level of consciousness. You can identify your purpose, unlock your hidden potential and live your best life.

DR. MANAS KSHIRSAGAR