A simple seeker was meditating on, or was she just thinking about, next year’s garden.
“Why not just call it planning?”
“Planning has to develop out of ..”
“Out of what?”
“Out of awareness of what is pleasing, and given the limits of a small garden area, what might be even more pleasing than was pleasing this past season. Also, there’s the yearly chore of restricting the space that existing plants can be allowed to expand into.”
“And attacking those who have spread beyond their alloted area?”
“Attacking sounds violent.”
“Is there a gentle way to cut them back?”
“I’ve tried restricting their spread by placing patio stones between them, but ..”
“Their roots find a way to reach under them and ..?”
“Yes. Then I cut them back, but it doesn’t work.”
“What does work?”
“Digging up the whole clump and subdividing it.”
“Then what?”
“One-third gets to return to the original area and the rest goes to a new home, or the compost.”
“Do all of your plants get the same treatment?”
“No. There are some who are too dear to me to risk disturbing.”
“How to deal with the invasive nature of their roots?”
“Their indivdiual root systems spread at individual depths and densities, beneath the surface of the ground. Of course, their roots too must be cut back when they endanger more fragile plants. But if they can work it out together, I try to provide enough water, nutrients, compost, and loam to keep them all happy. Also, gentle hoeing discourages wandering roots.”
“How would such a system of control work in keeping the peace between groups of people?”
“What do you mean?”
“Does your garden’s collection of competing needs remind you of human society?”
“In a way, yes. We each have personal needs, and so does everyone else.”
“Yes.”
“So, how to resolve such a situaton of competition for limited resources?”
“Self-control, co-operation, and mutual respect.”
“And if that doesn’t work?”
“Then the law of the jungle will.”
“Survival of the fittest and those who adapt?”
“Yes.”
……..
A simple seeker’s note to herself
The law of the jungle and survival of the fittest sounds so uncivilized.
“They are.”
“So, why would Nature develop such a system?”
“What do you mean?”
“If Nature is an example of how humans are meant to live …?”
“Humans are part of Nature.”
“Are we supposed to see the rest of Nature as a role model?”
“A role model for what?”
“For how to live.”
“Sharp teeth and claws?”
“Yes.”
“Not all of Nature is aggressive, and even the most vicious animals kill only to live.”
“And not all plant life contains invasive roots.”
“Yes, and some multiply simply by producing seeds that are scattered by the wind.”
“Yes. The vegetable and animal kingdoms can provide for human needs, and as examples of possible ways to interact with other species.”
“But humans also have intelligence, and humans also are capable of love”
“Humans are also capable of very unloving actions.”
“Perhaps we have the potential to learn from the rest of Nature, and to develop a more loving society.”
“Yes, and in time you will.”
…………
Simple Seekers 
When we are aware of our everything-ness, and how some part of us are more shallow -but still have their charms and their place and we cannot cut them off from us anyway; we learn that we are meant to be The Whole thing..as are others…
It is in our harmony of everything alive in us that we find peace and happiness…; it is the nature of wholeness is our ‘enlightenment’, our Goodness and Love…
How could it be anything else!?
We are not meant to restrict or restrain ourselves, – but caring about others’ sensitive reality too, we -this overall sanity, will find a way that is harmonious
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Thanks, Giulion for your response to “How to resolve conflicting needs.” It shows that you’re a deep thinker, in this world of so many who seem almost afraid to think too deeply about anything. Harmony is the answer, if we could only remember the question. Self-restraint, for the sake of others may be a necessary price of harmony. Otherwise we might push into each other’s comfort zones. Love, Jean
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I think we should not restrain our life force at all in general… But there is a time and place for restraint… I think the ‘intuitive voice’ knows when to not do this..
I suppose I am clear on this as my very early conditioning was all about it being dangerous to be myself. It still can be , but the more whole we are, the more of our whole essence we are in touch with and have rescued from conditioning, the better we and the word will be! 🙂
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How to know when we’re being “whole” is one thing, and yet, we may each be whole, in our own way, at least in our own minds. A wider perspective, that includes at least some others might help us to learn how to respond to any given situation in such a way as to benefit evryone, more or less.
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Yes, wholeness is not ‘selfishness’! It is a balance of self/subjective reality and ‘objective’ reality… Care for oneself and empathy for others
It is … sometimes… very deep, beautiful and delightful in itself to be Whole… We have those peak-moments of it.. But most of the time we/or at least I am working for it
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Wholeness may be an ever-expanding potential of each of us. As we develop our capacity to become whom and/or what we were designed to become (if we were in fact designed to become anything other than what we now are) then our potential would (or might) also expand, perhaps infinitely.
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I cannot seem to like your comment. I have only just seen the notifications here!
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