Strange things are happening in the Garden of Nâm. We have started noticing unexpected changes, anomalies. Big rocks are suddenly moved, we discover pieces of cacti that apparently were broken off. And then we find that somebody or something has started digging holes here and there. What is happening?
Change
Every change seems to mean that something ends and that something new is knocking on the door. When you pay attention to it this ´change´ is visible everywhere. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Sometimes expected and sometimes it comes as a surprise. In some occasions it can be seen immediately and sometimes it becomes apparent only gradually.
A mysterieus visit
The first signal we got two months ago on the first day that Andree went on a trip to the Netherlands. We received a message: “Wild boars have invaded the Garden! The gate is open on field 7!” A hoard was apparently taking a peek in its higher part and were probably enjoying the beautiful panorama there. Of course we went looking and indeed found the gate open. But no wild boards and no signs of them either. So after a while we started to believe that Andree must still have been dreaming due to her very early departure that day.
Nothing happened for a few days and then small and almost unnoticeable changes came. Gradually the changes appeared more frequently and had more visual impact. Many possible explanations passed by but none of these hypotheses helped us. Is a deer perhaps sleeping in the garden, a wild dog or even a man? But after seeing one morning that the sunflower field was ploughed over, the idea returned that indeed it might be a small hoard of wild boars that keeps visiting the garden. But still, nobody ever saw or heard them. But then again, why is Toby barking during the night sometimes? Then we saw a digging trail all the way up on field 1 and discovered that the compost in both banana pits had disappeared! We also started noticing a strong smell hanging in the places where digging had taken place. We could even trace a trail by following it!
Living with the unknown
Living with the unknown can become quite tangible in situations like these. We are almost convinced now that even boars have discovered how delicious the meals can be in the Garden of Nâm. Nevertheless, we have nothing more than a strong suspicion and the changes in the garden ask for action. Seeing the strength with which this unknown phenomenon digs in the ground and being on the verge of planting new crops it might be wise to search for a way to manage the situation optimally. Fortunately, up until now no real damage has been done. Some tubes from the watering system were torn and easily repaired again. We tried blocking their ways of passage with pallets but the ´they´ prove themselves way too smart to be stopped.
The question arises: “Suppose it is a hoard of wild boars, then what are they looking for? What draws them to the garden? Is it a safe place to sleep, a specific menu perhaps?” Guru google teaches: “The boars may be in need for protein to compensate for their lean diet.” Indeed, they are well known for finding certain mushrooms and nuts. But they also like to eat roots and if they get the chance preferably digest worms, larvae, insects and even a nest of mice.
Care for the dying
Funny thing about change is that it is happening all the time. “Everything changes and nothing remains” the ancient philosopher Herákleitos writes. The only thing that doesn’t change, is change itself. The movement of change is the very nature of the empirical universe. It is permanence in an impermanent state, as Yoginâm describes.
Like the sunflowers that have decorated the Garden of Nâm with a sense of beauty and joy, everything dies. What radiated life a few months ago has disappeared and now lies hidden in the soil as a promise for coming spring. Life continues, spreads, feeds, guides and optimises itself. Shapes shift, thats all. Those who cling to life, to certain forms, relationships and expectations know that change cannot be stopped.
Last month we explored death as an essential part of living, relating it to the nature of human experience. We found that peaceful acknowledgement means saying yes to life as it expresses itself here and now. Life continues and is always new, although we approach it all too often from the perspective of a past.
The potential of the yet unknown
Besides an unfolding mystery, in its richness the newness of life brought much more. We hosted a guest that decided to stay a few weeks longer to help us with creating content for social media and improving our find-ability on the internet. “What is the use of a beautiful place and all the effort that has been invested in it, if only a lucky few know how and where to find it?”
Another new was an unexpected abundance of rainfall and hailstones; in this high summer, during the hottest and driest part of the year! In spite of some damage to the leaves, it was able to cool the garden (and its residents) down and nourish the dry soil.
Also new was the longed-for arrival of a completely new book by Yoginâm: “Abbah Unveiling”. A magnificent jewel of literature that contains 99 poetic reflections by Yoginâm, preceded by a clear and razor-sharp introduction to the nature of human living. A quote that puts for instance the beauty of change in a sustainable perspective: “It is the harmony of the differences that is the richness if life.”
Epilogue
Like in our dealing with the mystery guest(s) of the garden, it is easy to approach a situation as non-desirable or even with an attitude of enmity. It is also possible to ignore the changes as well and as long as possible until action is demanded. But caring for an ecological garden requires a more open and mindful position. After all: it is the nature of life to interact with itself. Change allows for a diversity that is completely counter to the uniform way of controlling nature that we are leaving behind. Instead of excluding unwanted factors we are learning to integrate them in the best possible way, if we can. Or we try to harmonise them in a natural way. So, we continue to explore, inspired by the documentary that Chris suggested in the April Journal and the Nâm way of living.
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