Moon Gardening

Krishna says: "I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables." ~ BhagavadGita As It Is, 15.13  


MOON GARDENING

It was fascinating to me, learning that certain flowers bloom not in the day - but in the evening! 

Years back I had one flower that was advertised to open at night, then close during the day. Had to give that a try, and it was true. So endearing to see that! 

Next, to find out recently, there are more that also open to the light of the moon, well, I just had to share.

How would we use this in Krishna Consciousness? Well, it makes me think of the Rasa Dance, tho Prabhupada warns us not to get too into that. He tells the story properly however, so here is a link to read that.

If you have a temple room or space or table / altar or meditation area [which includes pics of Krishna etc] .... accompanied by a window for the moonlight to get in - you could grow these flowers for Krishna so at night He also will have something pretty to look at, and not just the day.

If you do not have a window, maybe try a special grow light. I've used these to replace sunlight in the Autumn and Winter. They worked pretty good. But I have no idea how they would work for replacing Moonlight. Give it a shot, but don't spend much money on a lot of plants until you have experimented on one.

Most folks have a window, :) even a small one. If it's not too far away, the plant should aim itself right toward the moonlight.  With that said.....


MOONFLOWER: This is what I originally had flowering at night on my windowsill. Actually, I bought it in seed form, planted, and they grew!  So easy! Apparently, some think of them as counterpart to Sunflowers. :) 

EVENING PRIMROSE. These bloom at night, but if the day is cloudy it may bloom than too. It does spread fast. If you want that, great! If not, simple solution: Just plant them in pots outside. This plant also has medical value.

NIGHT PHLOX
Very fragrant! And it opens at night, under the evening moonshine.  A great offering flower too. Good border plant. It's an annual, meaning its lifespan is one season. About a foot in height.





MISC:
Here are a few optional but lovely ideas to add to an outdoors moon garden:

SOLAR MOBILE BASED WIND CHIMES - COLOR CHANGING LED: 

I had to put this here because I like it myself. :) Click on pic since it will enlarge and you can see better, just how pretty this is. Adorable 6 hummingbirds and beads that illuminate at night.  Surreal visual effects. One color gradually transitions into another. Beautiful chimes. Durable well-made construction. Easy to use. Beautifully crafted. These Wind Chimes are so unique, and lovely, that I could not help but to add it here. :)  Here's the link. 
       UPDATE: Tho different, here is a different one that costs less and is lovely, no pic here right now but just go to link to view, right here.
       ANOTHER: Can't help myself, ha, they are so pretty! These are beautiful dragonflies that show color at night. Go to site and check out pic - they're beautiful.


Bhagavad Gita on Moon Nourishment, Vegetables, Planets, and much more:

"It is understood that all the planets are floating in the air only by the energy of the Lord. The Lord enters into every atom, every planet, and every living being. That is discussed in the Brahma-samhita. It is said there that one plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramatma, enters into the planets, the universe, the living entity, and even into the atom. So due to His entrance, everything is appropriately manifested. When the spirit soul is there, a living man can float on the water, but when the living spark is out of the body and the body is dead, it sinks. Of course when it is decomposed it floats just like straw and other things, but as soon as the man is dead, he at once sinks in the water. Similarly, all these planets are floating in space, and this is due to the entrance of the supreme energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His energy is sustaining each planet, just like a handful of dust. If someone holds a handful of dust, there is no possibility of the dust falling, but if one throws it in the air, it will fall down. Similarly, these planets, which are floating in air, are actually held in the fist of the universal form of the Supreme Lord. By His strength and energy, all moving and unmoving things stay in their place. It is said that because of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sun is shining and the planets are steadily moving. Were it not for Him, all the planets would scatter, like dust in air, and perish. Similarly, it is due to the Supreme Personality of Godhead that the moon nourishes all vegetables. Due to the moon's influence, the vegetables become delicious. Without the moonshine, the vegetables can neither grow nor taste succulent. Human society is working, living comfortably and enjoying food due to the supply from the Supreme Lord. Otherwise, mankind could not survive. The word rasatmakah is very significant. Everything becomes palatable by the agency of the Supreme Lord through the influence of the moon."  ~ Purport of the above verse, Bhagavad Gita As It Is, 15.13

WWIII - What Would You Do If the Internet Collapsed?

"The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. With the exception of you [the Pandavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain."  ~ BhagavadGita 11.32 

What if World War II hit? How would your spiritual life wind up if there was no longer an internet connection?

Currently, many are concerned that there could indeed, be a war. From fears of Ebola to the start of WWIII, people are talking!

Even those who are not, still have concerns over how long the internet can last, or if someone can hack and shut it down.  Or living in an area of chronic electrical outages, will everything on their hard drive be left when they get back online. What to do?

It is the age of kali. That means there is a lot of insecurity. With a propensity in the world to bicker/argue/fight. People have a more difficult time holding on to peace, happiness - what to speak of God. 

It does not have to be this way. Simply, without the know-how, or the endeavor, to work toward positive, good vibrations, the negative ones have a better chance of entering in this kali-yuga. [Yuga means age.]

The Hare Krishna Movement began in the 1960's during the Vietnam War. It seems when there is upheaval, unrest, etc, people are open to listening, to learning how to love and be at peace. 

When there is peace for an extended period of time, oddly, people loose interest in God. Maybe not fully, but noticeably. Sense gratification starts to crawl higher up on the list of what is important. Businessmen and women try to up the corporate ladder more than usual. Too much self-absorption becomes the norm. What to do?

Many do not realize, or haven't been taught, that God is not a grumpy old man sitting in a rocking chair with a white beard, just waiting for you to slip up and so something wrong so he can cast you down into eternal hell fires. As a result, those who find this a ridiculous way to believe in God - turn away from Him. 

So fortunate are we, that Prabhupada came to the West to teach us that the above is not what God is like! Phew. :) God/Krishna does not have a psychical material form but a transcendental form. And it is blue, with long flowing hair, plays a flute, never ages, God always has fun, is blissful - and by the way, loves us! :) So, not the above fanaticism, but this:

Thus there is no real deprivation of pleasure once one learns the science of Krishna Consciousness. It is the highest, most fun :), pleasure! How could hippies of the past give up so much sense gratification [drugs and illicit sex] other than the fact that Krishna/ God brings huge pleasure.

Anyway, must there be another huge war to open the minds and hearts of some, for true Krishna Conscientiousness to get thru, and according to the way Prabhupada taught it in the beginning?

Maybe.

But we are also speaking of  a loss of the internet, for any reason. Tho war being most likely. Anyhow, there are lots of sites on what to do physically, but here we ask the question: what would you do spiritually?

Some ideas:
Vedic scriptures reveal that war is the result of violence done unto others, meat eating [which is violent to the animal], illicit activities, and so on. 

For those who have not fully gone vegetarian, here is a link to our free unique online cookbook to start. And here it is in pdf.

Offer it with prayer/mantra. If you are not a vegetarian, and this is not about guilt, but simply learn how to be one - and learn how to offer your food to take it even higher than vegetarian, rather prasadam! This means it was first taken by God /Krishna and now you get His left overs. The unique ability of God is that unlike humans, when God is finished eating, everything is still left on the plate. :) God eats through love, to make sure we too have food.

Next, what else would you do if there was a war or no internet to get some idea of how to live a Krishna Conscious lifestyle at home? Or online association?

This is one reason I promote at-home worship.

And at-home japa /chanting meditation.

But what more could be done to protect yourself and family?

Many will point out, learn how to hold peace and kindness in the heart. That it sends out electrical and other unknown forms of good vibrations. I agree. There is actually quite a bit of science behind this. Simultaneously, I do not see how anyone can hold on to that without a God connection. Mediation on His love, on His transcendental names, etc, are what keep us from getting down, it's what maintains us when ok or up, it even grants us bliss! Thus that higher vibration is Krishna, to be shared with the world, creating the best type of change.

I remember a point in the late 1970's when there was a very real threat of WWIII. Our government, other governments, and even the United Nations - were having big scary meetings! 

Srila Prabhupada instructed all of his temples world-wide to go out on HariNama [chanting Krishna's Holy Names in every town and village]. And we did! A lot. :-)

Put my toddler in a stroller and went out on Harinama too. Tho I could not do it as much, being a mom, but I wanted "in." ha  So, off we went, myself, child, and other devotees - blissfully chanting down the streets. This went on in all our temples in the entire world!

In case you didn't notice ha, WWIII did not happen. Srila Prabhuapda revealed, it was this chanting of Krishna's names that stopped it! It is, after all, a transcendental sound, not to be confused with a material one. 

Yet war is once again a threat, and every now and than, tries to reoccur. Why? 

Srila Prabhuapda explains:

"If you want to stop some diseased condition of life, then you have to follow a regulative principle. Just like when you go to a doctor for curing some disease, he gives you some medicine and some direction also, that "You should not eat like this, you not sleep like this; you should do like this." Some do's and some do not's. That prescription is followed.

So here, Śukadeva Gosvāmī gives this example that na aśnataḥ pathyam eva annam. Suppose if you have got indigestion; you cannot digest food very nicely. So you have to eat such things which are easily digestible, or which may not cause acidity, flatulence, air. 

The doctor prescribes. So if you neglect those principles, then how you can be cured? Similarly, if you want to eradicate your ignorance how miserable conditions are arising, problems are arising, and you do not try to subside them with real knowledge, how there can be solution of the problems?

Try to understand. Just like if you do not follow the program given by the physician for curing your disease, you cannot be cured. If you violate the rules given by the doctor, then how you can expect cure of your disease? Similarly, if you do not think wisely, like wise man, as they're prescribed in the Vedic knowledge, how you can stop the problems of life?

That is not possible. Simply by atonement there may be temporary suppression of something, but it will arise again. The same example can be given: The whole world is trying to stop war. But by some means like League of Nation, United Nation, but it is stopped for the time being, but again, after some years, there is huge war.

So Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that this material sinful life, we are acting in a way, we are forced to commit some sins, and you are suffering as a resultant action. This is going on. But if you want to stop this business—one suffering and one again becomes victim—then you have to become advanced in knowledge. Karmī-jñānī. Ordinary people, they are karmīs, or fruitive actors. Fruitive actors. They're working whole day and night, and getting some result, enjoying, again suffering, again there is problem.

This is going on. They are called karmīs. So this will not solve the question, problem. He suggests that you have to elevate yourself to the platform of knowledge. How it is done? That is prescribed herein. The first thing is tapasya. The first... Tapasya means you have to accept some austerity."  ~ SP lecture on SB 06.01.11, date 710725, New York

~*~*~*~

I hope the above answers some readers question regarding "why" we have war. 

Additionally, a natural question to arise is:

"If you did Harinama in the past to stop WWIII and claim the Holy Names will do it, than why has the threat of war returned?"

Good question! :) Easy answer: You see, Prabhupada once stated that if we, the initiated devotees, were serious, we could make the entire world Krishna Conscious in 18 days. Clearly we have not done that. Therefore, whenever there's an increase in irreligious activities, as well as forgetfulness of God, there eventually will be war. We still have a lot of work cut out. Yet it is blissful work, and we are happy to do it. 

One does not have to be an initiated disciple, nor living in a temple to go out on Harinama. Can we be saved like the Pandava's?  (See quote atop this page.) While we are clearly not on their level, yet we can still be saved / protected. Simply learn how to do Harinama, the right and super-easy way presented here, go for it! :) Be an activist - this is the best peace process ever! 

John Lennon's, Give Peace a Chance, makes me think of this book: Excerpt: "In 1969 John Lennon invited Srila Prabhupada (the Founder-Acharya of the Hare Krishna Movement) and some of his disciples to live at his Tittenhurst Park Estate near London. Search for Liberation is based on a conversation where John Lennon, Yoko Ono and George Harrison ask Srila Prabhupada questions about liberation and spirituality. The Beatles questions and Prabhupada's answers create a fascinating book."  Small inexpensive book. Besides, you're going to need some hard copy books if there is an emergency! And even when there isn't. :) 

Another question may arise: "Do I have to give up so much? It says tapasya/austerity, but my life is hard and I don't want to add anymore austerities." 

Another easy and pleasant answer: In this age of kali, the austerity is really not austere, it's fun! Simply chant Hare Krishna. "Kalu nasteva nasteva nasteva  gatir anytha." Change the sound vibration in the atmosphere around you, and watch all the positive unexpected good things pop up no one can explain. To you, but also to the world. Well, we can explain. :) Chanting draws the bliss of Godhead to travel all around, creating a highly charged positive atmosphere where more and more people actually "want" to get along. It's not austere to do this, it's a joy!

Some might consider it austere to become a vegetarian, but in our modern times, less and less are feeling that way. And if you do, I suggest you take a real life tour of a slaughter house and see first hand, what goes on. Oh yes, they give them! At least they use to because I know someone who went. The bottom line is, don't put your head in the sand and pretend meat eating is not violent just cuz it is purchased all clean and warped in saran.  It did not grow out of the ground, that is a spirit soul who lost its life, or its baby's life. Violence begets violence. And it's easy to become a vegetarian! IMHO tastes better anyhow! :) [Again, here's that cookbook link.]

This post was not limited to physical survival of WWIII - but more-so how to spiritually survive it, and/or a loss of the internet. After all, such emergencies are sometimes accompanied with deep loss, therefore we need to take care of our souls to have them prepared.  

However, with that said, the following may be helpful as they include physical suggestions like growing your own food/medicine - plus more spiritual ideas I find highly imperative. Feel free to print out hard copies of these or any you find helpful - and save!
 
MORE TIPS:  
* Self-Sufficiency Camping: Ideas for camping can also be good for surviving if the electricity goes down - for any reason.

* Longevity: Can you do your own Dental work if there is no dentist around? Of course not all forms, but some? From simple eating to Hatha yoga [yes worrywarts, it's bonafide,ha], plus more. Check it out.

* How To Grow a Flower Clock: Do this and you will always have a good idea of the time even if there is not any electricity, led or other clocks are no longer available.

* Herb for Cancer: Grow this and read of other help for cancer. God-forbid anyone get this disease if there is a war and not know ahead of time of any alternative help.

* Depression - Not clinical but situational. And if there is a war, people are likely to feel depressed from that situation to some degree. Want to know little tips and tricks how to snap out of it? If you are not clinically depressed and its only due to a situation, this link should help. If you have clinical depressing, take your medication [be it natural or allopathic] and after that, this link should help. Of course, one has to truly desire it.

* A Fun Spiritual Place - Your Home!  Make your house a blissful place for yourself and your family, any close "trustworthy" friends. This is crucial for spiritual life during a war or when the internet is not regularly working.

* George Harrison - Be Here Now :) - Hari's son, as Prabhupada named him, quickly lifts spirits or even helps keep them positive.

* Humor - Good grief, laugh a little. Devotees are so serious, which has it's place,but even Prabhupada told jokes! Lighten up. If it's not a habit now, imagine if the internet were to collapse. What a grouch! ha That too was a joke. :)
 
* Anyone Can Go To  Krsna-Loka - That's right. Never think you can't! :)

* Christ and Krishna - the name says it all. 

* Guru - How to pick your guru while the lights are on, and internet functioning. :)

* Is Lack of self-love really a predominant cause of illness? - During an emergency, the last thing you want is to get stuck on the mental platform and start self-blaming for sickness, problems, of that which is not! Pop psychology makes us think it is science when this is not a fact. Even, it changes all the time. The good part of this link? It also goes into detail about various forms of healing!

* Life and Music - Under stressful circumstances one tends to freeze up. What to do? Find out here.

* Energy Healing - learn Free: If there are no doctors nearby during a war or some other type of emergency, learning this can be a help! 

fNo one gets out of this material world alive. While I don't want to worry anyone too much, I have also found that never mentioning such things helps folks keep their head in the sand like an ostrich. Then what if someone comes along with an axe? Yikes! :) So once in a while I have to post this stuff to keep that axe away from folks. And if readers utilize this information, it delivers blissful results. 

In case I haven't said it enough - or a reader has not seen it: No one need join anything, you can practice on your own at home and feel the bliss! :)

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