Growing tulsi to cultivate harmony

Ayurveda, the science of life, offers a prescription for living a life in harmony. According to Swami Krishnananda in his commentary on the Chandogya Upanishad, we are here to live a life of harmony through intimate knowledge of ourselves, one another, the Earth and her elements. The simple act of planting the correct plants in and around our homes, offices or schools may help us purify the surrounding environment to achieve harmony.

An overly passionate and unsettled mind is rajasic; a dull mind, incapable of empathy, is tamasic. We see evidence of these imbalanced states in acts of violence that reflect terrible passionate actions coupled with a disquieting lack of empathy. The antidote to rajas and tamas is the cultivation of sattva, or purity. Sattva is goodness manifesting as intelligence, virtue and joy.  When the mind is in a sattvic state, it is at peace.

In Ayurveda, Tulsi (Occimum Sanctum) is known as the “Queen of the Herbs” for its sattvic properties. Prashanti de Jagar, founder of Organic India, instructs that Tulsi can be easily grown indoors or out and that “even the ground beneath Tulsi is sacred.” 

Use Tulsi as an ornamental annual near the entrance of your home, school or office to infuse the air with uplifting fragrance, purify the environment and calm your mind. According to the Dalai Lama, “With our thoughts we make our world. Our mind is central and precedes our deeds. Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you like a shadow that never leaves.”

Tulsi prefers rich, loamy soil, an abundance of water and strong sunlight.  Richo Cech advises that “traditionally mantras, songs and other expressions of soul connection are both invoked by Tulsi Ma and appreciated by her.”  Tulsi seeds are available online at www.horizonherbs.com.