For all those who know little about gardening, Zen garden is a term used for Japanese rock gardens, moisture-free, made-of-stones, dry kind of gardens – To a certain extent this is correct, but giving due consideration to the other concepts associated with the word Zen, the phrase Zen garden has a profound philosophical impact. It is a special form of artistic gardens so intense, that the great mathematicians and neurologists too have attempted to explain the idea.

Zen. The Mystery

Now that your curiosity is aroused, I will try to explain more about this type of garden and its impacts on visitors. The first question that needs to be answered is, what is Zen? Many associate it with Japanese Buddhism. Well, this again is partly true, and indeed Zen Gardens originated from

Buddhist monasteries and temples around 1300 AD by Zen priests and artists, prominently Muso Soseki. Some people think that Zen is an interpretation of the Buddhist concept of enlightenment, and this may be close to the truth as well. Zen plays an important role in many Japanese concepts and aspects.

Actually Zen means waking up to the present moment. That is, perceiving this moment exactly as it is, rather than through the filter of our ideas, opinions, etc. And this is what is reflected in a Zen garden.

Examples

- Royanji Temple in northwest Kyoto, Japan.
- Nanzenji Zen Garden in Kyoto, Japan.

The Philosophical Impact

A Zen garden is an aesthetic arrangement of stones with little vegetation, water or other elements at a first glance. But on careful observation, we understand that they represent the elaborate equilibrium of contraries and the apprehension of the world as a dialect continuum.

For example, how can one express nothingness ‘mu’, more dramatically than by taking water out of a garden? Zen garden, is thus a metaphorical representation of the concepts of Zen. The exclusion of water is not its denial, it is in fact a more potent assertion as it is done metaphorically.

The significant aspect of a Zen garden is that the rocks form subliminal images of objects like trees, lakes, ponds etc. which can not be perceived while looking consciously at them, but the subconscious mind is able to observe a subtle association between the rocks. While
viewing, the distinction between subject & object, and viewer & viewed is blurred. This results in the garden being a source of strength, courage, fortitude, tranquility, serenity, peace.

Another specialty is that none of of them have been created by one person, epitomizing the aspect of parts forming a whole.

Although these gardens have been engulfed with controversies and criticism, there is no denying their impact on the viewers and the inherent creativity.

The philosophy of these gardens can be summarized in the poetics of Karesansui: ‘ Flower does not Talk but a Rock has the Voice of Water.’

Buddhist meditation techniques are designed so that the practitioner is able to separate their physical bodies from their conscious minds in order to cast their minds to a higher plateau of existence and thus receive enlightenment in their lives. To do so, one must leave behind the toils and worries of everyday life and instead pursue the higher path to achieving peace and understanding with and in the world around.

There are several main types of Buddhist meditation that you can pursue when you are looking to achieve peace, relaxation and understanding in your own life. The first technique is called the Mindfulness of Breathing. During this type of Buddhist meditation, the practitioner must so fully relax their physical body that the only function they concentrate on is their own pattern of breathing. But putting an entire being’s focus just on the repetitions of breathing in and breathing out and breathing in and breathing out, one can successfully move to a higher plane of consciousness where the physical pains of life are not intrusive.

Another main type of Buddhist meditation includes Contemplation of Impermanence. During this type of Buddhist meditation, the practitioner must direct their mind to reflect upon the complete impermanence of life, which cycles through death and living and death and living continuously as a matter of sustaining mankind. By contemplating the mysteries of the impermanence of life, practitioners of Buddhist meditation are able to remove themselves from every day worries and instead exist at a conscious level where they are simply filled with the power of existing.

One of the most commonly used practices of Buddhist meditation includes visualization. During visualization, you will pick an object to picture in your own mind. The object can be nearly anything at all, but it must be something that you can visual in an all-consuming matter. During visualization, you will leave behind all conscious thoughts and all conscious words and simply focus on a mental picture of your chosen object. When you do so, you will be able to move beyond the physical plane and instead to a state where you become at one with the world around you.