The True Beauty of a Zen Garden is a Thing of Tranquility Forever

Relax and Contemplate in a Zen Garden

According to Japanese history and culture, building a Zen garden will present an interesting, fun and relaxing atmosphere to a home. Requiring little space and materials, this beautiful garden can bring its owners hours of relaxation and tranquility. Sitting quiety, in sun or shade and contemplating the inner peace a Zen garden can bestow on its owners is really a thing of tranquility that can last forever.

The Zen Garden is known as a dry garden and called a ‚”Karesansui,” which actually means ‚”Dry Mountain and Water Garden.” This structure supposedly originated in eleventh century in Japan and it purpose was to allow Buddhist monks a place in which to stroll and contemplate their religion. The re-arranging of the sand, stones and rocks is representative of the changes through which the mind goes through on a daily basis.

The Zen Garden has often been thought to have been a spiritual and interesting aspect of the Japanese culture and gardening tradition. Traditionally, monks carefully raked the Zen Garden striving to create smaller scale renditions of aerial views looking down on scenes of varying coastlines in and around Japan.

A Typical Zen Garden

Constructing a Zen Garden can be interesting, fun and relaxing. It does not require a lot of space or exotic plantings or structures. Actually, Zen Gardens can be constructed from small boxes filled with fine sand and a few stones, and placed on an office desk. A back yard Zen Garden will bring relaxation to its owner, a place to contemplate and meditate. It is an inexpensive endeavor, yet will provide many rewarding hours of relaxation.

Begin by selecting a quiet, shady space in a garden, unobstructed by too many tree branches or plants. The first requirement if to build a small wall out of simple materials like treated lumber or stones. This perimeter will contain the gravel and sand of the Zen Garden. Use a variety of small stones and several larger ones and place them at random to start. These can be moved as desired and as often as required.

Using a rake, carefully rake the surface of the sand several times, striving for a wave-like surface. The rocks and stones placed among the waves can represent islands. Seek to design a pleasing, relaxing surface of rocks, stones and wave-like sand drawing the eye and mind into the pattern. Change the pattern of the Zen Garden as often, but if a particular pattern is appealing, stay with it for several days or weeks if is especially pleasing.

For busy executives and people who spend a lot of time in offices, classrooms or science labs, smaller Zen Gardens can be made to fit on the top of a desk, filing cabinet or lab table. All that is needed is a wooden box of sorts, something that will contain the fine sand, some gravel, sand and a few various sized rocks or stones. This smaller version of the larger scale Zen Garden will be just as effective for contemplation and relaxation.

Toward a More Exotic Zen Garden

Although the basic elements of a Zen Garden are the gravel, sand, stones and rocks, other elements can be included in more exotic Zen Garden structures. As the sand and rocks, each element in a Zen Garden serves and proves a function. Some of the more exotic Zen Gardens can contain water elements such as ponds, waterfalls and pools. These offer the Yin energy and stimulate a garden’s energy. Bridges that span water elements also contribute to the beauty and balance of a Zen Garden.

Garden lighting can be used to accent and reveal special areas of the garden and balance the Ying energy with their own Yang element. Pathways, walkways and trails through a Zen Garden should always meander. This allows the energy of a garden to flow unrestricted. Some plants and structures can be added to a Zen Garden to enhance its beauty and relaxation. Whatever elements are added or subtracted, a Zen Garden should maintain its beauty and please suitable to its designer and inhabitants.