| For all those who know little about | | | | |
| gardening, Zen garden is a term used for | | | | A Zen garden is an aesthetic arrangement of |
| Japanese rock gardens, moisture-free, | | | | stones with little vegetation, water or other |
| made-of-stones, dry kind of gardens - To a | | | | elements at a first glance. But on careful |
| certain extent this is correct, but giving | | | | observation, we understand that they |
| due consideration to the other concepts | | | | represent the elaborate equilibrium of |
| associated with the word Zen, the phrase Zen | | | | contraries and the apprehension of the world |
| garden has a profound philosophical impact. | | | | as a dialect continuum. |
| It is a special form of artistic gardens so | | | | |
| intense, that the great mathematicians and | | | | For example, how can one express nothingness |
| neurologists too have attempted to explain | | | | 'mu', more dramatically than by taking water |
| the idea. | | | | out of a garden? Zen garden, is thus a |
| | | | metaphorical representation of the concepts |
| Zen. The Mystery | | | | of Zen. The exclusion of water is not its |
| | | | denial, it is in fact a more potent assertion |
| Now that your curiosity is aroused, I will | | | | as it is done metaphorically. |
| try to explain more about this type of garden | | | | |
| and its impacts on visitors. The first | | | | The significant aspect of a Zen garden is |
| question that needs to be answered is, what | | | | that the rocks form subliminal images of |
| is Zen? Many associate it with Japanese | | | | objects like trees, lakes, ponds etc. which |
| Buddhism. Well, this again is partly true, | | | | can not be perceived while looking |
| and indeed Zen Gardens originated from | | | | consciously at them, but the subconscious |
| Buddhist monasteries and temples around 1300 | | | | mind is able to observe a subtle association |
| AD by Zen priests and artists, prominently | | | | between the rocks. While viewing, the |
| Muso Soseki. Some people think that Zen is an | | | | distinction between subject & object, and |
| interpretation of the Buddhist concept of | | | | viewer & viewed is blurred. This results in |
| enlightenment, and this may be close to the | | | | the garden being a source of strength, |
| truth as well. Zen plays an important role in | | | | courage, fortitude, tranquility, serenity, |
| many Japanese concepts and aspects. | | | | peace. |
| | | | |
| Actually Zen means waking up to the present | | | | Another specialty is that none of of them |
| moment. That is, perceiving this moment | | | | have been created by one person, epitomizing |
| exactly as it is, rather than through the | | | | the aspect of parts forming a whole. |
| filter of our ideas, opinions, etc. And this | | | | |
| is what is reflected in a Zen garden. | | | | Although these gardens have been engulfed |
| | | | with controversies and criticism, there is no |
| Examples | | | | denying their impact on the viewers and the |
| | | | inherent creativity. |
| - Royanji Temple in northwest Kyoto, Japan. | | | | |
| | | | The philosophy of these gardens can be |
| - Nanzenji Zen Garden in Kyoto, Japan. | | | | summarized in the poetics of Karesansui: ' |
| | | | Flower does not Talk but a Rock has the Voice |
| The Philosophical Impact | | | | of Water. |