Zen Gardening 

A Zen Garden is a very simple rock and sand garden that is marked by extreme simplicity with emphasis on form, line and economy of materials . . . a unity of habitation with it's environment and awareness that man's identity is not separate from that of nature.  

Zen is the Sanskrit  word for meditation, it is the discipline of clearing the mind of the everyday chaos of everyday life in order to reach a greater state of harmony. Though the practice of a Zen art may require discipline, there is no doctrine, no clear path that must be followed or taught.

The purpose of cultivating a Zen Garden is to learn to open your mind and be able to see more than what is directly in front of you. Everything about creating a Zen Garden is based on the mind, is led by the mind, and is fashioned by the mind. The rocks resemble mountains, and the soft sand base becomes the water. Clear your mind as you rack around the stones and create swirling pools of water, rushing streams and tranquil seas. The most serene landscapes are the those that come from a contemplative and clear mind.

Zen Gardens began in Japan, where Zen Buddhism has heavily influenced Japanese culture. Because the geographical characteristics of Japan are dominated by mountains and the ever present oceans that envelop the island of Japan, the gardens became scaled down representations of Nature. In a garden, a meditative mental plane is reached by viewing and contemplating the physical plane. The Zen Garden is used to find one's personal truth and reach enlightenment.

So that you can understand some of the Zen vernacular, here are some definitions . . .

• Buddha means "the Enlightened One" or "the Awakened One"
• Chan: also called Zen; see Contemplation
• Charity: or almsgiving, the first Paramita. There are three kinds of charity in terms of goods, doctrine (Dharma) and courage (fearlessness). Out of the three, the merits and virtues of doctrines charity is the most surpassing. Charity done for no reward here and hereafter is called pure or unsullied, while the sullied charity is done for the purpose of personal benefits. In Buddhism, the merits and virtues of pure charity is the best.
• Contemplation: abstract contemplation. There are four levels through which the mind frees itself from all subjects and objective hindrances and reaches a state of absolute indifference and annihilation of thought, perception, and will.
• Enlightenment: "Enlightenment" sometimes refers to the attainment of Buddhahood, as the "Enlightened One" means Buddha. If one is enlightened, one has a complete and perfect understanding of the real character of everything.
• Four Great Elements: all matters are formed and are composed by four conditioned causes: 1) earth, which is characterized by solidity and durability: 2) water, which is characterized by liquid/fluid and moisture; 3) fire, which is characterized by energy and warmth and 4) wind, which is characterized by gas/air movement.
• Karma: Sanskrit word meaning action, deed, moral duty, effect. Karma is moral action which causes future retribution and either good or evil transmigration. It is also a moral kernel in each being which survives death for further rebirth.
• Nirvana: completely liberated from existence, absolute extinction or annihilation, complete extinction of individual existence. Nirvana is not death, but it is rebirth.
• Paramita: perfections, or transcendental virtues, the six virtues are generosity (dana-paramita); morality (shila-paramita); perseverance (ksanti-paramita); vigour (virya-paramita); meditation, or concentration (dhyana-paramita); and wisdom (prajña-paramita).
• Patience: endurance, the third Paramita. There are groups of two, three, four, five, six, ten, and fourteen, indicating various forms of patience, equanimity, repression, forbearance, both in mundane and spiritual things. Patience refers to bearing insult and distress without resentment.
• Wisdom: the highest of Paramita: the virtue of wisdom as the principle means of attaining Nirvana. It connotes a knowledge of the illustory character of everything earthly, and destroys error, ignorance, prejudice and heresy.

In order to help you clear your mind and put it in a state of contemplations here are several ancient Japanese proverbs . . . (Remember, these may not make sense at first, they are meant to be meditated over, the parts in (parentheses) are my explanations, if you have a better or new interpretation please e-mail me)

• As the roof was leaking, a Zen Master told two monks to bring something to catch the water. One brought a tub , the other a basket. The first was severely reprimanded, the second was highly praised. (Sometimes the most practical option is the very best)
• Say one word with your mouth shut.
• What is the sound of one hand clapping?
• When left with nothing to say, rest content in the knowledge that there is really nothing to say.
• The Zen Master said, "Who binds you?" The seeker of liberty said, "No one binds me." The Zen Master said, "Then why seek liberation?" (When life confuses and disorients you, be happy with what you have.)
•  Sometimes I go in pity for myself, and all the while a great wind is bearing me across the sky. (Sometimes in life, you worry about insignificant and trivial matters, and frustrate yourself with small details that shouldn't matter, and overlook all of the other gifts that God has given you)
• When you are deluded and full of doubt, even a thousand books of scripture are not enough. When you have realized understanding, even one word is too much.
• If you seek, how is that different from pursuing sound and form? If you don't seek, how are you different from earth, wood or stone? You must seek without seeking.
• In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble. (Do one thing, do it right, I guess that one's even better)
• When the day gets long and contentious, I hold fast to my breath as a tiller and take each wave as it comes.
• Zen has nothing to grab on to. When people who study Zen don't see it, that is because they approach too eagerly. 
• Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought. Zen is your everyday thought.
• If my heart can become as pure and simple like that of a child, I think there probably can be no greater happiness than this.
• When moved to complain about others, remember that karma is endless and it is loving that leads to love.
• Every day is a good day.
• We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. (The greatest part of ourselves, is the part we can't see)
• The rain drops patter on the basho leaf, but these are not the tears of grief; this is only the anguish of him who is listening to them.
• The way is not a matter of knowing or not knowing.
• One word to a wise man. One lash to a bright horse.
• How can the drops of water know themselves to be a river?
• The bird of paradise alights only on the hand that does not grasp.
• the eye that sees cannot see itself.
• He who conquers himself is mighty. (Judge yourself first)
• The quieter you become the more you are able to hear.
• To forget oneself is to be enlightened.
• To find your way, you must close your eyes and walk in the dark.
• Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing others is enlightenment.
• The foolish reject what they see; the wise reject what they think.
• The man who knows he is a fool is not such a great fool.
• A step backward gives you the advantage. (Sometimes thinking a situation over before acting upon it gives you the upper hand)
• The way is an empty vessel that is never filled.
• The way is not difficult to discern. Seek it within.
• The path has no gates; thousands of roads enter it.
• When I awake in the morning I listen to those I love, especially to things they don't say.
• When people anger and malice, listen for truth in the message.
• When wayward thoughts are persistent imagine that even Buddha had silly ideas sometimes.
• When anger threatens reason, wait while the storm runs its course before venturing forth.
• On the shore of the ocean at sunrise, be in awe of this enormous power that rises and falls in great peace.
• Teachers open the door, but you must enter yourself.
• Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.
• A heavy snowfall disappears into the sea. What silence! Knock on the sky and listen to the sound.
• A monk asked Yueh-shean, "What does one think of while sitting?" "One thinks of not-thinking," the Master replied. "How does one think of not-thinking?" the monk asked. "Without thinking," the Master replied.
• A painting of a rice cake does not satisfy hunger.
• Everything the same; everything distinct.
• When the Many are reduced to One, to what is the One reduced?