“The practice of Zen is forgetting the self in the act of uniting with something.”
– Koun Yamada
Zen gardens are special areas originally created in Japan to assist Zen Buddhist monks with daily meditation and introspection. Monks raked the sand every day to maintain its distinct pattern and discourage vegetation growth. They would also spend time in a specific spot in the garden to observe, reflect and meditate.
Many people like to keep tabletop zen gardens on their work desks to take a mindfulness break during the day while others like to display them in living areas to give guests a tranquil activity to do.
Raking patterns in the sand and rearranging rocks helps increase mindfulness, making mini zen gardens a great activity to unwind during times of stress and doubt, or even periods of success. Engaging in these activities is a great way to clear our minds and reflect on our thoughts.
“Zen is not effort. Effort is tension, effort is work, effort is to achieve something.
Zen is not something to achieve. You are already that.
Just relax, relax so deeply that you become a revelation to yourself.”
- Unknown
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