Visit or create a zen garden

Is your last nerve shot? Are you having trouble concentrating and relaxing? You need a visit to your local Zen garden. What?

Sounds silly, doesn’t it? But it’s not. Zen gardens are used in meditation to calm the nerves, provoke the imagination and aid relaxation and concentration. Japanese gardens combine the philosophies of Shintoism, which reveres nature; Buddhism, which reveres life; and Zen, which abides by the laws of nature and the fundamental reality in all things.

There are three types of Zen gardens: karensansui or dry gardens, rock gardens and stroll gardens.

•The karensansui garden is the most prominent. The two main elements of this garden are the rocks, used to represent mountains, and the sand, used to represent water. The sand used is not actual sand but crushed granite. While there can be some plants in a dry garden, the main focus is the rocks.

Although stones are used in other areas of the garden, like paths, walls and bridges, each stone is an element in its own right. A stone’s shape and form determines where it will be placed. A garden master is the only person who has the knowledge and expertise to place the rocks in a Japanese garden.

•Rock gardens also use stones. Gravel is poured over the garden area and large stones are added. The gardener creates designs in the gravel by raking the length of the garden. They then create swirls around the stones and each other. The swirls represent water; the stones represent mountains.

•Stroll gardens, originally from India, attempt to create the illusion of a long journey within a limited space. In this type of garden, the path is the important feature. These gardens are often quite large with a pond in the center encircled with a path or paths.

Most Zen gardens have common features, such as islands, bridges and ornaments. In Japan, islands represent the isles of blest immortal souls and symbolize longevity and good health.

It is not uncommon to find single rock islands and built-up rock and earth islands in a Zen garden. Look closely and you may find the islands are shaped like the tortoise and the crane, both symbols of longevity.

Make Your Own

If visiting a lifesize Zen garden to help you relax is not an option, you can make your own. Here’s what you will need: Large flat container; sand or crushed granite; rocks; miniature rake; greenery (optional); decorative items (optional).

Add a good layer of sand or crushed granite to the container. Arrange the rocks, using an odd number for luck. To add some greenery, try a live bonsai plant (leave it in its own container for easier watering).

Be sure the greenery used is in correct proportion to the garden. For decoration, add a miniature Budda or Japanese temple. Use the rake to create designs in the sand depending on your mood. With stress levels at all-time highs, a Zen garden sounds like something we all could use.