![]() First you’ll need to pour the sand into the tray. You can even put on some relaxing nature sounds or just enjoy the rare quietness and stillness. Try to find a quiet space to work on your garden. Meditation has even been proven to lower blood pressure and improve your immune system when practiced regularly.Ī desktop Zen garden kit includes objects such as a wooden tray, sand, polished stones or rocks, and a wooden rake. It has also shown to have an effect on fighting addictions by increasing mindfulness. One study showed that meditation can improve attention and concentration significantly on standardized tests after just a couple of weeks of practice. People who practice meditation also stay on task longer. A study by neuroscientists showed that after just 11 hours, people who practiced meditation had actual changes in the part of the brain involved in focus and self-control. Miniature or not, working with a Zen garden and practicing meditation can help improve your focus and patience. The mindfulness you practice in your garden can also help you filter out unnecessary thoughts during creative activities. Research has shown that meditation promotes “divergent thinking,” and important type of thinking where many new ideas are generated. Placing it on your tabletop may even help you to find a new perspective or solve a problem plaguing you at work. You can also use your Zen garden to stimulate your creativity, or to practice seeing things from many points of view. Another important concept is Yugen, which can be translated in many ways including “a subtle grace,” “hidden beauty,” and “mysterious profundity.” As you work on your garden, you will start to understand these concepts and recognize them in the world around you. However, there can still be a sense of balance in the asymmetry. The famous “Zen circle,” or enso, is often painted as an incomplete or imperfect circle to symbolize that imperfection is a part of life. There is beauty in things that are uneven or off center. Another concept is Fukinsei, asymmetry or irregularity. The first basic concept is Kanso, or simplicity. Zen gardens are based on concepts of beauty that can be applied to your life, your home, and your creative projects. Working with a desktop Zen garden can also help you develop a sense for aesthetics. Eventually your mind with quiet itself on its own. Don’t fight with any thoughts that do arise, just recognize them and let them pass by effortlessly like clouds in a sky or a leaf on a river. You could also contemplate a Zen Buddhist riddle, called a “koan.” Or just practice mindful breathing and try to empty your mind of conscious thoughts. Perhaps you want to keep a couple quotes from Buddhist scriptures near your garden to meditate on. You can choose specific concepts to meditate on, like the Zen ideas of impermanence, the absence of self, or dualism. Meditating on a Zen garden can help you gain a wider perspective and see beyond what is in front of you. There is no right or wrong way to make your garden you can achieve the benefits of stress relief just by mindfully tending it. You don’t need to worry about giving it sunlight or water, so maintenance won’t become another stress in your life. You can even keep one at your desktop at work for when you need a break. Escape the stress of your busy everyday life with your Zen garden. Focusing on the repetitive physical movements quiets your mind and enables you to truly experience the present moment, rather than worrying about the past or the future. By methodically arranging the stones and combing the sand, you can begin to relax. One of the most important benefits of a miniature Zen garden is stress relief. While you may not be able to fly to Kyoto, you can get some of the same benefits-by having a Zen garden of your own right on your tabletop.ĥ Reasons Everyone Should Have Their Own Desktop Zen Garden Relieve Stress By focusing on the space rather than the rocks, one can begin to understand the Buddhist ideal of emptiness and appreciate life’s beauty. For example, Kyoto’s famous Ryoanji Zen garden consists of 15 rocks amid a white sandy space. ![]() ![]() Sometimes the gardens simply encourage meditation on the meaning of life. Swirling patterns in the sand represent water, while rock formations become mountains or islands. Zen gardens use rocks and gravel or sand to recreate the essence of nature. Keep reading to find out why you should have one in your home or office and where you can find a truly authentic Japanese desktop zen garden!ĭesktop Zen garden kits are designed to recreate the dry landscape gardens of Japanese Zen Buddhism on a small scale for enjoyment at your home or office. If you’re open to Eastern meditation, maintaining a personal zen garden is a great way to find your inner piece. Stressed at work? Stressed at home? Escape from the never-ending stream of incessent noises and thoughts that bombard your daily life. ![]()
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