Is it ok to create a zen garden in an area of my backyard?

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Tamsulosin

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The question may sound funny ,but I know that" zen" may have the wrong connotations. I love peaceful looking gardens.How can I have a zen garden and not worry, since if I did have reasons for worrying, It would defeat the purpose?šŸ˜‰
 
Tamsulosin said:
The question may sound funny ,but I know that" zen" may have the wrong connotations. I love peaceful looking gardens.How can I have a zen garden and not worry, since if I did have reasons for worrying, It would defeat the purpose?šŸ˜‰
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I see no problem if it is one of those gardens - Japanese style - with the stone and gravel etc.You do not necessarily need too call it a Zen garden, so long as you are not using Zen meditation or laying out features superstitiously, like feng shui etc.
 
Tamsulosin said:
The question may sound funny ,but I know that" zen" may have the wrong connotations. I love peaceful looking gardens.How can I have a zen garden and not worry, since if I did have reasons for worrying, It would defeat the purpose?šŸ˜‰
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Call it whatever you want: zen garden, contemplative garden, prayer garden, itā€™s still a peaceful, nicely-shaded outdoor space with plants and trees and flowers and a pretty piece of statuary or two, maybe a bench of swing, and a bird feeder and birdbath (but not if you have outdoor cats!).

If you want a rock garden, go for it. But be forewarned: those Japanese-style graveled spaces are a nightmare to keep neat. We live near a Japanese art museum and cultural center, and whenever weā€™re there, which is often, thereā€™s always someone out there raking, and raking, and raking.

Luna
 
I like those that have sand that one rakes, creating kind of powdery rivers.
Is that OK?
 
I have cats that like to sleep in the sunny corners of the patio.
 
What are zen cats? I am curious.
Maybe they are, and we do not know it.
One is very black with golden eyes.Does that qualify as Zen cat?His name is Aladdin.
 
Tamsulosin said:
I like those that have sand that one rakes, creating kind of powdery rivers.
Is that OK?
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Nothing wrong with a beautiful place - just donā€™t seek your inspiration in the order (unless you rake an image of Jesus, of course)
Tamsulosin said:
I have cats that like to sleep in the sunny corners of the patio.
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Erm - I had to put a tarp over my kidsā€™ sandbox due to visits from neighboring cats.
 
I suggest you create a garden that appeals to you.

What it might look likeā€¦šŸ¤·

Peace
James
 
I see why not? We can find God in all things, except where evil/or sin is. Iā€™ve always loved the ā€œzenā€ garden even the ā€œzenā€ breathing exercise, which pretty much got rid of my asthma. Instead of focusing it on me I focus the breathing with rosary meditation. Yeah itā€™s not for everyone and itā€™s not something I go around promoting lol, just like lifting heavy weights, which I also do, is not for everyone.
 
Having a zen garden is no worse than doing yoga for exercize. I look forward to having one someday.
 
Tamsulosin said:
I like those that have sand that one rakes, creating kind of powdery rivers.
Is that OK?
Click to expand...
My cats donā€™t like to sleep in the ā€œpowdery riversā€ā€¦they doā€¦ā€œother thingsā€ in the powderā€¦THEN I rake it out.šŸ™‚
 
Tamsulosin said:
What are zen cats? I am curious.
Maybe they are, and we do not know it.
One is very black with golden eyes.Does that qualify as Zen cat?His name is Aladdin.
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No. It qualifies as an Islamic cat.

You are obviously a ā€œSecret Muslimā€. Thereā€™s been a bit of this going around recently. Can you provide us with your birth certificate?

šŸ˜›
 
Luna says that probably I will have to rake ,rake and rake.And others alude to cats using my zen place for less inspiring purposes.
Are you trying to dissuade me?
Do any of you have a zen garden and are proud of it or find it inspiring?
Big rocks and wood boxes are expensive ,that is why before embarquing in it I need to hear some pros.Iā€™ve got already some cons from you.:o
 
Tamsulosin said:
The question may sound funny ,but I know that" zen" may have the wrong connotations. I love peaceful looking gardens.How can I have a zen garden and not worry, since if I did have reasons for worrying, It would defeat the purpose?šŸ˜‰
Click to expand...
Youā€™d probably do better with a fountain garden then a Zen garden. Scripture writes that a foundation garden can have all the aromatic herbs growing there and it will entice the heart of your beloved to come near you. So whatever your peace of mind maybe, the fountain garden will bring that peace of mind to you.
Song of Songs 4: 12-15
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A garden enclosed, my sister, my bride, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed! 13. Your branches are a grove of pomegranates, with fruits of choicest yield: Henna with spikenard, 14. spikenard and saffron, Sweet cane and cinnamon, with all kinds of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices; 15. A garden fountain, a well of living water, streams flowing from Lebanon.
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:bowdown2:
 
Tamsulosin said:
Luna says that probably I will have to rake ,rake and rake.And others alude to cats using my zen place for less inspiring purposes.
Are you trying to dissuade me?
Do any of you have a zen garden and are proud of it or find it inspiring?
Big rocks and wood boxes are expensive ,that is why before embarquing in it I need to hear some pros.Iā€™ve got already some cons from you.:o
Click to expand...
Sorry. Actually, I do remember the occasional Zen garden and also found the pattern to be soothing (usually).

As for the catsā€¦

A couple users on this forum recommend using gravel instead of sand.
 
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