Many people think of gardens as being full of plant life, but for centuries, Japanese Zen Buddhists have been gardening with only sand and a few rocks. More than just a hobby, however, a Zen sand garden is a traditional setting where the gardener, armed only with a rake and his or her mind, can find calm, serenity, and mental clarity. The Japanese have been using Zen sand gardens since about the seventh century BC.
Although many of these gardens included moss or other small plants, the modern versions that have been exported are simply sand and rock. One of the ideas behind the sand garden is that the sand represents water, while the rocks represent islands. By arranging the rocks as landmasses, the gardener is expressing his or her inner vision. Once the rocks have been placed, the gardener rakes patterns into the sand
While you may have a purpose in mind when creating your pattern, the idea is to let the patterns flow freely out of yourself by clearing your mind of all thought. People who have tried sand gardens have testified that the process is tremendous for relieving stress, and allows you to focus your thoughts, especially if you are able to release the thoughts that occupy your mind one after the other.
There are many different sizes of sand garden as well. Tabletop sand gardens are becoming more and more popular as a stress relief tool. These miniature gardens are great for the office, as you can retreat for a few minutes to clear your thoughts. At the other end of the scale, some sand gardens are up to an acre in size, providing for hours of enjoyment. With a Zen garden, you can relax and enjoy the tranquility that this type of garden radiates.