unconscious sight

BBC: zen psychology
National Geographic: zen psychology

The mind is very flexible if we practice flexibility. This ability to think flexibly is useful in ordinary life and in the pursuit of Zen.

What do you see in the garden?

Some people see hills with their peaks poking above the clouds.
Some people see tigers crossing a river.
Some people see islands rising from the sea.
Some see a lake or heaven itself.
Some people see only rocks.



Modern life is full of distractions. Our minds weren't built to absorb all the information coming at us. Even when these temples were built, the outside city life was busy and full of entertaining distractions. At breakfast, we think of work. At work we think of going home; while going home we plan our weekend. How much time do we spend right now, right where we are?

Visiting a garden with a few rocks in it gives our mind just enough information to feel comfortable. Here we can train our mind to stop jumping about from one unrelated subject to another. In this way, it is similar to the breath counting meditation. Calming the mind, like calming water, allows the dirt to settle, and the water to clear.

moss garden, tofuku-ji, kyoto



bottlecaps, garbage displaced. natural.
rock formations, earth in concrete. becomes natural.