Buddha ying yang - Zen garden

Japanese Zen garden with Buddha in position Bhumisparsha Mudrā

THE Japanese zen garden is composed of a statuette of Buddha, in bhûmisparsha-mudrā, posture in which, seated, the Buddha touches the ground with the tips of the fingers of his right hand, while his left hand rests in the center on his legs.

This posture symbolizes the victory of the Buddha against Mara, the representation of evil, and the calling as witness of the goddess of the earth, Sthavara, attesting to his attainment ofIllumination, under the Bodhi tree (a ficus religiosa) in Bodhgaya, India.

Benefits of the Zen garden

The Zen garden is a miniature Japanese garden inspired by the thought of Zen Buddhism. According to practitioners of Zen Buddhist meditation, perfection is unattainable but simplicity perfect. Everyone can embrace calm. This balance and this harmony are thus represented in the Japanese Zen garden: symbol of peace and the tranquility. 

The Zen garden invites softness and calm into your home, bringing many benefits to physical and psychological health. Raking the sand from the garden helps your mind and body relax so you can find inner peace. Taking care of a Zen garden stimulates meditation and thus improves concentration, patience and self-control, while developing your creativity. 

Basic elements of the Zen garden

A symbol of simplicity and serenity, the Japanese garden is made up of a few main elements, effectively translating the charm and beauty of nature into a simple and refined Asian decoration. Among them: 

• THE sand, symbol of purity, emptiness and distance
• THE stones, representing river, mountain, waterfall, etc. (longevity and omnipresence of the forces of nature), or emotional obstacles (ignorance, anger, desire, etc.). When grouped together, the stones symbolize peace.
• THE ornaments, like a candle to guide and chase away ignorance, a Buddha statuette to stimulate meditation
• There vegetation, symbol of life with suffering and joy, communion with nature

Characteristics of the Buddha Ying Yang Zen Garden