Zen Gardening

How to create your own
"microcosm of the earth"

by Mary Margaret Miller • Photo by Courtney Dean

Zen gardens are the Westernized version of the karesansui or Japanese rock garden. The main elements of the garden are rock and sand, which are usually enclosed in a shallow box or dish. Zen itself is not a religion; rather it is a branch of Buddhism in which the practice of self-contemplation and meditation leads to an awakened, humanistic existence. The monks who shaped Zen custom created the bare gardens as a way to express the universal essence of humanity, or the connectivity of mankind.  

Although Pat Hilpert, a retired nurse and wife of Delta State University President Dr. John Hilpert, says she doesn't know how they came to call their collection of mementos a Zen garden, she is in tune with the interconnection her garden represents. With sand, shells, stones and artifacts from over 15 countries, the Hilpert's Zen garden assembles little pieces of the natural world in an attractive, accessible way. "I put it all together in a decorative wooden bowl. It is fun to run your fingers through the garden and touch all the different places from which it came. It is also something that bonds you to your friends. It is something you create together. You will always think of them when you are looking at your garden and they'll think of you when they are collecting."  

For the past 10 years friends and family have brought the Hilperts pieces of the land where they vacation and visit. Whether it is a water bottle full of sand from the Great River Road in Rosedale or a handful of stones from Egypt, this couple cherishes each contribution to what Pat calls their "microcosm of the earth."  

"It is all part of the philosophy that we are all interconnected and a piece of a whole.   It is like the whole world is a puzzle that makes up one contiguous thing and each of us is a piece of that puzzle. If you are interested in our planet and ecosystem, and preserving what we have or trying to make it better, then it shows your support." DM

Three Easy Steps to Zen Gardening  

1. Find a Decorative Container

Search your cabinets and closets for a decorative container that has meaning to you and fits your personality and décor. Wooden bowls or clear glass vases work well as Zen garden containers.
 

2. Spread the Word

Tell friends and family about your Zen garden project and ask them to bring back pieces of the environment they visit. Pat advises, however, to remind friends not to deface any places, spaces or monuments while acquiring items for your garden.  

3. Give Plastic Baggies

Supply your friends with plastic sandwich bags before they depart for a trip. This way they'll have something to store sand, rocks, shells and stones in during their excursion.