Q&A for How to Create a Zen Garden

Absolutely! General principles of Wabi (simplicity without pretension) and Sabi (solitary ancient beauty) are said to apply. These are a direct expression of the four unique characteristics of Buddhist teachings: all things are impermanent, passing just as they arise, disappearing; suffering is caused by grasping at such an objective reality; objective realities exist utterly without their own self-nature; realization is vast, peaceful bliss.

You should check out your local shops that sell gardening supplies, or buy from Amazon or eBay.

A Zen garden is a peaceful place where you can go to meditate or admire the simplicity of its design, pebbles, rocks stone and sand, all basic elements put together to make a simple, yet beautiful space. It's a great thing to have whether you're Buddhist or not and a statue of one of the Buddhas or a sage is a common element.

It's a a garden rake, you can make one yourself. It is used to create patterns that resemble the ripples of water movement in lakes and oceans.

If you find azaleas relaxing, then go for it! Traditionally, Zen Gardens would only have wild plants and grasses that are cut low though.

You could store the box in an airtight container, put it in a sheltered place, or bring it indoors when it rains.

You can buy plants from any garden store, nursery, and even some home supply stores (like Home Depot). You could also grow your own from seeds!

You should check out your local gardening shop or Home Depot, most likely you will be able to find one at one of the locations.

It's not necessary. Zen gardens originated from before Buddhism entered Japan (which itself was very long ago - the 12th century).

Building outdoors, you should still use a "mould" (basically a container) to prevent the sand from washing away. You will have to re-rake the designs in the sand, but that is part of the point of Zen gardens.

Evidently the person who took photos decided they just wanted a desktop garden instead of something bigger. The process is similar for a bigger garden, just with bigger objects and tools - and traditionally it is designed to be viewed from only one perspective, so if you want a bigger garden, pick the spot you want to look at it from and plan around that.

Technically yes, but it's not ideal, it's not only about the designs, but the relaxing activity.

You can find rocks or logs at a local park, especially under bushes or in overgrown areas, but be sure not to damage plants or disturb the area. Hiking in the woods is another free option. Check Craigslist's "free stuff" section for local giveaways. Garden centers also sell them, but they tend to be more expensive. Additionally, in the spring, you might find maple saplings near trees that can be used for bonsai.

The sand should extend from the bottom of your form or mold to the top. If you're using 2x4 lumber for an outdoor garden, as suggested in the article, the sand should be 4 inches deep.

You can grow plants in a Zen garden. Simple, low-maintenance plants like moss, small shrubs, or succulents are recommended. Japanese maple, bamboo, pine, and azalea are also common Zen garden plants.

Have you tried the play sand they sell at garden centers? They also have pea gravel, which is another Zen Garden favorite. If you live near the ocean, there's always beach sand!