The other day, I was approached at my house by two members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons as they are popularly called. They asked me if I had ever heard about The Book of Mormon, and I politely answered that I had, and I was not all that interested in talking to any of it’s followers, thank you very much. They looked a little sunburned and rather thirsty, so I asked them into my house and offered them some water to drink. They accepted and hung out in my living room, drinking their water, and politely talking to me.
Because they were missionaries, they steered the conversation to The Book of Mormon as soon as they could. They asked me if I knew anything about Joseph Smith, the man who is credited with writing the Book of Mormon, supposedly after having it divinely inspired by God. I can not resist a good argument, and I really have it bad for religion, so I sat there and listened to them telling me all about the origins of their Book of Mormon. All I could think of the whole time was the South Park episode about Mormons, the one with the musical rendition of their history and religious story. It was a little hard not to laugh, I must confess.
They told me that, according to The Book of Mormon and the followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Joseph Smith was worried because he had no idea which church to follow. He believed that one of them must contain the correct word of God, but as there were so many churches out there in his day. And incidentally, there are even more today, so the problem has only gotten worse since then. He could not really figure out which one he should turn to. The Book of Mormon tells about him going out into the woods in his backyard and asking God what is up with all the churches. God told him that he should form a new church, and sent him the Book of Mormon, which was supposedly made up of ancient golden tablets left on that continent. And of course, in bland predictable style, the followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe that the Book of Mormon is the only truth. How original.
In Japan, Zen Buddhism informs so much of the Japanese philosophy and lies at the core of all their aesthetic undertakings. The natural world is valued highly and the Japanese rock garden, or Zen Garden as it has come to be known is a large part of that tradition. Named Karesansui in Japanese, meaning dry landscape, these gardens are very prominent in Japan and much copied elsewhere. They are often to be found at temples where they are tended by monks, as in the ancient city of Kyoto. Ordinary households often have them too.
Nothing is accidental in Japanese design and everything has a meaning. A Zen Garden may appear to have random elements to the casual observer, but every aspect will have been deliberately placed. The garden follows a standard form, being enclosed and containing gravel or sand and rocks. Other materials are used occasionally. The rocks are of various shapes and sizes and are sometimes within circles of moss and often placed on a mound of pebbles. The person who looks after the Zen Garden is fastidious in raking the white gravel or sand every day.
It is these elements that are significant and there may be no greenery present at all, in contrast to Western style gardens. Different interpretations exist as to the symbolism within the garden. Most experts agree that the sand or gravel represents the ocean, the raking of patterns being done to signify ripples on the water. The rocks are normally seen, either as specific Japanese islands or Chinese mountains. Some people see animal forms in the rocks. The symbolism is the subject of debate but the purpose of such gardens is clear. They are designed to instill a feeling of calm in the viewer, offering an opportunity to escape the rigors of the outside world. Some people sit for hours, contemplating the garden in a form of deep meditation. The simplicity of the designs evokes an atmosphere of peace and well being.
Even a city apartment dweller can own a patch of Zen Garden, if so desired. There are small, miniature framed gardens of around eight inches square with sand and pebbles. A little wooden rake is also provided to maintain the sand. In a land of crowded cities such as Japan, a garden of any size is a haven to treasure. The simple but meaningful gardens are intriguing and never lose their ability to capture the imagination, no matter what culture the viewer is from.
