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The Sound of Cherry Blossoms: Zen Lessons from the Garden on Contemplative Design
Part garden design philosophy and part Zen Buddhism, this book eloquently shows us how the principles of garden design are the same guidelines we can follow to design our life. Intentional living is the subject of design. When we approach our work in the garden, or in our life, through the practice of contemplative design, we can elevate the whole; we can unite the spiritual with the ordinary; we can join heaven and earth.
145 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 4, 2018
I have requested another book from this author already about garden design. One with pictures since this is a fairly deep and thoughtful look at a particular gardeners approach to the design practice. Some parts were hard to grasp but there are a few gems in there that I would have hated to miss. Rocks, power spots, the flow of water. All things are part of the garden designers menu. Some valuable and gently worded reminders and words of guidance that will need to be revisited over a garden designers life and experiences. A book to own and contemplate.
April 12, 2019
Bought this on impulse in Washington DC during cherry blossom time. Love how garden design and life philosophy come together so clearly in this book. Clear and easy to read. I'm so glad I found it.
April 15, 2020
3 stars
Interesting and dome good pointers to broaden the mind when comes to designing a landscape especially the chapter when Mosko speaks about visualize the larger scope and then stabilize that vision in a well thought our process. Explains Asian influences of design and how a Japanese garden can representing spiritual growth.
The Author does go through a lot of winded metaphors of ancient Buddhism myths which drifted off course of the topic. But otherwise found to have some useful design thought process tips
Interesting and dome good pointers to broaden the mind when comes to designing a landscape especially the chapter when Mosko speaks about visualize the larger scope and then stabilize that vision in a well thought our process. Explains Asian influences of design and how a Japanese garden can representing spiritual growth.
The Author does go through a lot of winded metaphors of ancient Buddhism myths which drifted off course of the topic. But otherwise found to have some useful design thought process tips
January 24, 2019
Today, I long for a garden.
December 28, 2019
While this book sometimes verges on "woo" there is an awful lot of very practical and realistic wisdom that is firmly based in an objective world. Even if you are not interested in gardening, it is a very interesting example for how you can approach your profession or hobby from a very thoughtful, calm, centered perspective.
_________
We have to see how our lives are shaped and limited by habitual patterns - both positive and negative - before we can understand how to generate patterns that bring about peace, health, and well-being. (XII)
How we live is who we are. (XIV)
Without a guiding view, everything we do is reactive and lacking coherence. ... The beginning step in making our lives meaningful is creating and sustaining a vision. (3)
Balance is an internally experienced sense that the elements of ... our lives are in correct relation and proportion to one another to suit our overall vision. (23)
The same music can bring a person to tears and another to joy. Both have had meaningful experiences of the music. The composer (the designer of sound) provides an auditory environment for meaningful experience but does not try to control that experience. (29)
Without creative thought, our only means of solving our problems or figuring things out is through intellectual analysis or emotional reactions, like greed or desire. We are trapped by old mental processes and can't find a better way to handle things. (34)
If you can visualize a positive result, it may assist you in figuring out what steps you'll have to take in order to achieve it. ... Visualize the outcome you want ... and examine the visualization. It will give you clues on how to manage the discussion more fruitfully and to see the conflict from the other side. (71)
Shantideva, the 8th century scholar, called self-confidence one of the four supports of all spiritual practice. (77)
Confidence is not arrogance... Arrogance has no basis in actual competence, knowledge, or understanding, whereas confidence comes from all three of these things. ... Confidence requires training. It comes from relating to things as they are rather than the way we think they are. ... A self-confident person can admit mistakes and take responsibility for things that go wrong. (78-79)
Listening carefully to what's going on is a life skill not enough of us learn well. We put a high value on our individual initiative and opinions, sometimes at the expense of listening to hear what the consequences of our actions will be. What's called 'deep listening' is not just a matter of being silent while others talk. It requires that we recognize our ego shouting loudly internally, and quiet it. (90)
Rhythm locks us in to an experience of time. (106)
_______
Mandalas (p. 18-19)
Thoughts on our dependence on one another (p. 19)
_________
We have to see how our lives are shaped and limited by habitual patterns - both positive and negative - before we can understand how to generate patterns that bring about peace, health, and well-being. (XII)
How we live is who we are. (XIV)
Without a guiding view, everything we do is reactive and lacking coherence. ... The beginning step in making our lives meaningful is creating and sustaining a vision. (3)
Balance is an internally experienced sense that the elements of ... our lives are in correct relation and proportion to one another to suit our overall vision. (23)
The same music can bring a person to tears and another to joy. Both have had meaningful experiences of the music. The composer (the designer of sound) provides an auditory environment for meaningful experience but does not try to control that experience. (29)
Without creative thought, our only means of solving our problems or figuring things out is through intellectual analysis or emotional reactions, like greed or desire. We are trapped by old mental processes and can't find a better way to handle things. (34)
If you can visualize a positive result, it may assist you in figuring out what steps you'll have to take in order to achieve it. ... Visualize the outcome you want ... and examine the visualization. It will give you clues on how to manage the discussion more fruitfully and to see the conflict from the other side. (71)
Shantideva, the 8th century scholar, called self-confidence one of the four supports of all spiritual practice. (77)
Confidence is not arrogance... Arrogance has no basis in actual competence, knowledge, or understanding, whereas confidence comes from all three of these things. ... Confidence requires training. It comes from relating to things as they are rather than the way we think they are. ... A self-confident person can admit mistakes and take responsibility for things that go wrong. (78-79)
Listening carefully to what's going on is a life skill not enough of us learn well. We put a high value on our individual initiative and opinions, sometimes at the expense of listening to hear what the consequences of our actions will be. What's called 'deep listening' is not just a matter of being silent while others talk. It requires that we recognize our ego shouting loudly internally, and quiet it. (90)
Rhythm locks us in to an experience of time. (106)
_______
Mandalas (p. 18-19)
Thoughts on our dependence on one another (p. 19)
June 22, 2018
I am reviewing this book for NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
This is not the normal type of garden book I read. Usually, the garden books that come through my hands are the type of practical knowledge. i.e. this much fertilizer and this type of plant. However, I have a deep and unabiding love of Japanese Landscape architecture, and Zen Buddhism in general. Putting them together in a general and readable format was like a delicious candy bar for me. It was a lovely and relaxing read. It was full of beautiful writing, not as practical as I would like and sometimes a bit too "woo woo" for my taste, but well written and interesting. Definitely, the writing is something to contemplate. I think on rereading it, I would get more out of it. This is the type of book that you get much more out of it with contemplation and multiple reads.
This is not the normal type of garden book I read. Usually, the garden books that come through my hands are the type of practical knowledge. i.e. this much fertilizer and this type of plant. However, I have a deep and unabiding love of Japanese Landscape architecture, and Zen Buddhism in general. Putting them together in a general and readable format was like a delicious candy bar for me. It was a lovely and relaxing read. It was full of beautiful writing, not as practical as I would like and sometimes a bit too "woo woo" for my taste, but well written and interesting. Definitely, the writing is something to contemplate. I think on rereading it, I would get more out of it. This is the type of book that you get much more out of it with contemplation and multiple reads.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews