Abstract:
This current work draws how we experience the process of emptying our minds. The primary aim of this religion is to liberate the human being from the shackles of the rules and conventions imposed by society, and to allow one to regain the marvellous spontaneity of the child, or one’s primary nature, original being or essence. In Zen Buddhism, creating a garden is considered to be a privilege as a means of expressing and practicing. The type of garden in this context does not contain trees or water fountains like other typical gardens instead it is filled with dry gravel and stones. It is a Japanese Rock Garden which is also called “dry landscapes” (Karesansui in Japanese)1 like the garden of Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. Zen monks rejected transitory phenomena and worthless appearances. They stripped nature bare in order to reveal its substance: their “bare bones” gardens expresses universal essence. The shape, circle represents the Enso (circle in Japanese) which is another way of meditation of Zen. Enso is a circle that is hand-drawn in one or two uninhibited brushstrokes to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create. My practice is creating my own version of Japanese Rock Garden by using my method of meditation which is the carving technique. The carving technique represents a process of removing to go back to our pure mind. This act of labour is necessary as in Zen it is important to have a manual activity as well as long periods of sitting meditation since one must practice with the body as well as with the mind. It also becomes a meditative experience for the audiences by observing the garden because Japanese Rock Garden is an image of the universe in its most condensed form. By using vinyl which is normally used for flooring it creates a rapture in one’s thought that stimulates one’s imagination which makes one think in a fresh way. The carved vinyl reflects the texture of a rock which links back to the idea of Japanese Rock Garden.