The Sound Of Cherry Blossoms: Zen Lessons from the Garden on Contemplative Design

Product Description

Garden design is the way of discovering the garden. And the Garden is a metaphor for life itself.
At the heart of this practice, and this book, is a question, Once we are aware of our own habitual patterns and the patterns of the environment, how do we design and build a place that is sacred, sustainable, adaptive, inspiring, and holy? This book explores the answer and offers insights and tools for gardeners, designers in all disciplines, and anyone looking for fresh perspectives on bringing harmony and balance to their lives.
Part garden design philosophy and part Zen Buddhism, this book carefully and eloquently shows us how the principles of garden design are the same guidelines we can follow to design our life. Design work is intentional. If we approach our work in the garden, or in our life, through the practice of contemplative design, Martin Hakubai Mosko shows us that by working with more awareness and understanding of our materials--the rules and elements that make up our design--we can elevate the whole; we can unite the spiritual with the ordinary, we can join heaven and earth.Garden design is the way of discovering the garden. And the Garden is a metaphor for life itself.
At the heart of this practice, and this book, is a question, Once we are aware of our own habitual patterns and the patterns of the environment, how do we design and build a place that is sacred, sustainable, adaptive, inspiring, and holy? This book explores the answer and offers insights and tools for gardeners, designers in all disciplines, and anyone looking for fresh perspectives on bringing harmony and balance to their lives.
Part garden design philosophy and part Zen Buddhism, this book carefully and eloquently shows us how the principles of garden design are the same guidelines we can follow to design our life. Design work is intentional. If we approach our work in the garden, or in our life, through the practice of contemplative design, Martin Hakubai Mosko shows us that by working with more awareness and understanding of our materials--the rules and elements that make up our design--we can elevate the whole; we can unite the spiritual with the ordinary, we can join heaven and earth.
MARTIN HAKUBAI MOSKO, ASLA, founded the landscape design and construction firm Marpa & Associates in 1974. He studied painting and Sanskrit at Yale, and has apprenticed with Japanese master gardeners. Mosko is a Zen monk and heir to the lineage of Tenzan Keibun Otokawa Roshi, and has trained in Tibetan Buddhism with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In addition to his responsibilities at Marpa, he is abbot of Hakubai Temple and travels the country lecturing on garden design and meditation. Along with his wife, Alxe Noden, he is the author of Landscape as Spirit.