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Building My Zen Garden

I don't know why I hadn't thought about sharing this sooner with everyone here, but the recent discussions of Japanese Tea Ceremony sparked it. One of the most enjoyable and amusing things I had ever read online is Keran Egan's "Building My Zen Garden"

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and it can be read in it's entirety online for free. I read it many years back (Geez, does time fly, it has been 7 years already!) at work during my lunch breaks when I found it by accident, it captivated me and made me laugh out loud many times and made me late clocking back in more times than I can count back then.

I have embarked on building a small pond and garden in my own front yard, and after searching and searching I finally found it again, I had to reread it now that I am following in his footsteps. I also wanted to share it with you all. My endeavor will not be as elaborate, but it will feature a pond, a bench, landscaping including some of my bonsai.. all being built from scratch by me (actually building the bench, and pond, not buying them)

I have since bought the actual book, and highly recommend it! Enjoy!

- Dominic Drinking: Shui Xian (my new darn addiction pulling me further away from my beloved greens)

Reply to
Dominic T.
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Thanks for the link, Dominic - I've added it to my next Amazon order. It's right up my proverbial street, and I need some new reading. :)

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

Reply to
HobbesOxon

You won't be disappointed. I've read it over 4 times and I still laugh numerous times throughout. The guy has a great sense of humor and his trials and tribulations are never ending. It's nice though because there is a fair bit of insight as well, and I know for me at least, being intelligent does not always mean simple tasks end up being simple. It's that whole book learning vs. common sense thing, and the tendency to overthink things in some areas and miss the painfully obvious in others.

It is definitely not a how-to book, but delightful reading and I hope at least a few around here get chance to check it out either online or in book form. (oh, and I have no knowledge of or affiliation with anyone involved in the book whatsoever... just something I found years back that came back to memory due to my own adventure in building a small pond/garden/benches these days)

Cheers!

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

Here's a beautiful book that I was given just last night, by chance:

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It's a book formed from the journal and letters of an Irish girl who went to study Zen in Japan, who was enlightened within three years, and then died in a car accident almost immediately afterwards. She is apaprently revered as a Buddhist "saint" (incarnation of Kannon / Guanyin / Avalokiteshrava) in northern Japan. The book itself is very touching and beautiful, and is a wonderful description of a soul's journey along the Zen path. It's compelling stuff.

Toodlepip,

Hobbes

Reply to
HobbesOxon

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