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"
http://www.educ.sfu.ca/kegan/Japangardenhome.html 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)

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

HobbesOxon wrote:
> 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

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

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

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pure-Heart-E.../dp/0722537859

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