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Top Zen Gardens From Around the World
There is a mystique surrounding these beautiful Japanese rock gardens, aka Zen gardens, that originated in the Japanese culture hundreds of years ago. Zen garden is an interesting and deeply spiritual aspect of Japanese gardening traditions. The typical Zen garden consists of an enclosed and shallow sand box of sorts which features predominantly sand or gravel with rocks of various shapes and sizes.These artistic gardens consist mainly of fine gravel or sand that is raked in various artistic patterns, and larger rocks which are strategically placed throughout the gravel bed. These gardens are symbolic of the Buddhist belief that one can achieve Zen, or enlightenment, through meditation and deep relaxation. Traditional Zen gardens are interpreted differently by each individual, and nobody knows for sure what their true meaning is. Many people believe that the gravel of the garden represents water, and the larger rocks represents land or islands in that water.
The one thing that we do know for sure is that these Japanese rock gardens are visually stunning. Some of the most historic rock gardens also function as extremely popular meditation sites for people from around the world. People claim to get a sense of relaxation, or enlightenment, at these gardens that they can't achieve anywhere else in the world. Furthermore, Zen gardens are becoming ever more popular in the Western World. Here's a some photos of some of the most beautiful, and historic, Japanese rock gardens from around the world.
Zuiho-in a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji . Located in Kyoto, Japan, Zuiho-in is one of the sub-temples of Daitoku-ji, which is one of the 14 branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. You can find multiple rock gardens at this temple including Zuiho-tei, and they are all world-renowned meditation sites. Visiting these 700 year old historical rock gardens is quite an enlighting experience according to those who have been there.
Shitenno-ji Honbo Garden: This extraordinary Zen garden was built at the oldest large-scale temple in Japan, way back in 593. The Honbo Garden features not only the traditional patterns of gravel and large rocks, but it also is made even more beautiful by the extensive plant life and small stream that outline this historical rock garden. This Japanese rock garden is located in Osaka, Japan.
Portland Japanese Garden This Zen garden is a Japanese style garden that is located in Portland, Oregon. The garden sits on a 5.5 acre site, and it was voted as the best Japanese garden located outside of Japan. The authentic-looking Zen garden in Portland was completed in 1967, and it actually consists of 5 major sub-gardens. The Japanese rock garden here consists of rippled sand that is symbolic of the ocean, and larger rocks that rise from the ocean.
Tofoku-ji Garden The Zen gardens located at Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, are some of the most amazing of their kind. This temple was constructed in 1236, and today it's one of Japan's busiest temples during the autumn because of it's spectacularly colorful leaf viewing. Tourists flock here to view this historical temple, and the well-groomed Zen Garden. The gardens here are designed in traditional Japanese styling with the minimalistic gravel and stone construction.
Rozan-ji Temple This temple was founded in 938, and features a beautiful moss and white gravel garden that is laced with small trees and large rocks. What makes this place so popular amongst tourists is that this site was once the residence of one of Japan's most famous authors ever – Murasaki Shikibu. This elegant rock garden is located just east of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, Japan.
Ginkaku-ji Temple At this temple in Kyoto, Japan, you can find a unique rock garden that is most famous for its large mound of sand on the northwest side of the grounds. This carefully constructed pile of sand is said to symbolise Mt. Fuji. The rest of the Zen garden at Ginkaku-ji Temple is filled with a variety of mosses and beautifully groomed white gravel. The temple was built in 1474 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, and the garden was supposedly designed by the famous landscape artist Soami.
There is a mystique surrounding these beautiful Japanese rock gardens, aka Zen gardens, that originated in the Japanese culture hundreds of years ago. Zen garden is an interesting and deeply spiritual aspect of Japanese gardening traditions. The typical Zen garden consists of an enclosed and shallow sand box of sorts which features predominantly sand or gravel with rocks of various shapes and sizes.These artistic gardens consist mainly of fine gravel or sand that is raked in various artistic patterns, and larger rocks which are strategically placed throughout the gravel bed. These gardens are symbolic of the Buddhist belief that one can achieve Zen, or enlightenment, through meditation and deep relaxation. Traditional Zen gardens are interpreted differently by each individual, and nobody knows for sure what their true meaning is. Many people believe that the gravel of the garden represents water, and the larger rocks represents land or islands in that water.
The one thing that we do know for sure is that these Japanese rock gardens are visually stunning. Some of the most historic rock gardens also function as extremely popular meditation sites for people from around the world. People claim to get a sense of relaxation, or enlightenment, at these gardens that they can't achieve anywhere else in the world. Furthermore, Zen gardens are becoming ever more popular in the Western World. Here's a some photos of some of the most beautiful, and historic, Japanese rock gardens from around the world.
Zuiho-in a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji . Located in Kyoto, Japan, Zuiho-in is one of the sub-temples of Daitoku-ji, which is one of the 14 branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. You can find multiple rock gardens at this temple including Zuiho-tei, and they are all world-renowned meditation sites. Visiting these 700 year old historical rock gardens is quite an enlighting experience according to those who have been there.
Shitenno-ji Honbo Garden: This extraordinary Zen garden was built at the oldest large-scale temple in Japan, way back in 593. The Honbo Garden features not only the traditional patterns of gravel and large rocks, but it also is made even more beautiful by the extensive plant life and small stream that outline this historical rock garden. This Japanese rock garden is located in Osaka, Japan.
Portland Japanese Garden This Zen garden is a Japanese style garden that is located in Portland, Oregon. The garden sits on a 5.5 acre site, and it was voted as the best Japanese garden located outside of Japan. The authentic-looking Zen garden in Portland was completed in 1967, and it actually consists of 5 major sub-gardens. The Japanese rock garden here consists of rippled sand that is symbolic of the ocean, and larger rocks that rise from the ocean.
Tofoku-ji Garden The Zen gardens located at Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, are some of the most amazing of their kind. This temple was constructed in 1236, and today it's one of Japan's busiest temples during the autumn because of it's spectacularly colorful leaf viewing. Tourists flock here to view this historical temple, and the well-groomed Zen Garden. The gardens here are designed in traditional Japanese styling with the minimalistic gravel and stone construction.
Rozan-ji Temple This temple was founded in 938, and features a beautiful moss and white gravel garden that is laced with small trees and large rocks. What makes this place so popular amongst tourists is that this site was once the residence of one of Japan's most famous authors ever – Murasaki Shikibu. This elegant rock garden is located just east of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, Japan.
Ginkaku-ji Temple At this temple in Kyoto, Japan, you can find a unique rock garden that is most famous for its large mound of sand on the northwest side of the grounds. This carefully constructed pile of sand is said to symbolise Mt. Fuji. The rest of the Zen garden at Ginkaku-ji Temple is filled with a variety of mosses and beautifully groomed white gravel. The temple was built in 1474 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, and the garden was supposedly designed by the famous landscape artist Soami.
Here are picyures of some Magical Landscaped Zen Gardens
Here is a roof-top Zen Garden
2nd Place: jericsaniel, Source: Where Cool Things Happen
You have seen a fair share of incredible aerial photography in the past, but never anything like the International Drone Photography Awards. For the first time ever, Dronstagram and partners like National Geographic and GoPro teamed up to find the world’s best drone photography. Since May 15th, more than 2,000 images from all over the world were submitted. Yet only six images were chosen as winners (three regular winners and three People’s Choice winners). Check out the winning drone photography in the images below:
International Drone Photography Awards: The Winners
1st Place: capungaero, Source: HashLush
3rd Place: Drone Capture System, Source: Where Cool Things Happen
1st Prize (People’s Choice): postandfly, Source: Where Cool Things Happen
A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), meaning that it is an aircraft without a pilot. Usually drones are used for military and surveillance work, though they may also be used for policing, firefighting, special operations and nonmilitary security work. Drones are flown and directed by both computers and remote operators. Many amateur drone photographers snap their photos with GoPros and other cameras that are attached to controllable drone devices.
2nd Prize (People’s Choice): jams69, Source: Where Cool Things Happen
3rd Prize (People’s Choice): Svetlin Marinov, Source: Dronestagram
Other Drone Photography (and Video!)
While these photographs and videos didn’t win anything at the International Drone Photography Awards, they still offer a glimpse into the incredible world of aerial and drone photography.
Source: Dronestagram
Source: Dronestagram
Hadfield's video from the International space station reveals how astronauts create snacks in orbit. Here, he collects everything for a honey and peanut butter tortilla
Keep your eye on the prize: At one point Hadfield's torilla spins off screen and has to be retrieved, showing the issues of preparing food in zero gravity
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13 Things to Remember All the Times
1- No one can ruin your day without your permission.
2- Most of the people will be about as happy as they decide to be.
3- Other can stop you temporarily but YOU can do it permanently.
4- Success stops when you do.
5- You will never have it all together.
6- Life is journey not a destination. Enjoy the trip.
7- The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
8- If you don't start, it is certain you won't reach.
9- He or She whoever laughs , lasts.
10- Life is what is coming, not what was.
11- Success is getting up one more time
12- When things go wrong, don't go with them.
13- Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
1- No one can ruin your day without your permission.
2- Most of the people will be about as happy as they decide to be.
3- Other can stop you temporarily but YOU can do it permanently.
4- Success stops when you do.
5- You will never have it all together.
6- Life is journey not a destination. Enjoy the trip.
7- The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
8- If you don't start, it is certain you won't reach.
9- He or She whoever laughs , lasts.
10- Life is what is coming, not what was.
11- Success is getting up one more time
12- When things go wrong, don't go with them.
13- Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.