Zen Rock Gardening

by Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore

Compose beautiful scenes and images to soothe the spirit with this desk-size garden complete with base, sand, rocks, and a miniature wooden rake. The accompanying fully-illustrated book is a general introduction to the art of Japanese gardening and the zen garden.

Genres: Nonfiction

95 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 1992

About the author

Born in 1940 in Oakland, California, Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore’s first book of poems, Dawn Visions, was published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti of City Lights Books, San Francisco, in 1964, and the second in 1972, Burnt Heart/Ode to the War Dead. He created and directed The Floating Lotus Magic Opera Company in Berkeley, California in the late 60s, and presented two major productions, The Walls Are Running Blood, and Bliss Apocalypse. He became a Sufi Muslim in 1970, performed the Hajj in 1972, and lived and traveled throughout Morocco, Spain, Algeria and Nigeria, landing in California and publishing The Desert is the Only Way Out, and Chronicles of Akhira in the early 80s (Zilzal Press). Residing in Philadelphia since 1990, in 1996 he published The Ramadan Sonnets (Jusoor/City Lights), and in 2002, The Blind Beekeeper (Jusoor/Syracuse University Press). He has been the major editor for a number of works, including The Burdah of Shaykh Busiri, translated by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and the poetry of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, translated by Munir Akash. He is also widely published on the worldwide web: The American Muslim, DeenPort, and his own website, among others: http://www.danielmoorepoetry.com. The Ecstatic Exchange Series is bringing out the extensive body of his works of poetry, beginning in 2005 with Mars & Beyond, Laughing Buddha Weeping Sufi, Salt Prayers and a revised edition of Ramadan Sonnets, and continuing in 2006 beginning with Psalms for the Brokenhearted, I Imagine a Lion, Coattails of the Saint, Love is a Letter Burning in a High Wind, and The Flame of Transformation Turns to Light. Abdallah Jones and the Disappearing-Dust Caper is the tenth in the series, and the first for young adults in the Ecstatic Exchange / Crescent Series.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya know it's the cheesiest little thing in the world but I love it. I keep the book and the little sandbox on my desk at work. Get yourself one it's rather neat. Note to self - get more books on zen gardening.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book used, and didn’t realize that it was supposed to come with a bag of rocks. Now what am I supposed to do?

[Nav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this used so just got the book so I can't speak to the kit that would have accompanied it bought new. The book I can speak to and it's good. It's enthusiastic about its subject and the meaningfulness of rock gardens and their potential to enrich a life (and makes sure to recommend other books about it and related subjects). After half a book of that, it then gives an excellent overview of said gardens' history.

[Madison Gillen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this was originally supposed to come with a kit, but I got it on sale at a metaphysical shop. I enjoyed the history of rock garden and the descriptions of set ups, notable gardens, and stones. However, some of the philosophical sections lost me a bit. Overall it was a short and simple book for a good read.

[Maurice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but not overly wordy, with lots of photos and paintings. I didn't read the "kit", only the book.

[The_J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Life's pleasure through simple fulfilling acts.

[Macy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, a quick read and a nice, compact history lesson about Japanese culture and Zen gardening. I read the book that Abd Al-hayy Moore published under his true name, so I'm not sure if there are any differences between that one and the one he published under the name Daniel Moore. This book was enlightening and made me want to get a mini Zen garden of my own, now that I have a better understanding of the symbolism and messages behind them.

[Sandra]

book only--no gardening kit!

[Elvira · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a gift, the garden is fun but the booklet is a waste of paper