Comments on: Eschatology and the American Lawn: A Parallel History, Part I

By: Eschatology and the American Lawn: A Parallel History, Part II « theophiliacs

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:24:04 +0000

[...] Part I [...]

By: Anthony David Jacques

Anthony David Jacques — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:44:42 +0000

I am the Devil’s Advocate at times.

I’m actually planning to do a review of Hardcore Zen. Maybe I’ll post it here as well.

By: jstambaugh

jstambaugh — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:35:01 +0000

I don’t know what you guys are talking about! Zen gardens are absolutely fascinating. The rocks are placed with so much care, put them in the wrong spot, bury them at the wrong angle and the whole feel of the garden is off. The raking of the gravel is such a simple meditative exercise, but requires incredible concentration and skill. It’s an entire world in miniature.

As for Zazen I’ll refer to you two (ADJ and Sabio) as authorities. I am reading Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit by Robert E. Kennedy who was a Zen Master in NY and also happened to be a Jesuit priest, I might post a little review when I’m done.

By: Sabio Lantz

Sabio Lantz — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:30:18 +0000

In church you have to sit and try to quite while listen to someone else pontificate. In Zazen you have to sit and try to be quite while you listen to yourself. Not sure which is more difficult.

By: Anthony David Jacques

Anthony David Jacques — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:58:05 +0000

Zen gardens *are* boring. So is Zazen (meditation). But so is church for many people.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, in so many words.

By: Roger Griffith

Roger Griffith — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:49:21 +0000

We have a lot of rock gardens out here in New Mexico. They are low maintenance requiring no mowing, no watering, and no weeding (if done properly). However, I find them boring. So, I took out the one in my front yard when I moved in, and I replaced it with grass.

As for the mix between eschatology and lawns, I wonder if cemetary lawns will get messed up at the resurrection.

By: jstambaugh

jstambaugh — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:38:15 +0000

Sabio,

In one since you’re right, it’s just that now that we have all this grass everywhere, and now that we produce so much carbon dioxide, if we were to take it all out at once it would be disasterous from an environmental standpoint. But, you’re right, wild grasses (drought resistant, low water usage), absolutely no pesticides or chemicals is definitely the way to go.

I live in a place (New Mexico) where it is simply too dry for moss gardens unfortunately.