Create A Zen Garden

On Wednesday, March 30th, SBU Libraries offered a special event for students to stop and take a break for a few minutes from their studies.  Using the libraries’ promotional “Get Your Read ON!” Frisbees, a cup or so of beach sand, some rocks and driftwood gathered at Long Island’s North Shore, Cedar Beach, some butterflies, flowers and feathers, students were able to create their own personal Zen Garden to enjoy here, and to take with them.

The purpose of a Zen garden, or Japanese rock garden, is to help de-stress and relax you when you need a breather from life. It is supposed to evoke feelings of tranquility, calmness and peace, to help quiet and focus your mind. All you really need to do is find a place for it to sit on your desk, and you’ll have a way to access your Zen any time you want.

In your Zen garden, the sand or gravel will represent water. The carefully selected rocks will represent land. The fork can be used to create patterns in the sand and natural curves around the rocks or smooth stones.

Over 75 students made a Zen Garden, until we ran out of sand! It was SBU Libraries way of saying, “remember to take a moment for yourself”. Get your Zen on and give yourself a break.

Posted in Events, Get Your Read On, Library Outreach, main, Melville Library, Stony Brook University