12th January 2011
A Japanese Christmas takes on a role similar to that of Valentine's Day. Only about 1% of Japan is estimated to be Christian, with the majority of people being Buddhist and Shinto.
Christmas has taken on a role similar to that of Valentine's Day in Jap...
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12th January 2011
A Buddhist Christmas may sound like a contradiction, but only if you focus on the differences and not the underlying theme. I know many Buddhist monks who celebrate the spirit of Christmas, I am one of them.
In Japan, the majority of people are Buddhis...
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12th January 2011
Woodworking plans come in many packages on the Internet, but many are really not that reliable. Wading through page after page in the net can be a very time consuming activity, when all you really want to get out there and do is build and create something...
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02nd December 2010
A meditation garden, sometimes called a contemplation garden, is a fairly new concept. Of course gardens and meditation has been around for centuries, but the combination of the two as a specific serene spot you can create yourself is more of a modern con...
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02nd December 2010
Bamboo gardening involves a little bit of care in the beginning, but the rewards are definitely worth it. Although you have to investigate what species is native to your local area, bamboo tends to be a very low maintenance plant that can weather many har...
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Joshua M. Smith, PhD., is the owner of Grand Island Serene Gardens http://www.grand-island-serene-gardens.com, a website and store dedicated to both traditional and contemporary Japanese culture and art. He received his Phd in Japan at Osaka University and researches various areas of Japanese culture, such as Japanese music and Japanese gardens.
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