Whatever religion or belief we are called to follow, in nature we are one˳ There are few woes, aches and heartbreaks that cannot be mended by pulling weeds or watering a flower˳ In Japan, the spiritual renewal by nature is embraced in the quiet cultivation of bonsai˳ Bonsai No Kokoro is the Spirit of Bonsai˳
While bonsai is the well known artistic crafting of miniature trees, Bonsai No Kokoro is the lesser known bridge between the love of gardening and enlightenment through nature˳ As with religion, you are called to bonsai and if you are ready, it welcomes you into it soul˳ But Bonsai No Kokoro is not about sitting in a cave in deep contemplation˳ It is about the creation of the bonsai from the plant that will take its shape and it is the lesson that comes from the art that is the creation˳
To receive the spiritual gift of Bonsai No Kokoro you must under the three principles of bonsai cultivation:
- Strong foundation of roots
- Unique formation of trunk
- Expanse of branches to bear fruit
These three principles are not to be confused with the technical aspects of sculpting a plant to appear as a bonsai˳ Indeed just the opposite˳ You must search deeper to understand the true meaning of the principles in relationship to nature, yourself and God or the universe˳
As with the bonsai, this cultivation of the spirit doesn’t happen overnight˳ The practice takes time, dedication, discipline and continual attention˳ It requires that you listen to the silence and hear the unspoken˳ By connecting with your miniature plant or tree, you can learn the guiding principles of a life well lived with your own strong roots, unique formation and your expansive contribution to humankind˳
A bonsaist’s is honored by the ability to cultivate a living art form that will outlive its creator˳ The oldest known living bonsai tree is thought to be 500 years old˳ Many more live several hundred years˳ Within this miniature world is the eternal message that all true value we contribute to the world is created with patience, care and attention˳
Saburo Kato, who died on February 8, 2008, at the age of 93 was one of the greatest bonsai masters of our time˳ He encouraged a devoted relationship to nature, to bonsai and to fellow bonsaists˳ His most heartfelt desire was to inspire a world of peace and Bonsai No Kokoro in the all that are blessed to know this living spiritual art of nature˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?Bonsai-No-Kokoro—The-Spirit-of-Bonsai&id=3298454
