Nature is everywhere and everywhere.

Zen is like a clear spring in the mountains, sweeping away the dust of the soul; Zen is like a white cloud in the sky, free from fate, not stagnant or unhindered; Zen is like a stone in nature, quietly existing, silent is better than sound.

Broadly speaking, all stones are Zen stones. But only when our root nature is superior enough can we perceive the Buddha nature of every stone, and can we have the superb state of seeing every stone as a Zen stone.

Since most of us don't have a deep foundation, it's not easy to see that there is always a manifestation of Zen in everything.

Therefore, in the eyes of the public, the stone that can be used as a Zen stone for aesthetics is relatively limited.

It can be seen from this that the ornamental stone is a stone with a specific form or a specific pattern, a kind of stone that contains a profound Zen philosophy, a stone that can help the stone viewer enter a state of calm, tranquility, harmony and joy, and a kind of stone that can stimulate people's self-nature.

And do not have this kind of function of the strange stones, such as beauty figures, general text stones, general pictographic stones, animal stones, general character stones, celebrity stones such as politicians, military strategists, writers and various celebrities and other stones, it is not easy to stimulate people's meditation, Zen, and it is not easy to help people meditate, meditation, it is not good to be regarded as a Zen stone.

Second, the characteristics of Zen stone

In recent years, with the surge in the number of people playing with stones and the prosperity of stone culture, some stone friends have called their collection of strange stones shaped like Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, monks, etc., called Zen stones and widely publicized, which has aroused heated discussions and controversies in the stone world.

Some Fangjia emphasize that "Zen Buddhism is not external to the appearance", Zen Buddhism is not external to the appearance, the external is cut off from all the fate, not to mention the inner cultivation, introspection, internal signs, and inner enlightenment of the text, believing that "all concrete objects have nothing to do with Zen", and then decided that "how ridiculous it is to regard those Tibetan stones that resemble Arhats, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as Zen stones!"

In this regard, the author thinks that it is a bit exaggerated.

Because no matter how abstract and ethereal the Zen stone is, it also has a form and an image, and it is also related to the "concrete form".

What's more, although the purpose of Zen is to break the attachment to the appearance, but it is not to cling to emptiness, if so, the Buddha would not be able to pass on Zen Buddhism to the Venerable Mahakasa by smiling with flowers.

Because "flowers" and "laughter" have both forms and forms.

The spiritual core of Zen is emptiness, the clear mind.

But emptiness is not separated from existence, emptiness is not stubborn emptiness, ordinary people are obsessed with being, upside down dreams, so we must first break the attachment to being, once we break the attachment and realize emptiness, we must re-enter the boundary, rise up to the wonderful, and reach the higher state of the vacuum and the freedom of luck.

Therefore, it is said that the verdant bamboo, lush yellow flowers, in order to have a guide to the sky.

It is not from emptiness to emptiness, or from emptiness without returning to existence, and finally falling into the Hinayana realm.

Emptiness is incomparable, and without emptiness, it is impossible to give birth to existence, but without existence, there is no emptiness.

"Emptiness" is precisely through the boundless "being" or "color" to show its profundity and richness.

Although Zen does not set up words, it does not depart from words. The accent color is empty, but there are Buddha statues all over the temple.

There is double luck in emptiness, double cultivation of blessing and wisdom, and the pursuit of great liberation and great freedom, which is the subtlety of Zen Buddhism.

Therefore, the author believes that it is not wrong to include the so-called "monk-shaped stones" shaped like Buddhas and Bodhisattvas into the category of Zen stones.

At the very least, there are these stones that can make people think of Buddha, Zen, liberation, Bodhi, and emptiness.

Based on the above understanding, and in order to better define what is a Zen stone, it is necessary to summarize the characteristics of Zen stone.

1. The naturalness of the big and unpolished.

Originally, this requirement was the standard for all strange stones.

But as the foundation of the Zen stone, it must be emphasized.

Zen stone whether it comes from the south of the world, the north and the south, the mountains and the underwater, or the alien objects, as long as it is naturally carved and decorated, without artificiality, it has the necessary conditions for the Zen stone, and it is also a prerequisite.

Nowadays, it is not uncommon in the stone world, or the knife is carved and axed, or the pattern is punched, or the acid is burned and roasted, or the laser is colored, etc., and the creation of the heavenly god is extremely artificially fake, which not only makes people feel ugly, but also fundamentally violates the spirit of Zen and destroys the natural foundation of the Taoist Zen stone.

2. The allegorical nature of Zen inexorability.

It contains a special philosophy or Zen meaning, which can make people think about Zen and associate with Zen, which is the basic criterion for defining whether it is a Zen stone.

If the shape and pattern of the strange stone does not have any meaning of enlightenment and education, and can not produce ethereal and intelligent associations, this kind of strange stone can not be called Zen stone.

Of course, although the moral is difficult to say, it can be understood by heart, or it can be said reluctantly.

3. Tranquility and tranquility.

Both for the Zen stone, of course, it should bring people relaxed, quiet, detached, let go, harmonious, leisurely, cheerful, fixed wisdom and so on feelings and enlightenment, therefore, its shape and pattern must be relaxed, soft, round, concise, ethereal, far-reaching, peaceful, quiet, square, slow pace, those tense, violent, strong, blocked, skewed, chaotic, fast-paced and other shapes and patterns of the stone, should basically be excluded from the Zen stone.

4. The simplicity of the elephant's intangibility.

The road is simpler, and the simpler things are, the more profound and universal the truth they contain. This is mainly for abstract Zen stones, and is not an absolute standard.

But where the abstract Zen stone, often the elephant is invisible, or has very simple and soft lines and simple patterns, unlike any utensils, but it attracts the eye, can not say why, and people can't put it down, always feel that there is a deep meaning, it is worth savoring slowly.

5. The religious nature of figurative expression.

That is, the phase pattern has a distinct religious character.

Statues resembling Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, monks, and Taoist priests, as well as religious temples with text stones, and temples that resemble religious instruments, such as wooden fish, lotus seats, futons, temples, mantra wheels, bells and drums, etc., can all be classified into one category.

This article can be listed separately as a standard for religious figurative Zen stones.

It should be emphasized that the allegorical nature of the Zen stone is the basic requirement or core condition for judging whether a strange stone has become a Zen stone.

Without this, it would not be a Zen stone. The other conditions are basic conditions and auxiliary criteria that help us to make further judgments.

Secondly, we should not regard these characteristics as rigid rules and standards, whether it is a Zen stone or not must be closely coordinated with the naming and appreciation of the stone in order to have the best effect.

For example, if a stone looks like a face, the Tibetan person names it "Who am I?" based on his expression, which seems to be asking a question, and it gives people a shock to the soul and a deep meditation.

If you name it the face of joy, anger and sorrow, you will lose your Zen meaning.

Another example is a bamboo pattern stone, if it is named "bamboo" straightly, it can not be regarded as a Zen stone, if it is named "humble heart", it embodies Zen and can be regarded as a Zen stone.

Therefore, whether it is a Zen stone or not has a lot to do with the cultural literacy and comprehension of Zen of the stone appreciator itself.