As with the Zen faith a Zen garden is a place people can find enlightenment through meditation. So, people create a peaceful space using a combination of rock, sand, small shrubs, and water. You'll often see a pond or stream around an open space used for contemplation. Another beautiful type of Zen garden uses the sand or stone to form earthly elements, like mountains, seas or rivers. The designs are eye catching and are offset by other areas of small plants or shrubs.