help on bonsai paper

[justin]

Hello!

My name is Justin, I'm a student at American University in Washington DC. I am writing a paper on the art of bonsai and have several questions for anyone willing to answer.
My paper will focus primarily on the philosophy behind bonsai and its influence by Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.
I have the following questions for you:
1. What is your philosophy to bonsai? - are you controling the tree or working with it?
2. How important/essential do you think the teacher/student bond is in learning bonsai?
3. Is bonsai spiritual to you? Do you view bonsai cultivation as a form of meditation? if yes to either, why and how so?
4. What does "natural" mean to you? Do you view bonsai trees as "natural" and a part of 'nature'? Do you view plastic as natural? (this isn't trying to bash bonsai, i love them. I want to approach the subject of what constitutes natural and if bonsai cultivists view their art as a part of nature and natural, or if human manipulation means un-natural.)
5. What does bonsai represent to you? an art? a hobbie? a philosophy?
6. What does bonsai do for you or how does it influence you?
So I think thats it. If you are willing to answer any or all of these questions, please let me know. You can answer by email, IM, or I could even call you. Thank you very much for your time and potentially for your help!
Sincerely,
Justin Dart
jdart11@rcn.com

[Gadiel]

Hello Justin
1. What is your philosophy to bonsai? - are you controling the tree or working with it?

The way I work my trees are working with it but on ocassion I have to contrilling them. For Example the roots pruning and the wiring to place the branches on a proper way.

2. How important/essential do you think the teacher/student bond is in learning bonsai?

On my experience this is the most important item on the learning process. If this bond dont exist the teacher maybe dont teach you everything he knows.

3. Is bonsai spiritual to you? Do you view bonsai cultivation as a form of meditation? if yes to either, why and how so?

I dont use the bonsai as a form of meditation.


4. What does "natural" mean to you? Do you view bonsai trees as "natural" and a part of 'nature'? Do you view plastic as natural? (this isn't trying to bash bonsai, i love them. I want to approach the subject of what constitutes natural and if bonsai cultivists view their art as a part of nature and natural, or if human manipulation means un-natural.)

I see bonsai as a natural expression of the nature where the man express the way he see his eviroment.

5. What does bonsai represent to you? an art? a hobbie? a philosophy?

Art, hobbie.

6. What does bonsai do for you or how does it influence you?

For me bonsai was one of the best thing on my life. I develop patience, love for the nature, respect for other point of view and art expression, knowledge, lots of friends and the best of all the best friend on this world my father (also a bonsaist).

I hope this help you.
Thanks
Gadiel

[Budi Sulistyo]

Hi Justin,
I will just comment on Question no 2.
Student's respons is the moist important thing. Your teacher could be any body or ones. They could be books, exhibitions, old trees , pictures, paintings or real bonsai teachers. The techers could be the experiance on his own bonsai. Attitude to love and commit to the bonsai in a long term basis is very important. The objective is not only to achieve the beauty of the bonsai but also the health and perfectness of the tree.
Budi