31 Best Zen Gifts to Spark Spiritual Awareness

This is a short little book that gives you a lot of Buddha’s wisdom in an easy way to understand. Basically, the premise is that the world gives you exactly what you need at every moment.

This book is a great gift for someone who wants to learn more about Zen Buddhism. It outlines the history of Zen by way of the 3 pillars: teaching, practice, and enlightenment. Learn more about zazen and Zen practice.

I recommend this in place of An Introduction to Zen Buddhism, by D.T. Suzuki. While Zen can be a difficult subject to comprehend, books about Zen can be understandably convoluted or confusing.

Although Taoism is not technically in the tradition of Zen, Zen Buddhism and Taoism share common roots and common teachings. The Tao Te Ching is one of my own personal favorite writings on Eastern philosophy: it is soothing and comforting like a cup of tea on a rainy day.

Jon Kabat-Zinn has a huge collection of books on mindfulness and his contribution to the science of mindfulness is unparalleled. He is a former professor and researcher at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and is the founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR therapy).

Here is another book that is a fantastic choice for zen gifts. Thich Nhat Hanh is the ultimate writer to explain the teachings of Buddhism in a way that are relatable for the reader. If you’ve ever heard him speak or watched a video of his, you know that he explains things in a very simple way that makes perfect sense.

Do you or your zen friend have trouble with the impermanence of life? This may manifest as anxiety or neverending worry. Pema Chodron is an expert at explaining how to “sit with groundlessness” or relaxing into our negative thoughts and worries.

An essential zen gift, mala beads are a beaded necklace that you use to meditate. They’re frequently used in japa yoga, which uses chanting. Mala beads can be used to recite affirmations or mantras 108 times (the number of beads in a mala necklace, which is also a sacred number in Buddhism.)

Singing bowls are another fantastic gift that you can give to someone who needs some balance. Different tones have different healing energies, and these singing bowls help you focus on one frequency (or several) to coordinate your healing with chakras, or energy centers.

For those who practice meditating every day, a comfortable place to meditate is key. During zazen (seated meditation) our feet or legs may often go numb, and something like a cushion that props you up can help keep blood flow established.

For those who practice yoga, they likely have a yoga mat, maybe more than one. This particular yoga mat is great for those who want to be active in the fight against climate change–it’s made of cork and it is a sustainable material!

If your friend is someone who has trouble with meditation, these candles can help tremendously. They burn for about 20 minutes, which can be a great starting time to meditate. Additionally, the candle gives your eye a place to focus for those twenty minutes.

Incense is an essential part of many religious and spiritual practices because it can help you achieve an elevated state. If your zen friend has a meditation space or regularly uses incense, this may be an excellent choice for them!

I’ve chosen two highly rated Tibetan burners, one flat, one hanging. Don’t forget to buy some incense to go with it!

While this one may seem a little hokey, it’s also a lot of fun! A Buddha board is designed to help you draw, practice calligraphy or make designs with the knowledge that these designs will soon disappear. They claim this helps you to embrace the impermanence of life.

Zenergy Chimes are simple zen gifts that are great for a meditation space. They can come in single chimes, or multiple chimes, and many are much larger. These chimes can help create a space that is full of peace and calm during meditation.

Whether you use it as decor or as a mindfulness activity, Zen gardens are quintessential zen gifts.

This zen garden is a kit that comes ready for you to design your own space. There are 7 small tower crystals to match the seven chakras.

Calligraphy is the art of painting characters is a very aesthetically pleasing way. This calligraphy says, “Every day is a good day” in Japanese.

Here is another great zen gift that can help you create a peaceful space. Water is balanced, natural, and the sound of flowing water can help someone relax. Bamboo, of course, is found in abundance in Asia. But this fountain is just the top water pump, so be sure to purchase a bowl or planter or some kind for them as well!

Zen gifts of all kinds need somewhere to go! This meditation altar is two tiered and is almost 2 feet long (on the bottom tier).

For the end of a meditation session, a tingsha is a gentle reminder to come back to ones body. A tingsha is a wonderful gift for a yoga or meditation teacher, women’s circle leader, or even a teacher!

When it comes to zen gifts, lotus is something we often think of. The lotus is the beautiful flower that blooms from the mud. In Buddhism, lotus represents the purity of our soul that emerges from all the suffering we have endured.

For those spiritual friends who love bonsai trees (or nature in general), a bonsai tree is a wonderful zen gifts.

This juniper bonsai is a live plant, about 3-4 years old. There are options for fertilizer and tray, as well as options for the color of the pot.

Designed for outdoor use, hang these wind chimes in your garden or backyard. The shop Peace Love Zen on Etsy has an overall 5 star rating and is very careful with shipping.

When constructing a meditation altar, including Buddha is a great way to remind us of our thoughts. Not only this, but Buddha is a great place to hang your mala or prayer beads for safe keeping. This Buddha is 10 inches tall.

Sure, zen is technically Japanese, but who would say no to this Chinese set? The ceremony of preparing and drinking tea is a discipline in and of itself and can help us develop mindfulness.

A tea gift like this will certainly wow the receiver! Purchase it with the tea sampler below!

I was pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful travel tea set on Etsy! For those who want to bring their tea ceremony with them while they travel, this set is perfect! It comes with a teapot, cannister, 4 cups and the carrying case!

It’s hard to be zen and peaceful when you’re hyped up on coffee. Green tea is better beverage to drink. Green tea has many health benefits, including reducing risk of cancer and heart disease, improving brain function, and helping metabolism burn more fat.

For zen gifts, this one is a great selection for someone who needs to cleanse their space. Maybe they just recently moved or went through a break-up or divorce.

It comes with white sage and palo santo to burn. The rose quartz is there for protection, and the flowers make it beautiful.

These bath salts have been charged with Reiki and are an excellent way to relax at the end of a stressful day. Buddhism tells us to care for our bodies, because our bodies are our connection to the cosmos. Thus, taking a relaxing bath in self care is a spiritual choice.

Here’s another zen gift that’s great to someone who practices yoga. This yoga box includes a mala bracelet, teas, yoga headband, essential oils, and mandala coaster.

If your friend is someone who prefers “zen” meaning “relaxing” and embraces all those “cheugy” things that millennials like, this Zen AF box might be for them!

It might not be traditionally zen, but it can certainly help a person relax! It includes: a soy candle, body butter, lip balm, soap, bath bomb, and much more for the large sized box! Check it out!