After walking through Isamu's garden, I am greatly inspired by his work. He resembles the true meaning of being natural. As I plant my feet to the surface of the garden, I can feel myself become one with it. I can feel the garden's spirit surround me like a guardian angel, watching over her newborn child. The spirit didn't speak to me like it did for Isamu but I felt its presence. Its presence provided me warmth from the icy cold winds trickling down my spine, inflaming every nerve tissue in my body. My consciousness becomes a scene of green brushes and in the middle stood Mother Tree, illuminating her beauty for all to see. If Mother Tree were still alive today, what would she be thinking about all the people coming out everyday to see her? One thing for sure, she'll be in tears. These tears of joy would flow endlessly while nurturing her younger generations. She would be proud of what her son had done for the people of Austin and especially for nature. To me, Mother Tree is the spirit of the garden.
When it was time to write about what we felt and saw, I became an advocate and took pictures. The things that I saw were inspiring. The garden is a man made radioactive free place that symbolizes universal peace. Around the world, "we have reached a point where we are facing a crisis in our existence brought about by this inhumane competition," (Taniguchi 187). The true beauty of ourselves is expressed in the things that we do. Isamu has shown us that there is more to nature than the outdoors and its contents. He has shown us that nature lives peacefully amongst us inside.
At the garden, I got the opportunity to experience what half the population of Austin still hasn't done yet. Washing my hands in the purified water from the bamboo pipe was cold but it brought a feeling of guilt. In the past, I regret littering in parks, setting trash cans on fire, and killing insects for the hell of it. I felt like I was being reborn again as I washed the scum of my past away. The bridge reminded me of a link between two lives. Crossing over it was like leaving your sinful life behind and stepping into a new world of rejoice. If we crossed it at night, we would have seen "the reflection of the moon casting over the surface of the water." (Taniguchi 187). To me, this would symbolize the heavenly lights above reflecting down to show us the beauty of nature.
In essence to all this, I had a good time visiting the place. Isamu wanted univeral peace and with his inspiring work, it is saddening to see that we are still in the process of achieving his goal. His death will be remembered every time I revisit the place and his spirit will forever watch over it like a guardian angel. |
