Dedication of the Labyrinth

Welcome to the Global Harmony Labyrinth! In Taoist writing there is a statement that I have found pleasing since I first read it long ago: “The purpose of life is not the destination … it is the course which we take to get there.”

Standing near the entrance to a labyrinth, this idea seems particularly apt. The design for this labyrinth was drawn nearly ten years ago. The idea of a meditation labyrinth, a walking prayer for peace, is even more timely today than it was then. Many people have come together through these years to create this site; it is certain that all of us would not be in complete agreement on every life issue and yet, we managed to work side by side to reach this common goal. In a country (and world) so divided we must hold fast to the concept of cooperation. The process of finding consensus is basic to Japanese culture. Belief in the common good is one of America’s founding principles. We are more alike than we are different.

Ten years ago the metaphors that emerged as I worked on the labyrinth design had almost entirely to do with pilgrimage in a general sense, a path to spirit, to peace, to health, to growth. John and I had then just returned from several years in Japan and my mind was on the similarity between walking labyrinths and climbing sacred mountains. As I drew, I was climbing Yamadera.

This past year the metaphor has become very specific for me personally. As we moved from paper to concrete and encountered one obstacle after another, literally at every turn, I found the labyrinthine process was mirroring my walk with my mother through a long process of aging and illness. Our journey toward peace and acceptance is ending as the last touches to the project have been finished. I share this as an example of the individual meaningfulness we can find in this journey. I hope each of you will find your own metaphors as you walk here and that the path offers you peace, comfort, insight, or – on a lighter note – just some pleasure.

With this dedication I offer my particular thank you to Akira and Nobue Matsumoto and their friends, who shared their Nagasaki so generously with John and me. We will think of you every time we come to this place.
Take your time.