In my weather class (yes, I am taking weather), we discussed ways in which man tries to synthetically control nature; for example, by releasing chemicals into the atmosphere to create rain. Our professor said many of the things we see as “nuisances” in our weather system (hail, tornadoes, hurricanes) are necessary for the balance of our atmosphere. We often forget this balance in the desire to control everything about our lives, from the choices we make to the weather we will face when we open our front doors.

In “The Spirit of the Garden,” Taniguchi says “man may exist as long as mother earth allows his habitation,” (769). Taniguchi makes this point to humble us. In the midst of our everyday lives, and even in the midst of the history of man, we often forget what has come before us and what will remain after us: the natural world. Taniguchi’s garden serves as a reminder of this, and his words urge us to find importance in our surroundings.

According to Taniguchi, “even the common pebble on the path or the grass, trodden upon by man or run over by a wheel, in its own individuality attempts to communicate with the heart of man” (769). This suggests that there is harmony and meaning in the natural world—a harmon y we may not understand because we fail to listen to and recognize it.

Taniguchi’s garden is important because it was created with this communication and harmony in mind. The garden was solely Taniguchi’s vision, existing “only in Taniguchi’s mind, in his soul and in his heart” (“Isamu Taniguchi,” 767). Every stone was placed “where he knew it belonged” (“Isamu Taniguchi,” 768). Taniguchi truly had a deep understanding and connection with nature to undertake the building of this garden. Through visiting the garden, we will attempt to become one with his vision, and to learn to communicate with our natural surroundings.