Pictures from Irish National Stud

For whatever reason, my pc is now back on line. So here are a few pictures from our trip to the Irish National Stud. I also included the text from "The Life of Man", the story that explains the walk in the Japanese garden. Enjoy!

Some of the mares and foals:

The water garden is actually called Saint Fiachra's Garden. Here are a couple pictures from walking around there:

And now the story from the Japanese garden. The bold text represents a stop on the walk.

The Life of Man

The pilgrim soul enters the garden through the Gate of Oblivion.

The Cave of Birth, a cavern in a mound of rock over-looked by the first stone lantern, symbolises life's beginning. From here, the first steps of life along the path of childhood lead to a dark tunnel, the Tunnel of Ignorance.

The darkness of the tunnel represents lack of understanding the child. Within the tunnel he finds the light of knowledge which leads him up the steps to the Hill of Learning. Here a tall pine tree tempts the student to look too high but an unguarded pitfall reminds him of the dangers which surround him and teaches him vigilance before he comes down the hill to the level of his fellows.

He resists the temptation of the easy path and follows the more challenging rugged path of adventure which leads step by step (through adolescent years) to the Parting of the Ways. Here he has three choices - smooth path of carefree life to the right (LH: I'm not sure what this is in real life... nobody gave me this option when I was growing up!), the narrow path of bachelorhood to the left, or the stepping stones of exploration across the water ahead which lead to wedded life.

After some hesitation he selects the latter and arrives at the Island of Joy and Wonder. (LH: Of course choosing wedded life will lead to joy and wonder!!) Here he meet his future wife and joins her at the Engagement Bridge. This bridge symbolises the decisive break in his life and together they come to the symbolic table of the prenuptial feast before crossing the Marriage Bridge.

Once across the Marriage Bridge, they take the Honeymoon Path to the right and in so doing, turn their backs on the path of bachelorhood. The Honeymoon Path is wider so that they may walk abreast, and so they continue light-heartedly until they reach an obstruction in the path, representing the difference of opinion. Here they part company for a while but are soon reunited and together commence to climb the hill of ambition.

They now see from afar the well of wisdom, from which they wish to drink; the steps toward it are steep, the way is hard and they have almost reached it but they suffer a Disappointment at finding themselves separated from it by water which they cannot cross. In disappointment they must retrace their steps and climb the hill of ambition from another direction. Further quarrels and disappointments are at hand, there are diverging paths and ups and downs, but they again become united and ascent together to the summit of the Hill of Ambition. From here they look back and see the past, it's joys, successes and failures.

Now in their declining years they descend together and pause at the waterfall to pray to their gods. The way is easier and the bridge across the water smooth. Crossing this they reach the Tea House and the miniature Japanese Village, before at last reaching the Well of Wisdom where they pause to wish for enlightenment before crossing the Bridge of Life to the Garden of Peace and Contentment beyond.

In the Garden of Peace and Contentment, as old age creeps on, they find the path is smooth and level - life is easier and tribulations are behind them. Thus they progress until they reach the tottering steps which lead to the hill of mourning. With his wife now seated in peace and comfort on the Chair of Old Age our wanderer traces his faltering steps to the Hill of Mourning where he is laid to rest, surrounded by weeping trees. His soul passes through the Gateway to Eternity and so the story closes.