indecipherable symbols were colored in red; others were not. The work to produce these magical symbols had been long and arduous. For 15 years Homma had researched ancient records, thinking about what he saw and what he learned and always striving to perfect his understanding of the strange language contained in the symbols. It was a frustrating task.

At times Homma despaired of making the intellectual breakthrough he knew was required. On those days he would retire to his tiny garden where there was a single strategically placed, large, moss covered stone amidst a small stream and two ancient Cherry trees. Homma would gaze at the stone in silent contemplation. Eventually balance or "Wa" returned to his mind. Something deep inside him forced him to return to his researchevery day. Instinctively he knew that if he could read just a small part of this mysterious and secret language the rest would unravel, but the search seemed never ending. Homma gave names to each of the symbols and looked for their sequence to repeat. With so many symbols this was indeed an arduous task. As the years passed Homma gradually gained some of the insight he sought. It came not as a bolt from the blue but as a gradual dawning of comprehension. This indeed was insight. This indeed was rare knowledge!

At last Homma put aside the workaday chores of his family business and pulled the large rice paper parchments to his side. He gazed with fascination and reverent awe at the sheets, then inking his writing