My first thought when I saw this rock formation out on the edge of the Namib Desert was that I was looking at the back of a Buddha gazing tranquilly out into space.   It affected me deeply as I have an interest verging on obsession with these our most ancient companions on this earth.   I wanted immediately to recreate this image somewhere more accessible.   When I began designing the Abbey restaurant it seemed the ideal place.   I was away working elsewhere during much of the construction phase and left this project in the hands of  film craftsmen along with a copy of the photo and a scaled layout.   Upon my return , I found the piece to be a source of considerable controversy.  I had intended a realistic reproduction of the original though on a much smaller scale.   The craftsmen working on it had exercised a measure of artistic license.  Neither they nor anyone else was happy with the result so an attempt was made to return to the original concept.   The result was only partly satisfactory.  I was reminded how much factors such as context, scale, lighting, texture etc. alter perception.  I was ready to abandon the project and tear it down.  Turned out not to be that easy.  It had been built of  far more durable material than I had intended.   Meanwhile, the restaurant had opened and opinions regarding "the rock" were intense and divided.   The artistic types were for the most part contemptuous.  Others, particularly children, were fascinated by it.   Then one of my partners informed me the some of his acquaintances hated it because they didn't know what it was or understand it.     This sounded very much like a definition of art so I decided to put the entire matter on hold.   There have been numerous suggestions on how to "fix" it,  mostly kitch and some funny.    For me  it has become an integral part of the history and philosophy of the Abbey.   My original impression has evolved.  In Buddhist cultures  buddha is just another word for sculpture and they take a vast number of forms.   Our Abbey buddha has come to represent to me the image of Mother Nature with her back turned on humanity.   She should be  an inspiration to us to follow our ideals of an organic and balanced way of life,  to live in harmony with nature through what we put into our bodies and how we attune to living on this earth with other species.   Perhaps then she will be tempted to turn around and look on us favorably again.