Heart education Philosophie

The symbolism in the Friedensmal (monument) works on the relationship level: “The I – finding the ‘stillness' inside oneself” and “the Thou – the path that leads from this stillness back towards life”. The Friedensmal is a symbol of identification to overcome the alienation and for the spiritual liberation of man in our modern times, which are hostile towards the soul. A world in which we are subject to a materialistic and technocratic ideology (the stones in the Friedensmal serve as projection surfaces for the images of the mind). As such, the symbolism in the Friedensmal is about a new spiritual awakening and it "speaks" about a person who has found the path back inwards to his own soul. Thus strengthened from the inside, he can give himself outwards.

The symbolism of the Friedensmal encourages visitors to once again become aware of the most valuable potential inside human beings; namely the potential that makes humans human in the first place: the spiritual dimension. Only through this dimension can the whole beauty and depth of life open up to us in our short lifetime - in love. Most people die without ever having lived. When will we realize that life is about learning love?

“How could this project help the world?” – a question asked by many who consider themselves knowledgeable and realists. Yet, how realistic are the conceptions of a person who doesn’t acknowledge the power of ideas? Aren’t those ideas that initially seem insignificant and unfounded, the ones that often end up changing the world? So, how could this Friedensmal help the world?

As an individual, one must be able to give his yearning an expression and a material form, so that this yearning doesn't die. Societies too must express their own desires and fears to gain orientation and clarity. The Friedensmal is an expression of humans’ yearning for freedom and peace.

The Friedensmal is not good for a political controversy. It is not exclusively intended for one group of victims, but rather constructed for everyone living today. It carries with it the message of new life. In terms of a Christian concept, it corresponds to the message of Easter. Other religions have other metaphors. In the Friedensmal, suffering is not offset against each other. Suffering should be transcended, and a burden transformed into a blessing. The suffering in this world is assigned to the human soul trapped in this world. The true goal is in discovering what might alleviate this suffering and ends the imprisonment of soul and mind and to commit yourself to living for it, to let it flow through yourself; actually learning to live the love - because the “Son” inside oneself became reality, by recognizing "him". You will then find yourself as a “Son” or “Daughter” of whom, who is the power that stands behind all life. In the words of Christian mysticism: “If Christ was born a thousand times in Bethlehem, but never in you, you would be lost forever.”  (Angelus Silesius)

This is why the commemorative stones in the Friedensmal are empty. They are open and free to receive the projection that is inside people, since: the actual renewal and peace agreement can only be realized inside oneself. As a sign of peace for our country the burden of the German past can be projected onto the stones: persecution, war, Shoah. Each stone, however, represents the transformation of a burden into a blessing for the future, which here is “German responsibility”; as it applies to every other nation in the world.

The Friedensmal is the materialization of an idea that represents life. The entire monument site has been constructed with the Turning Point at the center of the Friedensmal as the measurement point. It bears the Hebrew inscription: “life”. This idea of life is a necessary contribution to German culture. It should be honored and recognized as such – in silence.

The Friedensmal represents reconciliation – in truth, justice, and forgiveness, which can take place in the Tree of Life (within the circle). Here, some people will realize: we do not create reconciliation, because we do not bring about truth, nor justice, nor forgiveness. In this sense, the symbolism of the Friedensmal points towards the essence, which people strive to find by believing in a profound truth or higher power: peace and justice that originates from the heart and naturally seeks to establish itself in the outside world.

Expressed in a Christian manner: The peace that humanity yearns for grows out of reconciliation. This makes peace with and from God possible. The German word for reconciliation, “Versöhnung”, can also be interpreted as “Ver-Sohnung”, which means to become a Son. It is the peace that can be found on the path (with God) to oneself and the peace that the individual can give - in the Son - to the world.