PLACE OF TRANQUILLITY : GARDEN REFLECTS WOMAN'S VISION.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

For Rita Basu, it was no ordinary class assignment.

The self-realization project required each student to envision a place that embodied qualities of life - beauty, peace and harmony. The vision needed to reflect spiritual awakening. And it ultimately had to be shared by others.

Then came the hard part - make the vision real.

``We had to come up with a project that called to us - an extension of what we thought was important,'' said Basu of Newbury Park.

With a combined love for nature and Japanese martial arts philosophy, Basu imagined a Japanese tranquillity garden filled with exotic plants, hiking paths and quiet nooks for meditation.

``I envisioned a place where people could get back in touch with themselves and nature, and remember where they came from,'' said Basu, who completed the assignment for Landmark Education's ``Curriculum for Living'' class in Los Angeles.

After nearly a year of tapping into community resources, recruiting volunteers and working weekend after weekend to complete her project, Basu's vision is almost in full bloom.

On March 9, the public is invited to the opening ceremony for Conejo Valley's new tranquillity garden, situated on a knoll within Conejo Community Park in Thousand Oaks.

``Just having a vision drive you really works,'' said Basu, looking back on months of hard work. ``When you realize what you can do - what you can transform - it's just amazing.''

It was faith and patience that helped Basu's vision take root.

In March, she presented her class assignment to the volunteer group that maintains the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden. Attracted to the idea, the group's president gave Basu permission to develop the tranquillity garden on one of the site's many grassy hilltops overlooking the valley.

An employee of Amgen in Thousand Oaks, the 31-year-old Basu then presented her idea to the company's Community Involvement Advisory Board. She received funds for building supplies through Amgen's Staff Community Involvement Program, which sponsors community outreach activities.

By the time funds were granted in September, Basu had recruited dozens of co-workers to help with weeding, tree trimming and planting.

Denise Harris of Camarillo joined the beautification project because she recently moved into a condo, and no longer has a garden.

``Rita's philosophy is what attracted me at first, but I also thought it would be fun,'' Harris said. ``I love gardening, I love being outside and this is for a good cause. These are all the right reasons to be here.''

The project gave Tita Rosales of Ventura a way to give back to the community.

``This is my contribution,'' said Rosales, who helped with weeding and planting. ``It is part of my responsibility to give back to a community that makes life enjoyable.''

Basu said learning how to bring people together in harmony for a common cause is a lesson she will remember for a lifetime.

``You can make your vision come true if you become part of that vision, and make others a part of that vision as a team,'' she said.

``Now, I can use this as an example for other visions I have in life.''

THE FACTS

WHAT: Japanese tranquillity garden opening ceremony.

WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9.

WHERE: Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, within Conejo Community Park, Dover and Hendrix avenues, in Thousand Oaks.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--color in SIMI and CONEJO editions only) Bill Harris helps Rita Basu pull weeds from the Japanese tranquillity garden she envisioned and built in Conejo Community Park.

(2--color in SIMI and CONEJO only) Amgen's community outreach program supplied Basu with a stone bench and the materials to construct her meditation spot.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News