Maryanto was inspired to create this work when he was hiking on a Mudeungsan mountain during his residency in Gwangju, Korea. Through his conversations with the people he encountered, he observed their relationship with nature. Many of them were avid hikers who climb the mountain every weekend, especially the elderly, and they have formed a familiar community. The hikers would enjoy lunch and soju with a view, or visit the temple nearby. When asked by the artist why the people enjoyed climbing the mountain, they replied that they enjoy looking at the horizon where the sky meets the earth. Maryanto associated the sky with the spiritual and the earth with reality where we currently live in. He likened the mountain view with that of a utopia, where we encounter the fine line between the spiritual and reality; and we are able to leave our everyday realities such as our problems and the crowded city at the foot of the mountain below. Path of Enlightenment captures the serenity and calmness that the forest provides, and depicts a quiet pathway into the wilderness leading to a hidden temple. The artist captures our innate desire for high places and isolation from our worldly problems, with nature providing a form of spiritual escape.