By Nicholas Roerich

THREE friends had gathered for a chat. One of them recalled the story of an eye-witness of the terrible, instantaneous destruction of Quetta. They were sitting on the veranda, having just returned from a theatre in a most happy mood, when suddenly they heard some cosmic roaring. They ran into the garden, and there before their very eyes, in one moment Quetta collapsed. In this instantaneous destruction of an entire city, burying over fifty thousand victims, was as if revealed a terrible cosmic Sign.

One of the listeners remembered ancient indications from various Puranas, which predicted how entire cities will perish, how the earth will become dry, how whole nations will become extinguished, and others will revert to primitive worship. He mentioned the prophecies about the end of the Kali Yuga and continued:

“And don’t we see all these signs before our very eyes today?! Are not entire cities destroyed by cosmic forces or human hands?! Is not the death rate in many countries higher than the birth rate, despite all endeavours of governments? Have not some people returned to nature worship? Have not terrible droughts devastated huge areas? In magazines we see daily, pictures of destructions caused by ravaging gales, sand storms and tornadoes. Some governments already try to prevent the epidemic droughts. Forests disappear, rivers become barren. Grasses are strangled by sand dunes. Every one of us has witnessed those horrible sights of morbid deserts. Some people do not, as yet, pay attention to such obvious realities. But the far-sighted are already on vigil. Seeing this, how can anyone say that predictions are not true?”

The second listener quoted from Biblical prophecies and added: “One can imagine how the masses who lived at the time of Amos, Ezekiel and Isaiah scoffed at these seers. Also nowadays we know of many discoveries and predictions that are ridiculed and insulted. Ignoramuses never heed anything that is beyond their narrow understanding or that threatens their mercenary profits. But true scientists have already proved the transmission of thought, and the world has benefited by their many beautiful discoveries. And how the ignoramuses laughed at these new possibilities which they all themselves now use daily. Remember how even Edison was declared a charlatan by the academy, how the energy of steam was denounced, and railways were derided, and how it was declared by a scientist that the flight of heavier-than-air machines was an absolute impossibility, thus stopping the development of aircraft for almost a century. The scroll of ignorant mockery and envy is endless. In history we can trace that such insults were not only a thorny crown for the inventors, but a testimony of true achievement.”

During this conversation another friend had silently joined the company. He exclaimed: “Stop this nonsense about fossilized prophecies. My prediction is the best. Yesterday I announced that there would be a boom on the exchange today, and so it is. Before your prophecies become reality, mine is already in my pocket. What does it matter whether Quetta is destroyed? Perhaps this will contribute to the rise of my Cement Factory stocks. And cannot the drought about which you wailed, bring me profit in some way? The more deserts the better. Humanity will flock into cities. We shall feed it with canned goods. My movie shares will rise. You all are not good to me. You may even try to revive the deserts and all the urbanites will run away into the country.

“You are drinking here some mineral water—where is your whiskey and soda, and where are your cigars? It is boredom to sit with you miserable people! You don’t even understand the advantage of deserts and shelled cities! The more craziness that is manifested in cities, the more it is profitable! Even if your predictions ever prove to be true—when will that be? I am young but mother earth will last my time. And remember it was a King who said: ‘Apres nous le deluge.’—After me—let there be a flood! About whom do you worry—about your heirs? But maybe they do not deserve any better. And what does it matter if somewhere somebody worships a tree stump? We shall manufacture these stumps for him by the thousand. If humanity will be poisoned by narcotics, tobacco and alcohol, we shall make money on patent medicines. You hopeless people—there stands a gramophone, but I dare not use it. All your Bachs and Beethovens make me sick! You have no jazz, tango, foxtrot, carioca—and yet you imagine you are up to date! To sit with you is simply to waste an evening!” And he slammed the door from the outside.

He was especially annoyed that the three did not even lose their temper but, shrugging their shoulders, looked at him as upon a certain zoological specimen.

The physical drought is menacing, but the spiritual emptiness is far greater. Besides care for the soil, let there also be remembered the need for the uplifting of the human spirit. Without such spiritual fertilization, all attempts at reforestation, grass sowing and other good efforts will be in vain. All this brings results only when people actually realize why they live, and when they will again know the meaning of the sacred word of Love. In Love the quality of labour will improve.

In Love deserts will again flourish.

Union Divine—the two halves blended Into One; the long quest ended, Peace and Rest.

The marriage of the Lamb and the bride The Eternal Spirit hath unified. Peace and Rest.

Light of the World—Thou Living Christ! I would know in Love’s Great Tryst, Peace and Rest. —S. B.

Light will blind a man, sound will make him deaf, taste will ruin his palate, the chase will make him wild, and precious things will tempt him.

Therefore does the wise man provide for the soul, and not for the senses. He ignores the one and takes the other with both hands.—Laotze.

← previous | The Inner Life 1937 | next →