Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/226

 “You speak as with knowledge. With my people it is different. While many claim to believe in the existence of spirits, few think of them as other than intangible and  wholly incomprehensible beings, whose lives are passed in eternal rest or eternal suffering. For one to lay claim to any accurate information in the matter, is only to excite ridicule or persecution for none will believe their claim.”

“I speak as with knowledge, my son, because I have knowledge. The realm of spirit is everywhere. Men may question its existence, but this can only be for a short time while they remain grossly material in their nature. As for your eternal rest, I cannot understand it any more than I can your notion of eternal punishment. Does the sun ever rest? Does the earth ever cease its revolutions, or the stars their own proper motion? Man is born to be useful, and rest, which is but a state of mind rather than a condition, can only come through constant activity in one’s sphere of use. I can see it. in no other light. As for the other—punishment may indeed be eternal to such as cannot lay aside gross and material thoughts; the punishment of remaining in them, with the spiritual surroundings which such thoughts must of necessity bring; but beyond that I cannot understand you. Is it of arbitrary punishment by the will of the Supreme that you speak?”

“It is, father—such are the teachings of our priests.”

“Then most grossly are they in error, most densely must their minds be steeped in spiritual ignorance. Have they no spirit guides to teach them better? I cannot understand such a condition of affairs. In this land the masses know but little of such matters; it is true, but with the lamas it is different. I might say further that we do not always deem it best to raise men above their sphere, but we never wilfully deceive as your priests must surely do, for they cannot themselves be ignorant of the truth.’*

“I think they are, as you view it, father. Some of them are most worthy men; but tell me whence comes the power to take on the material body in which these forms have appeared to us?’*

“I care not to fully explain. What are our bodies but condensations of certain molecules? Mind controls matter. If disembodied intelligences so will it, what is to prevent the hasty condensation of the molecules and the formation of a temporary body in any shape they desire to assume?”