Page:The Praises of Amida, 1907.djvu/107

 comes we make excuses for it. "It is the way of the world," we say, "and we must conform to it." Whether we really must conform or not we do not stop to enquire. We just cower before the waves of worldliness, and hold up suppliant hands to its advancing might: all,—I as well as you,—prostrate ourselves before it. This was exactly Nehrodoff's attitude: it is equally the attitude which most of us take up. And the very fact that we have thus bowed the knee to the Powers of Evil makes it doubtful whether we can quietly pass through this world, as we had hoped. For even suppose we do get through life to our present satisfaction, what good will that do us in the end? Or, let the pleasures of luxury and debauchery be never so great, is not such a life nothing but a dream? And is there not an awakening to every dream? When the Awakening from our Dream comes, we must sink down once more into Suffering which there is no describing; and when the Dream is all there is of us, then certainly the awakening will not be Paradise, and we shall remain