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becomes extinct； still even then I have had the
exaltation of these ideas。
How many words it has taken to describe so briefly the feelings
and the thoughts that came to me by the tumulus； thoughts that
swept past and were gone； and were succeeded by others while yet
the shadow of the mound had not moved from one thyme flower to
another； not the breadth of a grass blade。 Softly breathed the sweet south
wind； gently the yellow corn waved beneath； the ancient； ancient sun shone
on the fresh grass and the flower； my heart opened wide as the broad； broad
earth。 I spread my arms out； laying them on the sward； seizing the grass； to
take the fulness of the days。 Could I have my own way after death I would be
burned on a pyre of pine…wood； open to the air； and placed on the summit of
the hills。 Then let my ashes be scattered abroadnot collected urn an
urnfreely sown wide and broadcast。 That is the natural interment of
manof man whose Thought at least has been among the immortals； interment
in the elements。 Burial is not enough； it does not give sufficient solution
into the elements speedily； a furnace is confined。 The high open air of the
topmost hill； there let the tawny flame lick up the fragment called the
body； there cast the ashes into the space it longed for while living。 Such
a luxury of interment is only for the wealthy； I fear I shall not be able to
afford it。 Else the smoke of my resolution into the elements should
certainly arise in time on the hill…top。
The silky grass sighs as the wind comescarrying the blue butterfly more
rapidly thanhis wings。 A large humble…bee burrs round the green dome against
which I rest； my hands are scented with thyme。 The sweetness of the day；
the fulness of the earth； the beauteous earth； how shall I say it？
Three things only have been discovered of that which concerns the inner
consciousness since before written history began。 Three things only in
twelve thousand written； or sculptured； years； and in the dumb； dim time
before then。 Three ideas the Cavemen primeval wrested from the unknown； the
night which is round us still in daylightthe existence of the soul； im…
mortality； the deity。 These things found； prayer followed as a sequential
result。 Since then nothing further has been found in all the twelve thousand
years； as if men had been satisfied and had found these to suffice。 They do
not suffice me。 I desire to advance further； and to wrest afourth； and even
still more than a fourth； from the darkness of thought。 I want more ideas of
soul…life。 I am certain that there are more yet to be found。 A great
lifean entire civilisationlies just outside the pale of common thought。
Cities and countries； inhabitants； intelligences； culturean entire
civilisation。 Except by illustrations drawn from familiar things； there is
no way of
indicating a new idea。 I do not mean actual cities； actual civilisation。
Such life is different from any yet imagined。 A nexus of ideas exists of
which nothing is knowna vast system of ideasa cosmos of thought。 There
is an Entity； a Soul…Entity； as yet unrecognised。 These； rudely expressed；
constitute my Fourth Idea。 It is beyond； or beside； the three discovered by
the Cavemen； it is in addition to the existence of the soul； in addition to
immortality； and beyond the idea of the deity。 I think there is something
more than existence。
There is an immense ocean over which the mind can sail； upon which the
vessel of thought has not yet been launched。 I hope
to launch it。 The mind of so many thousand years has worked
round and round inside the circle of these three ideas as a
boat on an inland lake。 Let us haul it over the belt of land；
launch on the ocean； and sail outwards。
There is so much beyond all that has ever yet been imagined。
As I write these words； in the very moment； I feel that the
whole air； the sunshine out yonder lighting up the
ploughed earth； the distant sky； the circumambient ether； and
that far space； is full of soul…secrets； soul…life； things
outside the experience of all the ages。 The fact of my own
existence as I write； as I exist at this second； is so
marvellous； so miracle…like； strange； and supernatural to me；
that I unhesitatingly conclude I am always on the margin of life
illimitable； and that there are higher conditions than
existence。 Everything around is supernatural； everything so
full of unexplained meaning。
Twelve thousand years since the Caveman stood at the mouth of his cavern and
gazed out at the night and the stars。 He looked again and saw the sun rise
beyond the sea。 He reposed in the noontide heat under the shade of the
trees； he closed his eyes and looked into himself。 He was face to face with
the earth； the sun； the night； face to face with himself。 There was nothing
between； no wall of written tradition； no builtup system of
culturehis naked mind was confronted by naked earth。 He made
three idea…discoveries； wresting them from the unknown； the
existence of his soul； immortality； the deity。 Now； to…day； as
I write； I stand in exactly the same position as the Caveman。
Written tradition； systems of culture； modes of thought； have
for me no existence。 If ever they took any hold of my mind it
must have been very slight； they have long ago been erased。
》From earth and sea and sun； from night； the stars； from day；
the trees； the hills； from my own soulfrom these I think。 I
stand this moment at the mouth of the ancient cave； face to face with
nature； face to face with the supernatural； with myself。 My naked mind
confronts the unknown。 I see as clearly as the noonday that this is not all；
I see other and higher conditions than existence； I see not only the
existence of the soul； immortality； but； in addition； I realise a soul…life
illimitable； I realise the existence of a cosmos of thought； I
realise the existence of an inexpressible entity infinitely
higher than deity。 I strive to give utterance to a Fourth Idea。
The very idea that there is another idea is something gained。
The three found by the Cavemen are but steppingstones： first
links of an endless chain。 At the mouth of the ancient cave；
face to face with the unknown； they prayed。 Prone in heart to…
day I pray； Give me the deepest soul…life。
CHAPTER IV
THE wind sighs through the grass； sighs in the sunshine； it has
drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill。 A few yards
away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf； white and
bleached； picked clean long since by crows and ants。 Like the
faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the
ear； so the sweet air ripples in the grass。 The ashes of the
man interred in the tumuius are indistinguishable； they have
sunk away like rain into the earth； so his body has disappeared。
I am under no delusion； I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given
of the three stepping…stones of the Cavemen。 The soul is inscrutable； it is
not in evidence to show that it exists； immortality is not tangible。 Full
well I know that
reason and knowledge and experience tend to disprove all three；
that experience denies answer to prayer。 I am under no delusion
whatever； I grasp death firmly in conception as I can grasp th