Integration Into the Void
One of the heralding cries of our age is, "Go East, young man." There is a sub-set of Western culture which, either consciously or unconsciously moves towards Eastern mysticism. The theme has been running for several decades now.
One of the heralding cries of our age is, "Go East, young man." There is a sub-set of Western culture which, either consciously or unconsciously moves towards Eastern mysticism. The theme has been running for several decades now.
What is the appeal?
In 1919, W. B. Yeats wrote The Second Coming as a reflection upon the meaningless devastation of World War I. What would flow from it? How would Western civilization dance now, and to what tune?
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Yeats had no hope--and for good reason. When the falcon can no longer hear the falconer, things fall apart; the centre cannot hold. Why was (and is) the West falling apart? This is not a hard question. It's blindingly obvious.
