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will； is； of course； nothing； but on the other hand； for those in
whom the will has turned and renounced itself； this so real world
of ours with all its suns and milky way is nothing。〃
〃Vanity of vanities〃； says Solomon 〃vanity of vanities
all is vanity。 What profit hath a man of all his labor which he
taketh under the sun？ One generation passeth away； and another
generation commeth： but the earth abideth for ever。。。。The thing
that hath been； is that which shall be； and that which is done is
that which shall be done： and there is no new thing under the sun。
Is there anything whereof it may be said； See； this is new？ it hath
been already of old time； which was before us。 there is no
remembrance of former things； neither shall there be any
remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come
after。 I the Preacher was King over Israel in Jerusalem。 And I
gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that
is done under heaven： this sore travail hath God given to the sons
of man to be exercised therewith。 I have seen all the works that
are done under the sun； and behold； all is vanity and vexation of
spirit。。。。I communed with my own heart； saying； Lo； I am come to
great estate； and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have
been before me over Jerusalem： yea； my heart hath great experience
of wisdom and knowledge。 And I gave my heart to know wisdom； and
to know madness and folly： I perceived that this also is vexation
of spirit。 For in much wisdom is much grief： and he that
increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow。
〃I said in my heart； Go to now； I will prove thee with mirth；
therefore enjoy pleasure： and behold this also is vanity。 I said of
laughter； It is mad： and of mirth； What doeth it？ I sought in my
heart how to cheer my flesh with wine； and while my heart was
guided by wisdom； to lay hold on folly； till I might see what it
was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven the
number of the days of their life。 I made me great works； I builded
me houses； I planted me vineyards； I made me gardens and orchards；
and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits： I made me pools
of water； to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared： I
got me servants and maidens； and had servants born in my house；
also I had great possessions of herds and flocks above all that
were before me in Jerusalem： I gathered me also silver and gold and
the peculiar treasure from kings and from the provinces： I got me
men singers and women singers； and the delights of the sons of men；
as musical instruments and all that of all sorts。 So I was great；
and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem： also
my wisdom remained with me。 And whatever mine eyes desired I kept
not from them。 I withheld not my heart from any joy。。。。Then I
looked on all the works that my hands had wrought； and on the
labour that I had laboured to do： and； behold； all was vanity and
vexation of spirit； and there was no profit from them under the
sun。 And I turned myself to behold wisdom； and madness； and
folly。。。。 But I perceived that one even happeneth to them all。
Then said I in my heart； As it happeneth to the fool； so it
happeneth even to me； and why was I then more wise？ then I said in
my heart； that this also is vanity。 For there is no remembrance of
the wise more than of the fool for ever； seeing that which now is
in the days to come shall all be forgotten。 And how dieth the wise
man？ as the fool。 Therefore I hated life； because the work that is
wrought under the sun is grievous unto me： for all is vanity and
vexation of spirit。 Yea； I hated all my labour which I had taken
under the sun： seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall
be after me。。。。 For what hath man of all his labour； and of the
vexation of his heart； wherein he hath laboured under the sun？ For
all his days are sorrows； and his travail grief； yea； even in the
night his heart taketh no rest。 this is also vanity。 Man is not
blessed with security that he should eat and drink and cheer his
soul from his own labour。。。。 All things come alike to all： there is
one event to the righteous and to the wicked； to the good and to
the evil； to the clean and to the unclean； to him that sacrificeth
and to him that sacrificeth not； as is the good； so is the sinner；
and he that sweareth； as he that feareth an oath。 This is an evil
in all that is done under the sun； that there is one event unto
all； yea； also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil； and
madness is in their heart while they live； and after that they go
to the dead。 For him that is among the living there is hope： for
a living dog is better than a dead lion。 For the living know that
they shall die： but the dead know not any thing； neither have they
any more a reward； for the memory of them is forgotten。 also their
love； and their hatred； and their envy； is now perished； neither
have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done
under the sun。〃
So said Solomon； or whoever wrote those words。 ＇Footnote：
tolstoy's version differs slightly in a few places from our own
Authorized or Revised version。 I have followed his text； for in a
letter to Fet； quoted on p。 18； vol。 ii； of my 〃Life of Tolstoy；〃
he says that 〃The Authorized English version ＇of Ecclesiastes＇ is
bad。〃 A。M。＇
And this is what the Indian wisdom tells：
Sakya Muni； a young； happy prince； from whom the existence of
sickness； old age； and death had been hidden； went out to drive and
saw a terrible old man； toothless and slobbering。 the prince； from
whom till then old age had been concealed； was amazed； and asked
his driver what it was； and how that man had come to such a
wretched and disgusting condition； and when he learnt that this was
the common fate of all men； that the same thing inevitably awaited
him the young prince he could not continue his drive； but
gave orders to go home； that he might consider this fact。 So he
shut himself up alone and considered it。 and he probably devised
some consolation for himself； for he subsequently again went out to
drive； feeling merry and happy。 But this time he saw a sick man。
He saw an emaciated； livid； trembling man with dim eyes。 The
prince； from whom sickness had been concealed； stopped and asked
what this was。 And when he learnt that this was sickness； to which
all men are liable； and that he himself a healthy and happy
prince might himself fall ill tomorrow； he again was in no mood
to enjoy himself but gave orders to drive home； and again sought
some solace； and probably found it； for he drove out a third time
for pleasure。 But this third time he saw another new sight： he saw
men carrying something。 'What is that？' 'A dead man。' 'What does
*dead* mean？' asked the prince。 He was told that to become dead
means to become like that man。 The prince approached the corpse；
uncovered it； and looked at it。 'What will happen to him now？'
asked the prince。 He was told that the corpse would be buried in
the ground。 'Why？' 'Because he will certainly not return to life；
and will only produce a stench and worms。' 'And is that the fate
of all men？ Will the same thing happen to me？ Will they bury me；
and shall I cause a stench and be eaten by worms？' 'Yes。' 'Home！
I shall not drive out for pleasure； and never will so drive out
again！'
And Sakya Muni could find no consolation in life； and decided
that life is the greatest of evils； and he devoted all the strength
of his soul to free himself from it； and to free others； and to do
this so that； even after death； life shall not be renewed any more
but be completely destroyed at its very roots。 So speaks all the
wisdom of India。
These are the direct replies that human wisdom gives when it
replies to life's question。
〃The life of the body is an evil and a lie。 Therefore the
destructio