adubiousmixtureofmindandmatter,sihemindunlnitionoftheeternaltohim,whilematterpullshimdownandbindshimtothetransitory,heshouldstriveawayfromthesensesandtowardthemindifhewishestoelevatehislifeandgiveitmeaning.Ididpretend,outofhabit,toholdartinhighesteem,butactuallyIwasarrogantandlookeddownuponit.OnlynowdoIrealizehoathstherearetoknowledgeandthatthepathofthemindisnottheonlyoneandperhapshebestoismyway,ofcourse;andIllstayonit.ButIseethatyou,ontheoppositeroad,ontheroadofthesenses,haveseizedthesecretofbeingjustasdeeplyandexpressitinamuchmorelivelyfashionthanmostthinkersareabletodo."

    "Nowyouuand,"Goldmundsaid,"thatItceiveofthoughtswithoutimages?"

    "Ihavelongsinderstoodit.Ourthinkingisastantprocessofvertingthingstoabstras,alookingawayfromthesensory,aostructapurelyspiritualworld.Whereasyoutaketheleaststant,themostmortalthingstoyourheart,andintheirverymortalityshowthemeaningoftheworld.Youdontlookawayfromtheworld;yougiveyourselftoit,andbyyoursacrificetoitraiseittothehighest,aparableofeternity.WethirytoeclodbypullingthemaskoftheworldawayfromHisfaeclosertoHimbylovingHiscreationandre-creatingit.Botharehumanendeavors,andnecessarilyimperfect,butartismorei."

    "Idontknow,Narcissus.Butinoveringlife,iingdespair,youthinkersandtheologiaosucceedbetter.Ihavelongsioppedenvyingyouforyourlearning,dearfriend,butIdoenvyyourcalm,yourdetat,yourpeace."

    "Youshouldnotenvyme,Goldmund.Thereisnopeaceofthesortyouimagine.Oh,thereispeaceofcour